Denver lost to Minnesota for the second time in the NBA playoffs, New York defeated Indiana

The end of the game at Madison Square Garden was affected by an erroneous verdict by the referees, who awarded the ball to the Knicks for touching the ball with their feet. From the following attack, Donte DiVincenzo scored a key three-pointer. However, a later report by the referees admitted that it was not a kicking of the ball, but a hand game. However, the rules do not allow this situation to be checked on video.

“On the field, we had the feeling that it was an illegal foot game. Only the video after the game showed that the defender touched the ball with his hand, which is not a problem,” first referee Zach Zarba said in the report. After DiVincenzo’s three-pointer, Brunson made three free throws.

Brunson became only the fourth player in history to score at least 40 points in four straight playoff games. Before him, Jerry West, Bernard King and, in the finals in 1993, Michael Jordan did it. “Yes, giving 40 points is great, but the game was decided by little things. I’m glad we got him,” said Brunson, who hit all 14 free throws.

DiVincenzo scored 25 points. Josh Hart played all 48 minutes and collected 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. The guests were held by Myles Turner with 23 points and Pascal Siakam with 19 points. Tyrese Haliburton made just two of six shots and was held to six points.

The second game between Denver and Minnesota, which led by as many as 32 points, turned into an unexpectedly clear affair. Even without Rudy Gobert, who was at the birth of his son, the guests held the defending champions to less than 35 percent shooting from the field and already had a 26-point lead at halftime.

Above all, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns shone, who scored 27 points. Aaron Gordon scored 20 points for Denver. Nikola Jokic had 16 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists. The hero of the first round, Jamal Murray, remained below expectations, converting only three of 18 attempts and scoring eight points. He added 13 rebounds to them.