A stunning efficiency from Josh Giddey has helped Oklahoma Metropolis transfer one recreation nearer to the subsequent stage of the playoffs after a 21-point victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
The victory gave the Thunder a 3-0 sequence lead over New Orleans and can now have the prospect to shut out the sequence on Tuesday (AEST).
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Giddey was one of many Thunder’s finest in opposition to the Pelicans, scoring 21 factors and racking up eight rebounds together with six assists.
Jalen Williams and celebrity level guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander additionally made huge scoring contributions with 21 and 24 factors respectively.
Though Giddey’s postseason profession is simply three video games outdated, his efficiency in recreation three in opposition to the Pelicans was one of the best of the lot and proved he can deal with the event.
He additionally despatched NBA followers into meltdown with a slick transfer on the Pelicans’ CJ McCollum early within the second quarter.
Giddey picked up the ball from his personal baseline and drove up the court docket earlier than breezing previous McCollum on the midway line when he bounced the ball round his again, placing the Pelicans man right into a spin.
The Aussie then obtained previous McCollum as soon as once more with a Euro step earlier than changing for a simple lay-up.
The Thunder Podcast reposted the imaginative and prescient with the caption: “MY GOODNESS”.
The Athletic’s Andrew Schlecht additionally described Giddey’s transfer as “particular”.
It was one among Giddey’s eight field-goals created from 13 tried whereas additionally changing 4 three-pointers from seven.
Nuggets edge nearer to comb over Lakers | 01:24
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LAKERS END NUGGETS CURSE
The Los Angeles Lakers, fueled by 30 factors from celebrity LeBron James, stayed alive within the NBA playoffs with a 119-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Down 3-0 to the defending champions and dealing with elimination, the Lakers stood agency on their house ground, weathering a triple-double from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic to ship the sequence again to Denver for recreation 5 on Monday.
After the Lakers let double-digit leads evaporate in shedding every of the primary three video games, James scored 14 factors within the fourth quarter to make sure it didn’t occur once more.
“I really like the fourth quarter,” James mentioned. “I perceive it’s close-out time and we haven’t been ready to do this versus this workforce by way of three video games.
“So tonight I had a possibility to do this and I needed to ship,” added the 39-year-old, who related on six of eight photographs within the ultimate interval, drew a cost and got here up with a steal that he parlayed right into a dunk on the different finish.
However the four-time NBA champion wasn’t able to have a good time the Lakers’ first win over Denver in 12 contests, since December of 2022, realizing that no NBA workforce has rallied from 3-0 right down to win a playoff sequence.
“We’re nonetheless down 3-1,” he mentioned. “So every recreation will probably be its personal problem. We took care of enterprise tonight to increase the sequence, however we’ve obtained to be even higher.”
Anthony Davis added 25 factors and a whopping 23 rebounds for Los Angeles. Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell scored 21 factors apiece.
Russell repaid the religion of coach Darvin Ham, who saved him within the beginning lineup after he went scoreless in recreation three.
Two-time NBA Most Useful Participant Jokic scored 33 factors with 14 rebounds and 14 assists.
Michael Porter Jr. added 25 factors and 10 rebounds and Jamal Murray added 16 for the Nuggets in defeat.
BOSTON BACK IN DRIVER’S SEAT
In Miami, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 22 factors apiece, Tatum including 11 rebounds and 6 assists because the Celtics led from begin to end in a 104-84 victory over the Warmth.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 18 factors and Derrick White chipped in 16 for the Celtics, who allowed the Warmth the fewest factors of any Celtics opponent this season.
“That’s the place we’re going to win video games at, on defensive finish,” Tatum informed broadcaster TNT, including that even when photographs aren’t falling “if you will get stops, you possibly can determine it out.” Boston appeared to have this one found out early, main 21-12 after the primary quarter earlier than erupting for 42 factors within the second interval.
They have been up by 24 factors at halftime, having dominated each side of the sport and scored 19 factors off Miami turnovers. They pushed the result in as many as 29 within the second half.
Miami, who had simply 9 three-pointers after raining 23 treys of their recreation two victory, will attempt to regroup once they host recreation 4 on Monday.
MAGIC STAR DELIVERS AS SERIES TIED
The Orlando Magic, with 32 factors from Franz Wagner and a dominant second half, thrashed the Cleveland Cavaliers 112-89 on Saturday to degree their NBA Japanese Convention playoff sequence at 2-2.
The Cavs, who have been blown out by the Magic in recreation three at Orlando, scored simply 29 factors after the interval because the Magic erased a nine-point halftime deficit and relentlessly pulled away.
With Magic star Paolo Banchero struggling to only 9 factors and 4 rebounds, Germany’s Wagner crammed the void, grabbing 13 rebounds with 4 assists and a blocked shot.
The Magic’s suffocating defence made Cleveland’s offence disappear within the second half, when the Cavs went greater than six minutes with out scoring.
Orlando took full benefit, ripping by way of a 31-5 scoring run that carried them to a 92-70 lead early within the fourth quarter earlier than Caris LeVert ended the Cavs’ drought with a leap shot.
However LeVert was one among a number of Cavs to endure a tricky capturing evening, connecting on two of eight makes an attempt on the best way to 5 factors.
Jarrett Allen led Cleveland with 21 factors and 9 rebounds with Cavs star Donovan Mitchell ending with 18 factors.
“Our guys made the fitting changes,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned of his workforce’s huge second half.
“(They) realised it was concerning the physique and ball motion, sharing it, transferring it, trusting the go,” Mosley mentioned, calling their defensive effort “particular.” The sequence returns to Cleveland for recreation 5 on Tuesday.
FULL NBA PLAYOFF RESULTS
Magic 112-89 Cavaliers (Collection tied 2-2)
Pelicans 85-106 Thunder (OKC leads 3-0)
Warmth 84-104 Celtics (Celtics lead 2-1)
Lakers 119-108 Nuggets (Nuggets lead 3-1)