Doveva essere la supersfida tra Joel Embiid e Giannis Antetokounmpo, invece un po’ a sorpresa nelle semifinali della Eastern Conference si affronteranno i New York Knicks e gli Indiana Pacers. Dopo anni di anonimato, i newyorkesi accedono al secondo turno dei playoff NBA per la seconda stagione consecutiva e lo fanno grazie al successo in gara-6 per 118-115 sui Philadelphia 76ers a cui non sono bastati i 39 punti e 13 rimbalzi del centro di origine camerunese. Decisivi i 41 di Jalen Brunson e la tripla a 13” dalla fine di Josh Hart.
Decisamente meno combattuto il 6o round della serie tra Indiana e Milwaukee, sempre priva del suo leader greco. Nonostante il rientro di Damien Lillard (28 punti), i Bucks sono stati travolti con il risultato di 120-98 con i Pacers che hanno portato ben 6 giocatori in doppia cifra: i top scorer sono stati Obi Toppin (21) e T.J. McConnell (20)... entrambi in uscita dalla panchina!
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