NBA: Doncic and Dallas lose quarterfinal opener
Basketball superstar Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks started the quarterfinals of the North American professional league NBA with a defeat. The Texans clearly lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday (local time) 95:117 and are therefore 0-1 behind in the best-of-seven series. Maximilian Kleber will be missing from the Mavericks for the longer term in the remainder of the play-offs due to a sprained acromioclavicular joint from the previous round.
Doncic put up 19 points, six rebounds and nine assists and was below his potential. The 25-year-old only shot a weak 31.6 percent from the field and only converted one of eight three-pointers. The Mavs’ best thrower was Kyrie Irving with 20 points, while Oklahoma City’s star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shone with 29 points.
“Who cares? We have lost. We just have to concentrate on the next game. I have to be better, we have to be better,” said Doncic, who has been struggling with knee problems for a long time, about his performance. Game two in Oklahoma City will take place on Friday night (3:30 a.m.).
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics, the best team of the regular season, took a 1-0 lead in their series. The NBA record winner won 120:95 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who eliminated the Orlando Magic with world champions Franz and Moritz Wagner in the first round. Jaylen Brown stood out with 32 points for the Celtics, and for Cleveland Donovan Mitchell once again excelled with 33 points.
NHL: Rangers extend their lead – Colorado leads the way
The New York Rangers have extended their lead in the quarterfinals of the North American professional ice hockey league NHL. Head coach Peter Laviolette’s team beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 after overtime. The Rangers are leading 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, with the third game taking place on the night of Thursday to Friday (CET) in Carolina.
Vincent Trocheck scored the decisive goal after 7:24 minutes in the second overtime. Alexis Lafreniere (11th/28th) and Chris Kreider (47th) had previously scored for the Rangers in regular time. Jake Guentzel (16th/39th) and Dmitri Orlow (20th) scored the goals for Carolina.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche advanced in the quarterfinal duel with the Dallas Stars. The 2022 Stanley Cup winner won 4-3 thanks to a goal from Miles Wood in the 12th minute of overtime and leads 1-0 in the series. The next encounter will take place again in Dallas on the night of Thursday to Friday (CET).
Gobert named best NBA defensive player for the fourth time
Berlin (SID) – French basketball star Rudy Gobert has been voted the best defensive player in the North American professional league NBA for the fourth time. The league announced this on Tuesday (local time). The Minnesota Timberwolves professional equaled the record set by Ben Wallace and Dikembe Mutombo, who also won the title four times.
Gobert had already received the honor in 2018, 2019 and 2021 with the Utah Jazz. In this year’s election, the 31-year-old (72 votes) relegated his compatriot and league newcomer Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs/19 votes) and Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat/three votes) to second and third place.
Gobert and Minnesota qualified for the play-offs as third in the Western Conference and are currently leading 2-0 in the quarterfinal series against champion Denver Nuggets. The 2.16 m tall giant missed game two on Monday due to the birth of his son.
The New York Knicks won their opener against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the NBA playoffs. The team with Isaiah Hartenstein from Lower Saxony won on Monday evening (local time) in Madison Square Garden 121:117. Center Hartenstein scored 13 points and scored a basket from his own half with the clock running out at halftime. The outstanding basketball player on the floor was once again his teammate Jalen Brunson, who scored 43 points. It was the fourth playoff game in a row in which he scored at least 40 points.
In the best-of-seven series, four wins are needed to advance and reach the finals of the Eastern Conference. Game two is also in New York on Wednesday evening (local time).
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves got their second impressive win in a row against defending champion Denver Nuggets and can already make it into the finals of the Western Conference in the upcoming home games. In Denver, the Timberwolves won 106:80 and frustrated the Nuggets around stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. As the first half progressed, Murray was tempted to throw a heating pad onto the field during the game.
The Timberwolves were 32 points ahead at one point and were working the Nuggets effectively, especially on defense. The team had to do without Rudy Gobert, who was not there due to the birth of his first child. The best throwers were Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards with 27 points each for the guests. For the Nuggets, Aaron Gordon had 20 points. Jokic ended the evening with a weak 16 points by his standards. He managed just five baskets in the game.