Wizards Pull Upset, Defeat Sixers
The Washington Wizards defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 122-114, at Capital One Arena on Monday evening.
The Sixers had a golden opportunity to close out the series Monday against the Wizards, but they saw how Joel Embiid left the game injured in the first half and their chances of completing the sweep decreased dramatically without the MVP candidate on the court. Philadelphia still grabbed a 31-28 lead in the first quarter, but the game was quite close at the halftime break following a 32-30 lead by the Wizards that made it a one-point game with 24 minutes left on the clock. The Wizards flipped the script in the third quarter with a 32-19 score and held on the rest of the way, as they weathered the 76ers' storm. Even though Philadelphia won the final quarter by a 34-30 score, it wasn't enough to turn things around and Philadelphia will have to wait for Game 5 to close the series out. The Wizards shot 41.7 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from deep, while the 76ers shot 45.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range.
Joel Embiid ended with eight points across 11 minutes before he limped out with a right knee injury, and he should be listed as questionable -- at best -- for Game 5. Tobias Harris ended as the Sixers' highest-scoring player with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and he also added five assists to his name. Ben Simmons produced a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, and both Danny Green (11 points) and Seth Curry (10 points) also produced double-digit scoring tallies. Tyrese Maxey had 15 points off the bench as well.
Seven Washington players ended in double-digit figures with Bradley Beal (27 points) leading the way, though Russell Westbrook ended with a triple-double of 19 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists. Rui Hachimura had 20 points and 13 boards, while Davis Bertans had 15 points as well. Daniel Gafford started for the first time in the current playoff run and produced 12 points, while Robin Lopez (16 points) looked productive off the bench as well.
The Sixers had a golden opportunity to close out the series Monday against the Wizards, but they saw how Joel Embiid left the game injured in the first half and their chances of completing the sweep decreased dramatically without the MVP candidate on the court. Philadelphia still grabbed a 31-28 lead in the first quarter, but the game was quite close at the halftime break following a 32-30 lead by the Wizards that made it a one-point game with 24 minutes left on the clock. The Wizards flipped the script in the third quarter with a 32-19 score and held on the rest of the way, as they weathered the 76ers' storm. Even though Philadelphia won the final quarter by a 34-30 score, it wasn't enough to turn things around and Philadelphia will have to wait for Game 5 to close the series out. The Wizards shot 41.7 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from deep, while the 76ers shot 45.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range.
Joel Embiid ended with eight points across 11 minutes before he limped out with a right knee injury, and he should be listed as questionable -- at best -- for Game 5. Tobias Harris ended as the Sixers' highest-scoring player with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and he also added five assists to his name. Ben Simmons produced a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, and both Danny Green (11 points) and Seth Curry (10 points) also produced double-digit scoring tallies. Tyrese Maxey had 15 points off the bench as well.
Seven Washington players ended in double-digit figures with Bradley Beal (27 points) leading the way, though Russell Westbrook ended with a triple-double of 19 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists. Rui Hachimura had 20 points and 13 boards, while Davis Bertans had 15 points as well. Daniel Gafford started for the first time in the current playoff run and produced 12 points, while Robin Lopez (16 points) looked productive off the bench as well.
Jazz Win Second Straight Game In Memphis
By Dan Bruno
The Utah Jazz defeated the host Memphis Grizzlies, 120-113, in Game 4 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at FedEx Forum on Monday evening.
The contest got out to a tight start as the Jazz led by three, after one quarter. The Grizzlies kept it close through the second, but the Jazz continued pushing and managed to make it a five-point game by halftime. The Jazz took it up a notch in the third, where they outscored the hosts, 41-33, to increase the deficit to 13 points, heading into the final frame. The Grizzlies rallied to cut it to a two-point game mid way through the fourth, but the Jazz responded by closing the contest on a, 14-9 run, to secure their second straight win in Memphis and take a, 3-1, series lead back to Utah for Game 5, on Wednesday.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Jazz with 30 points, eight assists, two rebounds and two steals, in 34 minutes. Jordan Clarkson followed up with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, off the bench, while Mike Conley tallied 11 points, seven assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block. The Jazz shot 45 percent from the field, including 17-of-34 from long range. The Jazz did a good job of pushing the ball, as they tallied 20 fast-break points, but they left room for improvement on the defensive end, as they gave up 15 second-chance points and 17 points off turnovers.
Meanwhile, Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 23 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and a steal, in 43 minutes. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks each added 21 points, while Jonas Valanciunas totaled 14 points, 12 rebounds, a steal and a block. The Grizzlies shot 46 percent from the field, including 10-of-35 from long range. The Grizzlies did a great job on the inside, with 64 points in the paint, and they shot 17-of-20 from the foul line.
The contest got out to a tight start as the Jazz led by three, after one quarter. The Grizzlies kept it close through the second, but the Jazz continued pushing and managed to make it a five-point game by halftime. The Jazz took it up a notch in the third, where they outscored the hosts, 41-33, to increase the deficit to 13 points, heading into the final frame. The Grizzlies rallied to cut it to a two-point game mid way through the fourth, but the Jazz responded by closing the contest on a, 14-9 run, to secure their second straight win in Memphis and take a, 3-1, series lead back to Utah for Game 5, on Wednesday.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for the Jazz with 30 points, eight assists, two rebounds and two steals, in 34 minutes. Jordan Clarkson followed up with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, off the bench, while Mike Conley tallied 11 points, seven assists, three rebounds, a steal and a block. The Jazz shot 45 percent from the field, including 17-of-34 from long range. The Jazz did a good job of pushing the ball, as they tallied 20 fast-break points, but they left room for improvement on the defensive end, as they gave up 15 second-chance points and 17 points off turnovers.
Meanwhile, Ja Morant led the Grizzlies with 23 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and a steal, in 43 minutes. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks each added 21 points, while Jonas Valanciunas totaled 14 points, 12 rebounds, a steal and a block. The Grizzlies shot 46 percent from the field, including 10-of-35 from long range. The Grizzlies did a great job on the inside, with 64 points in the paint, and they shot 17-of-20 from the foul line.