Stung by a bee, and in his pride. Rudy Gobert will be able to go on vacation earlier than expected since Utah was released in the first round of the play-offs by Dallas. The Jazz, however, won three of the four quarters of the match. The third, however, proved fatal as the Mavs stuck a 36-19 to the locals, to finally win 98-96 and seal the series with the score of 4-2. Luka Doncic (24 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds) took the opportunity to cross the 500 point mark in the play-offs in 16 games. Only Michael Jordan has done better, in 14 games.
On the floor despite being stung in the nose by a bee, Gobert finished the game with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Dallas thus passes the first round for the first time since 2011, the year of their only title. The Texas franchise will face Phoenix in the conference semifinals. The Suns, the best team in the regular season, had the last laugh (115-109), also in six games, against the Pelicans.
Happy Joel
Philadelphia, winner in Toronto, has made an appointment with Miami in the East. The Sixers capped their streak with a 132-97 success, dispelling any doubt that hung over their ability to finish the job, after leading 3-0 and then letting Toronto come back to 3-2. What reassure Doc Rivers, appeared annoyed in recent hours when we came to remind him of his liabilities in this area, since he is the only coach to have experienced three eliminations after leading 3-1.
The mobilization was collective, in the wake of Joel Embiid. The strongman of the Sixers, who has suffered a torn ligament since Game 3 and appeared diminished in the next two, was again dominant inside (33 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks). Another reason for satisfaction for the 76ers, the solid performance of James Harden (22 points, 15 assists) who heard Embiid’s call for him to play more aggressively. Ingredients needed to challenge the Heat in the next round.