rpbooks Chapter 645 The Semifinals End
Chapter 645 The Semifinals End
Chapter 645 The Semifinals End
After the Thunder beat the Rockets, they can take a break.Their opponents, the Nuggets and the Warriors are now 1:3.The Warriors are about to advance to the Western Conference Finals, it depends on whether the Nuggets can hold it!
The Nuggets are also weird.They performed very well in the first two away games.Being able to fight for a victory is enough to explain everything.But after they returned to the home court, they changed their appearance.There was no state at all, as if he suddenly became unable to play.As a result, Durant picked two games in a row by himself.
When it was about to be out, the Nuggets once again found the state of the first two games, and they were evenly matched with the Warriors.
Curry did not play because of ankle discomfort.He sprained his ankle in Game [-] against the Nuggets.He sat out the first game in Denver.In the second round, it twisted again.However, he did not suffer too much injury, but Kerr still cautiously let him rest for a game.In fact, with Durant's current state, the Warriors can completely let Curry rest for a while.
The Nuggets still have the same starting lineup, Murray, Harris, Clegg, Millsap and Jokic.It has to be said that this is also a lineup with both offense and defense.The Warriors changed a bit. They put Rooney, who had performed well in the previous few games, in the starting lineup, and then let Cook replace Curry.
The Warriors got off to a bad start, hitting iron in their first six shots.The Nuggets took the opportunity to make an 8:0 start.Murray and Harris each made a three-pointer, and Jokic made the other.
It wasn't until 9 minutes and 17 seconds into the first quarter that Durant caused a defensive foul by Millsap and made two free throws, and the Warriors broke the scoring drought.Subsequently, Durant was out of control.Score consecutively, leading the Warriors to complete a wave of 10:2 offensive, tenaciously chasing the score to 10:10.However, the balance of power was broken by the Nuggets in a very short period of time!The Warriors were fighting more alone and lacked cooperation with each other. After the first quarter, they fell behind the Nuggets 25:31.
In the second quarter, a group of Nuggets' substitutes took the lead as soon as they came up.Barton hit two consecutive three-pointers, and together with Harris led the Nuggets to an 8:0 start, extending the lead to 14 points.Since then, the Nuggets have maintained a lead of about 10 points.After Durant returned to the game, he played a wave of counterattacks.But the rest of the Warriors didn't provide him with enough help.Durant can't beat four hands with two fists, and he can't do anything.
In the second half, the Warriors wanted to speed up the offensive rhythm, but they didn't get much effect.With 7 minutes and 15 seconds left in the third quarter, Jokic assisted Millsap for a layup, and the Nuggets took a 76+ point lead 55:20.
At this time, Cole immediately called a timeout to make adjustments.But after returning from the timeout, the Nuggets further opened up the score. With 28.8 seconds left in this quarter, Jokic made two free throws. The Nuggets completed a wave of 14:5 offensive climax, and the score has been opened to 91:60 .Although Thompson hit a super long three-pointer at the last moment, the 28-point difference is already the biggest difference between the two sides in the entire series.
In the last quarter, Durant, Cook and Rooney shot from inside and outside, hitting a 10:0 spurt.Malone immediately called a timeout, interrupting the Warriors' rhythm, and replaced Jokic and other key players.Afterwards, Durant, Thompson and others also all appeared on the stage.
This section has not become boring at all because of the huge difference between the two sides.Instead, the Warriors launched the most violent counterattack.Of course, the Nuggets will not sit still.The two sides fought tit-for-tat, and the Nuggets still led by 3 points until 20 minutes left.Cole directly replaced his main players, disarmed and surrendered.Ma Long also took advantage of the trend to withdraw his troops, which completely entered the garbage time of the game.
In this game, the Warriors did not lose unjustly.Although Durant handed over 35 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, Thompson, the Warriors' second highest scorer, only scored 18 points!Durant did not lead the Warriors to win the game like the previous two games.The biggest reason is that no one else stepped up to help enough.What's even more annoying is that without Curry, Durant's defense has become even tighter.Every time you score, you will pay more energy.Coupled with Thompson's downturn, Durant's situation is even more difficult.On the offensive end, Durant can't count on anyone except Curry and Thompson.It's not easy for him to be able to play like this.
In contrast, the Nuggets are in full bloom.Six of them scored in double figures and three scored over 20.Jokic made 18 of 10 shots, 6 of 5 from the free throw line, scored a game-high 25 points, and picked up a game-high 19 rebounds, including 6 frontcourt rebounds and 13 backcourt rebound.Millsap had 24 points and 7 rebounds, and Murray had 21 points and 6 assists.In addition to these three people, Harris scored 18 points and Barton scored 15 points...
Although the Nuggets fought this game, the situation is still not optimistic for them.Under the big score of 1:3, it is too difficult to achieve a reversal by pulling three games in a row!But for the Nuggets, getting this far has been a success.For a team with no experience in the playoffs, it's remarkable that they've gotten this far.It is conceivable that players such as Jokic and Murray who have accepted the tempering of the playoffs will play better next season.The Nuggets next season will definitely be stronger.
Two days later, Moda Center.The Warriors, with all their main players, ended the Nuggets' playoff journey this season.With a helper, Durant once again became the "Grim Reaper" on the court.In this game, Durant scored 35 points in 32 minutes.Although the score was less than the previous three games, Durant stood up every time the Nuggets were about to start.
The Nuggets are not bad.At least compared to the previous two performances at the Moda Center, they were much better.But in many critical moments, the Nuggets are still not as good as the experienced Warriors.There is no way to do this, the experience of the game does not mean that you have it.The experience of the Warriors is also accumulated season by season.However, the future of the Nuggets is worth looking forward to.Under the leadership of Jokic, they have already started the road to recovery.
At this point, the results of the Western Conference semifinals are all released.The Thunder and the Warriors used two 4:2 to eliminate the Rockets and Nuggets, and once again joined hands to enter the Western Conference Finals.This is not beyond everyone's expectations. After all, in terms of lineup strength and game experience in the current Western Conference, the Thunder and the Warriors are indeed leading.Three days later, the first contest between the two sides will kick off at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
(End of this chapter)