NBA results – Play-in: LeBron leads the Lakers to the playoffs, Atlanta beats Miami

Atlanta and the Los Angeles Lakers conquer the playoffs, Miami and Minnesota are forced to the second round play-in repair exam. These are the first verdicts of the post season. Surprising matches, in the Italian night: Heat and Lakers were thought they could win without particular troubles, and instead…

The Lakers win, as expected. And they conquered the playoffs, as the seventh seed in the West, against Memphis. But they make a damned effort, and certainly not a great impression. Even down by 15 points, by 10 in the fourth quarter, always spent chasing, they are saved above all thanks to the disasters of the Wolves, terrified of a stage too big for them, who pay for 24 turnovers and score just 12 points in the fourth period, before to surrender to extra time. LeBron scores 30 points, decisive at 38, Schroeder makes the difference from the bench, in place of the former Russell, on the bench. But it’s the Wolves who throw it away. Only Conley is saved, Edwards’ performance and Towns’ final are nightmarish. Now they will have to make up for it at home against the winner of New Orleans-Oklahoma City if they don’t want to go to the beach already. We’ll see if they will forgive Gobert…

The match

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28-22 Minnesota at the end of the first quarter with Prince, in the quintet in place of the suspended Gobert, with already 8 points to his credit. LeBron keeps his players in the game, the Lakers even put their heads forward. But a run of 14-2 by Minny is 60-49 for the guests at halftime. The difference between Conley and Russell is heartbreaking for Lakers fans, SloMo Anderson goes all out and Towns scores 17 points. The Lakers are only LeBron and Davis, for a change… A triple from Anderson is worth the Wolves 76-61 in the middle of the third quarter, maximum external advantage. Then 86-79 after 36′. With 9′ to play comes the fifth foul by Towns, Schroeder brings the Lakers back to -3, then LeBron scores the triple of 95 all with 2′ to play. 6 ‘from the end of regulation Minny doesn’t even score a field goal anymore, missing 8 shots in a row. Towns is terrified, Edwards out of the game, he will close 3/17 shooting for 9 points. The Lakers do everything to lose it, yet Schroeder’s triple with 2” to play, inspired by James, seems to be the decisive one. Instead another mess shuffles the cards again: Davis commits an unforgivable foul on Conley’s 3-point shot with a tenth of a second left on the clock. Conley scores 3 times from the line. Additional. The teams, exhausted, combine all sorts of things. One has to win, however. It’s up to the Lakers to do it. Who have the public in favor and still LeBron. And who tremble a little less than their opponents. Enough this time.

Los Angeles:James 30 (9/15, 3/6, 3/3 tl), Davis 24, Schroeder 21. Rebounds: Davis 15. Assists: Russell 8.

Minnesota:Towns 24 (6/8, 2/4, 6/6 tl), Conley 23, Prince 14. Rebounds: Towns 11. Assists: Anderson 13.

The Hawks dominate in Miami. They inflict a lesson on the Heat, almost a punishment. More physical, more intense, they rage on offensive rebounds, they want victory more. And they conquer it “in slippers”, earning the playoffs as seventh seed in the East, conquering the series with Boston. Miami patches the umpteenth game of an unfortunate season. He reiterates the offensive limits shown since October, wastes the joker played by Lowry, 33 points, season high, off the bench and now has to win at home against those who will go through between Toronto and Chicago to hit the playoffs. Otherwise he will see them on television. Disturbing counter-performance by Adebayo who signed a five-year contract worth 163 million but lets him play in 4 in attack and is swept away under the basket by Capela who finishes with 21 rebounds. The 22 offensive players of the guests are the key and the photograph of the game: they feasted under the basket. Miami too low and too short in terms of rotations: Love and Zeller on the floor just 7′ combined.

The match

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Atlanta also +24, then 65-50 Hawks interval. The beginning of the third quarter is the only start of the Heat: after the break they unleash a 16-6 run to return to -5 at 66-71. They’ll never get any closer than that. 91-78 Atlanta after 36′ with the bench exposing the limits of Spoelstra’s. However, a “treat” from Lowry brings Miami back to -6 at 91-97. The last flicker of pride. Atlanta has 2/3 possessions on offense every time, mistress under the opponent’s scoreboard. He closes with 7 players in double-digit points, a masterpiece by Coach Snyder: the coach counts and the comparison with whoever he replaced, McMillan, is merciless. The Hawks don’t need anyone’s gigantic performance, Young is the best scorer with 25 points, Atlanta simply proves to be more of a team: more complete, long, determined. From playoffs.

You love me: Lowry 33 (57/, 6/9, 5/5 tl), Herro 26, Butler 21. Rebounds: Adebayo 9. Assists: Butler 9.

Atlanta:Young 25 (7/10, 1/8, 8/9 tl), Murray 18, Bey 17. Rebounds: Capela 21. Assists: Young 7.