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
NJN100
MIA88
Q1 NJN +17; Q2 NJN +18; Q3 NJN +20; Q4 NJN +12
Final · R2 · G1
LAC123
PHX130
Q1 PHX +4; Q2 PHX -5; Q3 PHX +2; Q4 PHX +7
Bars under each score: who led after each quarter, from the winner's side. winner ahead behind behind in a 10+ point comeback tied
On this day · 2004–05May 8, 2005: 2 games. Top scorer: Tony Parker (SAS vs SEA), 29 points.
The lead · Conference semifinals · Game 1 · LAC @ PHX

Steve Nash scores 31 in Phoenix win over Clippers

Final: 130–123. Steve Nash added 3 rebounds and 12 assists. Conference semifinals series: Phoenix 1, Clippers 0. Elton Brand scored 40 for Clippers in the loss.

Game flow · PHX margin at each break
Quarter-end scores only (4 points), so swings inside a period don't show.
-15-10-50+5+10+15TipEnd Q1HalfEnd Q3Final0+4-5+2+7PHX AHEAD ↑LAC AHEAD ↓
By quarter
Q1Q2Q3Q4T
LAC25363032123
PHX29273737130
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
Fantasy angleRecent playoff games against each player's regular-season average.
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 · NJN @ MIA · 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 · NJN vs MIA
G1 · @ MIANJN100–88Game by game through May 8, winner and final score. Pink = NJN win.
Top performances

Elton Brand leads the day with 40

Sparkline: points in his last 10 games, tonight in pink. Black tag: most points in a game this season to date, or in his career when his whole career is in our box scores (after 5+ games). Plus/minus: points tonight against his average before tonight.
Elton BrandPoints, last 10 games: 25, 30, 22, 17, 21, 19, 17, 11, 21, 40LAC @ PHX · 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, 31PHX vs LAC · 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, 28LAC @ PHX · 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, 27NJN @ MIA · 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, 25MIA vs NJN · 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, 22NJN @ MIA · W
10.0 PPG playoffs to date · +14.0 vs his playoff average before tonight
22 PTS · 9 REB · 7 AST