© AP
The Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, top seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences respectively, both started their NBA playoff semifinals with a smooth home win.
Source: BELGA
Today at 08:57
Boston, the best team of the regular season, defeated Cleveland 120-95. Jaylen Brown was the home team’s top scorer with 32 points, seven more than Derrick White. In the visiting camp, Donovan Mitchell finished with 33 points.
The two teams will face each other again on Thursday at the Celtics’ TD Garden. Boston is the record holder with seventeen NBA titles, together with the LA Lakers, who are already eliminated. Boston’s last title dates back to 2008.
Oklahoma City defeated Dallas 117-95. Canadian All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led OKC to victory with 29 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds (just shy of a triple-double). Kyrie Irving scored 20 points for the Mavericks.
Oklahoma City is still undefeated in these play-offs after beating New Orleans 4-0 in the first round. Only Minnesota, their possible opponent in the final in the West, is doing as well. The Timberwolves stayed clear against Phoenix and led 2-0 against reigning champion Denver.
Gobert “best defender of the year” for the fourth time
Frenchman Ruby Gobert was named “best defender of the year” on Wednesday, the NBA announced. Gobert plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He previously won that title in 2018, 2019 and 2021, but it is the first time since the 31-year-old basketball player has played for the Timberwolves that the title has gone to him. He previously played for the Utah Jazz.