NBA, Sunday results

Boston humiliates Golden State by taking partial revenge in the 2022 Finals, the Los Angeles Clippers win in Minneapolis in a sprint led by Leonard, while Philadelphia beats Dallas despite Doncic’s usual triple double. The delicious appetizer of the Italian Sunday NBA binge offers three quality courses, here’s the detail.

BOSTON CELTICS-GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 140-88

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Technical knockout. Boston wins for the eleventh time in a row. But with a different taste, this time. It disintegrates the Warriors in a match that becomes a revenge of the 2022 Finals for the greens and a Way of the Cross for the Californians. The Celtics (48-12) not only consolidated the best NBA record and gave a demonstration of strength by dominating at will even without the unavailable Porzingis, but they attacked their opponents, soothing the scars of a wound that was evidently still not healed. Golden State (32-28) makes an unjustifiable impression. Yes, ok it was the third game in four days, away, after the stops on Thursday in New York and Friday in Toronto, but the 38-82 at half time is a public apology to the franchise fans and fans of the game, who deserved even better, the match was live on national TV in America. Curry, Green and Thompson didn’t even play the 2nd half, a team with that quality and ambition is called upon to do more even when the calendar logistics put their backs against the wall. Doing better than this shouldn’t be impossible.

THE MATCH – Little by little. Immediately. In the first quarter Brown scored 5 triples and thanks to a 23-1 Celtics run the game was already scored after 12′, in fact it was 44-22 at the end of the 1st quarter. Warriors doubled and humiliated. Then 79-34 on White’s triple, the punishment continues, relentless. And 82-38 at half time: game already closed! Eighty-two points are the maximum of the season in a half for Boston, the 45 deficit is the maximum suffered in the season by the Dubs. The 44 points were the maximum lead of any time at half-time for the Boston Greens in their ancient and glorious history. Eye-opening numbers. After 24′ of basketball 25 points for Brown, while Curry shoots 0/9 from 3 points. A ferocious basketball lesson, with Brown commenting, before returning to the locker room: “We still remember those Finals from 2 years ago, which we lost against Golden State.” That was the impression…The reserves move forward due to script requirements, but there is nothing more to say, except that it ends little by little for the Celtics. Boston: Brown 29 (6/9, 5/10, 2/2 TL), Tatum 27, Pritchard 19. Rebounds: Brissett 8. Assists: White 8. Golden State: Quinones 17 (4/6, 3/10), Moody 11, Robinson 10. Rebounds: Santos 9. Assists: Paul 7.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 88-89

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Sprint victory for the Clippers in an ugly and intense game. Hard and unspectacular, but uncertain and throbbing. With quality defenses, panic attacks, playoff atmosphere. The team with the best “closer” wins, Kawhi Leonard’s team wins. He and Powell make the difference for the Californians, they are enough despite the counter-performance of Harden, who finishes without a field goal. The Clippers (39-20) were without Westbrook (broken hand) and his energy off the bench was missing. The Wolves (42-19) with this defeat at the Target Center lose the opportunity to win the seasonal tie break with the Clippers and also first place in the Western Conference, overtaken by Oklahoma City and on equal record with Denver. Towns leaves them on the road at the end with Edwards ending up in the clutches, or rather the claws, of Kawhi.

THE MATCH – 30-18 Wolves at the end of the 1st quarter, Towns with 12 points. The Clippers come back and take the lead at 31-30 driven by Powell’s 14 points off the bench. Then 49-46 for the Californians at half time. Defensive match, as expected between teams who are not always lucid in attack, beyond the gusts of the solo players, but who know how to make the difference in their own half of the pitch. Leonard and Edwards are the only compasses that work: Kawhi with 15 points, Ant with 17, at half-time. Minny with 9 turnovers. Many, too many. 68-67 Wolves after 36′: Powell scores a triple at the end of the 3rd quarter. Towns is 0/10 in the second half, Harden 0/10 overall, twilight. Vintage match: physical defenses, crushing attacks. Every basket is celebrated like a football goal. 84 all with 2′ to play. Leonard and Towns score. Then Towns misses the shot at -1 and Leonard doesn’t miss the line. +3 Clippers, last possession Wolves who are not even capable of trying to shoot from 3: Towns and Edwards hesitate, then Ant scores from 2 undisturbed, but the game ends. And the others win.

Minnesota: Edwards 27 (6/10, 3/10, 6/6 TL), Towns 18, Gobert 12. Rebounds: Gobert 16. Assists: Towns 8. Los Angeles: Leonard 32 (11/22, 1/4, 7 /8 tl), Powell 24, George 15. Rebounds: Theis 13. Assists: Harden 10.

DALLAS MAVERICKS-PHILADELPHIA76ERS 116-120

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Philly fights, grits his teeth, waiting for Embiid to return. He still believes in it, he doesn’t take the season for granted. She wins in Texas and rises to a 35-25 season record, fifth in the East with the same record as New York which precedes her. Embiid has been out of action since January 30, having undergone surgery on the meniscus of his left knee, but his return seems close. With him the 76ers are 26-8, without him 9-17. But they don’t give up, exactly. They win in Dallas led at the beginning by Maxey, at the end by Oubre and Harris. Dallas (34-27) loses for the fourth time in the last five outings. Poor defense, too many turnovers, 17. Irving plays on his own, Doncic displays his third triple double in a row, this time with 38 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, but he preaches in the desert. He and Irving tread each other’s toes: they have a 25-25 record together, but it’s well known that they don’t work as a couple.

THE MATCH – 11-0 Dallas to start the game, then Maxey starts attacking the basket, unstoppable with his speed, and changes everything. Philly ahead 32-22 after 12′. Maxey, a Dallas native, with 17 points. Doncic with 3 points, Irving zero. 12 in the 2nd quarter by Luka allow the Mavs to reduce the deficit: 51-56 at halftime. Reed did well from the bench for the guests. With 4′ to play in the 3rd quarter Maxey takes a knee to the head, but Lowry holds the 76ers’ helm with authority and an 8-point offensive drive from Oubre puts them up 17, with Dallas accumulating turnovers. After 36′ 90-76 76ers. Maxey returns, Oubre finishes the not difficult job of demolishing the Texan defense, which is standing on its feet. Dallas proudly returns to -3, but a triple from Harris and a free throw from Oubre close the score for the guests. Dallas: Doncic 38 (10/17, 4/10, 6/6 TL), Irving 28, Jones 21. Rebounds: Doncic 11. Assists: Doncic 10. Philadelphia: Harris 28 (8/13, 3/6, 3/ 4 tl), Maxey 24, Oubre 21. Rebounds: Batum 11. Assists: Lowry 7.