Denver Proves It Can Win in Los Angeles as Knicks, Cavaliers Fall in Philadelphia, Orlando
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 26 Apr 2024
What difference does playing at home make for Philadelphia 76ers and the Orlando Magic?
A lot.
Particularly for Orlando which led from start to finish in routing its erstwhile tormentor, the Cleveland Cavaliers, 121-83.
The Sixers won over the New York Knicks 125-114 at their Wells Fargo Arena but it took a 50-point performance from Joel Embiid to hush down a horde of Knicks fans who came over to help New York establish an insurmountable 3-0 lead. But Embiid also had to overcome physical challenges from New York's biggies, at least one of which almost got him a flagrant 2 foul.
If Orlando and New York faltered away from home, the Denver Nuggets proved they can win anywhere, particularly in Los Angeles where they defeated the Lakers anew, 112-105 to forge a 3-0 lead in their first round meeting.
Difficult as it was to even come close to the Cavs in their previous two losses in Cleveland, the Magic seemed to renew their acquaintance with their home floor at the Kia Center. They won, dominated every quarter on the way to the rousing win.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley had the luxury of fielding 15 players thirteen of which contributed in the rout headed by Paulo Banchero, with 31 points and 14 rebounds Jalen Sugg, 24 points and Franz Wagner, 16. points.
New York through Jaden Brunson kept the game versus the Sixers close in the first half and even led by halftime 58-55 with the horde of Knicks fans at Wells Fargo chanting, "Go Knicks".
The insolence was just too much and Embiid and Tyrese Maxey collaborated to drop a 43-27 bomb in the third quarter to push the Sixers ahead for good, 98-85. It was at this point that the Knicks tried to get the goat of Embiid through Isiah Hartenstein and the duo of OG Anounoby and Mitchell Robinson. Embiid almost incurred a penalty 2 foul for holding on to Robinson's left leg in a desperation to stop him from scoring after an Anounoby charge that was not called. Luckily, Embiid was just assessed a penalty 1 foul and stayed in the game to see the Sixers through the win that made the series 2-1 in favor of the Knicks.
The Nuggets showed that they could beat the Lakers with Nikola Jokic scoring just 24 points. But Jokic made up with nearly double double in rebounds (15) and assists (9) many of which helped Aaron Gordon to score his team's high 29 points. Jamal Murray had 22 points and Michael Porter Jr scored 20.
Anthony Davis topped for Lakers with 33 points and 15 rebounds and LeBron James scored 26 points while Austin Reeves contributed 22 points. No other Lakers had double figure scoring.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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