In the NBA playoffs, Isaiah Hartenstein and the Oklahoma City Thunder are missing only a victory to move into the finals of the Western Conference.
In another intensive duel with the Denver Nuggets, OKC won 112: 105 at home and took the lead in the series 3-2 after Siegen.
Nikola Jokic towered with 44 points for Denver, but the team around Hartenstein (15 points) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points) could not stop.
The decision in the series between the best team of the main round and the champions from 2023 can now be made on Friday on the German night.
“We believe in ourselves and trust our processes,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. While Denver only used eight professionals and especially the five start players had long on the pitch, three more players were used at Oklahoma City. In the previous games, OKC had already put more professionals than Denver. “It helps a lot. We have to play quickly, it helps to be fresh,” said Gilgeous-Alexander to the broad squad.
Pacers are in the final of the Eastern Conference
In the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers made the move into the next round perfectly and got the necessary fourth victory against the favored Cleveland Cavaliers at 114: 105 against the favored Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers, the best team in the main round in the east, had in the meantime with 19 points ahead, but lost control after half -time. The bad threesome quota was particularly painful: only 9 out of 35 attempts went to the finish.
Cavaliers professional Donovan Mitchell was the best thrower with 35 points, but in the end the Pacers could cheer. Tyrese Haliburton (31 points) and Pascal Siakam (21 points) were the most successful points collectors for Indiana.
In the final of the Eastern Conference, the team probably meets the New York Knicks, who lead 3-1 in the series against defending champion Boston Celtics. The next game in this duel will be played on Thursday night.