Australian versus Australian. Mate versus mate.
Josh Giddey and former NBA World Academy teammate Dyson Daniels will face off within the first spherical of the NBA playoffs after the New Orleans Pelicans booked their spot within the post-season.
The Pelicans, with out famous person Zion Williamson, had been too go for the Sacramento Kings of their do-or-die play-in match sport as they completed 105-98 winners.
Daniels solely performed two minutes in Saturday’s win however had seen comparatively constant taking part in time earlier than that time.
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The Pelicans match-up is the absolute best situation for the Thunder, who Charles Barkley predicted on TNT would sweep New Orleans with out Williamson.
The Pelicans mentioned an MRI examination on Thursday confirmed a left hamstring pressure for Williamson, who will likely be reevaluated in about two weeks.
Williamson had 40 factors and 11 rebounds earlier than exiting with the sport tied with 3:13 to play in Wednesday’s play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
With out Williamson, there received’t be the identical potential considerations over OKC’s lack of measurement being uncovered, particularly when you think about the Thunder may play Pelicans huge man Jonas Valančiūnas off the ground.
Within the absence of Williamson, Brandon Ingram stepped up for the Pelicans, producing 24 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists as New Orleans took command within the second quarter.
The house facet led 54-45 on the half and by no means allowed the Kings to get inside 5 factors within the second half, with their bench gamers making important contributions.
Larry Nance, Naji Marshall and Jose Alvarado all offered double figures off the bench as New Orleans made it 6-0 towards Sacramento this season.
“We knew how necessary immediately was,” mentioned Ingram.
“We knew the place we wished to be and the place we belonged. It has been two years since we’ve been again within the playoffs and now we get one other likelihood to go on the market and proceed to combat,” he mentioned.
De’Aaron Fox prime scored for Sacramento with 35 factors, but it surely was one other disappointing evening for a staff that went out within the first spherical final yr to the Golden State Warriors.
Final yr was the Kings’ first post-season look since 2006.
HEAT SET UP EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS REMATCH
Earlier, the Miami Warmth shrugged off the absence of star ahead Jimmy Butler to crush the Chicago Bulls 112-91 of their play-in eliminator and earn a conflict with the top-seeded Boston Celtics within the first spherical of the NBA playoffs.
It’s the second straight season that Miami have earned the eighth-seed spot through the play-in match and they’re going to play the Celtics for the fourth time within the final 5 post-seasons.
Butler suffered a sprained MCL knee ligament in Thursday’s defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers and faces a number of weeks out.
The 34-year-old has led the Warmth to 2 NBA Finals, together with final yr’s run, which included an Jap Convention Finals win over the Celtics.
Warmth coach Erik Spoelstra had insisted that his staff had the personnel to deal with the lack of their talisman they usually illustrated that in a convincing dwelling win.
Level guard Tyler Herro was the primary man with 24 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, however he was effectively supported by rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. and veteran Kevin Love.
Jaquez put up 21 factors with six rebounds and 6 assists, whereas Love, coming off the bench, made 16 factors and grabbed seven rebounds.
The Warmth had been additionally with out level guard Terry Rozier, who stays out with a neck harm, however they stormed out within the first quarter, placing up a 19-0 run and ending the opening interval 34-17 up.
It was a lead they by no means relinquished, with a 14-0 run within the second serving to them attain a half-time lead of 47-37.
Demar DeRozan prime scored for the Bulls with 22 factors, however Chicago by no means actually threatened to show the sport round within the second half.
Herro mentioned he had got down to emulate Butler’s all-round contribution for Miami.
“There are lots of people who attempt to decide the result of a sport by what number of factors somebody scores and I feel Jimmy Butler does the alternative of that,” he mentioned.
“He impacts the sport in so many alternative methods, sharing the ball, making the proper performs for his team-mates, and I attempted to be as a lot as I may of Jimmy tonight, simply making an attempt to make the proper play, give my guys photographs and never power something,” he mentioned.
“Clearly it was an incredible staff win for us total, I’m simply excited to be again within the playoffs, wholesome and able to roll,” he added.
The Celtics, nonetheless, will begin as sturdy favorites towards Miami, with Boston notching a league-high 64 wins this season.
FULL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
(All instances in AEST)
First Spherical – East
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Miami Warmth
Recreation 1: Monday, April 22 at Boston (3am, ABC)
Recreation 2: Thursday, April 25 at Boston (9am, TNT)
Recreation 3: Sunday, April 28 at Miami (8am, TNT)
Recreation 4: Tuesday, April 30 at Miami (TBA)
Recreation 5*: Thursday, Might 2 at Boston (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Saturday, Might 4 at Miami (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Monday, Might 6 at Boston (TBA)
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
Recreation 1: Sunday, April 21 at New York (8am, ESPN)
Recreation 2: Tuesday, April 23 at New York (9.30am, TNT)
Recreation 3: Saturday, April 27 at Philadelphia (9.30am, TNT)
Recreation 4: Monday, April 29 at Philadelphia (3am, ABC)
Recreation 5*: Wednesday, Might 1 at New York (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Friday, Might 3 at Philadelphia (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Sunday, Might 5 at New York (TBA)
(3) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (6) Indiana Pacers
Recreation 1: Sunday, April 21 at Milwaukee (9am, TNT)
Recreation 2: Tuesday, April 23 at Milwaukee (10.30am, NBA TV)
Recreation 3: Friday, April 26 at Indiana (7.30am, ESPN)
Recreation 4: Sunday, April 28 at Indiana 9am, TNT)
Recreation 5*: Tuesday, April 30 at Milwaukee (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Thursday, Might 2 at Indiana (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Saturday, Might 4 at Milwaukee (TBA)
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Orlando Magic
Recreation 1: Sunday, April 21 at Cleveland (3am, ESPN)
Recreation 2: Tuesday, April 23 at Cleveland (9am, NBA TV)
Recreation 3: Friday, April 26 at Orlando (9am, NBA TV)
Recreation 4: Sunday, April 28 at Orlando (3am, TNT)
Recreation 5*: Wednesday, Might 1 at Cleveland (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Saturday, Might 4 at Orlando (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Monday, Might 6 at Cleveland (TBA)
First Spherical – West
(1) Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans
Recreation 1: Monday, April 22 at Oklahoma Metropolis (11.30am, TNT)
Recreation 2: Thursday, April 25 at Oklahoma Metropolis (11.30am, TNT)
Recreation 3: Sunday, April 28 at New Orleans (5.30am, TNT)
Recreation 4: Tuesday, April 30 at New Orleans (TBA)
Recreation 5*: Thursday, Might 2 at Oklahoma Metropolis (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Saturday, Might 4 at New Orleans (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Monday, Might 6 at Oklahoma Metropolis (TBA)
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers
Recreation 1: Sunday, April 21 at Denver (10.30am, ABC)
Recreation 2: Tuesday, April 23 at Denver (12pm, TNT)
Recreation 3: Friday, April 24 at Los Angeles (12pm, TNT)
Recreation 4: Sunday, April 28 at Los Angeles (10.30am, ABC)
Recreation 5*: Tuesday, April 30 at Denver (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Friday, Might 3 at Los Angeles (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Sunday, Might 5 at Denver (TBA)
(3) Minnesota Timberwolves vs. (6) Phoenix Suns
Recreation 1: Sunday, April 21 at Minnesota (5.30am, ESPN)
Recreation 2: Wednesday, April 24 at Minnesota (9.30am, TNT)
Recreation 3: Saturday, April 27 at Phoenix (12.30pm, ESPN)
Recreation 4: Monday, April 29 at Phoenix (11.30am, TNT)
Recreation 5*: Wednesday, Might 1 at Minnesota (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Friday, Might 3 at Phoenix (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Sunday, Might 5 at Minnesota (TBA)
(4) LA Clippers vs. (5) Dallas Mavericks
Recreation 1: Monday, April 22 at Los Angeles (5.30am, ABC)
Recreation 2: Wednesday, April 24 at Los Angeles (12pm, TNT)
Recreation 3: Saturday, April 27 at Dallas (10am, ESPN)
Recreation 4: Monday, April 29 at Dallas (5.30am, ABC)
Recreation 5*: Thursday, Might 2 at Los Angeles (TBA)
Recreation 6*: Saturday, Might 4 at Dallas (TBA)
Recreation 7*: Sunday, Might 6 at Los Angeles (TBA)