The Oklahoma City Thunder sent an ominous warning to all NBA play-offs teams with a series demolition of the Phoenix Suns.
The defending champion Thunder were too strong for Phoenix, winning Game Four 131-122 to complete a 4-0 sweep. It has been the third year that they have won 4-0 in the first round.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the catalyst, scoring 31 points and adding eight assists and the reigning MVP said an easy win in this division is good for confidence and good for the legs.
He said: “It’s a really good feeling. “For sure, as a team, it’s good to start the play-offs like that. It is important that you go out on a good foot. You never know what can happen. Usually, over time, the team gets better, so the series doesn’t. But you want to give yourself as many days as possible to rest.
“We know what a good team they were and how good they are as players. They play the right way. They play aggressively. They’re a dangerous team if you let them.”
The Suns did not respond to the Thunder team that will face the Los Angeles Lakers or the Houston Rockets in the semi-finals of the Western Conference.
Devin Booker praised Gilgeous-Alexander but acknowledged that they have more power on the court.
“He [SGA] he’s the MVP of the league, and he’s been playing the best basketball in the league the last two years,” Booker said.” That’s mixed with guys who know their roles, seasoned vets, and they don’t give up. With that chemistry, the connection, it’s 100%. And when the bench comes in, they get better at times. It’s like reinforcements, not subscribers. They have all the answers to the test.”
Jokic is regaining form to keep the Nuggets alive
Also, in the West, Nikola Jokic helped keep the Denver Nuggets alive with a triple-double as they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-113.
Trailing 3-1 was no mistake for the home team and Jokic snapped out of his recent slump with 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds to set up Game 6 in Minneapolis on Thursday.
“A Jok is a Jok,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “These (small) sample games and freaking out when he’s not playing well. You know he’s going to play well. Then there’s his 16 assists. Assists are hard to come by without a shot.”
Detroit lost again
The Detroit Pistons, who finished the regular season at the top of the Eastern Conference, are on the brink of being eliminated in the first round after a 94-88 loss to the Orlando Magic, which means they are trailing 3-1.
Detroit must win three in a row to keep their season alive with Game 5 coming up tomorrow night.
Center Jalen Duran said: “The whole series, we’ve been shooting ourselves in the foot. We’ve got to clean that up, man. I still think we’re the better team, top to bottom. But we just have to…we can’t keep digging ourselves in a hole. And then, fighting ourselves, that team, the players…we’ve got to be better.”
Coach JB Bickerstaff added: “We’re going to come out with a bang. I promise you that. We’re not going to let anybody down. It’s one game at home and that’s the focus, you’ve got to go home and win one game. And that’s where our mindset is.”
Desmond Bane scored 22 points for Orlando and Franz Wagner added 19.
“We put ourselves in a position to try to get four, but right now it doesn’t matter,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “We have an opportunity and now we have to try and make sure we keep this opportunity.”
