Author of 50 points, Jayson Tatum allowed Boston to come back 1-2 in his series against Brooklyn. Same score for the Clippers against Dallas, thanks in particular to 36 points from Kawhi Leonard. Finally, Atlanta dominated New York to lead 2-1.
Twenty-two points in Match 1, 9 in Match 2 (he was hit in the eye) and… 50 in Match 3! Jayson Tatum, who was very disappointed in the first two meetings of the series against Brooklyn, took on another dimension on Friday when he returned to TD Garden. At 23, he simply becomes the third youngest player to score 50 points in a play-off match after Michael Jordan and Roick Barry, and the sixth player in the legendary franchise to reach this 50 point milestone in the finals. . He scored 13 points in the first quarter, 8 in the second, 19 in the third and 10 in the last, for a total of 16 of 30 on shots including 5 of 11 on 3 points, and 13 of 15 free throws in of that historic night in front of 4,789 wild fans, who booed Kyrie Irving (16pts, 6rbds) throughout the game. Even though Brooklyn dominated the first quarter, with a fifteen-point lead, Boston took matters into its own hands in the second and controlled the game until the end, except in the middle of the third quarter when the Nets pulled it off. to take a point ahead, but the Celtics reacted immediately, in the wake of their star. Kevin Durant, despite his 39 points and 9 rebounds, and James Harden, despite his 41 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists, could not prevent the green wave from surging (23pts for Smart, 17 for Fournier, two points from his play-off record), and Boston therefore returns to 1-2 before Game 4 on Sunday.
The Clippers still alive
At the foot of the wall after two losses at home, the Clippers reacted well by going to win 118-108 in Dallas to return to 1-2 in the series. Even deprived of Serge Ibaka (hit on the back), the Californians managed to overthrow Texans who had started very well, leading by 19 points after seven minutes of play (30-11), with a Luka Doncic already at 11 points, and who will finish at 44 points (15 of 28 shots including 7/13 at 3pts), 9 rebounds and 9 assists. The Clippers equalized in the middle of the second quarter and definitely took the advantage in the middle of the third, without ever having a very big lead, only exceeding +10 in the money-time. The two stars of the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard (36pts, 8rbds) and Paul George (29pts, 7rbds), well helped by Reggie Jackson (16pts) and Marcus Morris (15pts), carried the California franchise to victory. Opposite, no other player than Doncic exceeded 15 points, and the Slovenian could not do everything alone. The Clippers therefore remain alive before Match 4 on Sunday.
BASKET – NBA / PLAY-OFFS 2021
1st round
Eastern Conference
BROOKLYN NETS (2) – BOSTON CELTICS (7) : 2-1
Match 1 – Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics : 104-93
Match 2 – Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics : 130-108
Match 3 – Boston Celtics – Brooklyn Nets : 125-119
Match 4 : Boston Celtics – Brooklyn Nets le 30 mai
Match 5 : Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics June 1
Match 6 (if necessary): Boston Celtics – Brooklyn Nets June 3
Match 7 (if necessary): Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics June 5
NEW YORK KNICKS (4) – ATLANTA HAWKS (5) : 1-2
Match 1 – New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks : 105-107
Match 2 – New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks : 101-92
Match 3 – Atlanta Hawks – New York Knicks : 105-94
Match 4 : Atlanta Hawks – New York Knicks on May 30
Match 5 : New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks le 2 juin
Match 6 (if necessary): Atlanta Hawks – New York Knicks le 4 juin
Match 7 (if necessary): New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks le 6 juin
Western Conference
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (4) – DALLAS MAVERICKS (5) : 1-2
Match 1 – Los Angeles Clippers – Dallas Mavericks : 103-113
Match 2 – Los Angeles Clippers – Dallas Mavericks : 121-127
Match 3 – Dallas Mavericks – Los Angeles Clippers : 108-118
Match 4 : Dallas Mavericks – Los Angeles Clippers le 30 mai
Match 5 : Los Angeles Clippers – Dallas Mavericks June 2
Match 6 (if necessary): Dallas Mavericks – Los Angeles Clippers June 4
Match 7 (if necessary): Los Angeles Clippers – Dallas Mavericks June 6