OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 Apr 2025
Thunder Sweep Grizzlies, Cavs 3-0 Over Heat; Nuggets Nip LA Clippers 101-99, Tie Series
As expected, Oklahoma City Thunder registered the first series sweep of the ongoing NBA playoffs, turning back a rather unexpected hard fighting Memphis Grizzlies 117-115 in their game four at the FedEx Center in Memphis.
Cleveland Cavaliers earlier came close to scoring a second whitewash as they routed a dispirited Miami Heat, 124-87 at the Kaseya Center in Miami to post a commanding 3-0 in their Eastern Conference first round series.
But the story of the day is the exciting series between Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers which emerged tied at 2-2 following a 101-99 cliffhanger win by the Nuggets.
Aaron Gordon stuffed the decider on a Jokic overshot that turned out as an alley oop pass with time winding down. It was only Gordon's fourth point in the last quarter where the Nuggets scored only 16 points but it proved crucial in turning back a determined Clippers rally from as many as 21 points early in the final period.
Gordon finished with 14 points as he was among those instrumental in keeping the Clippers at bay in the first half until he gave way to Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Walker in powering Denver to 20 points lead by the end of the third quarter, 87-67.
Kawhi Leonard, Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac and James Harden, the same characters that authored LAC's 117-83 rout of Denver the other day, conspired to stage a determined comeback in this game.
They almost succeeded as the Clippers not only caught up with the Nuggets but even pulled ahead, 97-96 on a layup by Bogdan Bogdamovic.
Jokic pull the Nuggets ahead again on a free throw and a jumpshot, 99-97. But Zubac tied it the last time on a tip shot, 99-all, time down to eight seconds.
The Nuggets took a last time out to make things happen.
In the resumption, the ball went to Jokic but his long shot missed resulting to the jockeying for the ball for the ball which was won by Gordon who dunked it as the time expired for the win.
Jokic asserted himself with 36 points and 21 rebounds. Porter and Chris Braun backed him with 17 points each. Gordon had 14 and Jamal Murray scattered 13 points.
Leonard led the losers with 24 points and 9 rebounds followed by Powell with 22 points. Zubac scored 19 points and 12 rebounds while Harden finished with 15 points.
Oklahoma was faced with a desperate fight back by Memphis which although it lost Ja Morant on injury, was buoyed up by the steady plays of Scottie Pippen Jr (30 points) Desmond Bane (23) and Santi Aldama (23) who combined for 76 points.
But the Thunder proved steadier in the finish with Shai Gilgeous Alexander who scored 38 points and Jalen Williams who put up 23 points getting scoring support from more teammates including Chet Hoimgren, Isaiah Hertenstein and Isaiah Joe who scored 11 points each.
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.
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