The Milwaukee Bucks have a difficult time in the first round of the NBA playoffs for the second consecutive year. If last year they fell by surprise against the Miami Heat, this time the ones who have put them on the ropes are the Indiana Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton. The Bucks are paying dearly for injuries again. Neither of the team’s two stars participated in this Sunday’s game in Indiana: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. To make matters worse, the referees sent off Bobby Portis for attacking an opponent. After this Sunday’s game, Indiana Pacers is 3-1 in the series, so it is enough for them to win one of the three hypothetical remaining games to eliminate the Bucks.
In the NBA there are statistics for everything. This was the 13th time a team had played a game of the playoffswithout their two top scorers from the regular season. At 13, the team with the two casualties has been defeated. Antetokounmpo has averaged 30.4 points per game in the league (he is also the leader in rebounds, with 11.5) and Lillard, 24.3. They are the axis of the team.
Antetokounmpo was injured last year in the first quarter of the first game of the playoffs against Miami when he fell flat on the court. They fell 1-4 in the series despite recovering Anteto for the fourth and fifth games, which the Milwaukee team surprisingly let slip away. This year, the Greek player has not yet been able to make his debut in the postseason, due to a calf injury. To make matters worse, Achilles problems left Lillard out of action in the third game and relegated him to the bench.
There are hopes that Antetokounmpo can join for next week’s games (scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in case it is necessary to exhaust the seven-game series). It’s unclear how long Lillard will be sidelined. With them on the court, the Bucks are theoretically superior. Without them, they shipwreck like this Sunday.
The Bucks held their own in the first half, but ended up losing 126-113 despite 27 points from veteran Brook Lopez and 25 from Khris Middleton. Myles Turner (with 29 points) had his day for the Pacers, while Haliburton delivered with 24 points and his team leadership. Game 5 is played Tuesday in Milwaukee.
Philadelphia suffers against the Knicks
Joel Embiid’s 76ers are also on the ropes after this Sunday’s home loss against the New York Knicks (92-97). Jalen Brunson, with 47 points, 10 assists and 4 rebounds, has scored almost half of his team’s points, with 18 of 34 field goals. The fifth game is played this Tuesday in New York. Embiid, coming off an injury, has been suffering from physical problems, including facial paralysis. Even so, he is the support of the team, but the tie is very difficult for him.
During this weekend, the Celtics have regained home field advantage by bouncing back with a win in Miami from the surprise loss they suffered in Boston in the second game of the series. In the third game, the Heat missed their star, Jimmy Butler, who was injured. The Celtics won easily (84-104). Their two main figures, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were the top scorers, each with 22 points. Kristaps Porziņģis (18 points) and Derrick White (16) supported them.
The Lakers saved the first do-or-die game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday thanks to a stellar performance by LeBron James (30 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists) and Anthony Davis (25 points, 23 rebounds and 6 assists). Nikola Jokić’s game for the Nuggets was also impressive (30 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists), but the greater success in shooting and the rebounding advantage gave the victory to those from Los Angeles, who are 3-1 below in the series. This Monday they play for survival in Denver.
Daigneault, best coach
Oklahoma City Thunder, the regular season leaders in the Western Conference, edge the classification with 3-0 against the New Orleans Pelicans. Saturday’s game in New Orleans was very comfortable (85-106) for the team led by Mark Daigneault, chosen this Sunday as the best coach of the NBA regular season.
Daigneault is, at 39, the youngest coach in the NBA. And he has known how to take advantage of the talent of a young team. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 25, finished as the third leading scorer of the season and is a finalist for best player along with Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić. Jalen Williams, 23; Josh Giddey, 21, and Chet Holmgren, also 21 and a rookie this year after a season of injury, are part of the youngest team to finish first in a conference in the regular season.
Of the first round matches, there are two series that are tied at two wins. Orlando Magic beat the Cleveland Cavaliers at home this Saturday (112-89), while the Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday (111-116) despite 40 points from a very inspired Kyrie Irving.
You can follow Morning Express Deportes inFacebook andxor sign up here to receiveour weekly newsletter.
