FloaterDaily Brief
Monday, May 8, 2006Playoffs · 2 games
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2 games, none went to overtime. Biggest comeback: PHX trailed LAC by 5 at halftime and won 130–123.

Final · R2 · G1 · Box score
Nets100
Heat88
Q1 NJN +17; Q2 NJN +18; Q3 NJN +20; Q4 NJN +12
Final · R2 · G1 · Box score
Clippers123
Suns130
Q1 PHX +4; Q2 PHX -5; Q3 PHX +2; Q4 PHX +7
On this day · 2004–05May 8, 2005: 2 games. Top scorer: Tony Parker (Spurs-Sonics), 29 points.
May 8 in other seasons2026202520242023202220212019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200420032002200120001999199819971996
The lead · Conference semifinals · Game 1 · Clippers-Suns

Steve Nash scores 31 in Phoenix win over Clippers

Elton Brand goes for 40 points

Game flow · PHX margin at each break
-15-10-50+5+10+15TipEnd Q1HalfEnd Q3Final0+4-5+2+7PHX AHEAD ↑LAC AHEAD ↓
By quarter
Q1Q2Q3Q4T
Clippers25363032123
Suns29273737130
Who led
Steve NashPoints, last 10 games: 12, 16, 20, 29, 17, 22, 22, 32, 13, 31PHX31 PTS · 3 REB · 12 AST
Raja BellPoints, last 10 games: 21, 19, 5, 8, 23, 10, 7, 11, 13, 22PHX22 PTS · 2 REB · 2 AST
Elton BrandPoints, last 10 games: 25, 30, 22, 17, 21, 19, 17, 11, 21, 40LAC40 PTS · 9 REB · 3 AST
Sam CassellPoints, last 10 games: 0, 19, 14, 12, 19, 13, 20, 11, 10, 28LAC28 PTS · 4 REB · 4 AST
Lead changes
Clippers-Suns6
Nets-Heat1
The night in charts
Clippers-Suns combined for 253, 65 more than any other game
Points by game
Clippers-SunsClippers 123, Suns 130
253
Nets-HeatNets 100, Heat 88
188
PHX won the closest game by 7
Closest finishes
Clippers-SunsClippers 123, Suns 130
+7 PHX
Nets-HeatNets 100, Heat 88
+12 NJN
Brand shot 18-of-22 for the night's hottest hand
Hottest shooting · min 10 FGA
BrandLAC · 40 PTS, 9 REB, 4 BLK, 3 AST
82% (18-22)
NashPHX · 31 PTS, 12 AST, 3 REB
67% (10-15)
MaggetteLAC · 20 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 AST
64% (7-11)
JeffersonNJN · 20 PTS, 5 AST, 4 REB, 2 STL
64% (7-11)
DiawPHX · 19 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL
56% (9-16)
Final · Clippers-Suns
Clippers 123Suns 130
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Clippers25363032123
Suns29273737130
The story
Shawn Marion had 20 points and 15 rebounds as Phoenix beat Los Angeles 130-123

Sam Cassell led Los Angeles with 28 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST 20 PTS, 15 REB, 3 AST · 5-13 FG, 0-4 3PT

The swing

Down 5 after the second, the Suns took the third 37-30.

PHX lead by quarter
200 +4−5+2+7 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Final · Nets-Heat
Nets 100Heat 88
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Nets38262016100
Heat2125182488
The story
Vince Carter's 27 points carried New Jersey past Miami, 100-88

For Miami, Dwyane Wade had 25 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST 27 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL · 6-15 FG, 0-3 3PT

The swing

The first quarter, 38-21, was where the Nets built it.

NJN lead by quarter
200 +17+18+20+12 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Fantasy angle

Jason Kidd was the fantasy play: 54.3 FPTS on 22 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST

Fantasy angle
Heating up
+8.6points, last 3 playoff games vs reg. season avg
Points per game
13.1Reg. season avg21.7Last 3 playoff games

21.7 points a game over his last three playoff games, against 13.1 in the regular season (57 games). Today: 17 points in 33 minutes.

Losing minutes
−16.3minutes, last 3 playoff games vs reg. season avg
Minutes per game
24.4Reg. season avg8.1Last 3 playoff games

8.1 minutes a game over his last three playoff games, against 24.4 in the regular season (43 games). Today: 7 points in 15 minutes.

Stepped-up role
+23.7minutes, today vs reg. season avg
Minutes per game
10.2Reg. season avg33.9Today

34 minutes today, against 10.2 a game in the regular season (57 games). Line: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assists.

Second story · Nets-Heat · R2 · G1

Steady New Jersey beats Miami

Leads at every break, then a 100–88 final. Vince Carter led New Jersey with 27 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

Series tracker · Nets-Heat
G1 · @ MIANJN100–88
Top performances

Elton Brand leads the day with 40

Elton BrandPoints, last 10 games: 25, 30, 22, 17, 21, 19, 17, 11, 21, 40Clippers-Suns · L
21.5 PPG playoffs to date · +22.2 vs his playoff average before tonight
40 PTS · 9 REB · 3 AST
Steve NashPoints, last 10 games: 12, 16, 20, 29, 17, 22, 22, 32, 13, 31Suns-Clippers · W
23.2 PPG playoffs to date · +8.9 vs his playoff average before tonight
31 PTS · 3 REB · 12 AST
Sam CassellPoints, last 10 games: 0, 19, 14, 12, 19, 13, 20, 11, 10, 28Clippers-Suns · L
16.8 PPG playoffs to date · +13.4 vs his playoff average before tonight
28 PTS · 4 REB · 4 AST
Vince CarterPoints, last 10 games: 15, 13, 16, 31, 33, 25, 28, 34, 24, 27Nets-Heat · W
28.9 PPG playoffs to date · −2.2 vs his playoff average before tonight
27 PTS · 8 REB · 6 AST
Dwyane WadePoints, last 10 games: 27, 25, 8, 30, 21, 26, 20, 28, 23, 25Heat-Nets · L
24.7 PPG playoffs to date · +0.3 vs his playoff average before tonight
25 PTS · 5 REB · 3 AST
Jason KiddPoints, last 10 games: 9, 10, 7, 5, 6, 14, 10, 5, 8, 22Nets-Heat · W
10.0 PPG playoffs to date · +14.0 vs his playoff average before tonight
22 PTS · 9 REB · 7 AST