Last night there were two pivotal NBA semifinals playoff games. The first game saw the Cavaliers host the Pistons with a chance to close out the series and set up a date with the Knicks. The Spurs traveled to Minnesota looking to put away the Timberwolves once and for all. Let's talk about both semifinals matchups!
Detroit Pistons DEF Cleveland Cavaliers 115-94 (Series Tied 3-3)
Before game five neither team had won a road game this series. The Cavaliers broke that ice in an overtime thriller game five. The Pistons needed to return that favor if they wanted to bring a tied series back with them to Detroit. They did just that winning game six 115-94. What started as a seven game series turned into a three game series after splitting the first four games. After splitting games five and six it has turned into a one game series, winner takes all and advances to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pistons haven't made the Eastern Conference Finals since 2008 when they lost to the Celtics. The Cavaliers haven't made it since 2018 where they defeated the Celtics before losing to the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Pretty interesting that the last time both teams were in the ECF they both faced the Celtics. With the 76ers knocking out the Celtics the winner of game seven will get a different opponent on their way to the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks.
In the last article I highlighted two players, Cade Cunningham and James Harden, as key players for both teams. Those players continued to be key players for their teams. Starting with the losing efforts of James Harden. He led all Cavaliers players with twenty three points, shot eighty percent from the free throw line also leading the Cavs in free throws made, eight. He also led the team in three pointers made knocking down three, assists with four, and defensive rebounds with seven. He led in six stat categories but only five are listed above. That is because the sixth stat that he led the team in was turnovers. He turned the ball over eight times, five more than the next closest on the team. The Cavaliers will need Harden to continue his dominant scoring and rebounding in game seven if they want a chance to advance to the ECF. He will also need to protect the ball a bit more making better passes that lead to assists and not turnovers
Cade Cunningham was nothing short of a warrior last night. He played forty two of the forty eight minutes last night. The next closest Piston logged just thirty one minutes. He led all Pistons in scoring with twenty one points, three pointers made with five, and assists with eight. Another dominant performance by the 2021 first overall pick. He has been and still is playing to the level the Pistons expected when he was drafted. He won't be the only reason the Pistons advance if they win game seven on Sunday, but he will be a big reason for their success.
The Cavaliers travel to Detroit on Sunday night for game seven against the Pistons at 8:00pm est on Prime Video.
San Antonio Spurs DEF Minnesota Timberwolves 139-109 (SAS Win Series 4-2)
This game was never in doubt for the San Antonio Spurs. They scored the first five points of the game and never knew a deficit. They led from the tip to the final buzzer with a lead as big as thirty seven on their way to a thirty point game six victory. They closed out the Timberwolves on the road to set up the anticipated top seed versus two seed matchup in the Western Conference Finals. This will be the first time the Spurs are in the Western Conference Finals in almost a decade. Their last appearance came in 2017 when they got swept out by the Warriors. They will have a tough task at hand taking on the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder who are yet to lose a single game in the playoffs so far. If there is a team left in the dance that has the roster to battle with the Thunder it would be the Spurs. They have had consistent play from all five starters and have even seen the bench step up big in games when needed. This Thunder team plays well together and the Spurs will need to disrupt the chemistry if they want to make it back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 when they took down Lebron and the Heat.
As always Who Dey & Go Redlegs!
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