Pacers Oust Bucks, Will Meet Knicks; New York Boots Out Philadelpia
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 May 2024
The Pacers registered their biggest improvement from entirely missing the playoffs last season by eliminating third seed Milwaukee via a crushing 120-98 win today in Indiana.
Indiana won the series, 4-2 and will meet second seed New York in the next round. The Knicks also advanced by beating Philadelphia 76ers later today, 118-115.
Well aware that they have to win this game, the Bucks tried to reactivate Giannis Antetokoumpo (calf injury) and Damien Lillard (neck) but only managed to get Lillard to suit up against the Pacers.
Lillard responded by delivering his usual team top scoring number with 28 points but the Pacers shot better as a team, hitting 46 of 85 from the field including 13 of 40 from the three points area, neutralizing his point production.
In hindsight, it was Giannis the Bucks needed the most as Pacers reserve center Obi Toppin made up for the lean output of starting center Myles Turner's six points as he topped Indiana's scoring and teamed up well with Pascal Siakam in tending the slot.
Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis delivered their usual numbers but the Bucks missed the rim protection and rebounding of Giannis.
The Pacers even had the luxury of fielding twelve players with ten of them scoring, including six in double figures.
Toppin led with 21 points followed by TJ McConnel, 20 points and Siakam 19 points. Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points, Andrew Nesmith 15 points and Aaron Nembhard scored 14 points.
Lopez and Portis supported Lillard with 20 points each while Karl Middleton contributed 17 points. They were just about the Bucks who figured significantly.
Meanwhile, the raucous visiting New York fans must have gotten to the heads of the Philadelphia 76ers'front office that reportedly 6,000 free tickets were given to Sixers fans at the Wells Fargo Arena to drown them out.
But it turned out it was the New York Knicks themselves that have gotten to the heads of the Sixers as New York needed just its seven dependable players to eliminate Joel Embiid and the Sixers, winning 118-115 in the sixth game for a 4-2 series score.
Exemplifying Sixers' foldup was Tobias Harris who failed to score in twenty nine minutes he was on the floor.
Coach Nick Nurse depended on Nick Batum and Buddy Hield to cover up the slack but Embiid continued to struggle in trying to carry the fight for the Sixers by his lonesome as Tyrese Maxey also had a lean night.
On the other side, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby continued with their excellent plays boosted still by the unexpected productive output of center Isaiah Hertenstein. While not scoring much, Mitchell Robinson also made his presence felt in tending the boards.
Brunson led New York with 41 points followed by Donte Divincenzo with 23 points. Anunoby scored 19 points and 9 rebounds, Hart had 16 points and team high 14 rebounds and Hartenstein tallied 14 points and grabbed 9 boards.
The two other Knicks, Robinson had 2 points and 9 rebounds and Miles McBride 3 points respectively.
For Philadelphia which used nine players, Embiid had 39 points and 13 rebounds followed by Buddy Hield with 20 points and Kelly Oubre and Maxey with 17 points each. Batum was good for 16 points but no other Sixer was able to contribute significantly.
This is the first time Philadelphia was eliminated in the first round since the 2020 playoffs.
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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