The NBA Playoffs are continuing and we now know 75% of the teams in the Conference Finals. Joining the Denver Nuggets, who qualified on Thursday, are the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat.
On Friday, the Heat defeated the New York Knicks 96-92 to win the best out of seven Eastern Conference semifinal series four games to two. Four Heat players reached double figures in points. Small forward Jimmy Butler of Houston, Texas had 24 points, center Bam Adebayo of Newark, New Jersey had 23 points, shooting guard Max Strus of Hickory Hills, Illinois had 14 points, and point guard Kyle Lowry of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania had 11 points.
It was a slow start for Miami. The Knicks actually outscored the Heat 31-24 after the opening 12 minutes. Miami then outscored New York 72-61 thereafter. With the win, the Heat will now play the winner of the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics and 76ers play the seventh game of their best out of seven series on Sunday.
Also on Friday, the Lakers trounced the Golden State Warriors 122-101 to win the best out of seven Western Conference semifinal series four games to two. Five Lakers reached double digits in points. Forward LeBron James of Akron, Ohio had 30 points, shooting guard Austin Reaves of Newark, Arkansas had 23 points, point guard D’Angelo Russell of Louisville, Kentucky had 19 points, center Anthony Davis of Chicago, Illinois had 17 points and 20 rebounds, and game four Lakers star Lonnie Walker IV of Reading, Pennsylvania had 13 points.
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In this contest, the Lakers won every quarter. They outscored the Warriors 31-26 in the first quarter, 25-20 in the second quarter, 35-31 in the third quarter and 31-24 in the fourth quarter. The Lakers win over the Warriors means Los Angeles will play Denver in the Western Conference Finals, and there will be a new NBA Finals champion in 2023.
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