MAGIC, LAKERS, SUNS ONE STEP AWAY

 

 

The 2010 NBA playoffs had reached the Conference semi final stage and that phase was well underway. The four home teams came away from Game 1 with an initial edge. However only three of those teams were able to hold on to that home court advantage in Game 2 but those three were in a very strong position. However that could well change as the series switched locations for the first time for Game 3. Going 3-0 up was going to be easier said than done.

In the East, the Magic faced the Hawks in Atlanta. The Hawks tied the game at 11 with 6:49 left in the 1st but the Magic always had the edge. That became a doube digit lead by the end of the opening period. The Hawks never looked like coming back from that in the early stages of the 2nd quarter and it already looked like it might be the Magic's game. The Hawks rallied briefly before halftime before the Magic re-extended their lead to 52-33 at half time with Rashard Lewis on 15 points.

The Hawks were able to tread water for the early stages of the 3rd quarter and cut the gap to eighteen at one point. The home side never looked likely to get closer than that before the end of the quarter though. The gap hit thirty points in the early stages of the 4th quarter and from that point it was pretty much game over. For the second time in this series the Hawks were completely outclassed, and this time on their court. The Magic won 105-75, Lewis finishing on 22 points with Dwight Howard backing him up on 21 points.

Out West, the Lakers faced the Jazz in Utah. The first minute of the match was completely scoreless but the Lakers opened the scoring 2-0 with 10:20 left in the 1st but the Jazz soon reminded them who's house they were in. The Lakers weren't able turn things round before the end of the quarter. In the early stages of the second quarter, the Jazz lead hit double figures for a bit. The Lakers pulled the gap back from there but the Jazz still lead 54-50 at half time with Deron Williams leading he way on 14 points.

The Jazz extended that lead to 59-52 with 11:02 left in the 3rd however the two sides then wound up duelling later on. The Jazz certainly weren't lying down but the Lakers were leading with a quarter to go. The two sides continued to duel throughout the early stages of the 4th quarter with the lead seemingly changing with every basket. The Jazz went on to build up a solid lead late on but then fell apart and a missed a buzzer beater to give the Lakers a 111-110win with Kobe Bryant grabbing 35 points.

The Suns faced the Spurs in San Antonio. The opening minute of the match was scoreless and the Suns tied the game at 7 with 7:48 in the 1st but the Spurs were doing the business. The Suns were never going to make it back before the end of the opener. The Spurs lead hit double digits early in the 2nd quarter and at hat point they looked unstoppable. The Suns cut the deficit in the last few minutes of the half but still the Spurs led 50-44 at the halftime buzzer with Manu Ginobli on 10 points.

The 3rd quarter, like the 1st, took a while to get going but the Spurs initially held on to extend their lead. The Suns went on to push them close in the latter stages of the quarter but the Spurs still led 72-71 going into the final period. The two sides duelled at the start of the third quarter but that duel was clearly won by the Suns. The Suns never looked like being caught in the latter stages with Slovenian Goran Dragic coming off the bench to seemingly win the game single handedly with 26 points. The Suns won 110-96.

Back East, the Cavs faced the Celtics in Boston. The Cavs surged into 'Beantown' and the homeside didn't look like they'd be able to do anything about it early on. They didn't look like unburying themselves in the 2nd quarter either. The 3rd quarter came and went and the Cavs still didn't look like showing any mercy. Bottom line, it was not a good night to be a Celtics fan. LeBron James just took the mick out of everyone with 38 points. The Cavs won 124-95 and took a 2-1 series lead as well as taking back homecourt advantage.

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