These are intense days for Crypto Stadium, Los Angeles’ sporting epicenter. The arena hosts the Lakers and Clippers in their respective NBA playoff series this weekend. In the NHL, the ice hockey league, the Kings play the series against the Edmonton Oilers here. For at least a few hours that Saturday morning, the Temple was home to the Clippers, the city’s second basketball team. Most of the team’s fans wore the jerseys of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, the two pillars of the franchise. Both were absent due to injury. Not even a great performance from Russell Westbrook prevented the team from failing against the Phoenix Suns, who are just one win away from ending the streak. That Saturday they won 112-100.
The Clippers case is reminiscent of one of the platitudes of the playoffs. You don’t get far without a healthy team. That’s how a couple of knee sprains have millionaire Steve Ballmer’s team, one of the NBA’s most charismatic owners, on the ropes. The Suns, on the other hand, showed the power of a dressing room 100%. Its stars delivered what was expected of them: Kevin Durant, still adjusting to the Arizona team (he arrived in early March), finished the day with 31 points and 11 rebounds. It’s the first game of the playoffs he finished with more than teammate Devin Booker, who had 30 goals, 11 of them in the first quarter, and seven assists.
Chris Paul ended the day with a great performance. The 37-year-old point guard started the game with a certain lethargy, with some Suns still unaccustomed to a game in which the Clippers reinforced their defense. At the end of the first quarter, the Locals edged out their rivals, 30-23, who ended the season in fourth place in the Western Conference, one above the Clippers. But as they warmed up, Phoenix took off. CP3 scored 12 of his 19 points in the final quarter. Paul, Booker and Durant each hit three 3-pointers.
But no one on the court could defeat Russell Westbrook. The 34-year-old player is the only one staying local in the Crypto arena despite changing teams during the season. He didn’t sit well with LeBron’s Lakers, but this Saturday he was the man for the Clippers with 37 points and six rebounds in 44 minutes. Westbrook has snuffed out the fame many have blamed him for as an irregular star who can’t be trusted. He has become the franchise leader in George and Leonard’s absence. This afternoon he has his best game of the 73 games he has played this season, including those he played for the Clippers, where he arrived in February. Guard Norman Powell was second in the hosts’ tally with 14 points (despite only making 4 of 15 shots from inside the box). Terance Mann has contributed 13.
After the defeat, Crypto workers quickly dismantled the stave, which featured a drawing in the center that read Los Angeles. Dozens of men chopped up the wood from the clippers. Blue then gave way to the most successful yellow in the city. Within minutes, the 19,000-seat stadium was covered in Lakers’ winning history. Sports can’t wait in Los Angeles.
Philadelphia sweeps the nets
Philadelphia became the first NBA team to qualify for the next phase this Saturday. The 76ers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 4-0 in the series after an away win (96-88). The Sixers, third in the East, clinched their fourth win without Joel Embiid, who sprained his right knee in the previous game. Without the star, Tobias Harris and James Harden led the team into the next phase, where they await the Celtics’ winner against Atlanta (Boston leads 2-1). Harris scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while La Barba added 17 points and 11 assists. For the time being, Philadelphia has not ruled out that the Cameroonian giants are ready for the next game. Doc Rivers, the Philadelphia coach, wasn’t optimistic with the forecast and has hinted that the player will be at best 50% for the next game.
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