ANKARA – Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic propelled the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals, each scoring 36 points in a decisive victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals.
The Mavericks secured their fourth win in the series with a 124-103 triumph at Target Center in Minneapolis.
“I had the utmost confidence last night and during shootaround this morning,” Irving said. “I just felt like we were going to play one of our best games.”
Serbian star Doncic, who scored 20 points in the first quarter, shot 14 for 22 and grabbed 10 rebounds, marking his first appearance in an NBA championship.
The Dallas Mavericks will face the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals on June 6.
The Mavericks are vying for their second NBA title, while the Celtics aim for their 18th championship, potentially surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers for the most NBA titles with 17.
(Rep. el Amigo/Source: Anadolu/PNA)
INDIANAPOLIS — The Boston Celtics clinched a spot in the 2024 NBA Finals after sweeping the Indiana Pacers, 4-0, in the Eastern Conference finals.
In a thrilling match on Tuesday, the Celtics secured a 105-102 victory over the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum led the charge, contributing 29 and 26 points respectively, rallying their team to a crucial win.
Brown’s standout performance earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award of the Eastern Conference finals, the esteemed Larry Bird Trophy.
Across the four games, he boasted impressive averages of 29.8 points on 52% shooting, along with 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Next up, the Celtics will face the winner of the Western Conference finals, currently led by the Dallas Mavericks, 3-0, against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The stage is set for the 23rd NBA final showdown on June 6th.
(el Amigo/Source:Anadolu)
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2024 NBA All-Star Game reserves were revealed on Friday, featuring standout players like Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry. These reserves will join the starters in the upcoming 73rd All-Star Game scheduled for February 18 in Indianapolis.
Last week, the starters, led by LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, were announced.
The league disclosed the selection of seven reserves for each conference, chosen by 30 head coaches.
Eastern Conference reserves: Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat), Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers), Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Julius Randle (New York Knicks).
Western Conference reserves: Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), and Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves).
The NBA will return to its traditional East vs. West format for the All-Star Game.
The Eastern Conference starters include Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), and Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks). Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks will captain them.
On the Western Conference side, the starters consist of Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder). The team will be captained by Los Angeles Lakers forward James, who has been an All-Star starter for the 20th consecutive year.
(Source: Anadolu)
(el Amigo/MNM)
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina ㅡ The NBA Board of Governors has given its seal of approval to the sale of the Charlotte Hornets by Michael Jordan to an ownership group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, as disclosed by a reliable source.
The insider, who requested anonymity due to the pending official announcement in about a week, revealed that the decision concludes Michael Jordan’s 13-year tenure as the majority owner of the franchise. Nonetheless, he will retain a minority ownership stake.
The agreement for the team’s sale was reached on June 16, but the final step was obtaining the consent of the NBA’s Board of Governors, as required when an owner decides to sell a franchise.
(Sourced online/AI/MNM)