The Houston Rockets prevailed against the Milwaukee Bucks in an exciting final phase. An outstanding Giannis Antetokounmpo was not enough for the best team in the league in the end. Meanwhile, the San Antonio Spurs win an important victory in the fight for the last playoff spot in the west.
In addition, the Nets keep the wizards away from the playoff places in the Eastern Conference.
Brooklyn Nets (31-35) – Washington Wizards (24-42) 118:110 (BOXSCORE)
- The Nets have taken a giant step towards the playoffs. With the success against the direct pursuer from the US capital, the team from the Big Apple gained a 7-game lead over the ninth placed thanks to 34 points (11/25 FG) from Caris LeVert (here are his points in the video) Wizards. This puts the chance of a play-in tournament for the wizards far away.
- Almost everything went wrong from the Nets point of view in the early minutes. Only one of the first 12 throwing attempts found its way through the trap, but in an early break Nets coach Jacque Vaughn apparently found the right words. From then on, Brooklyn played with significantly more intensity, with an 11-0 run they had turned the game around again. Then an entertaining back and forth developed.
- It was only five minutes before the end that the Nets settled down – mainly because LeVert was hot. The 25-year-old scored 14 of his 34 points in the final section, with a 10-2 run he led the Nets almost single-handed to victory. That was too much for the wizards, who could not recover from the deficit.
- In addition to LeVert, Joe Harris was particularly on fire, the 28-year-old came out of the field with 27 points in 10 out of 13 (6/7 three, plus 7 rebounds). Jarrett Allen also raged under the basket (22 and 15 rebounds). Although Thomas Bryant (30 and 13) and Troy Brown Jr. (22, 10 and 8 assists) tried to counteract this, it was not enough. Isaac Bonga got 4 points and 6 boards in 26 minutes, Moritz Wagner was only 7 minutes on the floor (2 points, -11).
Here are the highlights of the game between the Nets and the Wizards.
Boston Celtics (44-22) – Portland Trail Blazers (30-38) 128:124 (Spielbericht)
Memphis Grizzlies (32-35) – San Antonio Spurs (29-36) 106:108 (BOXSCORE)
- What an important win for the Spurs, who also win their second game in the bubble. Due to the narrow success against the Grizzlies, the gap to the eighth place in the Western Conference is only 1.5 games. And even more crucial: The Texans are passing the Blazers, who were previously defeated by the Celtics, and would secure a play-in tournament against Memphis at the current status. It would be the 23rd consecutive playoff for San Antonio.
- After San Antonio started strongly in the fourth quarter and led with 11 points in the middle of the section, everything looked as if the encounter had been decided. But it should be hectic again: 17 seconds before the end, Ja Morant reduced it to -3, on the other side DeMar DeRozan left two free throws, Jaren Jackson hit the corner three to equalize. With a second on the watch, DeRozan Dillon Brooks fooled with a pump fake and went to the line. This time he did better, Jackson Jr.’s long threesome didn’t find his goal.
- Dejounte Murray accounted for 10 points in the final quarter, with a total of 21 (and 10 rebounds) he was the best Spurs points collector. Derrick White (16), DeRozan (14), Lonnie Walker IV and Rudy Gay (both 12) followed. Jakob Poeltl played 21 minutes as a starter and put on 6 points and 7 rebounds. San Antonio sank a strong 41.4 percent of his threes (12/29).
- The grizzlies could not keep up in this category and hit a miserable 23.3 percent (7/30) from a distance. A good assist-turnover ratio (27-12, San Antonio: 22-16) almost made a comeback possible. Morant narrowly missed the triple double with 25 points (10/18 FG), 9 rebounds and 9 assists, and Jackson Jr. (21, 8/13 FG) also convinced. Brooks threw a lot (7/20 FG), but hit nothing from a distance (1/7). Jonas Valanciunas did a double-double (13 and 11).
Here are the highlights of the game between the Grizzlies and the Spurs.
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