Hawks Pull One Back, Secure Win Over Celtics
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Boston Celtics, 130-122, at State Farm Arena on Friday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round. The Celtics now lead the series 2-1.
The Hawks had their backs against the wall heading into this game since they dropped the first two contests in Boston. The Celtics enjoyed a strong and attempted to build a 3-0 lead in the series, and they won the first quarter by a 37-33 score. However, the Hawks looked impressive in the second quarter and outscored Boston by a 41-30 result, turning the deficit into a seven-point advantage. The Hawks kept the intensity going and held a seven-point advantage with just 12 minutes left on the clock, as the Celtics looked clueless and unable to mount a comeback. The Hawks also won the final quarter by just one point (30-29) and secured the victory. Game 4 will be played Sunday at State Farm Arena.
Trae Young led the way for the Hawks with 32 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Dejounte Murray notched 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal. Clint Capela had a double-double and recorded 10 points with 11 rebounds. De’Andre Hunter notched 11 points. John Collins delivered eight points and five boards. Saddiq Bey and Bogdan Bogdanovic mustered 15 points each. Bey also ended with eight rebounds.
Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 29 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Marcus Smart recorded 24 points, eight assists, three rebounds and three steals. Jaylen Brown had 15 points, three assists and three steals. Derrick White posted 11 points. Malcolm Brogdon posted 17 points and five assists off the bench. Grant Williams ended with 14 points, two boards and two assists.
The Hawks had their backs against the wall heading into this game since they dropped the first two contests in Boston. The Celtics enjoyed a strong and attempted to build a 3-0 lead in the series, and they won the first quarter by a 37-33 score. However, the Hawks looked impressive in the second quarter and outscored Boston by a 41-30 result, turning the deficit into a seven-point advantage. The Hawks kept the intensity going and held a seven-point advantage with just 12 minutes left on the clock, as the Celtics looked clueless and unable to mount a comeback. The Hawks also won the final quarter by just one point (30-29) and secured the victory. Game 4 will be played Sunday at State Farm Arena.
Trae Young led the way for the Hawks with 32 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Dejounte Murray notched 25 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal. Clint Capela had a double-double and recorded 10 points with 11 rebounds. De’Andre Hunter notched 11 points. John Collins delivered eight points and five boards. Saddiq Bey and Bogdan Bogdanovic mustered 15 points each. Bey also ended with eight rebounds.
Jayson Tatum led the way for the Celtics with 29 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Marcus Smart recorded 24 points, eight assists, three rebounds and three steals. Jaylen Brown had 15 points, three assists and three steals. Derrick White posted 11 points. Malcolm Brogdon posted 17 points and five assists off the bench. Grant Williams ended with 14 points, two boards and two assists.
Knicks Handle Cavs In Game 3
By Dan Bruno
The New York Knicks defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers, 99-79, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
The game got out to a slow start and was tied at 17, after one quarter. The Knicks turned it up a notch in the second and outscored the visitors, 28-15, to claim a 13-point lead at the break. The hosts kept the pressure on in the third and added another four-points to their advantage to make it a 17-point difference heading into the final frame. The Cavs kept up the fight in the fourth but it was not enough as the Knicks confidently closed out the home win to take a 2-1 series lead.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 21 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals, in 38 minutes. RJ Barrett followed up with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal, while Josh Hart added 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. The Knicks shot 47 percent from the field, including 10-of-33 from deep.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals, in 38 minutes. Caris LeVert followed up with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Evan Mobley totaled 10 points, 10 rebounds and a block. The Cavs shot 38.8 percent from the field, including 7-of-33 from long range.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in New York.
The game got out to a slow start and was tied at 17, after one quarter. The Knicks turned it up a notch in the second and outscored the visitors, 28-15, to claim a 13-point lead at the break. The hosts kept the pressure on in the third and added another four-points to their advantage to make it a 17-point difference heading into the final frame. The Cavs kept up the fight in the fourth but it was not enough as the Knicks confidently closed out the home win to take a 2-1 series lead.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 21 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals, in 38 minutes. RJ Barrett followed up with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal, while Josh Hart added 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. The Knicks shot 47 percent from the field, including 10-of-33 from deep.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals, in 38 minutes. Caris LeVert followed up with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Evan Mobley totaled 10 points, 10 rebounds and a block. The Cavs shot 38.8 percent from the field, including 7-of-33 from long range.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday in New York.
Nuggets Defeat T'Wolves in Game 3, 120-111, Up 3-0 in Series
The Denver Nuggets defeated the host Minnesota Timberwolves, 120-111, in Game 3 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at Target Center on Friday.
A 10-0 run in the middle of the second quarter carried Denver to their win, never relinquishing the lead over the final 30 minutes of this game. With that said, they never led by more than 13 points, but Minnesota never had a game-tying shot after that second-quarter run. The Nuggets shot 57 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range while holding the T'Wolves to 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from long range. Denver also out-assisted Minnesota, 32-24.
The Nuggets (3-0) were led by Michael Porter Jr, providing 25 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Nikola Jokic tallied 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Jamal Murray amassed 18 points, six rebounds, nine assists and two steals, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope totaled 14 points and two rebounds. Bruce Brown led the bench with 12 points, three rebounds and four assists.
The Timberwolves (0-3) were led by Anthony Edwards, accruing 36 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 27 points and seven rebounds. Rudy Gobert generated 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Mike Conley compiled 12 points, two rebounds and five assists.
Denver will look to close out the series on Sunday.
A 10-0 run in the middle of the second quarter carried Denver to their win, never relinquishing the lead over the final 30 minutes of this game. With that said, they never led by more than 13 points, but Minnesota never had a game-tying shot after that second-quarter run. The Nuggets shot 57 percent from the field and 41 percent from three-point range while holding the T'Wolves to 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from long range. Denver also out-assisted Minnesota, 32-24.
The Nuggets (3-0) were led by Michael Porter Jr, providing 25 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Nikola Jokic tallied 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Jamal Murray amassed 18 points, six rebounds, nine assists and two steals, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope totaled 14 points and two rebounds. Bruce Brown led the bench with 12 points, three rebounds and four assists.
The Timberwolves (0-3) were led by Anthony Edwards, accruing 36 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 27 points and seven rebounds. Rudy Gobert generated 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Mike Conley compiled 12 points, two rebounds and five assists.
Denver will look to close out the series on Sunday.