Tyrese Haliburton, with a shot at the very end of the match, allowed the Indiana Pacers to beat the Milwaukee Bucks after overtime, and the Minnesota Timerwolves now lead 3-0 after a demonstration on the Phoenix Suns floor, Friday during the first round NBA playoffs.
. Haliburton delivers Indiana
In a boiling room, a “floater” shot, despite a foul, returned one second from the siren by Tyrese Haliburton allowed the Indiana Pacers to win against the Milwaukee Bucks 121 to 118 after overtime, and to lead 2-1 in the series.
Flamboyant leader of the very offensive Pacers, Haliburton had nevertheless struggled in shooting during a match which ended in triple-double (18 points, 1 of 12 from distance, but 10 rebounds and 16 assists), being replaced in scoring by the pivot Myles Turner (29 points, 9 rebounds), skilled at three points (4 of 10).
Indiana did not give up despite the constant comebacks of the Bucks led by Khris Middleton, author of his record points in the play-offs (42, with 10 rebounds). Middleton forced overtime with a very long shot at the end of the fourth quarter, before equalizing again 6 seconds from the end of overtime.
“Every possession is worth gold. You have to draw on your resources, the game is never over,” Haliburton commented on ESPN.
The Bucks had to do without Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, injured in his left calf, for a 6th consecutive game.
Under the eyes of women’s basketball phenomenon Caitlin Clark, just drafted into the WNBA by the Indiana Fever, the Pacers took another step towards a first victorious play-off series since 2014.
. Minnesota humiliates Phoenix
The Timberwolves put together a successful performance against the Suns (126-109), who never led the game. The game took an embarrassing turn when the Wolves led by 24 points at the start of the 4th quarter.
Stifled by the visitors’ fierce defense, Kevin Durant (25 points), Devin Booker (23) and Bradley Beal (28) were never able to fully express their offensive talent.
Anthony Edwards, guard of the Minnesota Timberwolves, during the third game of the first round of the NBA Western Conference playoffs against the Phoenix Suns, in Phoenix, April 26, 2024 / Christian Petersen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Opposite, Anthony Edwards led the attack with 36 points, assisted by 5 other players with more than 13 points, including Naz Reid, recently named “6th man of the year”, or best NBA substitute.
“We’ve never been at this level, so we don’t have to worry about the past, or the future, we just want to keep winning,” said Edwards, whose franchise has only won a first round of play-offs only once in its 34 years of existence (in 2004).
Minnesota leads 3-0 in this first round, although it was announced as undecided. The Wolves will have the opportunity to qualify for the 2nd round on Sunday with a new match in Arizona, the last chance for Phoenix not to be completely humiliated.
. The Clippers frustrated by Dallas
Trailing narrowly at the start of the game, the Dallas Mavericks ended up blowing out the Los Angeles Clippers for a masterful 101-90 victory which allows them to take the lead 2-1 in this series before a new home match on Sunday.
Besides their basketball, the Clippers finished frustrated, like Russell Westbrook, expelled during the 4th quarter for two technical fouls during the same action, when he hooked Luka Doncic’s arm for a long time before bickering with PJ Washington.
Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard (9 points) and Paul George (7 points) missed out on their meeting, unlike “Mavs” stars Luka Doncic (22 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists) and Kyrie Irving (21 points).
Dallas Mavericks point guard Luka Doncic walks past Los Angeles Clippers point guard Russell Westbrook during Game 3 of the first round of the NBA Western Conference playoffs in Dallas on April 26, 2024 / Sam Hodde / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
A very distant basket from Irving followed by a terrible counter from Daniel Gafford on Paul George who went for the dunk stunned the Clippers at the start of the 4th quarter, the gap increasing to +17.
EAST CONFERENCE
Indiana (N.6) beats Milwaukee (N.3) 121 to 118 (after overtime)
Indiana leads 2-1. Next game Sunday in Indianapolis
CONFERENCE OUEST
Dallas (N.5) beats the Los Angeles Clippers (N.4) 101 to 90
Dallas leads 2-1. Next game Sunday in Dallas
Minnesota (No. 3) beat Phoenix (No. 6) 126 to 109
Minnesota leads 3-0. Next match Sunday in Phoenix
NB: the teams meet in a best-of-seven-match series, with a possible deciding match 7 on the home field of the highest ranked.
