Los Angeles (AFP)

Atlanta defeated Philadelphia to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face Milwaukee, with Phoenix starting with a win in the Western one over the Clippers, courtesy of Devin Booker, who scored a triple-double in 40 points, Sunday in the NBA.

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The Hawks are high

Like Milwaukee the day before in Brooklyn, Atlanta achieved a great performance by winning the seventh decisive game on the Sixers floor (103-96), at the end of a new big battle, during which their hero has for once not summer Trae Young.

The young star weighed heavily in the match (21 pts, 10 assists), as in this long-distance shoot which gave his team six units (93-87) 2 minutes 30 seconds from the end.

But his skill was generally at half mast (5/23), because the defense of Philly, in particular that of Ben Simmons (5 pts, 13 assists, 8 rebounds), strove to prevent it from being effective.

He was therefore more than seconded by Kevin Huerter, "factor X" of an evening (10/18) with his 27 points which hurt the 76ers very badly.

His three free throws with 54 seconds to go were important in holding the victory.

Danilo Gallinari also put in important shots off the bench (17 pts), while Jason Collins (14 pts, 16 rebounds) delivered a fierce fight inside with Joel Embiid who struggled in vain to reverse the situation, by scoring 11 of his 31 points (11 rebounds) in the final quarter.

Because it is Atlanta which was able to better control the event, to return to a conference final six years after the previous one.

A qualification that also bears the seal of Nate McMillan, interim coach, named after the sacking of Lloyd Pierce when the Hawks flew flush with the daisies in March.

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Booker at the zenith

Worn by Devin Booker, remarkably cool for a neophyte at this stage, the Suns overcame the Clippers (120-114).

The full-back, who last year sparkled in the Orlando bubble at the end of the regular season ended with eight consecutive unbeaten victories - admittedly insufficient to go to the play-offs - lives his first games at 24 years old .

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And for now nothing impresses or prevents it from sparkling, whether it is LeBron James' Lakers, dismissed in the first round (4-2), the Nuggets of MVP Nikola Jokic, swept away in the next, and these threatening Clippers.

In the absence of Chris Paul, required to isolate himself according to the League's Covid-19 protocol, without it being known if he contracted the virus or if he is in contact, Booker did more than score .

He was a real conductor in attack, delivering 11 assists, some of which were spectacular like this (aerial) alley-oop volleyed for the raging dunk of Mikal Bridges (14 pts), to definitively take off at 113-104 in the money-time.

Booker also picked up 13 rebounds, constituting the first triple-double of his career, dropping just two balls, all in a conference finals game.

Impressive.

At his side, DeAndre Ayton (20 pts) dominated inside against the Clippers who had decided to play "small" and did not defend well enough, evidenced by the 55% success in shots from Phoenix.

Deprived also of their star Kawhi Leonard, injured in the right knee without knowing how serious it is, the Californians made more than equal game during three quarters of the match, since they led (84- 78) in the wake of Paul George, living up to expectations.

With 34 points (5 assists) registered, he responded offensively, even if his 4th quarter was limited to 3 units.

Reggie Jackson (24 pts) also weighed, rather in the first period, and Nicolas Batum was useful, although not very prolific offensively (5 pts, 10 rebounds, 3 assists).

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The N.2 match will take place on Tuesday, still in Phoenix.

© 2021 AFP