Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns They are the first classified for the semifinals of the Western Conference of the NBA, instance in which They will be protagonists of a duel of firm candidates for the title. With a bit of suspense The Nuggets closed the key 4-1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves while the Suns left the Los Angeles Clippers behindin a series that was more even than the 4-1 that indicated the final score.
At Denver’s Ball Arena, the Nuggets completed a 4-1 win over Minnesota with a tight 112-109 win, con Jamal Murray as scorer with 35 goals and also with another great performance from the Serbian pivot Nikola Jokic, who achieved a new “triple double” with 28 baskets, 12 assists and 17 rebounds.
Owners of the best record in the West, the Nuggets had a harder time than expected to eliminate the Wolves, ranked eighth in the West, whose most outstanding players were Anthony Edwards, author of 29 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns, who had 26 goals and 11 recoveries.
For his part, the Suns (fourth in the West) took over the series against the Clippers (5) at the Footprint Center stadium by winning 136-130. In the winner Devin Booker was remarkable with 47 points and 10 assists, seconded by Kevin Durant with 31 points, while in the Los Angeles area Normal Powell contributed 27 baskets and Mason Plumlee 20.
Now the Denver Nuggets will play one of the West semifinals against Phoenix Suns, remaining to be defined the remaining “semi” between the winner Sacramento Kings (3)-Golden State Warriors (6) and the winner Memphis Grizzlies (2)-Los Angeles Lakers (7).
While, Boston Celtics was left with the desire advance to the Eastern semifinals by losing at home at the TD Garden to Atlanta Hawks by 119-117 because of a triple by Trae Young in the second end. Despite the loss, Boston holds a 3-2 series lead, but Game 6 will now be played Thursday in Atlanta.
In the Hawks Trae Young had 38 points and contributed 13 assists, while John Collins scored 22; while in Celtics Jaylen Brown was the scorer with 35. Tomorrow the sixth game will be played at the Hawks’ home.
The winner will play against the Philadelphia Sixers in one of the Eastern semifinals, while the other will be cheered the winners of the Milwaukee Bucks (1)-Miami Heat (3) against the Cleveland Cavaliers (1)-New York Knicks (3).
The games this Wednesday:
+ Eastern Conference: Cleveland Cavaliers (1)-New York Knicks (3), at 20 in Argentina
+ Western Conference: Memphis Grizzlies (1)-LA Lakers (3), at 8:30 p.m.
+ Eastern Conference: Milwaukee Bucks (1)-Miami Heat (3), at 10:30 p.m.
+ Western Conference: Sacramento Kings (2)-Golden State Warriors (2), at 11:00 p.m.