Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The teams of Milwaukee and Toronto ended up beating Boston and Philadelphia, Thursday, April 7 in the NBA, in clashes between the leaders of the East, which benefited the leader Miami, assured of being seeded No. 1 in the playoffs, to which Denver has entered the West.
On the other hand, as they did not play, the Heat made the good operation of the day. Finalists in 2020, the Floridians are rewarded for their consistency, having had to deal with a staff sometimes decimated by injuries or COVID-19, having also gone through a strange storm two weeks ago when, in the middle of a game, Jimmy Butler and coach Erik Spoelstra almost came to blows.
It was still a crisis and lasted four losses in a row. Since this sequence, which had the merit of setting things straight, five victories were won and the Heat confirmed that it will be a rival not to be underestimated.
On the other hand, as they did not play, the Heat made the good operation of the day. Finalists in 2020, the Floridians are rewarded for their consistency, having had to deal with a staff sometimes decimated by injuries or COVID-19, having also gone through a strange storm two weeks ago when, in the middle of a game, Jimmy Butler and coach Erik Spoelstra almost came to blows.
It was still a crisis and lasted four losses in a row. Since this sequence, which had the merit of setting things straight, five victories were won and the Heat confirmed that it will be a rival not to be underestimated.
What the Bucks, who came second by beating (127-121) the Celtics (3rd), know well because before sweeping Miami (4-0) last year in the first round of the playoffs, they had been dismissed in 2020, in the conference semi-finals (4-1).
There will eventually be a reunion, they had to fight against a Boston team deprived of Jayson Tatum (kneecap), but no long-distance address (21 baskets), like Marcus Smart (7/12, 29 pts).
Giannis Antetokounmpo (29 pts, 11 rbds, 5 assists) and Jrue Holiday (29 pts, 8 assists, 8 rbds) were preponderant for Milwaukee who scored the last nine points of the game with two minutes to go.
We find at the 4th place remain the Sixers defeated (119-114) at the Raptors (5th), in a tight duel as a possible foretaste of a confrontation in the 1st round of the play-offs.
A Cameroonian fight, as Pascal Siakam managed a big triple-double (37 pts, 12 assists, 11 rbds), winning his duel at distance with Joel Embiid (30 pts, 10 rbds).
The super player,Gary Trent Jr (30 pts) also largely contributed for the Canadian franchise, champion in 2019 and which finishes strong the season with this 13th success on the last sixteen games.
On the Philly side, James Harden was unselfish (15 assists) but clumsy (3/12 shooting, 13 pts), like this lost ball in the money-time that extinguished any hope of recovery of his team.
Denver (6th) is the last team to have secured its direct qualification for the play-offs, by beating (122-109) Memphis (2nd).
The Nuggets, dominant all along against the Grizzlies still without Ja Morant (knee), were guided by their MVP Nikola Jokic (35 pts, 16 rbds, 6 assists, 5 steals), imperial.
Minnesota won but it is a winner for nothing of San Antonio (127-121) thanks to 49 pts of Anthony Edwards, to finish in 7th position, that of a first play-off with the advantage of the floor.
The Wolves will host the Clippers (8th) next Tuesday. The winner will advance to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and the loser will have a second chance to qualify as the No. 8 seed. They will have to beat the winner of the match between No. 9 New Orleans and No. 10 San Antonio at home.
Nothing is going well for the Lakers, two days after their pitiful elimination, the Lakers conceded an eighth straight defeat (128-112) in Golden State (3rd). LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook were on the bench and their substitutes did not fail, but on the other side, Klay Thompson was successful (33 pts, 6/10 behind the arc).
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