In the fight for direct qualification for the playoffs, the Boston Celtics embarrassed themselves against Oklahomy City. The Nets and Blazers present themselves better, with the latter, Anfernee Simons cannot be stopped from a distance.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks to victory in Charlotte. OKC surprises the Celtics.
With five defeats in a row (nine out of eleven), the Blazers went into the game, against the decimated Pacers (missing Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and Jeremy Lamb) the chance to at least increase the probability of direct playoff qualification . And the team around the overwhelming Anfernee Simons succeeded after a mixed start.
The first quarter went close to the Pacers, led by Malcolm Brogdon, but in the second half the Blazers hit back impressively (39:27) and set the tone for victory. The guests led with up to 16 points, at the break there were only 11, also because Lillard only wanted to succeed little (3/10 FG, 12 points) and he also picked up a technical foul for violently complaining.
Afterwards lady woke up (and was the tenth player in NBA history to sink his 2,000. three), at Indiana nothing wanted to work anymore. And then there was Simons, who had converted all of his 7 threesomes. As a result, Portland’s lead grew from 8 to 29 points within eight minutes! After 36 minutes the score was 113: 78, Game Over Pacers, who at least still did damage limitation.
Simons (27) failed only in the tenth attempt from the triple line, Lillard (23, 6/14 FG) and CJ McCollum (23, 9/13 FG) scored best after him. Jusuf Nurkic (11 and 10), Enes Kanter (12 and 14) and Robert Covington (15 and 11) contributed double doubles with rebounds. At the Pacers, Brogdon (5/14 FG) and Oshae Brissett (5/11 FG, 10 rebounds) got 18 points, Caris LeVert landed 16. Thanks to Simons, the Blazers hit 57.1 percent from a distance, Indiana only 33 , 3.
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