Hawks Edge Celtics, 119-117
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Boston Celtics, 119-117, on Tuesday night at TD Garden in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal-round series. The Celtics lead the series, 3-2.
The Celtics (3-2) came into the contest as hefty favorites, and although the Hawks (2-3) held a surprisingly 30-27 lead after one, Boston fought back to take an eight-point advantage into halftime. The hosts had extended their edge slightly to 10 points going into the final period and still led by 12 with just over five minutes remaining, but Atlanta's 20-6 game-ending run, punctuated by a Trae Young go-ahead three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining, sealed the visitors' shocking win.
Young led the Hawks with 38 points, adding 13 assists, four rebounds and two steals. John Collins delivered 22 points, two boards, one assist and one steal. Bogdan Bogdanovic turned in 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal. De'Andre Hunter supplied 13 points and four boards. Saddiq Bey registered 12 points and four rebounds.
Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 35 points, complementing with seven rebounds and five assists. Jayson Tatum provided 19 points, eight boards, eight assists and one block. Derrick White managed 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Malcolm Brogdon totaled 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. Robert Williams and Marcus Smart generated matching 10-point, two-assist tallies while recording seven and three rebounds, respectively.
The series shifts back to the Peach State and State Farm Arena for Game 6 on Thursday night.
The Celtics (3-2) came into the contest as hefty favorites, and although the Hawks (2-3) held a surprisingly 30-27 lead after one, Boston fought back to take an eight-point advantage into halftime. The hosts had extended their edge slightly to 10 points going into the final period and still led by 12 with just over five minutes remaining, but Atlanta's 20-6 game-ending run, punctuated by a Trae Young go-ahead three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining, sealed the visitors' shocking win.
Young led the Hawks with 38 points, adding 13 assists, four rebounds and two steals. John Collins delivered 22 points, two boards, one assist and one steal. Bogdan Bogdanovic turned in 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and one steal. De'Andre Hunter supplied 13 points and four boards. Saddiq Bey registered 12 points and four rebounds.
Jaylen Brown paced the Celtics with 35 points, complementing with seven rebounds and five assists. Jayson Tatum provided 19 points, eight boards, eight assists and one block. Derrick White managed 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Malcolm Brogdon totaled 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. Robert Williams and Marcus Smart generated matching 10-point, two-assist tallies while recording seven and three rebounds, respectively.
The series shifts back to the Peach State and State Farm Arena for Game 6 on Thursday night.
Nuggets Hold Off Timberwolves To Close Out Series
By Dan Bruno
The Denver Nuggets defeated the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves, 112-109, in Game 5 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs on Tuesday.
The Nuggets closed out the series, 4-1, and booked their ticket to the second round, after bouncing back from a loss in Game 4 and earning a hard-fought win at home. The Timberwolves got out to a solid start in the game and led, 29-22, through one quarter. The Nuggets responded in the second and outscored the visitors, 26-18, in the quarter to gain a one-point edge at the break. Both sides brought a strong effort in the third, and the Timberwolves managed to tie it up at 77, heading into the final frame. The Nuggets jumped back in front early in the fourth and stayed a step ahead the rest of the way, as they came up clutch down the stretch to close out the critical win.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 35 points, four rebounds, five assists and a steal, in 41 minutes. Nikola Jokic followed up with 28 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and two steals, while Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon added 14 points each. The Nuggets shot 40 percent from the field, including 12-of-34 from deep.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two blocks, in 40 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns followed up with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block, while Rudy Gobert totaled 16 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Nuggets closed out the series, 4-1, and booked their ticket to the second round, after bouncing back from a loss in Game 4 and earning a hard-fought win at home. The Timberwolves got out to a solid start in the game and led, 29-22, through one quarter. The Nuggets responded in the second and outscored the visitors, 26-18, in the quarter to gain a one-point edge at the break. Both sides brought a strong effort in the third, and the Timberwolves managed to tie it up at 77, heading into the final frame. The Nuggets jumped back in front early in the fourth and stayed a step ahead the rest of the way, as they came up clutch down the stretch to close out the critical win.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 35 points, four rebounds, five assists and a steal, in 41 minutes. Nikola Jokic followed up with 28 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, two blocks and two steals, while Bruce Brown and Aaron Gordon added 14 points each. The Nuggets shot 40 percent from the field, including 12-of-34 from deep.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two blocks, in 40 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns followed up with 26 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block, while Rudy Gobert totaled 16 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Suns Defeat Clippers in Game 5, 136-130, Advance to Next Round
The Phoenix Suns defeated the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, 136-130, in Game 5 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on Tuesday.
The Suns won this series, 4-1. They will play the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Denver will be the home team, and that series should start Saturday.
There were 13 ties and 20 lead changes through the opening 30 minutes of this game, but an 18-0 run in the third quarter carried Phoenix to their win. They outscored LA in that frame, 50-24, never relinquishing the lead in the fourth quarter. The Suns shot 54 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range while holding the Clippers to 45 percent from the field and 36 percent from long range. Phoenix also outscored Los Angeles in fastbreak points, 22-10.
The Clippers (1-4) were led by Norman Powell, providing 27 points, two rebounds and three assists. Ivica Zubac amassed 16 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Russell Westbrook shot 3-of-18 but finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Mason Plumlee led the bench with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Nicolas Batum totaled 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Suns (4-1) were led by Devin Booker, collecting 47 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and two steals on 19-of-27 from the field. Kevin Durant had 31 points, six rebounds and four assists. Deandre Ayton accrued 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Chris Paul compiled 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Josh Okogie led the bench with 11 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.
The Suns won this series, 4-1. They will play the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Denver will be the home team, and that series should start Saturday.
There were 13 ties and 20 lead changes through the opening 30 minutes of this game, but an 18-0 run in the third quarter carried Phoenix to their win. They outscored LA in that frame, 50-24, never relinquishing the lead in the fourth quarter. The Suns shot 54 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range while holding the Clippers to 45 percent from the field and 36 percent from long range. Phoenix also outscored Los Angeles in fastbreak points, 22-10.
The Clippers (1-4) were led by Norman Powell, providing 27 points, two rebounds and three assists. Ivica Zubac amassed 16 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Russell Westbrook shot 3-of-18 but finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Mason Plumlee led the bench with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, while Nicolas Batum totaled 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.
The Suns (4-1) were led by Devin Booker, collecting 47 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and two steals on 19-of-27 from the field. Kevin Durant had 31 points, six rebounds and four assists. Deandre Ayton accrued 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Chris Paul compiled 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Josh Okogie led the bench with 11 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.