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the Clippers frustrate Dallas, Mitchell cardboard in vain

The Clippers and their duo Kawhi Leonard / Paul George more complete than Luka Doncic lonely started their series against Dallas on Monday in the 1st round of the NBA play-offs, scored by Donovan Mitchell’s 57 points with Utah yet beaten by Denver.

. The Clippers to experience

“What if Kristaps Porzingis hadn’t been ruled out?” The Mavs must ask themselves after this frustrating defeat (118-110), certainly not stolen by LA, who nonetheless took advantage of the Latvian’s absence.

It was for wanting to go defend Doncic, hooked by Marcus Morris, without really being vehement, that “KP” received his second technical foul, while Dallas led 71-66 in the third quarter. After that the Clippers took the advantage in the wake of Leonard (29 pts, 12 rebounds, 6 assists), George (27 pts) and Morris (19 pts), agent provocateur but also finisher.

“What happened is unfortunate. Kristaps wants to protect his teammate. You have to understand that in the playoffs, we are more emotional in a way. We will have to learn from that,” commented Texas coach Rick Carlisle.

For his play-off debut, Doncic has already broken a record as he is the first player to pass the 40 point mark for his very first game. His 42 points (8 rebounds, 7 assists), against such a tough defense (11 lost balls) still plead for his talent, which will nevertheless need to be combined with that of Porzingis to hope to make LA doubt.

. Denver, despite Mitchell

We knew that their duel would be close. The victory of the Nuggets over the Jazz, after extra time (135-125), was proof of this, Jamal Murray playing the role of the executioner, with ten of his 36 points scored during these five additional minutes.

Nikola Jokic was the other great architect of Denver’s success (29 pts, 10 rebounds), despite Rudy Gobert, very dissuasive in defense against him (two blocks and two more on Murray). The Frenchman was also present offensively (17 pts, at 8/11) but died during extra time.

But this is where the Jazz finally cracked, despite a huge performance by Donovan Mitchell, author of 57 points, 7 more than the franchise record set in the play-offs by Karl Malone. History will also remember that he became the third most prolific player in a game of this phase, behind Elgin Baylor (61 with the Lakers against the Celtics, 1962) and Michael Jordan (63 with the Bulls against the Celtics, 1986). ).

. The Raptors were in a hurry

Unsurprisingly, the defending champion Toronto (N.2) disposed of (134-110) the Nets (N.7), after a meeting where he showed two faces. Conqueror from the start, with a lead of up to 30 points halfway through the 2nd quarter, then apathetic, their mattress having shrunk to 8 points at the start of the last twelve minutes.

Finally, in the wake of Fred VanVleet (30 pts, 8/10 at long distance), the Raptors recovered their aggressiveness to avoid paying dearly for their guilty release.

Opposite, nobody gave up despite the bad start, like the Frenchman Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, excellent off the bench (26 pts at 9/13, 7 rebounds), and Caris LeVert who knew to score in the absence of scoring a lot (15 pts, 15 assists).

. Boston finished stronger

It was in the 4th quarter that the Celtics made the difference, thanks in particular to 15 points from Jaylen Brown (29 in total, 6 rebounds) to win (109-101) against the Sixers who, deprived of Ben Simmons (knee), strangely did not solicit Joel Embiid in the money-time, yet effective (26 pts, 16 rebounds).

Jayson Tatum was Boston’s other strongman (32 pts, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks), becoming at 22 the youngest player in the franchise to score at least 30 and 10 in these categories in the play-offs.

The only downside to the green board, Gordon Hayward sprained his right ankle.

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