Last night, the Knicks beat Boston 121-113, to pick up their biggest win since the days of Pat Riley. And then Minnesota beat Golden State 117-110. So after four games, the quarterfinals look like this:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Cleveland 1 - 3 (4) Indiana
(2) Boston 1 - 3 (3) New York
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) Oklahoma City 2 - 2 (4) Denver
(6) Minnesota 3 - 1 (7) Golden St.
Here are the latest odds to win the conference:
New York: +115
Indiana: +210
Cleveland: +410
Boston: +850
Oklahoma City: -195
Minnesota: +240
Denver: +850
Golden St: +8000
It's important to understand that Jayson Tatum and Steph Curry are both injured, and that helps to explain why Boston and Golden State are probably done for the year.
With 11:03 left in the 3d quarter, Cleveland (back at home) leads the Pacers 60 to 52.
ReplyDeleteJayson Tatum, who scored 42 points last night for the Celtics, ruptured his Achilles tendon and is finished for the year.
ReplyDeleteThe last three times the Knicks made the Eastern Conference finals were in 1994, 1999, and 2000. In each of those three years, they faced the Pacers.
ReplyDeleteThe Pacers have been to the Eastern Conference Finals nine times. They have advanced to the NBA Final only once.
ReplyDeleteWith 3:14 left in the third, the Pacers lead 73-65, and the Cavs' season is coming to an end.
ReplyDeleteWith six minutes left, the Cavs had closed to within 96-94. But the Pacers now lead 104-97 with 2:38 left, and the Pacers are going to the Eastern Conference Final for the tenth time overall, and the second year in a row.
ReplyDeleteDown 106-100 with less than 2 minutes to go, Donovan Mitchell is fouled shooting a three-pointer. He goes to the line and misses all three free throws. I can't remember the last time I saw someone miss all three free throws in that situation.
ReplyDeleteIndiana wins 114-105, and the Pacers win the series four to one.
ReplyDeleteWith one quarter left in OKC, the Nuggets lead the Thunder 86 to 78. Jokic has 31 points. Jamal Murray has 24 points. SGA has 21 points.
ReplyDeleteAfter 40 minutes, Denver leads 90 to 84.
ReplyDeleteThe Nuggets have gone ice cold. With 6:19 left, their lead is only 92-90. The folks in OKC are going nuts.
ReplyDeleteBoth teams have heated up now, and we are seeing the best basketball we've seen during the playoffs so far. Jokic has 44 points. Murray has 26. SGA has 29, and his latest three put the Thunder up 109-103 with 47 seconds left.
ReplyDeleteThe OKC fans are wearing shirts that say "THUNDER UP."
ReplyDeleteOKC wins 112-105. Now the quarterfinals look like this:
ReplyDeleteCLE 1 - 4 IND
BOS 1 - 3 NYK
OKC 3 - 2 DEN
MIN 3 - 1 GSW
Odds to win the Eastern Conference:
ReplyDeleteNew York: -110
Indiana: +125
Boston: +800
Odds to win the Western Conference:
ReplyDeleteOklahoma City: -260
Minnesota: +270
Denver: +1700
Golden St: +10000
The Nats have lost seven games in a row, and I'm genuinely curious as to how long this losing streak can last.
ReplyDeleteThe Nats won, five to four over Atlanta. The Knicks conceded Game Five in Boston, 127 to 102.
ReplyDelete