Lakers deal with Warriors at dwelling, shut out sequence with 122-101 rout
If you had informed me at the start of this NBA season that come May, the 2 groups taking part in within the Western Conference Finals can be the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, I’d have mentioned, “Sure, but who did the Lakers trade for and who did they have to give up?” And had you responded, “They got D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jarred Vanderbilt,” I’d have laughed and informed you that wasn’t sufficient.
And but, right here we’re. May has come, and positive sufficient, these gamers play for the Lakers, and people Lakers will meet the Denver Nuggets within the Western Conference Finals. They dealt with enterprise at dwelling on Friday evening to shut out the Golden State Warriors in a blowout. They by no means trailed, led by as many as 24, and totally outplayed the defending champs to clinch a shot to advance to the Finals for the primary time because the 2020 bubble. No, it hasn’t been lengthy. But given the ups and downs this crew has endured over the course of the previous few years since that title, it feels just like the layoff has gone fairly a bit longer.
LeBron James led the best way with 30 factors, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists, whereas a probably-concussed Anthony Davis had 17 factors and 20 rebounds. Austin Reaves added 23 factors and 6 assists, together with 5 rebounds. The Lakers improved to 7-0 at dwelling because the finish of the common season. They additionally managed to snap Golden State’s — and Steph Curry’s — streak of 28 playoff sequence with a minimum of one street victory.
The Lakers are the primary crew since 2014 to get rid of Curry’s Warriors from the playoffs earlier than the NBA Finals. The famous person dropped 32 factors, however he missed 10 of 14 triples. Klay Thompson went three-for-19 from the sphere. A repeat simply wasn’t meant to be.
Heat maintain off Knicks, 96-92, advance to second-straight Eastern Conference Finals
Despite 41 from Jalen Brunson, Miami felt in management for a lot of this one. Though the Knicks led by 14 early within the first half, the Heat withstood all of it, behind 24 factors from Jimmy Butler. Bam Adebayo added 23 and the Heat are headed again to the Eastern Conference finals for the seventh time in 13 years and the third time previously 4 seasons.
The Knicks, in the meantime, undergo one other early exit after a “surprisingly” promising season. Brunson led the best way, as he did all season, however his teammates scored simply 51 factors mixed. Julius Randle had 15 and Josh Hart scored 11, however RJ Barrett had a disappointing 11 on 1-for-10 capturing.
Thus ends the run that started with a 4-1 sequence win over the Cavaliers, whereas the run for the history-defying Heat continues on to the Eastern Conference Finals. They’ll meet the Celtics of the 76ers, whose Game 7 will determine the sequence on Sunday.