Two years in the past, the Denver Nuggets had been embarrassed by the Phoenix Suns in a postseason sweep. This time, it was the Nuggets who dished out the embarrassment.
Nikola Jokic scored 32 factors in one other triple-double, Jamal Murray added 26 and the Nuggets superior to the Western Conference finals for the primary time since 2020 by beating the short-handed Suns 125-100 in Game 6 on Thursday evening.
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“When we defend, when we rebound, when we run, when we share the ball, we believe we’re the best team in the NBA,” Denver coach Michael Malone mentioned. “And tonight, we showed it.”
The Nuggets will play within the convention finals for the primary time since they misplaced to the Lakers in 5 video games within the Florida bubble through the COVID-19 pandemic. They have by no means reached the NBA Finals.
The top-seeded Nuggets used a 23-2 run through the latter a part of the primary quarter to take a 44-26 lead and by no means seemed again. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — averaging 9.5 factors within the playoffs — scored 17 within the first quarter whereas Jokic added 14.
Caldwell-Pope completed with 21 factors. Jokic shot 13 of 18 from the sector and added 12 assists and 10 rebounds. It was his fourth triple-double of the postseason in 11 video games.
“He shows (his greatness) every night,” Murray mentioned.
Denver’s offensive onslaught continued within the second because the lead grew to 81-51 by halftime, resulting in boos from Suns followers as gamers made their option to the locker room. The second half was basically an afterthought.
Cameron Payne scored 31 factors for Phoenix, hitting 7 of 9 3-pointers. Kevin Durant added 23.
The Suns had been taking part in with out injured starters Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul. Ayton sustained a rib contusion in Tuesday’s Game 5 whereas Paul has been out the previous 4 video games with a strained left groin.
Phoenix was eradicated within the Western Conference semifinals in a blowout at residence for a second straight season regardless of a blockbuster commerce deadline deal for Durant, a 13-time All-Star and one of many recreation’s most prolific scorers. The 34-year-old had some good moments within the playoffs, however made simply 1 of his first 10 pictures on Thursday because the Suns fell into an enormous gap.
Suns guard Devin Booker was good in many of the postseason, averaging 36 factors per recreation on 60% earlier than Game 6. But the three-time All-Star completed with simply 12 factors on Thursday.
The residence group gained the primary 5 video games of the collection till the Nuggets broke by in Game 6.
Denver’s Murray was listed as questionable earlier than the sport with a non-COVID sickness, however performed properly. Murray obtained a giant hug from Malone as he checked out of the sport for the ultimate time. The level guard mentioned he slept many of the day till the sport.
For the Suns, the loss was eerily much like Game 7 of final 12 months’s Western Conference semifinals.
Phoenix, with the NBA’s finest document, fell behind Dallas by 30 factors by halftime and ended up dropping 123-90 to finish its season.
In the shot clock period, the house group has trailed by 30-plus factors in a possible playoff elimination recreation simply thrice. Phoenix is now answerable for two of them. The different was the Bucks in 2015.
Boston Celtics 95-86 Philadelphia 76ers
Jayson Tatum scored 16 of his 19 factors within the fourth quarter because the Boston Celtics held off the Philadelphia 76ers 95-86 on Thursday to drive a decisive recreation seven of their NBA playoff collection.
The star Boston ahead was enduring a dismal capturing evening, making simply one in every of 13 makes an attempt from the ground by the primary three quarters earlier than erupting with 4 three-pointers within the closing interval because the Celtics thwarted Philadelphia’s rally bid and leveled their Eastern Conference semifinal at three video games apiece.
They’ll host recreation seven on Sunday, attempting to disclaim the Sixers a primary journey to the convention finals since 2001.
James Harden epitomized the 76ers’ offensive struggles. He scored 13 factors on four-of-13 capturing whereas newly minted NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid scored 26 factors with 10 rebounds.
Tatum, who averaged 30.1 factors per recreation within the common season, mentioned he by no means misplaced confidence whilst he struggled.
“It’s an extended recreation,” Tatum told broadcaster ESPN. “Thankfully I’ve got some great teammates that held it down.”
Marcus Smart led the Celtics with 22 factors. Jaylen Brown added 17 and Malcolm Brogdon scored 16 off the bench.
Even amid Tatum’s troubles the Celtics raced to a 15-3 lead, Smart and Brogdon carrying the early load earlier than the Sixers started to search out their toes.
Philadelphia reduce the deficit to a few factors earlier than the Celtics pulled away once more, pushing their benefit to 16 factors twice within the second interval.
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But the Sixers clawed again, benefiting from 17 Celtics turnovers and at last taking the lead on two free throws from Harden that put them up 64-62 with lower than 5 minutes remaining within the third quarter.
Philadelphia led 73-71 going into the ultimate body and had been up by two when Tatum made his first three-pointer of the sport to place Boston forward.
Tatum then drilled a step-back three-pointer over Tyrese Maxey.
Another pair from past the arc pushed the Celtics’ result in 11 factors with 37.6 seconds remaining.
“All that mattered was we gained this recreation,” said Tatum, who also had seven rebounds, six assists, a steal and two blocked shots. “It’s game seven, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
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