By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The rematches in the Western Conference part of the NBA playoffs bracket delivered interesting results and the same happened in the two most recent games.
Although some of the analytic eyes were afraid that the Memphis Grizzlies just don’t have enough experience to step up properly in the playoffs, the team succeeded in forgetting the Game 1 loss and tying the series with a 124-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The convincing outcome came primarily thanks to Ja Morant who flirted with a triple-double. He banked in 23 points while dishing out ten assists and grabbing nine rebounds.
Desmond Bane followed up with 16 points, as did Jaren Jackson. For the Wolves, Anthony Edwards scored 20 while Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 points, 11 rebounds.
Despite Edwards scoring 20 points, it was a far cry from the spark he fired up in Game 1 when he drained 36 points and the Grizzlies successfully smothered Minnesota’s offensive capabilities while delivering their own usual gameplay without too much of a hindrance.
Meanwhile, the surprise of the night happened in Phoenix as the Suns got defeated by the New Orleans Pelicans with 125-114 on the scoreboard.
Brandon Ingram was the player of the game with 37 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, shying away from a triple-double. CJ McCollum was also close to a triple-double with 23 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and the duo was taking care of almost everything on the Pelicans side of the ball.
Jonas Valanciunas was solid with ten boards and 13 rebounds. Phoenix didn’t measure up to their defensive potential but the offense was working out. Devin Booker scored 31 while Mikal Bridges scored 19 and Chris Paul was the main ball handler as usual with 17 points, 14 assists.
The Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks also stepped on the court and, although Bogdan Bogdanovic exploded for a career-best, Jimmy Butler made sure to ruin his valiant attempt with an even bigger performance, a 45-point one.