Bitter consequences threaten
The New York Knicks are running out of steam
April 3, 2024, 7:04 a.m
The New York Knicks are running out of steam at the end of a long NBA main season. Isaiah Hartenstein’s team loses for the third time in a row, and this quickly has consequences in the tight Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder are slipping in the West.
The New York Knicks around Isaiah Hartenstein have suffered their third defeat in a row in the NBA and are in danger of slipping out of the direct playoff places at the end of the season. It was 99:109 against the pursuers Miami Heat. The Knicks managed to equalize four minutes before the end, but then the Heat pulled away and significantly improved their own chances of sixth place in the Eastern Conference and direct qualification for the playoffs in the best basketball league in the world. Hartenstein had four points and one rebound, while Terry Rozier was the match winner for Miami with 34 points.
The Indiana Pacers are still in sixth place between the Knicks and the Heat. But the Philadelphia 76ers are putting the Heat under pressure from behind. In superstar Joel Embiid’s first game after a nine-week break and knee meniscus surgery, the 76ers won 109:105 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who slipped from first to third place in the Western Conference as a result. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Houston Rockets 113:106 and the defending champion Denver Nuggets beat the San Antonio Spurs 110:105.
Because the Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 104:100, the Rockets have fewer and fewer chances of qualifying for the play-in before the playoffs. Teams in seventh to tenth place in the Eastern and Western Conferences play in a short knockout phase for the last two playoff spots. For the Mavericks, the first defeat after seven wins was annoying. Maxi Kleber’s team is now level on points with their pursuers New Orleans Pelicans.
Kleber remained without points, superstar Luka Doncic could not prevent the defeat despite 30 points and eleven rebounds. The Mavs are tied for fifth in the West with 45 wins and 30 losses. Because the Los Angeles Clippers also lost for the first time in four games, the gap between fourth and fifth place in the Western Conference remained unchanged. However, the lead disappeared thanks to the Sacramento Kings’ 109:95 win against the Clippers led by world champion Daniel Theis, who was allowed to play again after four games without playing minutes.