Ayton slams home win for Suns, who have commanding 2-0 lead against Clippers

By Jun 23, 2021, 1:05 AM EDT
0 Comments

Paul George — who had found his legs in the fourth quarter and put the Clippers ahead 14 seconds before — opened the door when he missed two critical free throws with 8.2 seconds left that would have put the Clippers up three.

Deandre Ayton slammed through that door for the Suns.

That dunk — no, it is not goaltending, it’s a live ball on an inbound pass and can be played over the rim — was the dramatic game-winner and handed the Suns a 104-103 Game 2 victory, and with it a commanding 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Game 3 is Thursday night in Los Angeles.

The Clippers kept their heads up after the game.

“They got 2 at home. It’s not a series until someone loses at home,” Reggie Jackson said.

The Clippers have earned that confidence. In the first two rounds, the Clippers went down 0-2 in their series to the Mavericks and Jazz, only to settle on the lineups that worked and came back to win both series and advance.

Good luck doing that against the Suns. This was a blown opportunity for the Clippers, one they may well regret.

Phoenix has much more versatility in their lineups than the teams the Clippers played before, they are incredibly well coached, they are young and athletic…

And they are going to get Chris Paul back this series. Reports are the Suns are optimistic he can play in Game 3 on Thursday.

So much of what went into Ayton’s dunk to win the game is why the Suns are up 2-0 in this series and on the cusp of heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1993.

First was the brilliant play design by coach Monty Williams, who has pushed the right buttons all playoffs long. Williams knew the obscure rule that you can play a ball over the rim on an inbounds pass — watch the reaction of George and the Clippers players, they didn’t know it — and used it to his advantage.

Then Williams put the right players in the right spots to execute the play.

First was the steady veteran presence of Jae Crowder inbounding the ball. Not only did he throw a perfect lob, watch his veteran cool after the play — he barely reacts.

Then there was the screen by Devin Booker on Ivica Zubac to create some space. The Clippers had played smart, physical defense on Booker all game long, and he finished with 20 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Booker even did his Steve Nash impression suffering a potentially broken nose on one play, a collision of heads Patrick Beverley that led to a lot of blood and three stitches for Booker (Beverley had to leave the game as well but also returned). Booker returned, and when it mattered most he put his body on the line to make a play that will not show up in the box score but was critical.

Finally, there was the bouncy Ayton with the finish for the Suns, which was perfect. He ended the night with 24 points on 12-of-15 shooting, plus he had 14 rebounds.

With one of the Suns stars at home and the other facing a focused Clipper defense, other Suns stepped up. Cameron Payne had 29, Ayton 24, and Cameron Johnson had 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting.

Tyronn Lue made some smart adjustments for the Clippers. Starting Zubac gave the Clippers better size against Ayton, and while Patrick Beverley wasn’t scoring he was pesky and impacting the game. Luke Kennard gave the Clippers 10 points, all in the fourth quarter.

Paul George finished with 26, scoring 10 in the fourth quarter, including a string of buckets to put the Clippers ahead. But when given a chance to nearly shut the door on the Suns in the final seconds, he missed two free throws.

Down the stretch, the Clippers missed Kawhi Leonard on both ends of the court. He remains out with a sprained right knee, and while the Clippers are making game-to-game announcements about his availability, nobody expects him to return this series from what is reportedly an ACL sprain.

In the end, these Suns have executed better and right now look more talented than the Clippers. And Phoenix gets Chris Paul back. The Clippers are at their best with their backs against the wall, but even this may be too much.

Check out more on these Suns

Three things to Know: ‘Light the Beam’ — Kings secure first...
Minnesota Timberwolves v Phoenix Suns
Durant relatively quiet in return but still scores 16, helps Suns top Timberwolves
Milwuakee Bucks v Denver Nuggets
NBA Power Rankings: Bucks hold down top spot, but Nuggets and Grizzlies are...

Three things to Know: ‘Light the Beam’ — Kings secure first playoff berth since 2006

By Mar 30, 2023, 9:54 AM EDT
0 Comments

Three Things To Know is NBC’s five-days-a-week wrap-up of the night before in the NBA. Check out NBCSports.com every weekday morning to catch up on what you missed the night before plus the rumors, drama, and dunks that make the NBA must-watch.

1) Light the Beam: Kings secure first playoff berth since 2006

“Light the beam! Light the beam!”

The chant was ringing across the beam-less Moda Center in Portland Wednesday night from a healthy-sized group of Kings fans who drove (or flew) up from Sacramento to watch the Kings secure their first playoff berth since 2006. They got their wish, watching a 120-80 thrashing of the Blazers — and they made themselves heard.

Back in Sacramento, the fans gravitated to the Golden 1 Center downtown to see the beam get lit, chanting and waving flags the whole way.

The Kings have been the best story in the NBA this season, and the most entertaining team to watch with an up-tempo, high-efficiency offense (and a defense that had them winning fun-to-watch shootouts). They took a risk trading away a fan favorite in Tyrese Haliburton (who has lived up to the hype with an All-NBA-level season in Indiana), but that got them Domantas Sabonis, who became a lynchpin at the center (and very possibly an All-NBA player himself this season). Moving Haliburton also unleashed De'Aaron Fox at the point, he has been brilliant and is the frontrunner to win the NBA’s first Clutch Player of the Year award.

Then there’s Keegan Murray, who stood out at Summer League as the most NBA-ready player in this class, and he has responded by making more 3-pointers than any other rookie in NBA history.

Veteran coach Mike Brown brought it all together — a defense-first coach overseeing one of the best offenses the game has ever seen — and he likely will be rewarded with the Coach of the Year award.

This is why sport. A fan base that has suffered through an ownership group that tried to sell the team and move them out of town, that has suffered through losing season after losing season, fans that have not bought tickets to a playoff game since there was a Bush in the White House have been rewarded. The Kings are in — and not just squeaking into the postseason, they are the Pacific Division champions and the No.3 seed in the West.

This is something a story and a franchise worth celebrating. Savor this moment Kings fans, you deserve it.

2) Jalen Williams tip-in helps Thunder stay in the postseason at bottom of West

A lot of action impacting the crowded bottom of the West playoff chase. Here’s a quick breakdown.

• Jalen Williams’ putback game-winner saved the Thunder on a night they almost dropped one to the Pistons.

• The Thunder’s win combined with the Mavericks’ loss to the 76ers has Oklahoma City a full game up on Dallas for the final play-in spot, but that is really two games because OKC also owns the tiebreaker. (Dallas is also two games back in the loss column from No. 9 seed New Orleans.) Nothing is set, but the Thunder control their own destiny in making the postseason, and Luka Dončić and the Mavericks could be on the outside looking in.

• Anthony Davis went off for the Lakers and they beat the Bulls in Chicago.

• The Lakers were helped out Wednesday by the return of Kevin Durant to the Suns, who helped them beat the Timberwolves 107-100. The Lakers are the No.8 seed in the West, tied with the Pelicans for No.9 but also just half a game back of the Timberwolves at No.7 (the Lakers. Timberwolves and Pelicans are all tied in the loss column at 38).

• The Clippers had the most improbable win of the night: No Kawhi Leonard, no Paul George, going up against a Memphis team that had won seven in a row. But the Clippers got a vintage Russell Westbrook performance and that was enough. They continue to sit as the No.5 seed in the West, and they could see Durant and the Suns in what would be a very interesting first-round series.

3) Knicks get win, but lost Julius Randle to sprained ankle

The Knicks picked up a win at home against the Heat, a quality win that has New York even more locked in as the No.5 seed in the East (and may have destined Miami for No.7), but that’s not what anyone is talking about.

Julius Randle sprained his ankle leaping for a rebound and landing on Bam Adebayo‘s foot in the second quarter, and he left the game not to return. As is often the case with ankle sprains, it will be later today — once the swelling has gone down and maybe an MRI is done — that they will have a true picture of the severity and how long Randle could be out.

Randle has not missed a game yet this season, but that will change. Randle is averaging 25.1 points and 10 rebounds a game, playing at an All-NBA level again this season in New York. The Knicks will not be the same team without him.

The Knicks have five games remaining in the season and are almost locked in as the No.5 seed. The season ends April 9 but the Knicks would not start the playoffs (likely in Cleveland) until April 15 or 16. That’s more than two weeks to get Randle right.

Silver hopeful new CBA agreed to by Friday at midnight deadline

By Mar 30, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT
0 Comments

The sides have pushed the deadline back twice, but no more: Friday night at midnight the NBA (on behalf of the owners) and the league’s players’ union will have agreed to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), or either side can opt-out and trigger the first steps toward a summer lockout.

“I certainly can foresee [a CBA] getting done and I hope we do get one done,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday at a press conference following a Board of Governor’s meeting.

However, he added if a new CBA is not in place, the owners planned to opt out of the current one, which would then expire June 30 (and that would become the new, hard deadline to get a new deal in place and avoid a lockout).

NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said the players do not plan to opt-out.

“The March 31st deadline is an important benchmark, and we are doing everything in our power to reach an agreement with the league,” Tremaglio said in a statement. “If we don’t have a deal and the league decides to opt-out, it will be disappointing considering all the work both sides have put into the negotiations, and the fair nature of our requests. As far as our fans are concerned, it will be business as usual. Games will continue uninterrupted.”

The sides agreed early not to negotiate through the media, which has kept talk about roadblocks and what is on the table relatively quiet. However, the configuration of the luxury tax (with a focus on limiting higher-spending teams), new veteran contract extension language, a games-played minimum to qualify for the league’s end-of-season awards, and allowing high schoolers to jump straight to the NBA are among the topics known to be up for discussion are on the table. The sides have been in talks for more than a year on a new deal, but it is a complex negotiation as the CBA covers literally every aspect of the NBA’s business.

“Still a lot to go in the next few days,” Silver said. “There’s just something about collective bargaining where deadlines are necessary and seemingly sides tend to hold their best positions until the very end. My sense is this will go down to the very end.”

The last CBA was signed in 2017 and has largely served both sides well as league profits — and with that player salaries — grew. That CBA included the early opt-outs this year and the early deadlines, hoping to avoid a potential work stoppage of any kind. Both sides are hoping to avoid that worst-case scenario.

They have until Friday to meet that first deadline.

Check out the latest on the Warriors

Milwuakee Bucks v Denver Nuggets
NBA Power Rankings: Bucks hold down top spot, but Nuggets and Grizzlies are...
Dallas Mavericks v Indiana Pacers
PBT Podcast: Talking big games down NBA stretch run, crumbling Mavericks
New Orleans Pelicans v Golden State Warriors
Three things to Know: Warriors’ comeback puts them back in top six

Durant relatively quiet in return but still scores 16, helps Suns top Timberwolves

Associated PressMar 30, 2023, 2:46 AM EDT
0 Comments

PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant‘s a 13-time All-Star, a two-time NBA champion, a four-time league leader in scoring and has done just about everything else a player can do in the game of basketball.

But even he can get a little nervous on a night like Wednesday.

Devin Booker scored 29 points, Durant had 16 points and eight rebounds in his home debut and the Phoenix Suns won their third straight game, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-100.

After a huge ovation from the sellout crowd – which waited more than a month to see him play a game in Phoenix after his trade from Brooklyn – Durant missed his first six shots and finished 5 of 18 from the field, though he did hit a couple important 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter.

“It was hard for me to get sleep today, it was hard for me to stop thinking about the game,” Durant said. “Sometimes you can want it too bad and you come out, start rushing and being uncharacteristic.”

“I’m glad I’m back, I’m glad I’m playing again and being one of the guys. Just building from here.”

Even with the nerves, the Suns are 4-0 with Durant in the lineup. The Timberwolves had a four-game winning streak snapped.

The Suns and Wolves are in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race, fighting to stay in the top six so they don’t fall to the play-in tournament. Every game is crucial at this point – just three wins separated the Nos. 4-11 spots coming into Wednesday.

The Suns took an 81-74 lead into the fourth quarter and held on in the final minutes.

Durant changed his shoes at halftime, hoping for some better mojo.

“I thought he battled on both ends,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “I think his cardio has got to get back to the level he wants it. Once he gets that, we’ll see the Kevin that we all know.”

Chris Paul added 19 points and six assists for Phoenix.

Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 31 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25.

Durant played for the first time since March 5. He was warming up for his first home game with the Suns three days later when he sprained his left ankle during pregame preparation. The injury cost him 10 games.

The timing of that ankle injury – less than an hour before his expected home debut – felt like a bad omen for the Suns, who added the 34-year-old Durant in a blockbuster trade-deadline deal that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and draft picks back to the Nets.

But Phoenix managed to tread water in the standings without its newest star. His second attempt at the home debut went much better, even if his shooting touch was off.

The Timberwolves took a 51-48 halftime lead. Towns scored 20 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Booker led the Suns with 12.

The Timberwolves – and particularly center Rudy Gobert – were irritated about a 27-12 advantage in free throw attempts for the Suns.

“It’s really not fair every night,” Gobert said. “I have been in this league for 10 years and I try to always give the benefit of the doubt, but it is hard for me to think that they are not trying to help (the Suns) win tonight.

“It is hard for me to think that they didn’t try to have the Warriors win the other night or the Sacramento Kings the other night. It is just so obvious as a basketball player. I have been in this league for so long and it is disrespectful.”

Check out more on the Suns

Three things to Know: ‘Light the Beam’ — Kings secure first...
Milwuakee Bucks v Denver Nuggets
NBA Power Rankings: Bucks hold down top spot, but Nuggets and Grizzlies are...
Dallas Mavericks v Indiana Pacers
PBT Podcast: Talking big games down NBA stretch run, crumbling Mavericks

Watch Jrue Holiday score career-high 51, Antetokounmpo add 38, Bucks beat Pacers

Associated PressMar 29, 2023, 11:58 PM EDT
0 Comments

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jrue Holiday scored a career-high 51 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 38 points in a triple-double and the NBA-leading Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers 149-136 on Wednesday night.

“Obviously, I’m happy about it,” Holiday said. “It took me 14 years to get 50 points. It came in a game that we needed to win, so I couldn’t be happier.”

Antetokounmpo added 17 rebounds and 12 assists to help the Bucks improve to 55-21. The two-time NBA MVP was an assist shy of a triple-double at halftime with 20 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. He returned after sitting out Monday night in a victory at Detroit because of a sore knee.

“It’s hard to come up with the superlatives to describe them,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said of his top scorers. “They were phenomenal. Giannis set the tone with his aggressive attacking. Then Jrue for the whole game to have 51, that’s hard to do in an NBA game.”

Holiday had 18 points in the third quarter, when the Bucks scored a season-high 46 points to build a 12-point lead. He was 20 of 30 from the field with three 3-pointers and hit 8 of 10 free throws. His previous best was 40 points in an overtime victory over visiting Boston on Feb. 14.

“Together with Giannis with 38, those two guys were special, they put us on their backs,” Budenholzer said.

The 6-foot-5 Holiday scored 30 points in the paint.

“I felt like Giannis,” Holiday said with a smile. “No dunks though.”

Brook Lopez added 21 points for the Bucks.

Rookie Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana – playing without its top three scorers – with 29 points. Aaron Nesmith had 22 and Jordan Nwora 18. Jalen Smith fouled out early in the fourth with 17. Rookie Andrew Nembhard had 15 points and 15 rebounds.

“It starts with Giannis, one of the best players in the world,” said Nwora, acquired from the Bucks on Feb. 9. “It’s always tough playing a guy like him who is so different. You have to really lock into him. Then other guys get going, Jrue comes in and gets 51. It’s tough to beat them on a night like that.”

Check out more on the Bucks

Milwuakee Bucks v Denver Nuggets
NBA Power Rankings: Bucks hold down top spot, but Nuggets and Grizzlies are...
Philadelphia 76ers v Phoenix Suns
Joel Embiid not stressing about MVP: ‘If I win MVP, good. If I don’t,...
Milwuakee Bucks v Denver Nuggets
Jokic scores 31 points with 11 assists, leads Nuggets past Bucks 129-106