2023-05-07 09:39:58
Los Angeles outclassed the Warriors (127-97) while Miami edged New York (105-86) to take the lead in their series.
The Lakers, intractable in defense like Anthony Davis, crushed the Warriors (127-97) to lead two wins to one in their conference semi-final, Miami taking the same advantage against New York (105-86) , Saturday in the NBA play-offs.
After the slap received during match N.2 in San Francisco (127-100), the reply from Los Angeles was scathing. And to see the crestfallen face of Stephen Curry on the bench during the last quarter, where it was better to save his strength on both sides since the fate of the meeting was already decided, it hurt beyond the score, even if the series is still far from being played.
Defending champion, Golden State is indeed experienced enough to recover, but it is clear that the Lakers showed very few weak points in this act, yet better started by their opponents pointing in front at the end of the first quarter (30-23).
But in the wake of D’Angelo Russell, who had scored his team’s first 11 points to finish with 21 in total (5/8 from behind the arc), Anthony Davis took control of both racquets to impose his power and all his talent (25 pts at 7/10 on shots, 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 interceptions).
«I just wanted to become dominant defensively again. They’re a tough team to contain, but we did well tonight, keeping them at 97 points“Commented Davis, revengeful after being put under the extinguisher in the previous game.
LeBron on turbo-diesel
«It’s a battle between two teams that want it, that can give each other a beating any night. We know they will come in full force on Monday to avoid being down 3-1. We gotta get the mindset we had tonight“, he added.
The frustration was indeed strong opposite. Challenging several refereeing decisions, Steve Kerr’s players suffered three technical fouls before the break, returning to the locker room having conceded a 36-18.
All the more prohibitive as LeBron James (21 pts, 8 assists, 8 rebounds) was not left out, after not having taken a single shot in the first quarter. A first in 275 play-off matches played.
But his 10 and 11 pawns in the next two put the turbo in his diesel engine. And once launched, he was everywhere in attack as in defense. With his 38-year-old legs, he was once again a model of self-sacrifice, like on this sprint to cut off an opposing pass, his race ending far in the spans.
On the Warriors side, Stephen Curry was not unworthy (23 pts), no more than Andrew Wiggins (16 pts, 9 rebounds) who crushed an overpowered dunk on Davis, without it waking up his people. But Draymond Green got through (2 pts, 4 assists).
Butler revives Miami
In the East, Miami, taking advantage of the return of Jimmy Butler easily beat New York.
Without having to put on his Superman cape, the winger nevertheless largely contributed to this success (28 pts), proof that he was well and truly recovered from the sprained right ankle he had suffered at the end of the first meeting and which had forced him to withdraw for the following one.
He got a little fright, however, at the end of the third quarter, when his foot slipped slightly outwards on a slippery support. He limped for a few moments, before putting a difficult basket halfway, which had the gift of reassuring everyone on the Florida side.
At that time, Miami, while applying to defend well on Jalen Brunson (20 pts at 7/20 on shots), maintained its comfortable lead (87-67), Max Strus going from his usual contribution (19 pts) and Bam Adebayo knocking down an undermining job in the racket (17 pts, 12 rebounds).
Their coach, Erik Spoelstra, felt Butler’s return had instilled confidence in his teammates. “There is no other analysis possible, when it comes to the general level of confidence of the team, which knows that they can always give the ball to him and that they will get something efficient and consistent.»
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