Heat win; Nuggets avoid sweep
Injuries have dominated the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs so far.
Both teams that competed in the 2021 Finals likely will miss star players for the remainder of the first round of the playoffs.
The Suns take on the Pelicans in Game 4 in New Orleans without star Devin Booker, who is out with a hamstring injury. The Bucks were in the same boat with Khris Middleton, who missed Game 4 against the Bulls in Chicago with a sprained MCL. Despite missing Middleton, the Bucks routed the Bulls, 119-95, on Sunday.
The Golden State Warriors were moving full steam ahead after Steph Curry returned to the lineup, but were unable to complete the series sweep of the Denver Nuggets. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win an NBA playoff series.
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Can the Pelicans even series with Suns?
Phoenix took a 51-49 lead into halftime against New Orleans in Game 4. Playing again without injured star Devin Booker, the Suns received strong efforts from Deandre Ayton (14 points, four rebounds), Cam Johnson (10 points) and Mikal Bridges (eight points, four rebounds, three assists, one block). Chris Paul had just four points but also had six assists for the Suns who own a 2-1 series lead. Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 14 points followed by CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas, each of whom had 11 points and six rebounds. The Pelicans made just 3 of 16 3-pointers, and the Suns weren’t much better at 3-for-11.
Quick takeaways from Heat’s Game 4 victory
Atlanta had no answer for Miami’s Jimmy Butler, who had 36 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals, a block and zero turnovers in the Heat’s 110-86 victory against the Hawks in Game 4.
Miami has a 3-1 series lead and can finish off Atlanta in Game 5 in Miami on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV).
Butler had 13 of his points in the second quarter when the Heat began to pull away from the Hawks and 12 points in the fourth when the Heat put them away.
Trae Young’s struggles continued against a solid and physical defense. On one possession, the Heat’s P.J. Tucker, Bam Adebayo and Butler defended Young. Even for an All-NBA player like Young, that makes for a difficult game. Young was 3-for-11 from the field and 3-for-10 on 3-pointers.
It’s tough for the Hawks to win a playoff a game with those numbers from Young, and even more difficult when he doesn’t get much help, especially offensively.
Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari were 0-for-7 and Kevin Huerter 1-for-5 from 3.