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Deandre Ayton has been a predictable scapegoat for the Suns’ shortcomings as they trail Denver 3-2 in their Western Conference semis matchup before Game 6 tips off tonight. Having played through a rib injury Wednesday sidelining him from contention for their first elimination game now, what happens next? Continue reading “Deandre Ayton played through Game 5 pain, but now Suns must look within”
Jimmy Butler recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two steals in 43 minutes – playing through a rolled ankle late – as Miami Heat profited from turnovers, overcoming a sluggish start to overwhelm the New York Knicks 108-101 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final matchup on Sunday night. Continue reading “Jimmy Butler battles through pain barrier as Heat start East semis with road win”
In Thursday’s lone playoff game, the Boston Celtics went on a 18-7 run in the final five minutes to eliminate a plucky but patchy Atlanta Hawks display on their home floor. How did they do it, Jayson Tatum was asked postgame. Consistently making winning plays in the fourth quarter, doing whatever it takes – with a well-rested Philadelphia 76ers side awaiting them this weekend.
Continue reading “Jayson Tatum hails winning plays, as Celtics eliminate Hawks in cagey Game 6”
Third-year power forward Xavier Tillman registered a new career-high 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting, alongside a game-high 13 rebounds in 32 minutes as Memphis utilised a fast start to outscore the Lakers and tie their first-round series at a game apiece before venturing to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Saturday.
Continue reading “Grizzlies 103-93 Lakers: Tillman’s career-high lifts Memphis without injured Morant”
Russell Westbrook masked a rough 3-of-19 shooting night with an expert defensive display throughout, culminating in a clutch block-and-deflection to thwart Devin Booker down the stretch as the Los Angeles Clippers earned a frantic Game 1 victory away against Phoenix overnight. Kawhi Leonard led all players with 38 points, including 13 in the fourth – they needed every basket. Continue reading “Clippers 115-110 Suns: Westbrook’s clutch defence proves key as LA snatch Game 1”
Knives were out rather quickly as Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics fell in a winnable six-game series against the Golden State Warriors in last season’s NBA Finals. After the star forward revealed to B/R at the weekend he quietly played through a non-displaced left wrist fracture for three months, will that change the criticism or narrative weighted on his shoulders?
Continue reading “Jayson Tatum wrist injury: Does Celtics star’s recent admission change the criticism on him?”
With their Game 1 clash vs. the Miami Heat set for tip-off in a few hours’ time, here’s a quick refresh: Boston Celtics, armed by a new career-high display from Grant Williams, overcame a 3-2 series deficit to knock out the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Hours later, Dallas did similar but in enemy territory, stunning the Phoenix Suns in a historic blowout win. Continue reading “Conference Finals set after Celtics, Mavericks dominate their respective Game 7 duels”
After a turnover-heavy first-half, the Milwaukee Bucks were down by as many as 14 points in the fourth quarter, but Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 40-point effort – alongside some big Jrue Holiday defensive plays late on – helped Mike Budenholzer’s men silence Boston inside the TD Garden. Read on, to relive my play-by-play live commentary from an enthralling Game 5 encounter.
Continue reading “Relive the action: NBA Playoffs East Semi-finals – Bucks 110-107 Celtics, Game 5”
After relinquishing their hard-earned Game 4 advantage on Monday night, the Memphis Grizzlies have a seemingly impossible job on their hands: overturning their 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors without the franchise star guard who helped them get there. Continue reading “Ja Morant listed as doubtful for rest of playoffs with right knee bone bruise”
After posting his second-highest scoring total since eventually joining Miami in a trade from Houston 13 months ago, is two-time All-Star shooting guard Victor Oladipo now ready to be their x-factor as the postseason deepens, with questions over Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler? Continue reading “After his 23-point gamewinning display vs. Atlanta, is Victor Oladipo an x-factor in Miami?”
In a surprise to some, the Hornets sacked their head coach James Borrego on Friday after the Hornets again failed to make the postseason for a sixth consecutive year. Despite more year-on-year improvement, it’s clear the franchise view themselves as much better than a play-in team, but will they get the next hire right? Frank Vogel, recently dismissed from the Lakers, and Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson are linked with the new vacancy.
Continue reading “After firing James Borrego, Charlotte can’t afford to waste potential with his successor”
As everyone recovered from the end of an enthralling Game 1 between Brooklyn and Boston overnight, the NBA announced half-a-dozen three-man shortlists for this year’s awards. Some didn’t need a debate, like MVP and Coach of the Year, while others sparked outrage and incredulity as Warriors’ Jordan Poole and Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr were snubbed.
Mo and Sports 