Milwaukee and Denver learned the names of their opponents last night. Miami and Minnesota won their final play-in games, so the playoff skeleton is complete.
MIAMI - CHICAGO 102:91
With three minutes and 47 seconds left, Chicago led 90:87 after a three-pointer by Kobi White, it seemed that the guests from Illinois were going to the playoffs, and then the hosts turned around and decided the match in their favor with a 15:1 series.
Another season has ended for the Bulls, who were unable to fight for their place under the NBA Sun in South Beach.
In the defensive affair in Florida, the match was tied, and the pains of the "bulls" were again revealed. A team that relies on the attacking "explosion" of one or two players can hardly be competitive on the biggest stage.
After a great edition in Canada, Zach Levin failed in Miami. He scored 15 points, but with a terrible percentage from the field (6/21 from the field, 0/6 from three), with five turnovers.
For the umpteenth time since arriving in the "windy" city, Nikola Vučević was a silent observer in the shooting of his teammates from the outer line.
Our representative took only nine shots, of which he hit six. He finished the match with 12 points, nine rebounds and one assist.
The hosts were led by Max Struss and Jimmy Butler with 31 points each, while Chicago's DeMar DeRozan stood out with 26 and Alex Caruso, who stopped at 16.
MINNESOTA - OKLAHOMA 120:95
The young Thunder learned their lesson in cold Minneapolis, and the Timberwolves made it to the playoffs for the second season in a row.
After the great victory in New Orleans, Oklahoma went out too frantically on the floor in Minnesota, without enough discipline in the game. Experienced "wolves" closed ranks and eventually "blow" the opponent off the field.
Rudi Gober showed his importance after returning from "exile". The Frenchman recorded a double-double (21-10) and was a defensive support for the entire team. With him and Karl Anthony Towns, two-time MVP Nikola Jokic will not have an easy task in the first round.
Minnesota knew where the greatest danger came from and successfully neutralized it. Shay Giddleges Alexander scored 22 points, but hit just five of 19 shots from the field.
Interestingly, the primary defender on Shea was his cousin, Nickel Alexander-Walker, who did a great job.
Josh Giddy, who "packed" 31 baskets and 10 assists for the Pelicans, was limited to 6 points and four assists (2/13 from the field).
Towns led the "wolves" with 28 points and 11 rebounds, Anthony Edwards made up for the disastrous game in Los Angeles, scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds, Mike Conley added 14, Alexander-Walker 12...
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