Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers : 119-120
Indiana leads the 2-0 series
Since 1997, there have been 1,643 playoff matches where the gap was 7 or more points in the last minute of the game. On these 1,643 games, the team led to the score in these last 60 seconds has only won three times. The Pacers contributed to two of these three improbable victories and they have just done it in the same week. They reiterated the spectacular feat of finishing an meeting on an 8-0 in 48 seconds to win. Against the Bucks to conclude the series and against the riders last night. With once again the same man with a wand: Tyrese Haliburton. The Indiana leader returned a three-point shot to win a second from the buzzer to fold the case and take the break in the series.
One more decisive action for the 25 -year -old player, decidedly very inspired in key moments since the start of the playoffs. He was the major player in his team’s comeback, led by 20 points during the game and 14 at the start of the fourth quarter. A period in which he scored 11 of his 19 points. Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith finished best markers of the Pacers with 23 points each.
Cavaliers can have big regrets. They attacked the meeting in force despite the absences of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and’Andre Hunter. Two of the three All Stars of the team. The third, Donovan Mitchell, held his rank by compiling 48 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 interceptions. Max Strus and probably thought he had sheltered Cleveland by giving air and a substantial gap (117-110) one minute from the end. It gets complicated for the Ohio franchise, which has lost its two games at home and will therefore have to chain successes outside, potentially without certain executives.
-Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors : 88-99
Golden State leads the 1-0 series
The outside victories series continues. No home team has so far won a match on these conference semi-finals. Golden State won at Minneapolis despite the injury of Stephen Curry. The superstar was injured in the ischios during the game, returning directly to the locker room and not returning afterwards. This did not prevent the Warriors from detaching themselves in the first half and then in the third quarter. They were able to count on Jimmy Butler (20 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists), on the surprising three-point address of Draymond Green (18 points, 4 award-winning baskets) and that less surprising by Buddy Hield (24 points).
Steve Kerr players mostly made the difference in defense by stifling the Timberwolves. Already very clumsy three-point during the Game 5 won against the Lakers, the latter missed 24 of their 29 external attempts on this Game 1 of the second round. The Warriors notably defended the area to which the Wolves did not know how to respond, chaining the missing from afar. Anthony Edwards compiled 23 points and 14 rebounds but 9 out of 22 on shots. Rudy Gobert finished with 9 points and 11 rebounds. The Californian franchise has already resumed the advantage of the field by winning outside but uncertainty now hangs around Curry’s state of health, which could miss the next game (s).
