The Los Angeles Lakers are training for the start of the playoffs (from YouTube)
Game number 3 was held tonight (between Friday and Saturday) in three different series in the first round of the NBA playoffs: Denver got closer to the semifinals of the Western Conference, Atlanta got its first victory in the playoffs and New York forced Cleveland to have a negative season record in the entire league.
Atlanta (7) - Boston (2) 122:130 (the Celtics lead 1:2 in the series)
New York (5) - Cleveland (4) 79:99 (the Knicks lead 1:2 in the series)
Minnesota (8) - Denver (1) (The Nuggets lead 0:3 in the series) 111:104
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His best playoff showing in two years.
Trae Young (Photo: GettyImages, Kevin C. Cox)
The series is far from being decided.
Jason Tatum (Photo: GettyImages, Kevin C. Cox)
Atlanta (7) - Boston (2) 122:130 (the Hawks reduced the series to 1:2)
Trae Young delivered his best game since the 2021 playoffs, in which he carried Atlanta to the regional final, with important money-time baskets that put his team back in the series.
The guard scored 15 points in the final quarter alone, and along with Dejonta Murray, they accounted for 22 of the Hawks' 30 points in the final 12 minutes, en route to the team's best playoff shooting performance since 1986 (137).
A 3-pointer from the corner and another basket by Young prevented the Celtics from completing a comeback in the deciding minutes, after Boston turned a double-digit deficit into minus 3 only.
The Atlanta star had 32 in total, dishing out 9 assists and pulling down 6 rebounds while finishing 12/22 from the field and 6/6 from the free throw line.
Marie contributed 25 along with 6 rebounds, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Sadik Bay scored 15 each.
In Boston, Jayson Tatum stood out with 29 and 10 rebounds, Marcus Smart hit 5 three-pointers from 12 attempts on the way to 24 points, along with 8 assists.
Iron protection.
Jaylen Bronson (Photo: Reuters)
Cleveland is behind again.
Donovan Mitchell (Photo: Reuters)
New York (5) - Cleveland (4) 79:99 (the Knicks lead 1:2 in the series)
In front of a full Madison Square Garden, the Knicks' defense limited Cleveland to its fewest points this season, en route to keeping home and regaining the series lead.
The back line of the Cubs had a hard time producing offensively after a successful game number 2, and the visitor went to the break at the end of the worst half of the playoffs in the history of the franchise - 32 points (equal to the lowest figure from 1996).
In addition, Darius Garland twisted his ankle in the fourth quarter, during which the margin climbed to 27 in favor of New York.
Jaylen Brunson led the scorers with 21 points and also distributed 6 assists, RJ Barrett contributed 19 points and 8 rebounds and Josh Hart scored 13. On the other hand, Donovan Mitchell finished with 22 and 7 rebounds, but also 6 turnovers and 2/8 beyond the arc, with Caris Levert adding 17 points and Evan Mobley recording a double-double of 10 and 10.
Another great performance by Anthony Edwards was not enough for Minnesota (Photo: GettyImages, Gregory Shamus)
Denver is one win away from the Western Conference semifinals.
Jamal Marri (Photo: Reuters)
Minnesota (8) - Denver (1) (the Nuggets went 0:3 in the series) 111:104
High shooting percentages and the seventh triple-double of Nikola Jokic's playoff career kept the top seed in the West a step up to the regional semifinals, while the Timberwolves remained on the brink of elimination despite another great performance by Anthony Edwards.
The latter brought the host closer from minus 13 in the second quarter to only a 6 difference at the break, but even though Jokic committed a fourth foul already in the middle of the third quarter, Denver's bench beat Minnesota's 10:29 and made the difference, with the guest shooting 57% from the field, including 13 three-pointers from 32 shots.
"The Joker" finished with 20 points along with 12 assists and 11 rebounds (7/10 for 2 and 2/3 for 3), Michael Porter Jr. was the outstanding scorer with 25 and 9 rebounds, G Mal Marie recorded 18 and 9 assists.
Edwards scored 36 on the other side and added 7 rebounds and 3 steals.
Karl-Anthony Towns contributed 27 points and 7 rebounds, Rudy Gober provided 18 and 10 respectively.
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NBA
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Boston Celtics
Atlanta Hawks
Denver Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
New York Niks
Cleveland Cavaliers
