Author: Monojit Mandal
Lakers beat Warriors 104-101
In contrast to the previous game, which was settled before the fourth quarter, Game 4 of the Lakers vs. Warriors series was characterized by high emotions, right up to the final buzzer. The Lakers came out on top, beating the Warriors 104-101 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Stephen Curry’s remarkable triple-double, with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists, was overshadowed by LeBron-James, Anthony-Davis and Austin Reaves. Despite Curry’s efforts, the Warriors were unable to recover and avoid elimination.
To try to turn things around, the Warriors put Gary Payton into the starting line-up, and the team showed a lot of enthusiasm and effort at the start, despite Andrew Wiggins picking up two fouls quickly. However, throughout the first quarter, both teams were unable to find their rhythm, and the game remained low-scoring and tightly contested.
Although there were some exciting moments, such as Davis’ dominance on the court and some great three-point shots from LeBron and Reaves, the game remained competitive in the second quarter. Davis and Curry didn’t exert their authority until the final minutes of the first half. Davis scored 19 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the first half, while Curry scored 14 points in the second quarter alone, and finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
The Warriors are now in a precarious situation, as they need to win the next three games (two at home and one away) to escape elimination from the series. However, the odds are against them, as only 13 of the 277 NBA teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. The Lakers, on the other hand, are in a good position, and their combination of James, Davis and Reaves will try to maintain their excellent performance in the coming games.
Heat beat Knicks 109-101
The Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks 109-101 in Miami to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. Knicks point guard Immanuel Quickley was unable to play due to a left ankle injury.
Despite the loss, the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson stood out with a double-double of 32 points and 11 rebounds, as well as 4 assists. RJ Barrett led the way with 24 points and four rebounds, while Julius Randle finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, but committed four turnovers. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo had double-doubles for the Heat. Butler scored 27 points, 10 assists and two blocks, while Adebayo had 23 points and 13 rebounds. In the starting line-up, Max Strus scored 16 points, thanks to his rebounds.
The Heat’s stars started well offensively, but the Knicks’ best players scored at all three levels of attack. However, the Knicks started committing turnovers, which Adebayo took advantage of to dominate the visitors’ court. Miami gained an advantage, based on their variety and effective use of shots, but Randle’s zeal towards the basket at the end of the quarter reduced the margin to the minimum necessary. The first quarter ended with Heat leading 31-30.
The aggressive pace slowed considerably in the second quarter, mainly due to forced errors on the perimeter and solid defense inside. Obi Toppin scored through infiltration, but the Knicks were dominated on the boards, with Adebayo providing Miami with additional opportunities. In the match, both teams struggled to score, due to shooting errors and turnovers. The score fluctuated, but Heat scored more often than their opponents.