NBA Semifinals: Timberwolves Edge Spurs in Thriller; Knicks Rout 76ers
Axios (Tổng hợp từ Al Jazeera English)
Anthony Edwards returned from injury to score 18 points off the bench, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 104-102 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Jalen Brunson scored 35 points as the New York Knicks routed the Philadelphia 76ers 137-98 in the Eastern Conference semifinals opener.
Julius Randle scored 21 points and Anthony Edwards came off the bench to add 18, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves edge the San Antonio Spurs 104-102 in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday.
Playing in San Antonio, the Timberwolves were boosted by the return of Edwards, who had been sidelined with a bone bruise in his left knee since April 25 and was initially expected to miss several weeks.
“We talked yesterday about if he could go, he would come off the bench, and that was fine,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “He was totally on board, played well, didn’t try to do too much, knowing his minutes were limited. I thought he fit in great with the flow of the game.”
San Antonio led by three after three quarters. Edwards scored 11 of the Timberwolves’ first 19 points in the fourth quarter before Minnesota went on a 7-0 run, capped by a Mike Conley three-pointer with 4:42 left to make it 95-86.
A Victor Wembanyama dunk with 43.6 seconds left cut the lead to four points, and Dylan Harper’s steal and layup with 30.9 seconds remaining brought San Antonio within one basket. After a missed shot by Randle, the Spurs opted not to call a timeout and got the ball to Julian Champagnie, whose three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.
“Dylan did a great job pushing the ball and getting it up the floor. Julian got a shot in rhythm. Nothing wrong with that shot,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “I hope he takes that shot every time.”
Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr each scored 16 points for Minnesota. Naz Reid and Conley added 12 points apiece, while Randle and Rudy Gobert grabbed 10 rebounds each.
Harper led the Spurs with 18 points, while Stephon Castle and Champagnie each had 17. Devin Vassell contributed 14, and Wembanyama recorded a triple-double with 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 blocked shots, though he missed all eight of his three-point attempts. Keldon Johnson also scored 11 for San Antonio.
Game 2 is set for Wednesday in San Antonio. Games 3 and 4 will be held in Minneapolis on Friday and Sunday.
Jalen Brunson poured in 27 points in the first half en route to a game-high 35, as the New York Knicks continued their dominant playoff run with a 137-98 rout over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Knicks, who eliminated the Atlanta Hawks with a 140-89 win in Game 6 of the first round on Thursday, became just the second team in NBA history to close out one series and open another with back-to-back wins by at least 30 points.
In 1986, the Boston Celtics beat the Hawks 132-99 to close the Eastern Conference semifinals before crushing the Milwaukee Bucks 128-96 in Game 1 of the conference finals. The Celtics went on to win the NBA championship that year.
“I can’t deny that our guys are playing really well right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “And I have to give them credit, especially when it’s due. They are locked in on the details, regardless of the score.”
The Knicks, who won their last three games against the Hawks by a combined 96 points, are the first NBA team to win three consecutive playoff games by at least 25 points each.
Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night in New York.
