2022 NBA Play-In Tournament
16 April 2022 (Singapore GMT+8)
Western Conf. Play-in Tournament: PEL(9) vs LAC(8)
New Orleans Pelicans 105 - 101 Los Angeles Clippers
The New Orleans Pelicans (9th seed) defeated the Los Angeles Clippers (8th seed) who were missing their star player Paul George, who was ineligible to play in the game after entering the league's health and safety protocols.
With the loss, the Clippers see their season come to an end in what has to be a disappointing fashion given the expectations they had after adding George and Kawhi Leonard to their roster.
On the brighter side, the newly arrived CJ McCollum is heading into the playoffs again after contributing 19 points in Crypto.com Arena.
Pelicans Player of the game goes to Former Laker Brandon Ingram as he put up a whopping 30 PTS, 6 REB, and 6 AST to put the Pelicans up after being down 16 at one point. Another Former Laker Larry Nance Jr. was ultra-valuable off the bench, contributing 14 PTS, 16 REBS, 4 ASTS, 1BLK, and 1 STL.
Can the team succeed without the New Orleans Pelicans GM's effort this off-season?
Besides bringing invaluable guard CJ McCollum, the newly acquired Head Coach is the key to such good performance by the young Pels.
Besides bringing invaluable guard CJ McCollum, the newly acquired Head Coach is the key to such good performance by the young Pels.
Willie Green played for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012-2014 and eventually retired as a player in the 2014-15 season.
In the year 2016, he was hired by the Golden State Warriors coaching staff as an assistant coach, where he won his first championship when the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games of the 2017 NBA Finals. Green won his second straight championship when the Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in four games of the 2018 NBA Finals.
In 2019, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns, who made it to the 2021 NBA Finals just last season, after losing 4-2 to the Milwaukee Bucks.
In the last off-season in 2021, Willie Green was named head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. His accomplishment is stunning thus far. Being the assistant of all recent successful coaching teams.
Willie Green's powerful speech sparks the Pels to a 31-17 4th quarter after down 7.
Close game Thriller
Eastern Conf. Play-in Tournament: ATL(9) vs CLE(8)
Atlanta Hawks 107 - 101 Cleveland Cavaliers
Atlanta Hawks (9th seed) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (8th seed)
The winner advances into the Play-offs and faces the #1 seed Miami Heat
In this win-or-go-home game, they manage to clinch the final 8th seed berth to make it to the playoffs and send the young Cavs home, its literally their home game though.
Clint Capela went down early due to an Evan Mobley (ROTY soon) flagrant foul where Mobley falls into Capela's knee, causing it to hyperextend (Like last year's Giannis')
Led by Ice Trae Young’s 38 points (32 in the 2nd half) and 9 assists, the Atlanta Hawks(9th seed) defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers(8th seed), 107-101.
Bogdan Bogdanovic added 19 points and 5 rebounds for the Hawks in the victory, while Darius Garland tallied 21 points and 9 assists for the Cavaliers.
The Hawks have now secured the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference and will advance to face the #1 seed Miami Heat in the First Round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
The Cavs may have lost but they certainly made it far enough for such a young team like them.
TRAE-IN in action
15 April 2022 (Singapore GMT+8)
Western Conf. Play-in Tournament: SAS(10) vs PEL(9)
San Antonio Spurs 103 - 113 New Orleans Pelicans
CJ McCollum’s 32 PTS, 6 REB, and 7 AST, and Brandin Ingram contributed 27 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST push the Pelicans To victory! Dejounte Murray tallied 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists for the Spurs in the losing effort.
The Pelicans (9th seed) remain in the Playin tournament and will play Los Angeles Clippers (8th seed) for the final playoffs berth.
The winner of that game will eventually face the #1 seed Phoenix Suns in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
CJ Explosion
Eastern Conf. Play-in Tournament: CHA(10) vs ATL(9)
Charlotte Hornets 103 - 132 Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta advances to the next Play-In game after cruising past Charlotte.
The Hawks outscored the Hornets 42-24 in the third, propelling them to a 132-103 victory.
Trae Young scored 14 of his 24 points in the period while De'Andre Hunter contributed 16 of his 22 points in that frame. Clint Capela finished with a whooping 17 rebounds and 15 points to go along.
The Charlotte Hornets backcourt duo of LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier had no answers defensively and struggled on their offensive end. The starting guards shot a combined 15-of-47 from the field in the Hornets' loss.
Atlanta will next face Cleveland next and the winner of that game will become the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference bracket and play the #1 seed Miami in the First Round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
14 April 2022 (Singapore GMT+8)
Western Conf. Play-in Tournament: LAC(8) vs MIN(7)
Los Angeles Clippers 104 - 109 Minnesota Timberwolves
D'Angelo Russell and Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves(7th seed) and took charge in the fourth quarter to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers(8th seed) 109-104 in the NBA Play-in Tournament. D'Angelo Russell finished the game with 29 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Edwards had 30 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
With 7:34 left in the 4th quarter and the Timberwolves down 86-93, Karl-Anthony Towns found his 6th foul and got fouled out of the game. Towns missed his first seven shots and finished with 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting and five rebounds in 24 minutes.
Minnesota Timberwolves will go on to face the 2nd seed Memphis Grizzlies led by Ja Morant in the First Round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Patrick Beverley only had seven points, but the guard grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and did his magic with his mind-games affecting the Clippers. His end-game celebration was the highlight of the game outside of the game, he did it like Kobe and Dwayne Wade when they won their championships. A champion's heart is important.
Close Thriller
Eastern Play-in Tournament: CLE(8) vs BKN(7)
Cleveland Cavaliers 108 - 115 Brooklyn Nets
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant shine in the Play-In game.
The Nets advance to face Boston Celtics (#2 seed) in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
Notes
Players to have at least 30 points and 12 assists on 80% from the field in the playoffs:
Kyrie Irving (2022)
Michael Jordan (1991)
Ramadan Kyrie is no joke, super focused, and went 11-11 shooting to spark the Nets ahead, eventually finished the night with 34 points on 12-of-15 shooting to go along with 12 assists while Kevin Durant finished with 25 points, 11 assists, three blocks, and two steals.
The Cavaliers stay hopeful as they will go on to meet the winner of Hawks vs Hornets for the final elimination game, for the 8th seed spot.
Ramadan Kyrie
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