The Boston Celtics have won a dramatic match against the Portland Trail Blazers with a Buzzerbeater from Al Horford. The Atlanta Hawks also win a crime thriller in New York. The Oklahoma City Thunder stumble against the Los Angeles Lakers.
What was that finish in Boston? The Celtics dug a deep hole in the first half and were already 16 points behind. Since Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris were again not available to their coach Brad Stevens due to various injuries, there was not much to speak for the hosts.
In Portland, on the other hand, things went well. Even Mo Harkless (19.5/5 threesome) had already scuttled four threesomes before the break, and C. J. did it. McCollum (22), whatever he wanted. The fact that Damian Lillard (1/8 FG) was not even in the game did not matter at all.
But Boston returned to the game via defence. Only 26 percent of Blazers-throwers found their way into the basket in the third quarter, a meagre 19 points jumped out.
The final phase was then top class. Jayson Tatum (17) turned some important jumpers, including the three-way 85:85 equaliser and another pullup jumer, who put the Celtics in front with five points two minutes to go. But Portland’s guards responded: Lillard and McCollum met from outside, then Dame made another jump shot. 93:93.
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Terry Rozier, who had problems with his litter after his career high against Atlanta this time, sunk a heavy jumper for another Celtics lead. There were only 13 seconds left on the clock. Then it was Lillard again, who was fouled at the drive, but nevertheless placed the spalding in the basket. The free-throw also sat, but Al Horford had the final answer. After a time-out, the All-Star got the ball on the free-throw line and let a wonderful fadeaway jumper glide with the siren through the reuse – Game Winner!
The Big Man was with 22 points and 10 rebounds at the same time the best man in black-green. Jaylen Brown contributed a further 16 points (6/15 FG). Daniel Theis played another good 20 minutes in which he scored 6 points, 8 rebounds (4 offensive) and 2 assists. Jusuf Nurkic (14.8 rebounds) got off to a good start at Portland, but made his life with stupid fouls himself and took his sixth foul at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
A casual win for the Bucks in Brooklyn, albeit with a slight moment of shock: Giannis Antetokounmpo (16.8 rebounds) had to leave the game in the fourth quarter with ankle problems.
The fact that the Greek was still standing on the court had to do with sloppy bucks in the third section. At the beginning of the quarter, the Bucks lead was increased to 28 points with a 7-0 run, but the Nets bite back in and all of a sudden were up to 11 points. Without the Greek Freak, however, nothing burned because Eric Bledsoe took over and scored 12 of his 28 points in the final section.
The Bucks were dominant thanks to John Henson (19,18 Rebounds) among the boards. The guests grabbed 54 Rebounds (Nets: 36). Nevertheless, however, there was insufficient closure in the zone. Just over 50 percent (21/37 FG) in the “color” were less intoxicating.
In the Nets, only four players scored double-digit points, with Caris LaVert and DeMarre Carroll (15 players each) still being the busiest collectors of points. Rookie Jarrett Allen had his hands full with Henson, but scored 14 points. Spencer Dindwiddie (9) fought with his litter (3/11 FG) but distributed 10 assists.
Was that it with the playoff hopes of the Knickerbockers? Atlanta was supposed to be a must-have win, but the Hawks proved to be poisonous and made a competitive match at noon in Manhattan from this comparison. In the end, the guests even cheered.
“I can’t believe we lost this game,”said a consternated Kristaps Porzingis.”I can’t believe it. That’s what many in the Garden thought when the Knicks won a four-point lead at the last minute. But Tim Hardaway, Jr. helped his former teammates: Porzingis had missed a free-throw 46 seconds before the end, so THJ grabbed the rebound and immediately took a jumper instead of playing the clock down.
It came as it had to come: Mike Muscala (15) shortened from downtown, while Kyle missed O’ Quinn on the other side. The Hawks let the ball go and won a free threesome for Kent Bazemore (19), who remained ice-cold. At 96:98 the Knicks still had a chance, but Hardaway was on the way out after a hand-off with his foot in the off-turnover. Dewayne Dedmon scuttled another freebie and without a break the Knicks couldn’t get a decent throw.
The Hawks won, although Dennis Schröder (10,2/16 FG, 6 Assists) didn’t have a good evening. Taurean Prince contributed 13 points. At the Knicks, Porzingis was the top scorer with 22 points (9/20 FG), Enes Kanter (10.12 rebounds) scored a double-double, backup playmaker Trey Burke scored a good 14 points.
Page 1: Horford-Buzzerbeater – Hawks win thriller in the Garden
Page 2: Raptors Bank brutal – OKC stumbles against the Lakers