In the American Basketball League (NBA), Minnesota Timberwolves and Brooklyn Nets became the first teams to make it to the play-offs.
The play-in struggle for the 2022 season in the NBA started with two games. Finishing the season in 7th place in the Western Conference, Minnesota Timberwolves hosted the Los Angeles Clippers, who finished in 8th place.
Timberwolves, which was more effective in attack than its opponent in the last period of the contested match, won the match 109-104 and guaranteed to stay in the play-offs. The Minnesota Timberwolves faced the conference runner-up Memphis Grizzlies this round.
Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, will play with the team that won the New Orleans Pelicans-San Antonio Spurs game, and if they win this game, they will be able to make their name in the play-offs.
Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 30 points and 5 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell led the way with 29 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Malik Beasley added 12 points and 6 rebounds, Karl-Anthony Towns supported the score with 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Paul George had 34 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, Reggie Jackson 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, Norman Powell 16 and Marcus Morris 12 points for Clippers.
BROOKLYN NETS PLAY-OFF TICKET AT THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
In the Eastern Conference play-in fight, the 7th place Brooklyn Nets beat the 8th place Cleveland Cavaliers, which they hosted, with a score of 115-108 and made their mark in the play-offs.
The Nets matched up with the conference runners-up Boston Celtics in the playoffs. The Cleveland Cavaliers will fight for the final playoff quota with the winner of the Atlanta Hawks-Charlotte Hornets game.
Nets all-star Kyrie Irving 34 points and 12 assists, Kevin Durant 25 points and 11 assists led his team to the victory. Bruce Brown had a share of the victory with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, Andre Drummond with 16 points and 8 rebounds, and Nic Claxton with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks.
In Cavaliers, Darius Garland 34 points, Evan Mobley 19 points and 7 rebounds, Kevin Love 14 points and 13 rebounds, Lauri Markkanen 13 points, Caris LeVert 12 points, 7 rebounds and assists, national player Cedi Osman 2 in 21 minutes. He scored points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist.