By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Wrapping up the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament, the New Orleans Pelicans rallied past the Los Angeles Clippers, 105-101, to clinch a Playoffs berth meaning a best-of-seven series versus the top-seeded Phoenix Suns.
Brandon Ingram packing a game-high 30 points stood out for the visitors. Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas chipped in eight points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes, while Spanish Willy Hernangomez stayed on the bench. Behind a 29-10 run stretching through most of the fourth quarter, they dug their way out of a double-digit hole to gain control down the stretch.
The depleted Clips had Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris Sr. sharing a team-high 27 points in the season-ending losing effort. Croatian Ivica Zubac ended up with eight points, four rebounds, and one assist. French Nicolas Batum logged two points, ten rebounds, two steals, and one assist, and German Isaiah Hartenstein bowed out with two points and one rebound.
Earlier, the Atlanta Hawks overcame Clint Capela’s early exit and defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 107-101, on the road. As the eighth seed of the Eastern Conference, they get the Miami Heat in the first round of the Playoffs.
Trae Young banked in 32 out of his game-high 38 points in the second half. “We took care of business. It’s a testament to our team that we kept fighting and finished the job,” he said.
Capela, 27, had left the game late in the first half after hyperextending his right knee. The Swiss center had seven points behind 3/3 field goals and eight rebounds.
Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic went for 19 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists coming off the bench. Italian starter Danilo Gallinari registered 14 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block, while French Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot added two points and one rebound.
Finnish star Lauri Markkanen putting up a team-high 26 points along with eight rebounds, two rebounds, and one block in 37 minutes was not enough for the Cavs. Turkish Cedi Osman did not get on the court.
First-round pairings of the 2022 NBA Playoffs:
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat (1) – Atlanta Hawks (8)
Boston Celtics (2) – Brooklyn Nets (7)
Milwaukee Bucks (3) – Chicago Bulls (6)
Philadelphia 76ers (4) – Toronto Raptors (5)
Western Conference
Phoenix Suns (1) – New Orleans Pelicans (8)
Memphis Grizzlies (2) – Minnesota Timberwolves (7)
Golden State Warriors (3) – Denver Nuggets (6)
Dallas Mavericks (4) – Utah Jazz (5)
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