Denver goes 3-0, Embiid and Banchero lead Philadelphia and Orlando

There are three games of the night for the NBA Playoffs. The Denver Nuggets probably put an end to the Los Angeles Lakers’ season, also winning game 3 at the Crypto.com Arena and taking a 3-0 lead in the series. It ends 112-115 for Jokic and his teammates, who start badly, but then turn the match around between the second and especially the third quarter. The Serbian comes close to achieving a triple double with 24 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists, but the double doubles of a sensational Aron Gordon with 29 points and 15 rebounds and Michael Porter Jr. with 20 points and 10 rebounds are fundamental. For the Lakers it is the eleventh consecutive defeat against Denver and an Anthony Davis with 33 points and 15 rebounds and a LeBron James with 26 points and 9 assists are not enough.

After the controversy surrounding the end of race 2, the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid rise again in game 3 and reopen the series against the New York Knicks. 125-114 victory for the Sixers led by their star, who scores his career high in the playoffs, scoring 50 points. The decisive break came in a third quarter with a 43-27 lead for the home team, also led by Tyrese Maxey with 25 points. For New York the best was Jalen Brunson with 39 points and 13 assists. In a few days there will be a decidedly fiery Game 4.

The Orlando Magic also reopen everything, dominating the Cleveland Cavaliers, prevailing with a peremptory 121-83. The Magic’s defense makes the difference, with the home team leading by +16 at halftime, before finally extending the lead with a third quarter of 35-16. Paolo Banchero is the main protagonist in Orlando with a double double of 31 points and 14 rebounds. Excellent contribution also from Jalen Suggs with 24 points, while for Cleveland the best scorer is Jarrett Allen with 15 points, while Donovan Mitchell only stops at 13.