By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Game 3 action in the first round of the NBA Playoffs stretched to three venues. Only the Golden State Warriors actually exploited homecourt advantage on Thursday.
Down 2-0 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals best-of-seven series, they blew out the Sacramento Kings, 114-97, in Chase Center. Another home game on the next edition of NBA Saturdays provides the opportunity to tie the series at 2-2 before returning to Sacramento next week.
It got noisy on every Domantas Sabonis touch. The crowd reaction referred to the Game 2 incident involving the Lithuanian forward/center and Draymond Green, leading to the latter’s suspension. Playing through booing, Sabonis posted a 15-point, 16-rebound double-double, made 7/14 field goals, and also drew four assists and two steals over 35 minutes. Ukrainian Alex Len tallied two points, three rebounds, and one block in eight minutes. Portuguese Neemias Queta did not dress.
Stephen Curry dropping 36 points was the enforcer for the Warriors determined to avoid a 3-0 deficit.
Devin Booker pours 45 points in Los Angeles
In crypto.com Arena with Kawhi Leonard sitting out with a sprained right knee, the Phoenix Suns drove past the Los Angeles Clippers, 129-124, for a 2-1 lead in the series. Devin Booker scored 45 points and Kevin Durant added 28 points.
Croatian Ivica Zubac and French Nicolas Batum both started for the home side. The 26-year-old center combined six points with eight rebounds lasting 22 minutes and the 34-year-old forward tallied three rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in 19 minutes. French two-way player Moussa Diabate sat out.
With Joel Embiid escaping inevitable ejection, the Philadelphia 76ers went up 3-0 with a 102-97 victory versus the Brooklyn Nets in Barclays Center. Turkish guard Furkan Korkmaz did not play for the team coached by Doc Rivers.
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