BROOKLYN - PHILADELPHIA 97:102
The Sixers achieved an important triumph in the suburbs of New York and took a 3:0 lead in the series.
The team from the city of "brotherly love" did not impress in Brooklyn, but in the last quarter, thanks to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, they managed to repel the attacks of the tough Nets.
At two minutes and 15 seconds to the end, "Mrežice" had a five-point advantage (96:91), but Maksi reversed the result with his 8:0 mini-series 45 seconds before the end of the regular part (96:99).
Spencer Dinwiddie was then halved from the penalty line (97:99), the hosts defended the next attack, so they went for a win or a tie.
Dinwiddie was going to break through, but Joel Embiid was waiting for him under the hoop and blocked his shot.
However, the question is whether Embid should have been on the court at all at that moment, given that in the first quarter he kicked Nick Claxton from the ground, but Claxton received a technical foul (?) from the whole situation.
In the fourth quarter, Claxton received a second, disqualifying, foul for "provoking" the Cameroonian center after dunking over him.
James Harden was ejected from the match in the third period when he intentionally hit Royce O'Neal "below the belt" while trying to penetrate.
Maxi scored 25 points for the guests, Harden 21, Tobias Harris 15, and Embid 14.
Mikal Bridges was the best among the hosts with 26 points, Dinwiddie added 20, Claxton 18, Cam Johnson 17...
GOLDEN STATE - SACRAMENTO 114:97
The current champions defend their home turf. Golden State defeated Sacramento without major problems and reduced the deficit to 2:1.
Weakened by Draymond Green not playing due to suspension, the Warriors closed the ranks and on the wings of Steph Curry and Kevon Looney came to victory.
Curry scored 36 points (12/25 from the field), while Looney scored just four, but grabbed 20 rebounds and dished out nine assists.
"Warriors" had complete control over the match from the very beginning, which is also shown by the fact that the Kings never had a lead.
After the game, Curry talked about Green's suspension, saying that "Draymond has a history, but so do we," alluding to the NBA's official statement in which they justified the suspension by saying that Green has a "history of unsportsmanlike conduct" and the fact that the core of this team has won four titles and cannot be written off so easily.
Andrew Wiggins added 20 points for the "Warriors", Jordan Poole 16, Klay Thompson and Moses Moody each 13...
Dieron Fox was the best player of the "Kings" with 26 points and nine successful passes, Harrison Barnes contributed with 17, while Domantas Sabonis had a double-double effect: 15 points and 16 caught balls.
LA CLIPERS - PHOENIX 124:129
The break in the "city of angels" was reached by Phoenix, who took advantage injury to Kawai Leonard and led 2:1.
Leonard didn't play because of a sprained right knee, but his teammates did their best and made the Suns suffer.
Norman Powell is phenomenal, who set a career record in the playoffs with 42 points, while Russell Westbrook scored 30, with eight rebounds and 12 assists.
The Clippers couldn't do it against Booker and Durant though. The Sansa guard had 45 points (18/29 from the field), while the 2014 league MVP added 28.
The team from Arizona had its first more sensitive lead in the third quarter, when it took a 17:8 lead after a 71:59 run.
With one minute and 44 seconds to go, the home team got to minus three (116:119), but Tori Craig with a three-pointer and Booker with a foul layup brought the Suns back to plus nine (116:125).
In the next attack, Powell threw a shot behind the 7,24 line with a foul, however, there was no time for a turnaround.
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