Boston wins by a landslide against Miami and closes the series with the Heat 4-1, in the 2nd round of the playoffs they will face the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando match, now at 3-2 for the Cavaliers. Dallas wins by a landslide in Los Angeles, at the Clippers’ home, and extends 3-2, Game 6 of the 1st round playoff series in the West will be played in Texas from 3.30am on the night between Friday and Saturday. This is the double response to the NBA challenges of the night, the details below.
BOSTON CELTICS-MIAMI HEAT 118-84 (4-1 in the series)
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As easy as a walk in the park. The Celtics, the number 1 seed in the East, disintegrate the Heat, the number 8, in Game 5 and qualify for the second round of the playoffs. The absence of Latvian big man Kris Porzingis, who hurt his right calf in Game 4, the same injury that is keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo out of these playoffs, does not affect Boston’s present. We’ll see if that’s a factor tomorrow against future Eastern Conference opponents. Meanwhile, this time old Horford is enough and advances in his place, meanwhile this time the Heat don’t even tickle the team that closed the regular season with the best NBA record, 64-18. For Boston it is an approaching stage on a path towards greater ambitions, in the meantime, however, the Garden audience makes an ironic serenade and greets the Heat sent on holiday, avenging their elimination in the 2023 Conference final. For Miami it is the end of a season no. In the regular season he struggled more than expected, inconsistent, finishing with a 46-36 record, then in the play-in he lost Jimmy Butler, the man of the franchise, to injury. And with him and Terry Rozier out against Boston he never had a chance. Indeed, he has already performed a semi-miracle by winning a match, away from home to boot. Impossible to evaluate her, so impaired. Of course, reinforcements will be needed in the summer, especially under the basket.
the match
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Horford starts in the starting five in place of Porzingis, as the starting center for those in green. Wright is in the top 5 for Coach Spoelstra with Jaquez also out. Miami is therefore without three starters: Butler, Rozier and the freshman, in fact. Boston scores 41 points in the 1st quarter and closes the game immediately. The Heat’s defense is unable to contain Coach Mazzulla’s attack, then on the rebound the dominance of the owners of the Garden (56-29) is sensational. Little by little, there is no story. With 9’40” left to play in the 4th quarter Tatum sits on the bench never to return: the game and series are already safe. Boston, also ahead by 37 points, then wins by 34, its victory with the widest margin in the playoffs remains 40 points, dating back to 1982.
Boston: Brown/White 25, Hauser 17. Rebounds: Tatum 12. Assists: Holiday 5.
You love me: Adebayo 23 (9/23, 1/3, 2/2 tl), Herro 15, Martin/Bryant 10. Rebounds: Jovic 7. Assists: Adebayo 6.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS-DALLAS MAVERICKS 93-123 (2-3 in the series)
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Doncic, very strongly Doncic. The Slovenian, the best NBA scorer of the season, rages in Los Angeles. Hurricane Luka. He scores 35 points, 14 in the 3rd quarter, those of the decisive break, pulls down 7 rebounds, distributes 10 assists, leading the Mavs to a comfortable victory in Game 5. Dallas goes up 3-2 in the series, the mortgage according to the numbers: the team who wins the fifth game of a series at 2-2 historically then wins it in 81.7% of cases (188-42 so far). Dallas looks younger, fresher, more intense, at the Crypto.com Arena, than the hosts. More team. And with the best player on the court, the big boy from Ljubljana. The stars, now more presumed than real, of the Clips fail. Harden, George and Westbrook are disastrous this time. They look old, worn out. Obsolete, even. The authentic star of Los Angeles, Kawhi Leonard, is sitting on the bench, dressed in black, like the mood, hat on his head. Injured right knee, the one operated on on the cruciate. Out of action for the series, probably. Mann and Zubac are the best for Coach Lue this time: it’s not enough, it can’t be enough. Not when Harden shoots 2/12 for 7 points, Westbrook 2/11 for 6 points and George 4/13 for 15 points. Worst gap ever in a franchise playoff loss. The Clippers make history, but in reverse.
the match
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Coffey in the quintet as Leonard’s replacement. 25-24 Dallas at the end of the 1st quarter: Doncic already with 8 points, Lively excellent coming off Coach Kidd’s bench. 8 points from Zubac, his best: not a good sign. Three triples from Kleber make Dallas +8, then 56-46 at half-time. Doncic with 15 points, Westbrook 0/5 and Harden 2/9 shooting for 5 points overall. A “tremendous” of 9 points in a row by Doncic makes the score 71-50 because the Clippers don’t score for more than 5 consecutive minutes. Jones’ dunk also arrives: 73-50. The knockout punch, Dallas with a 14-0 partial closes the match and extends the series. The first match point will be played at home in 48 hours. Doncic wants more: “The work isn’t done, we have to win another one.” If he plays like this…
Los Angeles: Zubac/George 15, Powell 14. Rebounds: George 11. Assists: Harden 7.
Dallas: Doncic 35 (12/18, 2/8, 5/5 TL), Kleber 15, Irving/Hardy 14. Rebounds: Doncic/Lively 7. Assists: Doncic 10.
