Heat Move To 3-1 Lead Against Knicks
The Miami Heat defeated the New York Knicks, 109-101, at Kaseya Center in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Monday. The Heat now lead the series 3-1.
The Heat are creeping closer and closer to the Conference Finals with another excellent display. However, Miami had to work hard in the contest's opening stages and only created a 31-30 lead in the first quarter. The Heat began to pull away with a 25-18 score in the second quarter, and they would never look back. The Heat also won the third quarter by a minimal margin, 34-33, and they were up by nine points with only 12 minutes left in the game. New York tried to mount a comeback and won the final quarter by a 20-19 score. However, that was not enough to turn things around, and the Heat now hold a commanding lead in the series. The Knicks must win the remaining three games of the series to flip the script. By all accounts, a daunting task, given how the series has unfolded so far.
Jimmy Butler delivered a dominant display and finished with 27 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks to lead the Heat to the win. Bam Adebayo had 23 points, 13 rebounds and two assists. Max Strus was the only other starter who scored in double digits for Miami. He finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Kyle Lowry finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. Caleb Martin had 10 points and five boards.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 32 points, 11 assists and four rebounds. R.J. Barrett had 24 points, four boards and three dimes. Julius Randle had an improved effort compared to Game 3 and posted 20 points with nine boards and three boards. He also shot 8-for-13 from the field as well.
The Heat are creeping closer and closer to the Conference Finals with another excellent display. However, Miami had to work hard in the contest's opening stages and only created a 31-30 lead in the first quarter. The Heat began to pull away with a 25-18 score in the second quarter, and they would never look back. The Heat also won the third quarter by a minimal margin, 34-33, and they were up by nine points with only 12 minutes left in the game. New York tried to mount a comeback and won the final quarter by a 20-19 score. However, that was not enough to turn things around, and the Heat now hold a commanding lead in the series. The Knicks must win the remaining three games of the series to flip the script. By all accounts, a daunting task, given how the series has unfolded so far.
Jimmy Butler delivered a dominant display and finished with 27 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks to lead the Heat to the win. Bam Adebayo had 23 points, 13 rebounds and two assists. Max Strus was the only other starter who scored in double digits for Miami. He finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Kyle Lowry finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. Caleb Martin had 10 points and five boards.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 32 points, 11 assists and four rebounds. R.J. Barrett had 24 points, four boards and three dimes. Julius Randle had an improved effort compared to Game 3 and posted 20 points with nine boards and three boards. He also shot 8-for-13 from the field as well.
Lakers Hang On To Take Commanding Series Lead
By Dan Bruno
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the visiting Golden State Warriors, 104-101, in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals at Crypto.com Arena on Monday.
The game got out to a slow start as the Lakers led 22-21, after one quarter. The score stayed tight through the second, while the Warriors pulled ahead for a three-point lead at the break. The visitors carried the momentum into the third and opened up a 12-point lead, before the Lakers cut it back to a seven-point game heading into the final frame. The hosts kept the pressure on in the fourth and claimed an edge early in the quarter. The score stayed close and after a couple of lead changes, the Lakers came up clutch in the end to close out the home win and take a 3-1 series lead.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a block, in 43 minutes. Anthony Davis followed up with 23 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Austin Reaves tallied 21 points, two rebounds, four assists and a steal. The Lakers shot 45.3 percent from the field, including 6-of-25 from long range.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists and three steals, in 42 minutes. Andrew Wiggins followed up with 17 points, four rebounds and two steals, while Gary Payton added 15 points, three rebounds and two assists. The Warriors shot 46.5 percent from the field, including 12-of-41 from deep.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in Golden State.
The game got out to a slow start as the Lakers led 22-21, after one quarter. The score stayed tight through the second, while the Warriors pulled ahead for a three-point lead at the break. The visitors carried the momentum into the third and opened up a 12-point lead, before the Lakers cut it back to a seven-point game heading into the final frame. The hosts kept the pressure on in the fourth and claimed an edge early in the quarter. The score stayed close and after a couple of lead changes, the Lakers came up clutch in the end to close out the home win and take a 3-1 series lead.
LeBron James led the Lakers with 27 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a block, in 43 minutes. Anthony Davis followed up with 23 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and three steals, while Austin Reaves tallied 21 points, two rebounds, four assists and a steal. The Lakers shot 45.3 percent from the field, including 6-of-25 from long range.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 31 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists and three steals, in 42 minutes. Andrew Wiggins followed up with 17 points, four rebounds and two steals, while Gary Payton added 15 points, three rebounds and two assists. The Warriors shot 46.5 percent from the field, including 12-of-41 from deep.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in Golden State.