Golden State takes 3rd place from the West, Utah inherits Dallas in NBA playoffs

The Warriors third at the buzzer

The Warriors, still robbed of their point guard and leader Stephen Curry (knee), whose return is not yet certain before the start of the playoffs, found excellent defensive values ​​and chained a fifth success rank on Sunday on the side of New Orleans ( 128-107), thanks in particular to 41 points from Klay Thompson (16/29 shooting, 7/14 from 3 points) and 22 points from the convincing Jordan Poole. A necessary series without which Steve Kerr’s men would not have been able to take third place in the Western Conference (53-29).

A crucial position for the sequence of events. Because in addition to the advantage of the field, third place guarantees the Warriors that they will not pass Phoenix during an eventual second round. The Suns, beaten by Sacramento in a no-stakes game (109-116 with 15 points siding with former Strasbourg player Ishmail Wainright) are still on the cloud and leaders of the entire NBA after a historic season for the franchise (64 wins – 18 losses).

Thompson, Draymond Green and others will thus face the Denver Nuggets of MVP Nikola Jokic in a round one starting Saturday, defeated sixth and Sunday by the LA Lakers before the last of coach Angelino Frank Vogel (141-146 ap, 41) points from Malik Monk), whose resignation is announced.

Memphis, secured second place in the West, put none of its executives in the defeat to Boston (110-139). Frenchman Yves Pons won his greatest playing time there – 26 minutes – in 11 NBA games played for the Grizzlies this season for the Grizzlies, coming in on 6 points (2/7 shooting, 2/6 3 points), 2 rebounds, 1 pass and 3 blocks.

Doncic: the specter of injury

After meeting each other in the Olympic semifinals, a match won by France in Tokyo (90-89), Rudy Gobert (Utah) and Luka Doncic (Dallas) should meet in the first round of the playoffs. As the Slovenian superstar of the Mavericks left the field at the end of the third quarter, during Dallas’ win over San Antonio (130-120), had to touched in the left calf, touched during the last day of regular season.

An injury that, if synonymous with an extended absence for Doncic (26 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists), will more than seriously compromise the Texan club’s chances — even if the last, fourth, has the advantage of the field will have – against the Salt Lake City franchise. The Jazz, for his part, made the number Sunday in Portland (111-80) with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks from Rudy Gobert.

Play-in: The Clippers and Batum against Minnesota

Oklahoma City winners in parody game (138-88, 14 points 15 rebounds for French Jaylen Hoard in the Thunder, Nicolas Batum did not participate in the meeting), Los Angeles Clippers (42-40), eighth in regular season , which Paul George picked up a few weeks ago, is playing in the play-in in the West. They travel to Minneapolis (seventh, 46-36), the NBA’s best offense (115.9 points per game), on Tuesday to try and finish seventh, leaving them in the clutches of Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. would come. -offen.

If defeated, they would have a second chance to enter the top 8, this time playing at home against the winner of the New Orleans vs. San Antonio showdown (Wednesday), with the stakes, this time finishing eighth and a series against Phoenix.