Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey played the game of his career, scoring personal best 46 playoff points to help his team survive another day against the New York Knicks in the Round 1 Playoffs Game 5. The 76ers were done and dusted at Madison Square Garden with 96-90 score line in the Knicks' favour and 28 seconds remaining in regulation time. Maxey then scored final seven points while the Knicks scored one and the game went into the overtime.

With the Knicks leading the series 3-1, 76ers were desperate to stay alive and Maxey's 7-1 run did that. Have a look at Maxey's final seven points in regulation time:

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TYRESE MAXEY DRILLS THE 3 + THE FOUL !!! 
 
SIXERS CUT THE DEFICIT TO 2 ON TNT 
 
25 SECONDS REMAINING <a href="https://t.co/rEEHKWthL0">pic.twitter.com/rEEHKWthL0</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1785482482302808430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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TYRESE MAXEY SENDS IT TO OT! 
 
(via <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBA</a>) <a href="https://t.co/AUtGEPkAWh">pic.twitter.com/AUtGEPkAWh</a>
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooSports/status/1785483036261494944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In the overtime, Knicks scored the first five points but the Sixers hit back with a 9-0 run before the score became 106-each. The 76ers then scored four points to take 110-106 lead before Maxey once again drilled two free throws to help Philly win 112-106.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/chelsea-to-pay-tribute-to-indian-youtuber-angry-rantman-at-stamford-bridge-during-premier-league-match-716978">Chelsea to pay tribute to Indian YouTuber 'Angry Rantman' at Stamford Bridge during Premier League match</a>

Speaking after the game, Maxey was asked to describe the feeling, to which he said: "Mandatory."

"Like, we had to. Our season on the line. Going through my mind right there was just, find a way to survive," Maxey said.

Meanwhile, Joel Embiid had a sloppy night, scoring nine turnovers on the night and the MSG crowd did boo him on every single occasion.

Speaking on the crowd treatment, Embiid said: "It's not hostile. I mean, I love New York. New York is one of my favorite cities in the world. I have (had) a place here for the past five years. I just love New York. And then the fans, when you play against a team, they're always going to pick that guy and they seem to have picked me, which is fun. I love it."

Thanks to magical performance by Maxey, Embiid and the Sixers will once again have the opportunity to play in front of the Knicks fans if they win Game 6 at home on May 2.

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey played the game of his career, scoring personal best 46 playoff points to help his team survive another day against the New York Knicks in the Round 1 Playoffs Game 5.

Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey played the game of his career, scoring personal best 46 playoff points to help his team survive another day against the New York Knicks in the Round 1 Playoffs Game 5. The 76ers were done and dusted at Madison Square Garden with 96-90 score line in the Knicks' favour and 28 seconds remaining in regulation time. Maxey then scored final seven points while the Knicks scored one and the game went into the overtime. With the Knicks leading the series 3-1, 76ers were desperate to stay alive and Maxey's 7-1 run did that. Have a look at Maxey's final seven points in regulation time: TYRESE MAXEY DRILLS THE 3 + THE FOUL !!! SIXERS CUT THE DEFICIT TO 2 ON TNT 25 SECONDS REMAINING pic.twitter.com/rEEHKWthL0 — NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2024 × TYRESE MAXEY SENDS IT TO OT! (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/AUtGEPkAWh — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 1, 2024 × In the overtime, Knicks scored the first five points but the Sixers hit back with a 9-0 run before the score became 106-each. The 76ers then scored four points to take 110-106 lead before Maxey once again drilled two free throws to help Philly win 112-106. Also Read: Chelsea to pay tribute to Indian YouTuber 'Angry Rantman' at Stamford Bridge during Premier League match Speaking after the game, Maxey was asked to describe the feeling, to which he said: "Mandatory." "Like, we had to. Our season on the line. Going through my mind right there was just, find a way to survive," Maxey said. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid had a sloppy night, scoring nine turnovers on the night and the MSG crowd did boo him on every single occasion. Speaking on the crowd treatment, Embiid said: "It's not hostile. I mean, I love New York. New York is one of my favorite cities in the world. I have (had) a place here for the past five years. I just love New York. And then the fans, when you play against a team, they're always going to pick that guy and they seem to have picked me, which is fun. I love it." Thanks to magical performance by Maxey, Embiid and the Sixers will once again have the opportunity to play in front of the Knicks fans if they win Game 6 at home on May 2.

Playoffs Round 1: VIDEO | Tyrese Maxey's 7-1 run in last seconds sends Game 5 in OT before 76ers win vs Knicks

Denver Nuggets rode on Jamal Murray's game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 5 of the series to officially close out their opening round playoff series over the Los Angeles Lakers. Murray hit a jumper over Austin Reaves from just inside the free-throw line to propel his side to a thrilling 108-106 win over the Lakers. The 27-year-old's shot fell with just less than four seconds in hand, which wasn't enough for the Lakers to respond with as they had no timeouts.

Talking about the Q1, Nuggets edged past Lakers with a 28-24 lead. In Q2, Lakers responded well and even managed to narrow down the deficit with a 29-22 lead. In the following Q3, Nuggests turned it around with a 31-26 lead, which proved to be decisive. In Q4, the Murray-starrer ended with a two-point lead despite a 27-27 scoreline.&nbsp;

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Jamal Murray breaks down his game-winner to send Denver to the next round 📜 <a href="https://t.co/eb6keNY6vB">pic.twitter.com/eb6keNY6vB</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1785190000256033130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/please-help-me-ex-ufc-champion-francis-ngannou-shares-emotional-note-on-15-month-old-sons-demise-716593">'Please help me...,' Ex-UFC champion ​Francis Ngannou shares emotional note on 15-month-old son's demise</a>

With this, Nuggests&nbsp;officially earned a 4-1 series win over the Lakers, which has sent them into the Western Conference semifinals. In the semis, they will lock horns with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who thrashed the Phoenix Suns in their first-round series.

Murray, who was in doubt for the game&nbsp;due to a calf strain, said on TNT, "I'm speechless. It's a dream come true. All these fans on your side to get it done in this fashion, I don't know. I don't know what to say. I'm just happy for us."

On the other hand, Lakers -- who went down to the&nbsp;Nuggets in the Western Conference finals last season -- have now lost in the opening round of the playoffs twice in the last four seasons. Thus, they have a lot to ponder upon going ahead.&nbsp;

Denver Nuggets rode on Jamal Murray's game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 5 of the series to officially close out their opening round playoff series over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Denver Nuggets rode on Jamal Murray's game-winning buzzer-beater in Game 5 of the series to officially close out their opening round playoff series over the Los Angeles Lakers. Murray hit a jumper over Austin Reaves from just inside the free-throw line to propel his side to a thrilling 108-106 win over the Lakers. The 27-year-old's shot fell with just less than four seconds in hand, which wasn't enough for the Lakers to respond with as they had no timeouts. Talking about the Q1, Nuggets edged past Lakers with a 28-24 lead. In Q2, Lakers responded well and even managed to narrow down the deficit with a 29-22 lead. In the following Q3, Nuggests turned it around with a 31-26 lead, which proved to be decisive. In Q4, the Murray-starrer ended with a two-point lead despite a 27-27 scoreline. Jamal Murray breaks down his game-winner to send Denver to the next round 📜 pic.twitter.com/eb6keNY6vB — NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2024 × Also read: 'Please help me...,' Ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou shares emotional note on 15-month-old son's demise With this, Nuggests officially earned a 4-1 series win over the Lakers, which has sent them into the Western Conference semifinals. In the semis, they will lock horns with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who thrashed the Phoenix Suns in their first-round series. Murray, who was in doubt for the game due to a calf strain, said on TNT, "I'm speechless. It's a dream come true. All these fans on your side to get it done in this fashion, I don't know. I don't know what to say. I'm just happy for us." On the other hand, Lakers -- who went down to the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals last season -- have now lost in the opening round of the playoffs twice in the last four seasons. Thus, they have a lot to ponder upon going ahead.

Playoffs Round 1: Lakers lose series to Nuggets thanks to Jamal Murray’s game-winning buzzer-beater

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid wasn't amused with the swarm of New York Knicks fans in the Wells Fargo Centre during Game 4 of the Round 1 playoff series on&nbsp;April 28. The Knicks won the game 97-92 and now lead the seven-game series 3-1. Embiid wasn't happy to hear the Knicks fans at 76ers' home court and said it was 'disappointing.'

"I love our fans. Think it's unfortunate, and I'm not calling them out, but it is disappointing. Obviously, you got a lot of Knicks fans, and they're down the road. [But] I've never seen it, and I've been here for 10 years. Yeah, it kind of pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town. They've always shown up, and I don't think that should happen. Yeah, it's not OK," Embiid said after the game.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/news-houston-texans-wr-tank-dell-injured-in-shooting-at-event-in-florida-716143">&nbsp;Houston Texans WR Tank Dell injured in shooting at event in Florida</a>

Embiid's teammate Tayrese Maxey although defended the home fans and said: "Our crowd did a great job."&nbsp;

"We appreciate them. It's a close two organizations. Like they're right up the street from us, honestly. So, it is what it is, and you just got to go out there and you got to defeat that," he added.

Such was the noise at the game that it almost felt like the Knicks were visiting the Brooklyn Nets - the second franchise in the New York Metropolitan area - instead of the 76ers in Philly - a town which is two-hour away from them.

Even Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who is a Philadelphia Eagles fan (City's popular National Football League team), found it jarring to see so much support for the away team.

"Not going to lie, this Philadelphia fan base, I've said this before, they're very relentless, very passionate," Brunson said. "I mean, I'm an Eagles fan. I would know.

"But seeing the Knicks, hearing the Knicks here is pretty cool. It's awesome."

The fifth and possibly final game of the series will be played on April 30.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid wasn't amused with the swarm of New York Knicks fans in the Wells Fargo Centre during Game 4 of the Round 1 playoff series on April 28.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid wasn't amused with the swarm of New York Knicks fans in the Wells Fargo Centre during Game 4 of the Round 1 playoff series on April 28. The Knicks won the game 97-92 and now lead the seven-game series 3-1. Embiid wasn't happy to hear the Knicks fans at 76ers' home court and said it was 'disappointing.' "I love our fans. Think it's unfortunate, and I'm not calling them out, but it is disappointing. Obviously, you got a lot of Knicks fans, and they're down the road. [But] I've never seen it, and I've been here for 10 years. Yeah, it kind of pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town. They've always shown up, and I don't think that should happen. Yeah, it's not OK," Embiid said after the game. Also Read: Houston Texans WR Tank Dell injured in shooting at event in Florida Embiid's teammate Tayrese Maxey although defended the home fans and said: "Our crowd did a great job." "We appreciate them. It's a close two organizations. Like they're right up the street from us, honestly. So, it is what it is, and you just got to go out there and you got to defeat that," he added. Such was the noise at the game that it almost felt like the Knicks were visiting the Brooklyn Nets - the second franchise in the New York Metropolitan area - instead of the 76ers in Philly - a town which is two-hour away from them. Even Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who is a Philadelphia Eagles fan (City's popular National Football League team), found it jarring to see so much support for the away team. "Not going to lie, this Philadelphia fan base, I've said this before, they're very relentless, very passionate," Brunson said. "I mean, I'm an Eagles fan. I would know. "But seeing the Knicks, hearing the Knicks here is pretty cool. It's awesome." The fifth and possibly final game of the series will be played on April 30.

Playoffs Round 1: 'It's unfortunate...,' 76ers star Joel Embiid on Knicks fans swarming Philly in Game 4

The Boston Celtics wrested back their control as the number one seed team in the Eastern Conference with the crushing Game 3 win against the Miami Heat on Saturday (Apr 28) in first round of playoffs. The Celts are the series favourites and rightly so, winning 14 games more than the second-placed New York Knicks in the regular season.

With a 114-94 win in Game 1 of the playoffs, the Celtics looked all but sure to sail through the second round before an abrasion hit them. The Heat, last year's NBA finalists, beat them in the second game 111-101. The loss came as a wake-up call to the Celts who had surrendered 23 3-pointes in Game 2.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl/news-atlanta-falcons-coach-raheem-morris-assures-qb-kirk-cousins-after-shock-pick-in-2024-draft-715899">Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris assures QB Kirk Cousins after shock pick in 2024 draft</a>

After the loss, they were challenged by coach Joe Mazzulla to play more physically defensive and the impact was there to see. Speaking after the win, Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who scored 22 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, said: "Everybody knows how talented we are. But can we be the tougher, harder-playing team?"&nbsp;

"If we can combine that with the talent, it's going to be hard to beat us. Can we start off every game, essentially, punching first instead of reacting? That's a test we have to be up for every single night," he added.

The Celtics didn't let the Heat catch their breath throughout the game as visible in the quarterly score. Miami could score only 12 in Q1 against Boston's 21. The Celtics went even higher in Q2, scoring 42 and allowing just 27 in return.

The second half saw the Heat trying to make a comeback but they were effectively shut down by the Celtics with scores (Celtics-heat) of 24-22 and 17-23 in Q3 and Q4, respectively.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra also agreed that the Celtics were 'more physical team' and said: "They bodied us [and] bullied us."

The fourth game of the seven-match series will be played on Monday (Apr 29).

The Boston Celtics wrested back their control as the number one seed team in the Eastern Conference with the crushing Game 3 win against the Miami Heat on Saturday (Apr 28) in first round of playoffs.

The Boston Celtics wrested back their control as the number one seed team in the Eastern Conference with the crushing Game 3 win against the Miami Heat on Saturday (Apr 28) in first round of playoffs. The Celts are the series favourites and rightly so, winning 14 games more than the second-placed New York Knicks in the regular season. With a 114-94 win in Game 1 of the playoffs, the Celtics looked all but sure to sail through the second round before an abrasion hit them. The Heat, last year's NBA finalists, beat them in the second game 111-101. The loss came as a wake-up call to the Celts who had surrendered 23 3-pointes in Game 2. Also Read: Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris assures QB Kirk Cousins after shock pick in 2024 draft After the loss, they were challenged by coach Joe Mazzulla to play more physically defensive and the impact was there to see. Speaking after the win, Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who scored 22 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, said: "Everybody knows how talented we are. But can we be the tougher, harder-playing team?" "If we can combine that with the talent, it's going to be hard to beat us. Can we start off every game, essentially, punching first instead of reacting? That's a test we have to be up for every single night," he added. The Celtics didn't let the Heat catch their breath throughout the game as visible in the quarterly score. Miami could score only 12 in Q1 against Boston's 21. The Celtics went even higher in Q2, scoring 42 and allowing just 27 in return. The second half saw the Heat trying to make a comeback but they were effectively shut down by the Celtics with scores (Celtics-heat) of 24-22 and 17-23 in Q3 and Q4, respectively. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra also agreed that the Celtics were 'more physical team' and said: "They bodied us [and] bullied us." The fourth game of the seven-match series will be played on Monday (Apr 29).

Playoffs Round 1: Celtics wrest back control with crushing Game 3 win over Heat

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has given fans a jolt with an interview gaining steam on social media on Monday discussing his desire to win an NBA title "in Philly or anywhere else."

The big man from Cameroon broke through for a first NBA Most Valuable Player award last season, his eighth with the 76ers.

But Philadelphia were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA playoffs, later sacking coach Doc Rivers and hiring former Toronto coach Nick Nurse.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/victoria-pulls-the-plug-australia-commonwealth-games-2026-cancelled-due-to-funding-shortfall-616870">Commonwealth Games 2026: Australia cancels event amid shortage of funds</a>

"I just want to win a championship. Whatever it takes," Embiid said in an interview with LeBron James's longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter that occurred on Thursday at the Uninterrupted Sports Film Festival.

"I don't know where that's going to be, whether it's in Philly or anywhere else, I just want to have a chance to accomplish that. I want to see what it feels like to win that first one, and then you can think about the next one.

"It's not easy, but it takes more than one or two, three guys. You've got to have good people around you, and myself, every single day, I work hard to be at that level so I can make it happen. So, every single day, I'm working towards that."

By Monday, the interview was popping up on social media sites alongside speculation that it signalled Embiid could soon be seeking to force a trade.

The 76ers are already reportedly pursuing options for trading All-Star guard James Harden, who opted into this $35.6 million contract for next season so that the team could work out a deal with another team.

Embiid, who signed a four-year, $213 million contract extension in 2021 that runs through 2027, said last month that he hoped Harden might change his mind and decide to stay.

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Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has given fans a jolt with an interview gaining steam on social media on Monday discussing his desire to win an NBA title "in Philly or anywhere else.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has given fans a jolt with an interview gaining steam on social media on Monday discussing his desire to win an NBA title "in Philly or anywhere else." The big man from Cameroon broke through for a first NBA Most Valuable Player award last season, his eighth with the 76ers. But Philadelphia were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA playoffs, later sacking coach Doc Rivers and hiring former Toronto coach Nick Nurse. Also Read: Commonwealth Games 2026: Australia cancels event amid shortage of funds "I just want to win a championship. Whatever it takes," Embiid said in an interview with LeBron James's longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter that occurred on Thursday at the Uninterrupted Sports Film Festival. "I don't know where that's going to be, whether it's in Philly or anywhere else, I just want to have a chance to accomplish that. I want to see what it feels like to win that first one, and then you can think about the next one. "It's not easy, but it takes more than one or two, three guys. You've got to have good people around you, and myself, every single day, I work hard to be at that level so I can make it happen. So, every single day, I'm working towards that." By Monday, the interview was popping up on social media sites alongside speculation that it signalled Embiid could soon be seeking to force a trade. The 76ers are already reportedly pursuing options for trading All-Star guard James Harden, who opted into this $35.6 million contract for next season so that the team could work out a deal with another team. Embiid, who signed a four-year, $213 million contract extension in 2021 that runs through 2027, said last month that he hoped Harden might change his mind and decide to stay. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA: 76ers star Joel Embiid just wants to win Championship 'in Philly or anywhere else'

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that an In-Season tournament will take place from the upcoming 2023-24 season. The tournament, going to be played by all 30 teams, has been scheduled between November and December. Here are all the details about this new addition to the NBA.

<h2>What is NBA In-Season tournament?</h2>

The In-Season tournament is an additional event introduced by the NBA and would be played from the upcoming 2023-24 season. This additional event will be played during the regular NBA season. All 30 NBA teams will take part in the In-Season tournament.

<h2>How many games does it have?</h2>

The NBA In-Season tournament will have a total of 67 games including the final. All the games, except for the final, will count towards regular season games of the NBA teams, including the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-coach-gregg-popovich-signs-five-year-extension-deal-with-san-antonio-spurs-613582">Coach Gregg Popovich signs five-year extension deal with San Antonio Spurs</a>

<h2>What is the format of the In-Season tournament?</h2>

The NBA In-Season tournament will be played in Group Play and Knockout games format. The Group stage will have 60 games, 30 in each conference. The knockout stage will have seven games, that is, four quarterfinals, two semifinals and one final.&nbsp;

All the games, except the final, would be played by the teams within the conference. The final would be an inter-conference showdown, much like the NBA Championship.

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NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT EXPLAINED 🎥 
 
Starting Nov. 3, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing into the knockout rounds! The tournament semis and championship game will be held in Las Vegas, Dec. 7 and 9! <a href="https://t.co/NZdURUa3XR">pic.twitter.com/NZdURUa3XR</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1677826994241691650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>How are the teams divided?</h2>

Each conference has three groups: A, B and C, comprising of five teams each from its own respective conference. There are a total of six groups.&nbsp;Here are the groups from each conference:

<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 504px;" summary="Western Conference Groups">
	<caption>Western Conference Groups</caption>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 152px;">Group A</td>
			<td style="width: 155px;">Group B</td>
			<td style="width: 173px;">Group C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 152px;">Memphis Grizzlies</td>
			<td style="width: 155px;">Denver Nuggets</td>
			<td style="width: 173px;">Sacramento Kings</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 152px;">Phoenix Suns</td>
			<td style="width: 155px;">LA Clippers</td>
			<td style="width: 173px;">Golden State Warriors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 152px;">LA Lakers</td>
			<td style="width: 155px;">New Orleans Pelicans</td>
			<td style="width: 173px;">Minnesota Timberwolves</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 152px;">Utah Jazz</td>
			<td style="width: 155px;">Dallas Mavericks</td>
			<td style="width: 173px;">Oklahoma City Thunder</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 152px;">Portland Trail Blazers</td>
			<td style="width: 155px;">Houston Rockets</td>
			<td style="width: 173px;">San Antonio Spurs</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 504px;" summary="Eastern Conference Groups">
	<caption>Eastern Conference Groups</caption>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 151px;">Group A</td>
			<td style="width: 159px;">Group B</td>
			<td style="width: 170px;">Group C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 151px;">Philadelphia 76ers</td>
			<td style="width: 159px;">Milwaukee Bucks</td>
			<td style="width: 170px;">Boston Celtics</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 151px;">Cleveland Cavaliers</td>
			<td style="width: 159px;">New York Knicks</td>
			<td style="width: 170px;">Brooklyn Nets</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 151px;">Atlanta Hawks</td>
			<td style="width: 159px;">Miami Heat</td>
			<td style="width: 170px;">Toronto Raptors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 151px;">Indiana Pacers</td>
			<td style="width: 159px;">Washington Wizards</td>
			<td style="width: 170px;">Chicago Bulls</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 151px;">Detroit Pistons</td>
			<td style="width: 159px;">Charlotte Hornets</td>
			<td style="width: 170px;">Orlando Magic</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

<h2>How are the groups decided?</h2>

NBA used the world-cup-styled draw to determine the teams in each group. For starters, five pots (sub-groups) were formed in each conference of three teams each. The teams in these pots were divided on the basis of their 2022-23 regular season standings.

For example, Teams finishing first to third were put in the first pot, teams finishing fourth to sixth were placed in the second pot, seventh to ninth in the third pot, 10th to 12th in the fourth pot and 13th to 15th in the fifth pot. The process is done for both conferences.

After putting teams in the pot, the NBA picked one team each from the five pots of the single conference and put them in a group. The process was done thrice in each conference, resulting in three groups of five teams in both, the Eastern and Western conferences.

<h2>How is Group stage round played?</h2>

Each team in its group will play the other four once, twice on the road and twice at home. After the 60 group games, 30 in each conference, winners of all groups will subsequently move to the knockout round.&nbsp;

Apart from the six winners of six groups from both conferences, two teams, one from each conference will also move forward. The team, which will advance apart from the three winners in a single conference, is the one which has finished best among the rest of the 12 teams. These two teams will be called wild card teams.

A total of eight teams, four from each conference (three group winners and one wild card), will move forward into the knockout round.

<h2>How is the Knockout round played?</h2>

The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played by the teams of the same conference. The two quarterfinals will be hosted by two teams with the best record in the Group stage.&nbsp;

The team with the best record in the Group stage among the three group winners in each conference will host the wild card team. The second quarterfinal will be played between the other two group winners of the same conference. The process is the same for the other conference as well and a total of four teams, two from each conference, will advance to semis.

The semifinals between the two same-conference teams will be played at a neutral site, and the winners, one from each conference, will face off in the final, also at a neutral site.

<h2>What if two teams finish with same record in a group?</h2>

In case two teams finish with the same record in a group, then the winner will be determined by the following steps:

<ul>
	<li>Head-to-head record in the Group Stage;</li>
	<li>Point differential in the Group Stage;</li>
	<li>Total points scored in the Group Stage;</li>
	<li>Regular season record from the 2022-23 NBA regular season; and</li>
	<li>Random drawing (in case two or more teams are still tied following the above tiebreakers)</li>
</ul>

The same tie-breaker steps will be used to determine the wild card team from each conference if two or more teams finish with the same record apart from the three group winners.

The same steps will also be in effect to determine which team will play the wild card team in the quarterfinals in case two or more group winners finish with the same record in a conference.

<h2>When and where will the games be played?</h2>

The group stage of the NBA In-Season tournament will be played every Tuesday and Friday, starting November 3. The quarterfinals will be played on December 4-5. The semifinals will be played on December 7 and the final will take place on December 9, in Las Vegas for the 2023-24 season.

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that an In-Season tournament will take place from the upcoming 2023-24 season. The tournament, going to be played by all 30 teams, has been scheduled between November and December.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that an In-Season tournament will take place from the upcoming 2023-24 season. The tournament, going to be played by all 30 teams, has been scheduled between November and December. Here are all the details about this new addition to the NBA. What is NBA In-Season tournament? The In-Season tournament is an additional event introduced by the NBA and would be played from the upcoming 2023-24 season. This additional event will be played during the regular NBA season. All 30 NBA teams will take part in the In-Season tournament. How many games does it have? The NBA In-Season tournament will have a total of 67 games including the final. All the games, except for the final, will count towards regular season games of the NBA teams, including the quarterfinals and semifinals. Also Read: Coach Gregg Popovich signs five-year extension deal with San Antonio Spurs What is the format of the In-Season tournament? The NBA In-Season tournament will be played in Group Play and Knockout games format. The Group stage will have 60 games, 30 in each conference. The knockout stage will have seven games, that is, four quarterfinals, two semifinals and one final. All the games, except the final, would be played by the teams within the conference. The final would be an inter-conference showdown, much like the NBA Championship. NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT EXPLAINED 🎥 Starting Nov. 3, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing into the knockout rounds! The tournament semis and championship game will be held in Las Vegas, Dec. 7 and 9! pic.twitter.com/NZdURUa3XR — NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2023 × How are the teams divided? Each conference has three groups: A, B and C, comprising of five teams each from its own respective conference. There are a total of six groups. Here are the groups from each conference: Western Conference Groups Group A Group B Group C Memphis Grizzlies Denver Nuggets Sacramento Kings Phoenix Suns LA Clippers Golden State Warriors LA Lakers New Orleans Pelicans Minnesota Timberwolves Utah Jazz Dallas Mavericks Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Houston Rockets San Antonio Spurs Eastern Conference Groups Group A Group B Group C Philadelphia 76ers Milwaukee Bucks Boston Celtics Cleveland Cavaliers New York Knicks Brooklyn Nets Atlanta Hawks Miami Heat Toronto Raptors Indiana Pacers Washington Wizards Chicago Bulls Detroit Pistons Charlotte Hornets Orlando Magic How are the groups decided? NBA used the world-cup-styled draw to determine the teams in each group. For starters, five pots (sub-groups) were formed in each conference of three teams each. The teams in these pots were divided on the basis of their 2022-23 regular season standings. For example, Teams finishing first to third were put in the first pot, teams finishing fourth to sixth were placed in the second pot, seventh to ninth in the third pot, 10th to 12th in the fourth pot and 13th to 15th in the fifth pot. The process is done for both conferences. After putting teams in the pot, the NBA picked one team each from the five pots of the single conference and put them in a group. The process was done thrice in each conference, resulting in three groups of five teams in both, the Eastern and Western conferences. How is Group stage round played? Each team in its group will play the other four once, twice on the road and twice at home. After the 60 group games, 30 in each conference, winners of all groups will subsequently move to the knockout round. Apart from the six winners of six groups from both conferences, two teams, one from each conference will also move forward. The team, which will advance apart from the three winners in a single conference, is the one which has finished best among the rest of the 12 teams. These two teams will be called wild card teams. A total of eight teams, four from each conference (three group winners and one wild card), will move forward into the knockout round. How is the Knockout round played? The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played by the teams of the same conference. The two quarterfinals will be hosted by two teams with the best record in the Group stage. The team with the best record in the Group stage among the three group winners in each conference will host the wild card team. The second quarterfinal will be played between the other two group winners of the same conference. The process is the same for the other conference as well and a total of four teams, two from each conference, will advance to semis. The semifinals between the two same-conference teams will be played at a neutral site, and the winners, one from each conference, will face off in the final, also at a neutral site. What if two teams finish with same record in a group? In case two teams finish with the same record in a group, then the winner will be determined by the following steps: Head-to-head record in the Group Stage; Point differential in the Group Stage; Total points scored in the Group Stage; Regular season record from the 2022-23 NBA regular season; and Random drawing (in case two or more teams are still tied following the above tiebreakers) The same tie-breaker steps will be used to determine the wild card team from each conference if two or more teams finish with the same record apart from the three group winners. The same steps will also be in effect to determine which team will play the wild card team in the quarterfinals in case two or more group winners finish with the same record in a conference. When and where will the games be played? The group stage of the NBA In-Season tournament will be played every Tuesday and Friday, starting November 3. The quarterfinals will be played on December 4-5. The semifinals will be played on December 7 and the final will take place on December 9, in Las Vegas for the 2023-24 season. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: 2023 NBA In-Season tournament format, groups, teams, dates, rules and all you need to know

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has officially announced its news In-Season tournament for all 30 teams in the league. The NBA In-Season tournament will be introduced in the 2023-24 season and will be played from November 3 to December 9.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver, in a special episode of 'NBA Today,' &nbsp;made the announcement during the league's annual gathering in Las Vegas - the place which will host the inaugural In-Season Tournament final as well.

"This is a concept that has been rumbling around the league office for around 15 years," Silver said. "We thought what a perfect opportunity for a global league like the NBA, and it's a perfect fit for our game.

"New traditions take time. But, all throughout sports, we are seeing new innovations, and now is the time for this NBA in-season tournament," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kylian-mbappe-and-psg-turning-into-sour-affair-as-french-footballer-calls-his-club-divisive-team-613540">Kylian Mbappe and PSG turning into sour affair as French footballer calls his club 'divisive team'</a>

The new tournament is going to be played in Group Play and Knockout format, with teams being divided into six groups of five each. Each conference, that is, West and East, has three groups of five teams each.&nbsp;

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NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT EXPLAINED 🎥 
 
Starting Nov. 3, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing into the knockout rounds! The tournament semis and championship game will be held in Las Vegas, Dec. 7 and 9! <a href="https://t.co/NZdURUa3XR">pic.twitter.com/NZdURUa3XR</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1677826994241691650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Each team in a group plays the other four once during the group stage and the winners of each group advance to the next round. One team from each conference, which has finished second best among the rest of the teams apart from winners, will also advance to the knockout round, making it an eight-team fight.

From there on, the winners keep moving forward until two are left, once each from the Eastern and Western conferences. The final, like the NBA Championship, will be between East and West teams to decide the winner of the tournament.&nbsp;

The In-Season tournament games will be played every Tuesday and Friday starting Friday, November 3. The semifinals will be played on December 7&nbsp;while the final will place on December 9.

Teams, however, will continue to play their 82 regular-season games and all the games played in In-Season tournament apart from the final will count towards their regular games.

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) has officially announced its news In-Season tournament for all 30 teams in the league. The NBA In-Season tournament will be introduced in the 2023-24 season and will be played from November 3 to December 9.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has officially announced its news In-Season tournament for all 30 teams in the league. The NBA In-Season tournament will be introduced in the 2023-24 season and will be played from November 3 to December 9. NBA commissioner Adam Silver, in a special episode of 'NBA Today,' made the announcement during the league's annual gathering in Las Vegas - the place which will host the inaugural In-Season Tournament final as well. "This is a concept that has been rumbling around the league office for around 15 years," Silver said. "We thought what a perfect opportunity for a global league like the NBA, and it's a perfect fit for our game. "New traditions take time. But, all throughout sports, we are seeing new innovations, and now is the time for this NBA in-season tournament," he added. Also Read: Kylian Mbappe and PSG turning into sour affair as French footballer calls his club 'divisive team' The new tournament is going to be played in Group Play and Knockout format, with teams being divided into six groups of five each. Each conference, that is, West and East, has three groups of five teams each. NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT EXPLAINED 🎥 Starting Nov. 3, all 30 teams will compete for the NBA Cup with 8 teams advancing into the knockout rounds! The tournament semis and championship game will be held in Las Vegas, Dec. 7 and 9! pic.twitter.com/NZdURUa3XR — NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2023 × Each team in a group plays the other four once during the group stage and the winners of each group advance to the next round. One team from each conference, which has finished second best among the rest of the teams apart from winners, will also advance to the knockout round, making it an eight-team fight. From there on, the winners keep moving forward until two are left, once each from the Eastern and Western conferences. The final, like the NBA Championship, will be between East and West teams to decide the winner of the tournament. The In-Season tournament games will be played every Tuesday and Friday starting Friday, November 3. The semifinals will be played on December 7 while the final will place on December 9. Teams, however, will continue to play their 82 regular-season games and all the games played in In-Season tournament apart from the final will count towards their regular games. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA officially announces new In-Season tournament, to be played from 2023-24 season

Minnesota's All-Star guard Anthony Edwards has agreed to a rookie max contract with the Timberwolves. Edwards, as per the deal, may get up to $260 million in the five-year designated contract. The news was confirmed by Edwards' agents Billy Duffy and Joe Branch to ESPN on Monday.

Since being drafted by the Wolves as 2020's no. 1 draft pick, Edwards has been one of the most explosive guards in the NBA. The guard, who will turn 22, has already joined the elite company of Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in&nbsp;the list of most points before turning 22.

The Wolves guard has 4,871 points so far in three seasons, while LeBron, Durant and Melo had 7,067, 5,967 and 5,405 points, respectively, before turning 22. As per ESPN Stats and Research, Edwards is the only player in the league with 1,500 points and 100 steals in the last two seasons of the NBA.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl-kansas-city-chiefs-wr-richie-james-likes-everything-about-his-newest-opportunity-611424">Kansas City Chiefs WR Richie James likes 'everything' about his newest opportunity</a>

"I'm humbled, appreciative and excited to remain in Minnesota as part of this incredible Timberwolves organization," Edwards said in a statement, as reported by ESPN. "It's amazing to see where hard work can take you."

Edwards, since his debut in the 2020-21 season, has averaged 21.8 points per game with 5.1 assists and 3.7 assists as well. He has gradually improved his numbers in the last two seasons, going for 21.3 in 2021-22 and 24.6 in the 2022-23 season after scoring 19.3 points per game in his debut season. His rebounds and assists have also improved gradually from 4.7 and 2.9 in his rookie season to 5.8 and 4.4 last season.

Apart from Edwards, three more players of his draft class have agreed to a rookie max contract. The others who have agreed to a max contract from the 2020 draft class are - Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton, Charlotte Hornets' LaMelo Ball and Memphis Grizzlies' Desmond Bane.

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Minnesota's All-Star guard Anthony Edwards has agreed to a rookie max contract with the Timberwolves. Edwards, as per the deal, may get up to $260 million in the five-year designated contract.

Minnesota's All-Star guard Anthony Edwards has agreed to a rookie max contract with the Timberwolves. Edwards, as per the deal, may get up to $260 million in the five-year designated contract. The news was confirmed by Edwards' agents Billy Duffy and Joe Branch to ESPN on Monday. Since being drafted by the Wolves as 2020's no. 1 draft pick, Edwards has been one of the most explosive guards in the NBA. The guard, who will turn 22, has already joined the elite company of Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in the list of most points before turning 22. The Wolves guard has 4,871 points so far in three seasons, while LeBron, Durant and Melo had 7,067, 5,967 and 5,405 points, respectively, before turning 22. As per ESPN Stats and Research, Edwards is the only player in the league with 1,500 points and 100 steals in the last two seasons of the NBA. Also Read: Kansas City Chiefs WR Richie James likes 'everything' about his newest opportunity "I'm humbled, appreciative and excited to remain in Minnesota as part of this incredible Timberwolves organization," Edwards said in a statement, as reported by ESPN. "It's amazing to see where hard work can take you." Edwards, since his debut in the 2020-21 season, has averaged 21.8 points per game with 5.1 assists and 3.7 assists as well. He has gradually improved his numbers in the last two seasons, going for 21.3 in 2021-22 and 24.6 in the 2022-23 season after scoring 19.3 points per game in his debut season. His rebounds and assists have also improved gradually from 4.7 and 2.9 in his rookie season to 5.8 and 4.4 last season. Apart from Edwards, three more players of his draft class have agreed to a rookie max contract. The others who have agreed to a max contract from the 2020 draft class are - Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton, Charlotte Hornets' LaMelo Ball and Memphis Grizzlies' Desmond Bane. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA: Anthony Edwards signs rookie max contract with Minnesota Timberwolves

A lay-up by Derrick White with 0.2 seconds left in the game took Boston Celtics past Miami Heat 104-103 as they became only fourth team in the NBA history to force Game 7 after trailing 0-3 in the conference finals.

Miami looked all set to win after they wiped off 10-point deficit in 4Q and Jimmy Butler put them ahead with three continues free throws after being fouled with three seconds to play. The game went neck-to-neck throughout with Boston staying just inch ahead of Miami and eventually winning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the most dramatic style.

<h2>Boston stays ahead most times in 1Q</h2>

The game was in balance most of the quarter with the Celtics keeping their nose ahead just an inch and eventually grabbed the five-point lead. Miami, who did brilliantly to contain Boston, scored 29 points against the Celtics' 34 with Caleb Martin scoring 12 of them while Jimmy Butler scored five. For Boston, Jaylen Brown was in full swing as he scored 10 with Tatum chipping in with 9.

<h2>Miami doesn't let Boston run away</h2>

The second quarter showed some urgency by the Celtics as they took their lead to 11 points at one stage but Miami came back stunningly and kept them in check. By the time the quarter came to an end, the Heat (24) had scored one more point than the Celtics &nbsp;(23). Boston, however, had four-point lead with box score reading 57-53 and Jayson Tatum had a lot to do with it as he dropped 16 points in the quarter. For the Heat, Gabe Vincent stood tall with 11 points.

<h2>Defense steps up for both teams</h2>

There weren't many points scored in the third quarter, thanks to some brilliant defensive plays by both teams. The Celtics, however, had a 7-0 run in the 12-minute period and that's exactly how much they led by at the end of the quarter. The Heat ensured that Boston doesn't run away with the game but could managed only 19 points against the opponents' 22 as the box score read 79-72 in the Celtics' favour.&nbsp;

<h2>Miami keeps pushing but Boston&nbsp;just holds on</h2>

A quarter which was Boston going up again by 10 points with not much time left but thanks to Duncan Robinson's threes which kept Miami in the game. They eventually went ahead by one point with just three seconds to go as jimmy Butler made his three three throws count. Boston took the final shot and it didn't go in but Derrick White made the rebound count with just 0.2 seconds left!

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A lay-up by Derrick White with 0.2 seconds left in the game took Boston Celtics past Miami Heat 104-103 as they became only fourth team in the NBA history to force Game 7 after trailing 0-3 in the conference finals.

A lay-up by Derrick White with 0.2 seconds left in the game took Boston Celtics past Miami Heat 104-103 as they became only fourth team in the NBA history to force Game 7 after trailing 0-3 in the conference finals. Miami looked all set to win after they wiped off 10-point deficit in 4Q and Jimmy Butler put them ahead with three continues free throws after being fouled with three seconds to play. The game went neck-to-neck throughout with Boston staying just inch ahead of Miami and eventually winning Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals in the most dramatic style. Boston stays ahead most times in 1Q The game was in balance most of the quarter with the Celtics keeping their nose ahead just an inch and eventually grabbed the five-point lead. Miami, who did brilliantly to contain Boston, scored 29 points against the Celtics' 34 with Caleb Martin scoring 12 of them while Jimmy Butler scored five. For Boston, Jaylen Brown was in full swing as he scored 10 with Tatum chipping in with 9. Miami doesn't let Boston run away The second quarter showed some urgency by the Celtics as they took their lead to 11 points at one stage but Miami came back stunningly and kept them in check. By the time the quarter came to an end, the Heat (24) had scored one more point than the Celtics (23). Boston, however, had four-point lead with box score reading 57-53 and Jayson Tatum had a lot to do with it as he dropped 16 points in the quarter. For the Heat, Gabe Vincent stood tall with 11 points. Defense steps up for both teams There weren't many points scored in the third quarter, thanks to some brilliant defensive plays by both teams. The Celtics, however, had a 7-0 run in the 12-minute period and that's exactly how much they led by at the end of the quarter. The Heat ensured that Boston doesn't run away with the game but could managed only 19 points against the opponents' 22 as the box score read 79-72 in the Celtics' favour. Miami keeps pushing but Boston just holds on A quarter which was Boston going up again by 10 points with not much time left but thanks to Duncan Robinson's threes which kept Miami in the game. They eventually went ahead by one point with just three seconds to go as jimmy Butler made his three three throws count. Boston took the final shot and it didn't go in but Derrick White made the rebound count with just 0.2 seconds left! WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

2023 East Finals: Relentless Celtics force Game 7 with final-second lay up against Heat

Denver Nuggets have a lot of time before they play in their first ever NBA Finals game on June 1 and coach Michael Malone says it is impossible to keep rhythm. The Nuggets, who entered their maiden NBA Finals after beating the LA Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals on Monday, are awaiting the result of Eastern Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Coach Malone, in the meantime, is keeping focus on conditioning of the players during the 10-day break they have gotten.

"It's impossible to keep your rhythm if you're not playing games," said Denver coach Friday after practice. "You can do whatever you want in practice, but there's no way you can replicate playing an NBA playoff game."

"For us, my biggest concern is the rhythm but more importantly conditioning," he added. "You're playing every other day for so long, and now all of a sudden you have an eight-, nine-, 10-day break, whatever it is. I wanted to make sure we got up and down, conditioned."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-coach-mark-boucher-says-mi-got-to-look-other-places-if-injury-to-big-players-continues-597086">Coach Mark Boucher says MI 'got to look other places' if injury to big players continues</a>

Speaking on what the focus of practices has been, Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray said that the players are taking rest but not relaxing despite being where they are. Murray also said that the team is focusing on staying sharp mentally.

"Just our awareness, especially we need to lock in on practices for just the detail stuff." Let's be on time, let's not have any turnovers, that we're doing scripts, just kind of the simple things so we're not getting sloppy just because we are where we are. I think it's more of those mental awareness days. We know our bodies are going to be right by that time June 1, so just making sure our mental is staying sharp and locked in throughout these days," said Murray

"We take the rest. But you don't want to pick up bad habits throughout this week. Staying sharp, whatever it is. If we've got to flip the switch and lock in for a drill or two, let me do that. Just be able to stay locked in," he added.

Denver would be playing the winner of the ongoing series between Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in their first ever trip to the finals. The Heat, who had taken a 3-0 lead in the series, lost two back-to-back games, but are still the favorites to make it to the NBA Finals.

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Denver Nuggets have a lot of time before they play in their first ever NBA Finals game on June 1 and coach Michael Malone says it is impossible to keep rhythm. The Nuggets, who entered their maiden NBA Finals after beating the LA Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals on Monday, are awaiting the result of Eastern Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Denver Nuggets have a lot of time before they play in their first ever NBA Finals game on June 1 and coach Michael Malone says it is impossible to keep rhythm. The Nuggets, who entered their maiden NBA Finals after beating the LA Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals on Monday, are awaiting the result of Eastern Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. Coach Malone, in the meantime, is keeping focus on conditioning of the players during the 10-day break they have gotten. "It's impossible to keep your rhythm if you're not playing games," said Denver coach Friday after practice. "You can do whatever you want in practice, but there's no way you can replicate playing an NBA playoff game." "For us, my biggest concern is the rhythm but more importantly conditioning," he added. "You're playing every other day for so long, and now all of a sudden you have an eight-, nine-, 10-day break, whatever it is. I wanted to make sure we got up and down, conditioned." Also Read: Coach Mark Boucher says MI 'got to look other places' if injury to big players continues Speaking on what the focus of practices has been, Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray said that the players are taking rest but not relaxing despite being where they are. Murray also said that the team is focusing on staying sharp mentally. "Just our awareness, especially we need to lock in on practices for just the detail stuff." Let's be on time, let's not have any turnovers, that we're doing scripts, just kind of the simple things so we're not getting sloppy just because we are where we are. I think it's more of those mental awareness days. We know our bodies are going to be right by that time June 1, so just making sure our mental is staying sharp and locked in throughout these days," said Murray "We take the rest. But you don't want to pick up bad habits throughout this week. Staying sharp, whatever it is. If we've got to flip the switch and lock in for a drill or two, let me do that. Just be able to stay locked in," he added. Denver would be playing the winner of the ongoing series between Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in their first ever trip to the finals. The Heat, who had taken a 3-0 lead in the series, lost two back-to-back games, but are still the favorites to make it to the NBA Finals. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA: 'Impossible to keep rhythm,' says Nuggets coach Michael Malone ahead of NBA Finals

A 17-5 run by the Boston Celtics in the first quarter set the tone early for the Game 5 as they beat the Miami Heat 110-97&nbsp;to make the seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series 3-2. It was Jayson Taum's 12 points in the 1Q which lead the Celtics early on as they forced Game 6 after being 0-3 down.

It was, however, a team effort from the Celtics with four players going past 20 points to hand the Heat a proper beating at TD Garden. Derrick White and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics also deserve a special mention as they went 6-for-8 and 4-for-6, respectively while attempting three-pointers.

<h2>Celtics blow out Heat in 1Q</h2>

Boston knew they had to start fast in the game and so they did with a 17-5 run inspired by Tatum's 12 points in the quarter. The Heat didn't have any answers to the blitzkrieg by the Celtics as they trailed by 15 points at the end of the quarter. The period was skillfully closed by Derrick White's buzzer-beater three after Marcus Smart drained two and Tatum bucketed one earlier in the quarter. The Heat could score only 20 against Boston's 35.

<h2>Miami keeps up in 2Q but Boston runs away</h2>

The Heat seemed to have picked up the pace in the second quarter but Boston once again made a 12-3 run to outscore Miami 26-24. Tatum, who had scored 12 points in the 1Q, couldn't score a single point in 2Q but Jaylen Brown stood up tall and so did Marcus Smart. Both the players had 17 and 15 points, respectively at the half-time as Boston lead by 17 points with box score reading 61-44 in the Celtics' favour.

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<h2>First quarter haunts Miami</h2>

The Heat kept up with the scoring in 3Q but the deficit they had gotten in the first quarter haunted them. Miami scored 28 against The Celtics 28 but this meant that Boston's lead grew by one more point and stood at 18 by the end of 3Q. The box score read 90-72 in Boston;s favour which looked all but sure to push the series to sixth game after trailing 0-3.

<h2>Just the formality in final quarter</h2>

Boston had too much of a lead going into the final quarter and they knew it. Both, Boston and Miami went easy in the final 12 minutes, scoring 17 and 16 points, respectively. The Heat never looked easy after that 1st quarter and the Celtics just pounded their way to Game 6.&nbsp;

<h2>Top scorers of Game 5</h2>

For the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored 21 points each while Derrick White and Marcus Smart scored 24 and 23 points, respectively.

For the Miami Heat, &nbsp;five players scored in 10s but it wasn't enough to match the high-flying Celtics. Duncan Robinson top scored for them with 18, Bam Adebayo scored second-best 16 and Haywood Highsmith came third with 15 points. Apart from them, Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin, both scored 14 points each.

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A 17-5 run by the Boston Celtics in the first quarter set the tone early for the Game 5 as they beat the Miami Heat 110-97 to make the seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series 3-2.

A 17-5 run by the Boston Celtics in the first quarter set the tone early for the Game 5 as they beat the Miami Heat 110-97 to make the seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series 3-2. It was Jayson Taum's 12 points in the 1Q which lead the Celtics early on as they forced Game 6 after being 0-3 down. It was, however, a team effort from the Celtics with four players going past 20 points to hand the Heat a proper beating at TD Garden. Derrick White and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics also deserve a special mention as they went 6-for-8 and 4-for-6, respectively while attempting three-pointers. Celtics blow out Heat in 1Q Boston knew they had to start fast in the game and so they did with a 17-5 run inspired by Tatum's 12 points in the quarter. The Heat didn't have any answers to the blitzkrieg by the Celtics as they trailed by 15 points at the end of the quarter. The period was skillfully closed by Derrick White's buzzer-beater three after Marcus Smart drained two and Tatum bucketed one earlier in the quarter. The Heat could score only 20 against Boston's 35. Miami keeps up in 2Q but Boston runs away The Heat seemed to have picked up the pace in the second quarter but Boston once again made a 12-3 run to outscore Miami 26-24. Tatum, who had scored 12 points in the 1Q, couldn't score a single point in 2Q but Jaylen Brown stood up tall and so did Marcus Smart. Both the players had 17 and 15 points, respectively at the half-time as Boston lead by 17 points with box score reading 61-44 in the Celtics' favour. Also Read: Manchester United back in Champions League with 4-1 rout of Chelsea First quarter haunts Miami The Heat kept up with the scoring in 3Q but the deficit they had gotten in the first quarter haunted them. Miami scored 28 against The Celtics 28 but this meant that Boston's lead grew by one more point and stood at 18 by the end of 3Q. The box score read 90-72 in Boston;s favour which looked all but sure to push the series to sixth game after trailing 0-3. Just the formality in final quarter Boston had too much of a lead going into the final quarter and they knew it. Both, Boston and Miami went easy in the final 12 minutes, scoring 17 and 16 points, respectively. The Heat never looked easy after that 1st quarter and the Celtics just pounded their way to Game 6. Top scorers of Game 5 For the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored 21 points each while Derrick White and Marcus Smart scored 24 and 23 points, respectively. For the Miami Heat, five players scored in 10s but it wasn't enough to match the high-flying Celtics. Duncan Robinson top scored for them with 18, Bam Adebayo scored second-best 16 and Haywood Highsmith came third with 15 points. Apart from them, Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin, both scored 14 points each. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

2023 East Finals: Boston Celtics rally to beat Heat in Game 5 to make series 3-2

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, after exit from the 2023 Western Conference Finals, said that he's not sure of returning for the 21st season. The 38-year-old Lakers star, who had a monster 1st half in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 31 points, said that he's got a lot to think about.&nbsp;

“We’ll see what happens going forward,” James said. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about,” he added.

<h2>It was a challenging season - LeBron</h2>

James was out for a month due to a foot injury and came back strongly for the postseason but said that it was a very challenging season for him.

“It’s all about availability for me and keeping my mind sharp, and things of that nature,” James said. “Being present on the floor, being present in the locker room and bus rides and plane rides, things of that nature. It’s challenging, for sure. It was a very challenging season for me, for our ballclub, and obviously we know whatever went on early on (in the Lakers’ 2-10 start to the season). It was cool, a pretty cool ride,” he said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/2023-nba-east-finals-tatum-leads-celtics-past-heat-in-game-4-to-keep-series-alive-595805">2023 NBA East Finals: Tatum leads Celtics past Heat in Game 4 to keep series alive</a>

<h2>I'll reflect when done playing: LeBron</h2>

Asked to reflect on his 20th season, LeBron said he'll do that once he's done playing ball for good and wants to be available for his teammates as of now.

“I guess I’ll reflect on my career when I’m done, but I don’t know,” said LeBron. “The only thing I concern myself with is being available to my teammates, and I don’t like the fact that I didn’t play as many games as I would have liked because of injury. That’s the only thing I care about, is being available to my teammates,” he concluded.

LeBron, notably, is the all-time leading scorer in the NBA, having surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earlier this season. James also has the most career playoff points in record 282 games with NBA great Michael Jordan being a distant second.

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Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, after exit from the 2023 Western Conference Finals, said that he's not sure of returning for the 21st season. The 38-year-old Lakers star, who had a monster 1st half in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 31 points, said that he's got a lot to think about.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, after exit from the 2023 Western Conference Finals, said that he's not sure of returning for the 21st season. The 38-year-old Lakers star, who had a monster 1st half in Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets, scoring 31 points, said that he's got a lot to think about. “We’ll see what happens going forward,” James said. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about,” he added. It was a challenging season - LeBron James was out for a month due to a foot injury and came back strongly for the postseason but said that it was a very challenging season for him. “It’s all about availability for me and keeping my mind sharp, and things of that nature,” James said. “Being present on the floor, being present in the locker room and bus rides and plane rides, things of that nature. It’s challenging, for sure. It was a very challenging season for me, for our ballclub, and obviously we know whatever went on early on (in the Lakers’ 2-10 start to the season). It was cool, a pretty cool ride,” he said. Also Read: 2023 NBA East Finals: Tatum leads Celtics past Heat in Game 4 to keep series alive I'll reflect when done playing: LeBron Asked to reflect on his 20th season, LeBron said he'll do that once he's done playing ball for good and wants to be available for his teammates as of now. “I guess I’ll reflect on my career when I’m done, but I don’t know,” said LeBron. “The only thing I concern myself with is being available to my teammates, and I don’t like the fact that I didn’t play as many games as I would have liked because of injury. That’s the only thing I care about, is being available to my teammates,” he concluded. LeBron, notably, is the all-time leading scorer in the NBA, having surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earlier this season. James also has the most career playoff points in record 282 games with NBA great Michael Jordan being a distant second. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA: Lakers' LeBron James 'not sure' of returning next season after exit from West Finals

Miami Heat came from behind in Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals as they beat the Boston Celtics 123-116 at TD Garden in Boston. Heat scored 66 points after the half-time against Boston's 50 with Jimmy Butler scoring 35 points in the game.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 20 and 22 points respectively but it was just not enough before a rampaging Miami as they let a nine-point slide in the last two quarters of the game. For Miami, Bam Adebayo also scored 20 points while Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin all dropped 15 points each.

The game started with frantic pace as both teams came out all guns blazing to secure the early lead. Both Boston and Miami, however, were even match for each other as the scores ran neck-to-neck through the first quarter with the box score reading 30-28 in Boston's favor.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-west-finals-2023-jokics-leads-nuggets-past-lakers-in-game-1-593137">NBA West Finals 2023: Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers in Game 1</a>

Jimmy Butler was in form in the 1Q as he dropped 12 points while Jason Tatum had a quite start, scoring just seven points in the first quarter. The second quarter also started the same way, equal, before ran away with the game on the back of a 16-5 run. The Celtics scored 36 points in 2Q against Miami's 29 to lead by nine points going into the half-time.

Heat, in 3Q, came out all gun blazing and drew level quickly with Boston as the box score read 72-72 in no time. By the time there were only four minutes left in the quarter, Heat were leading by six points with Jimmy Butler and Jason Tatum having 22 points each for the Heat and Celtics, respectively.

Miami dropped 46 points in the third quarter while Boston were thoroughly outscored, managing just 25. By the time game went into the final quarter, Heat were leading by 11 points with scorecard reading 102-91 against Boston. Jimmy Butler has 27 points for the Heat by the end of 3Q while Bam Adebayo had scored 18 and Max Strus going for 15.

For the Celtics, Tatum was the lead scorer till 3Q with 24 points to his name. Apart from him, Jaylen Brown had dropped 18 and Malcolm Brogdon had drained 16 by the the time 4Q started.

It was a street fight in the final quarter with multiple run-ins and players getting tangled with each other and somehow Jaylen Brown was caught in two of them. Boston had scored Miami 14-9 in the 4Q with under six minutes left but were still trailing by six points.

Jimmy Butler then made a clutch three to keep Miami's lead at six points as Boston lost even after outscoring Heat 25-20 in the final quarter.

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Miami Heat came from behind in Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals as they beat the Boston Celtics 123-116 at TD Garden in Boston. Heat scored 66 points after the half-time against Boston's 50 with Jimmy Butler scoring 35 points in the game.

Miami Heat came from behind in Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals as they beat the Boston Celtics 123-116 at TD Garden in Boston. Heat scored 66 points after the half-time against Boston's 50 with Jimmy Butler scoring 35 points in the game. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown scored 20 and 22 points respectively but it was just not enough before a rampaging Miami as they let a nine-point slide in the last two quarters of the game. For Miami, Bam Adebayo also scored 20 points while Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Kyle Lowry and Caleb Martin all dropped 15 points each. The game started with frantic pace as both teams came out all guns blazing to secure the early lead. Both Boston and Miami, however, were even match for each other as the scores ran neck-to-neck through the first quarter with the box score reading 30-28 in Boston's favor. Also Read: NBA West Finals 2023: Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers in Game 1 Jimmy Butler was in form in the 1Q as he dropped 12 points while Jason Tatum had a quite start, scoring just seven points in the first quarter. The second quarter also started the same way, equal, before ran away with the game on the back of a 16-5 run. The Celtics scored 36 points in 2Q against Miami's 29 to lead by nine points going into the half-time. Heat, in 3Q, came out all gun blazing and drew level quickly with Boston as the box score read 72-72 in no time. By the time there were only four minutes left in the quarter, Heat were leading by six points with Jimmy Butler and Jason Tatum having 22 points each for the Heat and Celtics, respectively. Miami dropped 46 points in the third quarter while Boston were thoroughly outscored, managing just 25. By the time game went into the final quarter, Heat were leading by 11 points with scorecard reading 102-91 against Boston. Jimmy Butler has 27 points for the Heat by the end of 3Q while Bam Adebayo had scored 18 and Max Strus going for 15. For the Celtics, Tatum was the lead scorer till 3Q with 24 points to his name. Apart from him, Jaylen Brown had dropped 18 and Malcolm Brogdon had drained 16 by the the time 4Q started. It was a street fight in the final quarter with multiple run-ins and players getting tangled with each other and somehow Jaylen Brown was caught in two of them. Boston had scored Miami 14-9 in the 4Q with under six minutes left but were still trailing by six points. Jimmy Butler then made a clutch three to keep Miami's lead at six points as Boston lost even after outscoring Heat 25-20 in the final quarter. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA East Finals 2023: Heat come from behind to beat Celtics in Game 1

Jayson Tatum poured in an historic 51 points on Sunday to lead the Boston Celtics to a 112-88 game-seven victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and into the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Tatum added 13 rebounds five assists and a couple of steals and the Celtics' suffocating defense neutralized newly minted NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid as Boston booked a return date with the Miami Heat -- the team they beat in seven games in last year's conference finals.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/la-liga-barcelona-thrash-espanyol-4-2-to-win-first-title-since-2019-592452">La Liga: Barcelona thrash Espanyol 4-2 to win first title since 2019</a>

Jaylen Brown added 25 points for Boston, who broke open a close game in the third quarter as they out-scored the 76ers 33-10.

Philadelphia went six minutes of the period without a basket and trailed by 26 heading into the fourth, when Boston pushed the lead to 30 with less than four minutes to play.

His 51 points eclipsed the game-seven record of 50 set by Golden State's Stephen Curry against the Sacramento Kings in the first round this month.

It was a bounce-back performance for Tatum, who struggled for long stretches in the series and endured a horrific shooting night until drilling four crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' series-extending game-six win on Thursday.

He began fashioning his game-seven masterpiece in the opening minutes.

The 76ers turned an early six-point deficit into a 29-23 lead through one quarter, while a nip-and-tuck second period saw the Celtics up 55-52 at halftime.

Then the Celtics blew it wide open in the third. Tatum scored 17 points in the period, draining four of his six three-pointers as the shell-shocked 76ers struggled, and failed, to find a response.

"Going into game six I was too locked-in, I was too tight, thinking about what I need to do, how many points I need to score," Tatum said.

After a lighthearted practice on Saturday, Tatum said he was more himself.

"That's when I play my best is when I'm having fun."

It was another crushing playoff exit for the 76ers and Embiid, who was held to 15 points on five-of-18 shooting.

Philadelphia's Doc Rivers fell to 6-10 in game sevens as a coach. That's the most game seven defeats of any NBA coach in history and Rivers remained without a game-seven win on the road in his coaching career.

The 76ers had the third-best regular-season record behind the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston, but even with Embiid enjoying an MVP season it failed to translate into post-season success.

They have reached the playoffs for six straight seasons but haven't made it out of the second round.

Tobias Harris led the 76ers with 19 points but Boston limited the Sixers to 37.3% shooting from the floor and harried them into 14 turnovers.

<h2>Turnover trouble</h2>

Star guard James Harden scored just nine, making three of his 11 shots from the field.

Boston veteran Al Horford did a terrific job guarding Embiid. He scored just six points but grabbed 10 rebounds with two steals and three blocked shots.

Rivers said the rot set in for the 76ers in the second quarter.

"We were playing so well. We trusted, the ball was moving, and then we had I think it was three or four turnovers in a row," Rivers said.

Rivers pointed to a flagrant foul called on Harden after his arm hit Brown in the face as the ball slipped out of Harden's hands on a layup attempt.

Instead of going up by 10, the Sixers gave up the ball.

"After that, we never played right again," Rivers said.

The Celtics will host the Heat in game one of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday with an NBA Finals berth on the line.

Last year the Heat were the top seeds in the East. This year they are the first eighth-seeded team to reach the conference finals since the 1999 Knicks.

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Jayson Tatum poured in an historic 51 points on Sunday to lead the Boston Celtics to a 112-88 game-seven victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and into the NBA Eastern Conference finals.

Jayson Tatum poured in an historic 51 points on Sunday to lead the Boston Celtics to a 112-88 game-seven victory over the Philadelphia 76ers and into the NBA Eastern Conference finals. Tatum added 13 rebounds five assists and a couple of steals and the Celtics' suffocating defense neutralized newly minted NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid as Boston booked a return date with the Miami Heat -- the team they beat in seven games in last year's conference finals. Also Read: La Liga: Barcelona thrash Espanyol 4-2 to win first title since 2019 Jaylen Brown added 25 points for Boston, who broke open a close game in the third quarter as they out-scored the 76ers 33-10. Philadelphia went six minutes of the period without a basket and trailed by 26 heading into the fourth, when Boston pushed the lead to 30 with less than four minutes to play. His 51 points eclipsed the game-seven record of 50 set by Golden State's Stephen Curry against the Sacramento Kings in the first round this month. It was a bounce-back performance for Tatum, who struggled for long stretches in the series and endured a horrific shooting night until drilling four crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' series-extending game-six win on Thursday. He began fashioning his game-seven masterpiece in the opening minutes. The 76ers turned an early six-point deficit into a 29-23 lead through one quarter, while a nip-and-tuck second period saw the Celtics up 55-52 at halftime. Then the Celtics blew it wide open in the third. Tatum scored 17 points in the period, draining four of his six three-pointers as the shell-shocked 76ers struggled, and failed, to find a response. "Going into game six I was too locked-in, I was too tight, thinking about what I need to do, how many points I need to score," Tatum said. After a lighthearted practice on Saturday, Tatum said he was more himself. "That's when I play my best is when I'm having fun." It was another crushing playoff exit for the 76ers and Embiid, who was held to 15 points on five-of-18 shooting. Philadelphia's Doc Rivers fell to 6-10 in game sevens as a coach. That's the most game seven defeats of any NBA coach in history and Rivers remained without a game-seven win on the road in his coaching career. The 76ers had the third-best regular-season record behind the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston, but even with Embiid enjoying an MVP season it failed to translate into post-season success. They have reached the playoffs for six straight seasons but haven't made it out of the second round. Tobias Harris led the 76ers with 19 points but Boston limited the Sixers to 37.3% shooting from the floor and harried them into 14 turnovers. Turnover trouble Star guard James Harden scored just nine, making three of his 11 shots from the field. Boston veteran Al Horford did a terrific job guarding Embiid. He scored just six points but grabbed 10 rebounds with two steals and three blocked shots. Rivers said the rot set in for the 76ers in the second quarter. "We were playing so well. We trusted, the ball was moving, and then we had I think it was three or four turnovers in a row," Rivers said. Rivers pointed to a flagrant foul called on Harden after his arm hit Brown in the face as the ball slipped out of Harden's hands on a layup attempt. Instead of going up by 10, the Sixers gave up the ball. "After that, we never played right again," Rivers said. The Celtics will host the Heat in game one of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday with an NBA Finals berth on the line. Last year the Heat were the top seeds in the East. This year they are the first eighth-seeded team to reach the conference finals since the 1999 Knicks. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Tatum's 51 take Celtics past Sixes for Eastern Conference finals berth

Monty Williams, last season's NBA Coach of the Year, has been fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns after their second-round playoff loss to Denver, according to multiple reports Saturday.

Williams went 194-115 in four seasons with the Suns, but ESPN and The Athletic reported he was dumped, citing unnamed sources, only two days after the Denver Nuggets ousted the Suns 4-2 in their best-of-seven series.

The visiting Nuggets prevailed 125-100 in a must-win game for the Suns, who trailed by 30 points at halftime.

New Suns owner Mat Ishbia made the decision to fire Williams on Saturday, ESPN reported.

The Suns made a blockbuster deal to obtain Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets at the February trade deadline but an ankle injury limited him to only eight regular-season games for Phoenix.

Williams, who has an overall NBA coaching record of 367-336 in five seasons with New Orleans and four with the Suns, had guided the Suns into the 2021 NBA Finals, where they lost to Milwaukee, before Phoenix went down in the second round the past two seasons.

With Durant and Devin Booker signed to long-term deals, the Suns will be an attractive destination for any coach.

Williams, 51, joins Toronto's Nick Nurse and Milwaukee's Mike Budenholzer as coaches to be fired this year after being voted NBA Coach of the Year over the past five seasons.

Monty Williams, last season's NBA Coach of the Year, has been fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns after their second-round playoff loss to Denver, according to multiple reports Saturday.

Monty Williams, last season's NBA Coach of the Year, has been fired as coach of the Phoenix Suns after their second-round playoff loss to Denver, according to multiple reports Saturday. Williams went 194-115 in four seasons with the Suns, but ESPN and The Athletic reported he was dumped, citing unnamed sources, only two days after the Denver Nuggets ousted the Suns 4-2 in their best-of-seven series. The visiting Nuggets prevailed 125-100 in a must-win game for the Suns, who trailed by 30 points at halftime. New Suns owner Mat Ishbia made the decision to fire Williams on Saturday, ESPN reported. The Suns made a blockbuster deal to obtain Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets at the February trade deadline but an ankle injury limited him to only eight regular-season games for Phoenix. Williams, who has an overall NBA coaching record of 367-336 in five seasons with New Orleans and four with the Suns, had guided the Suns into the 2021 NBA Finals, where they lost to Milwaukee, before Phoenix went down in the second round the past two seasons. With Durant and Devin Booker signed to long-term deals, the Suns will be an attractive destination for any coach. Williams, 51, joins Toronto's Nick Nurse and Milwaukee's Mike Budenholzer as coaches to be fired this year after being voted NBA Coach of the Year over the past five seasons.

NBA: Phoenix Suns fire head coach Monty Williams after second-round exit against Denver Nuggets: Reports

The Golden State Warriors kept their&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;title defense alive on Wednesday with a 121-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who saw star center Anthony Davis depart after taking a blow to the head. The Warriors cut the deficit in their Western Conference semi-final series to 3-2. The New York Knicks also stayed alive as Jalen Brunson scored 38 points in a 112-103 victory over the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden that pushed their Eastern Conference semi-final series to a sixth game.

Golden State and New York now must win on the road on Friday to give themselves a chance to win their respective series on Sunday. Only 13&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;teams have rallied from 3-1 down to win a series. The Warriors did it against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference finals -- then a Cleveland Cavaliers team led by LeBron James did the same against them in the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;Finals. "Coming into this game, we just wanted to win one, give ourselves a chance, knowing that we have a big game six down in LA and we obviously need that one to stay alive," Warriors star Stephen Curry told broadcaster TNT.

Curry scored 27 points to lead six Warriors players in double figures. Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points and Draymond Green delivered a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. "All the way up and down the roster there were contributions," Curry said.

The Lakers are unbeaten at home this post-season, but they could find themselves without Davis, who departed in the fourth quarter after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Golden State's Kevon Looney.

A rattled Davis, who scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, headed for the bench and was eventually helped to the locker room, not returning to the game. "He took a shot to the head," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game. "He seems to be doing really good already. That's the status right now."

James led the Lakers with 25 points, but Los Angeles couldn't match the energy of the desperate Warriors. Curry drained a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give Golden State a 70-59 halftime lead. Wiggins's putback dunk pushed the Warriors' lead to 18 points early in the third quarter.

They led by double-digits most of the second half, but Austin Reaves drilled a three-pointer that cut the deficit to nine with 5:25 remaining. Curry responded with a step-back jumper and a three-pointer and the Lakers wouldn't get the deficit under 10 again.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-joel-embiid-shines-as-philadelphia-76ers-sink-boston-celtics-denver-nuggets-rout-phoenix-suns-590931">NBA: Joel Embiid shines as Philadelphia 76ers sink Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets rout Phoenix Suns</a>

<h2>- Knicks hang on -</h2>

In New York, the Knicks built a 19-point lead in the third quarter then fended off a late Miami charge to cut the deficit in their series to 3-2. "You've got to give them credit, that's a hard team to play," said Brunson, who played all 48 minutes. "But we just came out to fight. "We didn't get discouraged with the 10-point deficit in the first quarter, we just kept fighting," said Brunson, who added nine rebounds and seven assists.

RJ Barrett scored 26 points and Julius Randle shrugged off an early blow to the eye to add 24 for the Knicks, who will try to level the series in Miami on Friday. It was close in the early going, but after Quentin Grimes's three-pointer put the Knicks up 10-8 midway through the first quarter the Heat closed the period on a 16-4 run to lead 24-14.

The Knicks hit back and Randle's step-back three-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining in the second quarter put the Knicks up 50-47 at halftime. The Knicks poured it on in the third, pushing the lead to 19 with 5:55 left in the period.

Miami, finally getting their three-point shots to fall, cut that to 10 going into the fourth, and Jimmy Butler's pull-up basket, followed by his free throw on the Heat's next possession, had Miami just two down with 2:37 left. New York's Isaiah Hartenstein answered with a dunk and the Knicks held on.

Butler led the Heat with 19 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Bam Adebayo added 18 points and Duncan Robinson scored 17 off the bench for Miami, who are trying to become just the second eighth-seeded team -- after the 1999 Knicks -- to reach the conference finals.

The Golden State Warriors kept their NBA title defense alive on Wednesday with a 121-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who saw star center Anthony Davis depart after taking a blow to the head.

The Golden State Warriors kept their NBA title defense alive on Wednesday with a 121-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, who saw star center Anthony Davis depart after taking a blow to the head. The Warriors cut the deficit in their Western Conference semi-final series to 3-2. The New York Knicks also stayed alive as Jalen Brunson scored 38 points in a 112-103 victory over the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden that pushed their Eastern Conference semi-final series to a sixth game. Golden State and New York now must win on the road on Friday to give themselves a chance to win their respective series on Sunday. Only 13 NBA teams have rallied from 3-1 down to win a series. The Warriors did it against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference finals -- then a Cleveland Cavaliers team led by LeBron James did the same against them in the NBA Finals. "Coming into this game, we just wanted to win one, give ourselves a chance, knowing that we have a big game six down in LA and we obviously need that one to stay alive," Warriors star Stephen Curry told broadcaster TNT. Curry scored 27 points to lead six Warriors players in double figures. Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points and Draymond Green delivered a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. "All the way up and down the roster there were contributions," Curry said. The Lakers are unbeaten at home this post-season, but they could find themselves without Davis, who departed in the fourth quarter after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Golden State's Kevon Looney. A rattled Davis, who scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, headed for the bench and was eventually helped to the locker room, not returning to the game. "He took a shot to the head," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said after the game. "He seems to be doing really good already. That's the status right now." James led the Lakers with 25 points, but Los Angeles couldn't match the energy of the desperate Warriors. Curry drained a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer to give Golden State a 70-59 halftime lead. Wiggins's putback dunk pushed the Warriors' lead to 18 points early in the third quarter. They led by double-digits most of the second half, but Austin Reaves drilled a three-pointer that cut the deficit to nine with 5:25 remaining. Curry responded with a step-back jumper and a three-pointer and the Lakers wouldn't get the deficit under 10 again. Also Read: NBA: Joel Embiid shines as Philadelphia 76ers sink Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets rout Phoenix Suns - Knicks hang on - In New York, the Knicks built a 19-point lead in the third quarter then fended off a late Miami charge to cut the deficit in their series to 3-2. "You've got to give them credit, that's a hard team to play," said Brunson, who played all 48 minutes. "But we just came out to fight. "We didn't get discouraged with the 10-point deficit in the first quarter, we just kept fighting," said Brunson, who added nine rebounds and seven assists. RJ Barrett scored 26 points and Julius Randle shrugged off an early blow to the eye to add 24 for the Knicks, who will try to level the series in Miami on Friday. It was close in the early going, but after Quentin Grimes's three-pointer put the Knicks up 10-8 midway through the first quarter the Heat closed the period on a 16-4 run to lead 24-14. The Knicks hit back and Randle's step-back three-pointer with 1.3 seconds remaining in the second quarter put the Knicks up 50-47 at halftime. The Knicks poured it on in the third, pushing the lead to 19 with 5:55 left in the period. Miami, finally getting their three-point shots to fall, cut that to 10 going into the fourth, and Jimmy Butler's pull-up basket, followed by his free throw on the Heat's next possession, had Miami just two down with 2:37 left. New York's Isaiah Hartenstein answered with a dunk and the Knicks held on. Butler led the Heat with 19 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Bam Adebayo added 18 points and Duncan Robinson scored 17 off the bench for Miami, who are trying to become just the second eighth-seeded team -- after the 1999 Knicks -- to reach the conference finals.

NBA: Golden State Warriors edge past LA Lakers, New York Knicks hold off Miami Heat

The Philadelphia 76ers moved to within one win of a series victory over the Boston Celtics in the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;playoffs on Tuesday as the Denver Nuggets thrashed the Phoenix Suns to edge closer to a place in the conference finals.

A towering performance in Boston from&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid helped the Sixers power to a 115-103 victory over the Celtics to stun the home fans into silence. The result gives the Sixers a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, meaning they will advance to the Eastern Conference finals with a win in game six back in Philadelphia on Thursday.

In the Western Conference, the top-seeded Nuggets are also in the driving seat against Phoenix after pummeling the Suns 118-102 in Denver. Denver star Nikola Jokic finished with a 29-point triple-double for a win that leaves the Nuggets 3-2 up in the series, with game six in Arizona on Thursday.

The Sixers will head into their clash with Boston brimming with confidence after an assured game-five display. Embiid led the scoring in a superbly balanced Sixers offensive performance, with five players finishing in double figures.

Tyrese Maxey tormented the Celtics with 30&nbsp;points, including six three-pointers, while point guard James Harden was a constant thorn in the side of the Celtics, finishing with 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

<h2>- 'Magician' Harden -</h2>

"I thought Joel did a great job of shooting when he needed to shoot and passing when he needed to pass," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. "Our composure overall was good. You know they're going to make shots, they're going to make runs. That team is tough, and you've got to breathe through it. I thought our guys did that."

Rivers reserved special praise for the contribution of Harden. "I thought James was a magician tonight. He called a perfect game. He was aggressive early on, when he needed to be aggressive. And then he got everybody else involved."

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla was left ruing what he described as his team's worst performance of the postseason. "That was the first game of the playoffs where we didn't play well," Mazzulla said.&nbsp; "We can't lose perspective because the players have played some really good basketball. But that was our first really really bad game of the playoffs.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-unheralded-lonnie-walker-sparks-la-lakers-rally-as-golden-state-warriors-wobble-590530">NBA: Unheralded Lonnie Walker sparks LA Lakers rally as Golden State Warriors wobble</a>

"Doesn't come at necessarily the best time, but we just need to shift perspective and get ready for the next game."

&nbsp;Boston never recovered after the Sixers pulled away to lead by 14 points in the second quarter.

Although the Celtics closed the deficit to nine at half-time they were unable to apply sustained pressure.

The Sixers always found a way of responding to keep them at arm's length throughout the second half, with Philadelphia leading by double digits for almost the entirety of the third and fourth quarters. Boston's scoring was led by a 36-point display from Jayson Tatum while Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points.

<h2>- Jokic triple -</h2>

In Denver, the Nuggets took control early on with a 35-point first quarter before Phoenix roared back to outscore the home side 25-17 in the second quarter. Phoenix took a brief lead in the final minutes of the first half but Denver hit back to lead 52-49 at the break.

The Nuggets then roared out of the blocks in the opening minutes of the second half, outscoring Phoenix 21-6 to open up a 73-55 lead. Denver outscored Phoenix 39-25 in the third quarter and led by as much as 24 points in the final frame.

Phoenix coach Monty Williams pulled his starters from the floor long before the end as Denver celebrated a crucial win. Jokic finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists to lead Denver's scorers, while Michael Porter Jr. had 19 points including five three-pointers.

Devin Booker led the Suns with 28 points, while Kevin Durant finished with 26. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said an improved defensive display had laid the foundation for his team's emphatic win.

"We didn't play any defense in the two games we lost in Phoenix," Malone said. "When we're not running, and we're not defending, we’re going nowhere.&nbsp; "And that's what we'll have to do in game six if we're going to close this series out."

Suns coach Williams said his team's challenge wilted in the lop-sided third quarter. "It was like nothing we've put on the floor this year from our standards," Williams said. "We stood still and didn't move them around enough. I felt we were somewhat stagnant.&nbsp; "We've got to meet the challenge with the physicality."&nbsp;

The Philadelphia 76ers moved to within one win of a series victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday as the Denver Nuggets thrashed the Phoenix Suns to edge closer to a place in the conference finals.

The Philadelphia 76ers moved to within one win of a series victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs on Tuesday as the Denver Nuggets thrashed the Phoenix Suns to edge closer to a place in the conference finals. A towering performance in Boston from NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid helped the Sixers power to a 115-103 victory over the Celtics to stun the home fans into silence. The result gives the Sixers a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, meaning they will advance to the Eastern Conference finals with a win in game six back in Philadelphia on Thursday. In the Western Conference, the top-seeded Nuggets are also in the driving seat against Phoenix after pummeling the Suns 118-102 in Denver. Denver star Nikola Jokic finished with a 29-point triple-double for a win that leaves the Nuggets 3-2 up in the series, with game six in Arizona on Thursday. The Sixers will head into their clash with Boston brimming with confidence after an assured game-five display. Embiid led the scoring in a superbly balanced Sixers offensive performance, with five players finishing in double figures. Tyrese Maxey tormented the Celtics with 30 points, including six three-pointers, while point guard James Harden was a constant thorn in the side of the Celtics, finishing with 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. - 'Magician' Harden - "I thought Joel did a great job of shooting when he needed to shoot and passing when he needed to pass," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. "Our composure overall was good. You know they're going to make shots, they're going to make runs. That team is tough, and you've got to breathe through it. I thought our guys did that." Rivers reserved special praise for the contribution of Harden. "I thought James was a magician tonight. He called a perfect game. He was aggressive early on, when he needed to be aggressive. And then he got everybody else involved." Boston coach Joe Mazzulla was left ruing what he described as his team's worst performance of the postseason. "That was the first game of the playoffs where we didn't play well," Mazzulla said. "We can't lose perspective because the players have played some really good basketball. But that was our first really really bad game of the playoffs. Also Read: NBA: Unheralded Lonnie Walker sparks LA Lakers rally as Golden State Warriors wobble "Doesn't come at necessarily the best time, but we just need to shift perspective and get ready for the next game." Boston never recovered after the Sixers pulled away to lead by 14 points in the second quarter. Although the Celtics closed the deficit to nine at half-time they were unable to apply sustained pressure. The Sixers always found a way of responding to keep them at arm's length throughout the second half, with Philadelphia leading by double digits for almost the entirety of the third and fourth quarters. Boston's scoring was led by a 36-point display from Jayson Tatum while Jaylen Brown finished with 24 points. - Jokic triple - In Denver, the Nuggets took control early on with a 35-point first quarter before Phoenix roared back to outscore the home side 25-17 in the second quarter. Phoenix took a brief lead in the final minutes of the first half but Denver hit back to lead 52-49 at the break. The Nuggets then roared out of the blocks in the opening minutes of the second half, outscoring Phoenix 21-6 to open up a 73-55 lead. Denver outscored Phoenix 39-25 in the third quarter and led by as much as 24 points in the final frame. Phoenix coach Monty Williams pulled his starters from the floor long before the end as Denver celebrated a crucial win. Jokic finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists to lead Denver's scorers, while Michael Porter Jr. had 19 points including five three-pointers. Devin Booker led the Suns with 28 points, while Kevin Durant finished with 26. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said an improved defensive display had laid the foundation for his team's emphatic win. "We didn't play any defense in the two games we lost in Phoenix," Malone said. "When we're not running, and we're not defending, we’re going nowhere. "And that's what we'll have to do in game six if we're going to close this series out." Suns coach Williams said his team's challenge wilted in the lop-sided third quarter. "It was like nothing we've put on the floor this year from our standards," Williams said. "We stood still and didn't move them around enough. I felt we were somewhat stagnant. "We've got to meet the challenge with the physicality."

NBA: Joel Embiid shines as Philadelphia 76ers sink Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets rout Phoenix Suns

Unheralded bench player Lonnie Walker led a fourth-quarter rally as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors to leave the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;champions on the brink of elimination from the playoffs on Monday. The 24-year-old Walker erupted for 15 fourth-quarter points as the Lakers completed a dramatic 104-101 victory to put them one win away from clinching the best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series.

Walker, who has struggled to establish himself since joining the Lakers on a one-year contract last year after battling a series of injuries, was mobbed by LeBron James and other Lakers teammates after the victory. James, who scored 27 points in the victory, said he had urged Walker before the game to be ready to help out.

"I've been telling him 'Lonnie you stay ready. We're going to need you at some point'," James said.&nbsp; "For him to be as young as he is, to have that professionalism, to come out and stay ready when his number was called -- we don't win this game without Lonnie Walker tonight, that's for sure."

Walker said he had been primed to make a contribution. "It means the world to me, truly," Walker said. "By the grace of god I was given an opportunity to play. Night-in, night-out I've been going to the gym, everyone's been telling me to stay ready -- Bron, coach, all of them. So when the call came I was locked in the entire time."

The Lakers will take a 3-1 series lead to San Francisco for game five on Wednesday with the Warriors needing to win to keep the series alive. For long periods of Monday's game it looked as if the champions were poised to square the series.&nbsp;

Stephen Curry finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in a dazzling playmaking performance that helped Golden State take an 84-77 lead into the fourth quarter. But the introduction of Walker changed the game, with the unlikely hero scoring 15 points as the Lakers outscored their opponents 27-17 in the final frame to clinch victory.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-jim-furyk-named-as-third-us-vice-captain-for-ryder-cup-590489">Golf: Jim Furyk named as third U.S. vice-captain for Ryder Cup</a>

<h2>- 'A resilient bunch' -</h2>

"We're just a resilient bunch," James said. "They hit us with haymaker after haymaker after haymaker, trying to get us to fall.&nbsp;"We just stayed in the fight. It's a 48-minute game, a 12-round boxing match. And we stayed in it for 12 rounds and were able to pull through."

Warriors coach Steve Kerr paid tribute to Walker's fourth-quarter performance. "I don't know whether he scored all their points in the fourth quarter but it felt like it," Kerr said. "He made a huge impact. "A lot of times that's what the playoffs are about. A close game and somebody comes in who you don't expect to make an impact. The fourth was about Walker."

In Monday's other playoff game, Jimmy Butler scored 27 points as the Miami Heat outmuscled the New York Knicks to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series. Butler was one of five Miami players to finish in double digits as the Heat edged to a 109-101 victory that leaves the eighth seeds just one win away from a place in the Eastern Conference finals.

It was another ruthlessly clinical performance from Miami, who looked hungrier and sharper throughout at both ends of the court. Miami hauled down 13 offensive rebounds to New York's eight and out-hustled New York defensively with 31 defensive rebounds to the Knicks' 27.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said his team was now reaping dividends from their resilience forged in the regular season, when they were forced to battle through the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs. "We found the value in the grind of the regular season, the grind and the struggle," Spoelstra said.&nbsp; "Without that struggle -- where we had to find different solutions to win, with different guys stepping up for these kind of moments -- if we didn't do that in the regular season you have zero chance to be able to do that in the playoffs."

Butler finished with 27 points, 10 assists and six rebounds while Bam Adebayo produced another towering defensive display with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Brunson led New York's scorers with 32 points, while RJ Barrett added 24 and Julius Randle 20. The Knicks now must win all three of their remaining games to stay alive in the playoffs, while Miami can book their place in the conference finals with a win in game five in New York on Wednesday.

Unheralded bench player Lonnie Walker led a fourth-quarter rally as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors to leave the NBA champions on the brink of elimination from the playoffs on Monday.

Unheralded bench player Lonnie Walker led a fourth-quarter rally as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors to leave the NBA champions on the brink of elimination from the playoffs on Monday. The 24-year-old Walker erupted for 15 fourth-quarter points as the Lakers completed a dramatic 104-101 victory to put them one win away from clinching the best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series. Walker, who has struggled to establish himself since joining the Lakers on a one-year contract last year after battling a series of injuries, was mobbed by LeBron James and other Lakers teammates after the victory. James, who scored 27 points in the victory, said he had urged Walker before the game to be ready to help out. "I've been telling him 'Lonnie you stay ready. We're going to need you at some point'," James said. "For him to be as young as he is, to have that professionalism, to come out and stay ready when his number was called -- we don't win this game without Lonnie Walker tonight, that's for sure." Walker said he had been primed to make a contribution. "It means the world to me, truly," Walker said. "By the grace of god I was given an opportunity to play. Night-in, night-out I've been going to the gym, everyone's been telling me to stay ready -- Bron, coach, all of them. So when the call came I was locked in the entire time." The Lakers will take a 3-1 series lead to San Francisco for game five on Wednesday with the Warriors needing to win to keep the series alive. For long periods of Monday's game it looked as if the champions were poised to square the series. Stephen Curry finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists in a dazzling playmaking performance that helped Golden State take an 84-77 lead into the fourth quarter. But the introduction of Walker changed the game, with the unlikely hero scoring 15 points as the Lakers outscored their opponents 27-17 in the final frame to clinch victory. Also Read: Golf: Jim Furyk named as third U.S. vice-captain for Ryder Cup - 'A resilient bunch' - "We're just a resilient bunch," James said. "They hit us with haymaker after haymaker after haymaker, trying to get us to fall. "We just stayed in the fight. It's a 48-minute game, a 12-round boxing match. And we stayed in it for 12 rounds and were able to pull through." Warriors coach Steve Kerr paid tribute to Walker's fourth-quarter performance. "I don't know whether he scored all their points in the fourth quarter but it felt like it," Kerr said. "He made a huge impact. "A lot of times that's what the playoffs are about. A close game and somebody comes in who you don't expect to make an impact. The fourth was about Walker." In Monday's other playoff game, Jimmy Butler scored 27 points as the Miami Heat outmuscled the New York Knicks to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series. Butler was one of five Miami players to finish in double digits as the Heat edged to a 109-101 victory that leaves the eighth seeds just one win away from a place in the Eastern Conference finals. It was another ruthlessly clinical performance from Miami, who looked hungrier and sharper throughout at both ends of the court. Miami hauled down 13 offensive rebounds to New York's eight and out-hustled New York defensively with 31 defensive rebounds to the Knicks' 27. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said his team was now reaping dividends from their resilience forged in the regular season, when they were forced to battle through the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs. "We found the value in the grind of the regular season, the grind and the struggle," Spoelstra said. "Without that struggle -- where we had to find different solutions to win, with different guys stepping up for these kind of moments -- if we didn't do that in the regular season you have zero chance to be able to do that in the playoffs." Butler finished with 27 points, 10 assists and six rebounds while Bam Adebayo produced another towering defensive display with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Jalen Brunson led New York's scorers with 32 points, while RJ Barrett added 24 and Julius Randle 20. The Knicks now must win all three of their remaining games to stay alive in the playoffs, while Miami can book their place in the conference finals with a win in game five in New York on Wednesday.

NBA: Unheralded Lonnie Walker sparks LA Lakers rally as Golden State Warriors wobble

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis had a monster Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors in NBA Playoffs 2023 as he scored a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds to help Los Angeles win 127-97.

Davis, however, is following strange trend of scoring more in odd games this postseason than the even games. When asked after Game 3 about the trend, the Lakers center shrugged it off, calling it just a regular thing to happen.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-butler-returns-as-heat-down-knicks-for-2-1-lead-589870">Butler returns as Heat down Knicks for 2-1 lead</a>

"It's a miss or make league. The same shots I had in Game 1, I had in Game 2. I made them in Game 1 and I missed them in Game 2. The same The same shots I had in Game 2, I had in Game 3. I missed in Game 2 and I made in Game 3," he said.

"I look at it as I just missed shots. I didn't do anything differently, I didn't change anything up, so it is what it is," added Davis. Have a look at Davis' performance in Game 3 vs the Warriors:

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Another dominant Anthony Davis performance. 
 
💪: 25 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 4 BLK 
 
Lakers take Game 3 in LA 🗣️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/GooglePixel_US?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GooglePixel_US</a> <a href="https://t.co/uUFJ0sUoi2">pic.twitter.com/uUFJ0sUoi2</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1655053124225183744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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While Davis might have shrugged off the trend, the stats definitely speak differently about this being just a regular thing. In the nine games (Six against the Grizzlies in Round 1 and three so far against the Warriors) Davis has played so far during 2023 NBA Playoffs, he has scored 21.22 points on an average.

However, in odd games, Game 1, 3, and 5 against the Grizzlies and Game 1 &amp; 3 against the Warriors, Davis averages 27.8 which is a whopping 14.8 more than 13 he averages in four even games, that is, Game 2, 4 &amp; 6 against Memphis and Game 2 against the Golden State.

Davis has also scored more than 20 points in every odd game played this postseason while his even-game scores read 13, 12, 16 and 11 so far.

Whatever may be the reason behind these numbers, the Lakers would still be happy even if high-scoring Davis shows up every other game in the playoffs.

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Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis had a monster Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors in NBA Playoffs 2023 as he scored a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds to help Los Angeles win 127-97.

Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis had a monster Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors in NBA Playoffs 2023 as he scored a double-double of 25 points and 13 rebounds to help Los Angeles win 127-97. Davis, however, is following strange trend of scoring more in odd games this postseason than the even games. When asked after Game 3 about the trend, the Lakers center shrugged it off, calling it just a regular thing to happen. Also Read: Butler returns as Heat down Knicks for 2-1 lead "It's a miss or make league. The same shots I had in Game 1, I had in Game 2. I made them in Game 1 and I missed them in Game 2. The same The same shots I had in Game 2, I had in Game 3. I missed in Game 2 and I made in Game 3," he said. "I look at it as I just missed shots. I didn't do anything differently, I didn't change anything up, so it is what it is," added Davis. Have a look at Davis' performance in Game 3 vs the Warriors: Another dominant Anthony Davis performance. 💪: 25 PTS, 13 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 4 BLK Lakers take Game 3 in LA 🗣️#NBAPlayoffs presented by @GooglePixel_US pic.twitter.com/uUFJ0sUoi2 — NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2023 × While Davis might have shrugged off the trend, the stats definitely speak differently about this being just a regular thing. In the nine games (Six against the Grizzlies in Round 1 and three so far against the Warriors) Davis has played so far during 2023 NBA Playoffs, he has scored 21.22 points on an average. However, in odd games, Game 1, 3, and 5 against the Grizzlies and Game 1 & 3 against the Warriors, Davis averages 27.8 which is a whopping 14.8 more than 13 he averages in four even games, that is, Game 2, 4 & 6 against Memphis and Game 2 against the Golden State. Davis has also scored more than 20 points in every odd game played this postseason while his even-game scores read 13, 12, 16 and 11 so far. Whatever may be the reason behind these numbers, the Lakers would still be happy even if high-scoring Davis shows up every other game in the playoffs. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Lakers' Anthony Davis on scoring more in odd games than even ones this postseason

Jimmy Butler made a triumphant return from injury as the Miami Heat downed the New York Knicks 105-86 on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series.

Butler, who sat out Miami's game two defeat in New York on Tuesday after rolling his ankle in game one, showed no sign of the problem as&nbsp;he once again led the Heat's scoring with 28 points, adding four rebounds and three assists.

Butler was one of four Miami players to finish in double figures in a game that the eighth-seeded Heat led from start-to-finish.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/javier-castellano-rides-mage-to-win-149th-kentucky-derby-589861">Javier Castellano rides Mage to win 149th Kentucky Derby</a>

Max Strus finished with 19 points, including three three-pointers, while defensive linchpin Bam Adebayo weighed in with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kyle Lowry added 14 points for Miami.

"It feels good to get a dub (W) on our home floor in front of our fans. We're going to take that and roll with it," said Butler, whose dazzling form helped eliminate the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the post-season.

"I'm comfortable, I'm confident and I work extremely hard at my craft," Butler said. "My teammates have got a lot to do with that.

"They always make sure I'm catching the ball in spots where I'm comfortable and letting me be aggressive."&nbsp;

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler's return to the lineup had infused his teammates with confidence.

"You can't put an analytic to it. It's just the overall confidence level your team has -- that you can always get the ball to him and know that we'll get something efficient and coherent," Spoelstra said of Butler.

"We have a bunch of guys stepping up. We're more dangerous when a lot of guys are putting their fingerprints on the win at both ends of the court.&nbsp;

"But you need a guy like Jimmy when you're playing against a good team like this."

Jalen Brunson led New York with 20 points as the Knicks were outmuscled by a combative Miami lineup that outscored their opponents in all four quarters.

New York's problems were compounded by a dismal shooting performance, with the Knicks making just 31-of-91 from the field.

"The start of the game we got back on our heels, their aggressiveness ... we couldn't get stops early, so we didn't get any easy buckets, so we paid the price," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the loss.

"We got bogged down and offense was hard. But credit to them, they played great defense.

"Defensively we were solid, but offensively we didn't play the way we wanted to. I don't put that on one player. It's a collective effort."

Miami's robust approach led to tempers flaring in the third quarter when Cody Zeller shoved over Randle as the two grappled under the basket, prompting a melee involving players from both sides.

Game four in the best-of-seven series takes place in Miami on Monday.

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Jimmy Butler made a triumphant return from injury as the Miami Heat downed the New York Knicks 105-86 on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series.

Jimmy Butler made a triumphant return from injury as the Miami Heat downed the New York Knicks 105-86 on Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series. Butler, who sat out Miami's game two defeat in New York on Tuesday after rolling his ankle in game one, showed no sign of the problem as he once again led the Heat's scoring with 28 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Butler was one of four Miami players to finish in double figures in a game that the eighth-seeded Heat led from start-to-finish. Also Read: Javier Castellano rides Mage to win 149th Kentucky Derby Max Strus finished with 19 points, including three three-pointers, while defensive linchpin Bam Adebayo weighed in with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Kyle Lowry added 14 points for Miami. "It feels good to get a dub (W) on our home floor in front of our fans. We're going to take that and roll with it," said Butler, whose dazzling form helped eliminate the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the post-season. "I'm comfortable, I'm confident and I work extremely hard at my craft," Butler said. "My teammates have got a lot to do with that. "They always make sure I'm catching the ball in spots where I'm comfortable and letting me be aggressive." Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Butler's return to the lineup had infused his teammates with confidence. "You can't put an analytic to it. It's just the overall confidence level your team has -- that you can always get the ball to him and know that we'll get something efficient and coherent," Spoelstra said of Butler. "We have a bunch of guys stepping up. We're more dangerous when a lot of guys are putting their fingerprints on the win at both ends of the court. "But you need a guy like Jimmy when you're playing against a good team like this." Jalen Brunson led New York with 20 points as the Knicks were outmuscled by a combative Miami lineup that outscored their opponents in all four quarters. New York's problems were compounded by a dismal shooting performance, with the Knicks making just 31-of-91 from the field. "The start of the game we got back on our heels, their aggressiveness ... we couldn't get stops early, so we didn't get any easy buckets, so we paid the price," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said after the loss. "We got bogged down and offense was hard. But credit to them, they played great defense. "Defensively we were solid, but offensively we didn't play the way we wanted to. I don't put that on one player. It's a collective effort." Miami's robust approach led to tempers flaring in the third quarter when Cody Zeller shoved over Randle as the two grappled under the basket, prompting a melee involving players from both sides. Game four in the best-of-seven series takes place in Miami on Monday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Butler returns as Heat down Knicks for 2-1 lead

Devin Booker scored 47 points and Kevin Durant added 39 as the Phoenix Suns clawed back into their&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;Western Conference semi-final series on Friday with a 121-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

The Suns, who dropped the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Denver, held firm at home despite the injury absence of veteran point guard Chris Paul.

Phoenix were up by 15 at halftime, but the Nuggets -- led by a triple-double of 30 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists from two-time&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic -- didn't back down.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-sunil-gavaskar-says-ms-dhoni-could-take-over-india-coaching-role-in-future-589578">IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar says MS Dhoni 'could take over India coaching role' in future</a>

They edged ahead three times in the third quarter, but every time the Suns had an answer.

"It's that time of year," said Booker, who added six rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a blocked shot. "We dropped a couple of games on their home floor and we just want to protect ours."

Phoenix scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter and never trailed in the final period as they pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Durant, who missed eight of his first nine shot attempts, made just 12 of 31 from the field but sunk 14 of 16 free throws and had 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Jamal Murray led Denver's scoring with 32 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 21 and 12 rebounds, but the Nuggets couldn't contain Booker and Durant and the Suns will have a chance to level the series when they host game four on Sunday.

In the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum scored 27 points to lead six Boston players in double figures as the Celtics beat the 76ers 114-102 in Philadelphia to take a 2-1 lead in their series.

Jaylen Brown added 23 points and Al Horford scored 17 for the Celtics, who regained home-court advantage with a second straight victory after dropping game one in Boston.

An emotional night in Philadelphia saw Sixers center Joel Embiid accept his Most Valuable Player trophy from&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;commissioner Adam Silver in a pregame ceremony.

Chants of "M-V-P" rang out for Cameroon's Embiid, who celebrated with his parents as he held his toddler son, Arthur -- who was clad in a "My dad is the MVP" T-shirt.

The Celtics cut short the celebrations, however, powering to a quick 14-4 lead.

Tatum, who scored just seven points in game two, bounced back with a vengeance adding 10 rebounds five assists, two steals and a blocked shot.

The Sixers, however, kept it close and led by one after the first quarter.

Embiid scored 30 points with 13 rebounds and four blocked shots in his second game back from a sprained knee.

But teammates James Harden and Tyrese Maxey struggled. Harden connected on just three of 14 shots on the way to 16 points while Maxey scored 13 points on 4-for-16 shooting.

<h2>Awareness and poise</h2>

Philadelphia were down by seven at halftime and never led after the break.

"We knew we could win," Tatum told broadcaster ESPN. "This is a great team, the crowd's electric, you love being in that environment.

"But we are not surprised. To win a championship you've got to win one on the road. We'll take it."

"The guys just kept an awareness and a poise," said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who said he expects game four in Philly on Sunday to be an "absolute war".

Celtics forward Grant Williams got a scare in the fourth quarter, when a falling Embiid accidentally stepped on his head on a loose ball play.

Williams was bloodied, but made light of the incident.

"I'm just thankful he didn't fully lean his weight on it because he definitely got me pretty badly, but then I think he felt like he landed on something so he picked his foot up," Williams said.

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Devin Booker scored 47 points and Kevin Durant added 39 as the Phoenix Suns clawed back into their NBA Western Conference semi-final series on Friday with a 121-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Devin Booker scored 47 points and Kevin Durant added 39 as the Phoenix Suns clawed back into their NBA Western Conference semi-final series on Friday with a 121-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets. The Suns, who dropped the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Denver, held firm at home despite the injury absence of veteran point guard Chris Paul. Phoenix were up by 15 at halftime, but the Nuggets -- led by a triple-double of 30 points, 17 rebounds and 17 assists from two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic -- didn't back down. Also Read: IPL 2023: Sunil Gavaskar says MS Dhoni 'could take over India coaching role' in future They edged ahead three times in the third quarter, but every time the Suns had an answer. "It's that time of year," said Booker, who added six rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a blocked shot. "We dropped a couple of games on their home floor and we just want to protect ours." Phoenix scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter and never trailed in the final period as they pulled within 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Durant, who missed eight of his first nine shot attempts, made just 12 of 31 from the field but sunk 14 of 16 free throws and had 11 points in the fourth quarter. Jamal Murray led Denver's scoring with 32 points and Michael Porter Jr. added 21 and 12 rebounds, but the Nuggets couldn't contain Booker and Durant and the Suns will have a chance to level the series when they host game four on Sunday. In the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum scored 27 points to lead six Boston players in double figures as the Celtics beat the 76ers 114-102 in Philadelphia to take a 2-1 lead in their series. Jaylen Brown added 23 points and Al Horford scored 17 for the Celtics, who regained home-court advantage with a second straight victory after dropping game one in Boston. An emotional night in Philadelphia saw Sixers center Joel Embiid accept his Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a pregame ceremony. Chants of "M-V-P" rang out for Cameroon's Embiid, who celebrated with his parents as he held his toddler son, Arthur -- who was clad in a "My dad is the MVP" T-shirt. The Celtics cut short the celebrations, however, powering to a quick 14-4 lead. Tatum, who scored just seven points in game two, bounced back with a vengeance adding 10 rebounds five assists, two steals and a blocked shot. The Sixers, however, kept it close and led by one after the first quarter. Embiid scored 30 points with 13 rebounds and four blocked shots in his second game back from a sprained knee. But teammates James Harden and Tyrese Maxey struggled. Harden connected on just three of 14 shots on the way to 16 points while Maxey scored 13 points on 4-for-16 shooting. Awareness and poise Philadelphia were down by seven at halftime and never led after the break. "We knew we could win," Tatum told broadcaster ESPN. "This is a great team, the crowd's electric, you love being in that environment. "But we are not surprised. To win a championship you've got to win one on the road. We'll take it." "The guys just kept an awareness and a poise," said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who said he expects game four in Philly on Sunday to be an "absolute war". Celtics forward Grant Williams got a scare in the fourth quarter, when a falling Embiid accidentally stepped on his head on a loose ball play. Williams was bloodied, but made light of the incident. "I'm just thankful he didn't fully lean his weight on it because he definitely got me pretty badly, but then I think he felt like he landed on something so he picked his foot up," Williams said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Suns bounce back to win against Nuggets, Celtics take 2-1 lead over Sixers

The Los Angeles Lakers started off the 2023 NBA Western Conference semifinals with a win against the Golden State Warriors, beating them 117-112 to take a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series.

Both the teams have had a rough road so far in the playoffs with the Warriors winning the Round 1 series 4-3 against the Sacramento Kings while the Lakers entered the playoffs only after winning the 2023 NBA Play-in tournament.

As for the Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, it was in balance throughout the four quarters with the Warriors taking a two-point first quarter lead by outscoring the Lakers 31-29.

The Showtime Lakers hit back resoundingly in the second quarter, edging past the Warriors 36-33. The box score read 66-65 at the half-time in Los Angeles' favour and they kept on the pressure going into the third quarter as well.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sixers-joel-embiid-named-nba-most-valuable-player-588350">Sixers' Joel Embiid named NBA Most Valuable Player</a>

Los Angeles took a decisive lead of seven points in the first quarter after the half-time as they outscored Golden State 31-24. With a eight-point deficit staring them in the face, the Warriors put in all their energy in the final 12 minutes and outscored the Lakers 24-21 but it wasn't suffice to win the game.

As for the individual performance, Lakers center Anthony Davis had a monster game as he dropped 30 points and caught 23 rebounds along with five assists. Los Angeles star LeBron James also had a double-double, scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds apart from four assists. Apart from them, D'Angelo Russell and Dennis Schroder scored 19 apiece.

For the Warriors, Stephen Curry, the Game 7 Round 1 hero against the Kings, top scored with 27 points while Klay Thompson dropped 25. Kevin Looney had a double-double of 10 points and 23 rebounds. Jordan Poole also dropped 21 points but all these efforts went in vain with the Lakers winning the game.

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The Los Angeles Lakers started off the 2023 NBA Western Conference semifinals with a win against the Golden State Warriors, beating them 117-112 to take a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series.

The Los Angeles Lakers started off the 2023 NBA Western Conference semifinals with a win against the Golden State Warriors, beating them 117-112 to take a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series. Both the teams have had a rough road so far in the playoffs with the Warriors winning the Round 1 series 4-3 against the Sacramento Kings while the Lakers entered the playoffs only after winning the 2023 NBA Play-in tournament. As for the Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, it was in balance throughout the four quarters with the Warriors taking a two-point first quarter lead by outscoring the Lakers 31-29. The Showtime Lakers hit back resoundingly in the second quarter, edging past the Warriors 36-33. The box score read 66-65 at the half-time in Los Angeles' favour and they kept on the pressure going into the third quarter as well. Also Read: Sixers' Joel Embiid named NBA Most Valuable Player Los Angeles took a decisive lead of seven points in the first quarter after the half-time as they outscored Golden State 31-24. With a eight-point deficit staring them in the face, the Warriors put in all their energy in the final 12 minutes and outscored the Lakers 24-21 but it wasn't suffice to win the game. As for the individual performance, Lakers center Anthony Davis had a monster game as he dropped 30 points and caught 23 rebounds along with five assists. Los Angeles star LeBron James also had a double-double, scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds apart from four assists. Apart from them, D'Angelo Russell and Dennis Schroder scored 19 apiece. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry, the Game 7 Round 1 hero against the Kings, top scored with 27 points while Klay Thompson dropped 25. Kevin Looney had a double-double of 10 points and 23 rebounds. Jordan Poole also dropped 21 points but all these efforts went in vain with the Lakers winning the game. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Lakers beat Warriors in Game 1 of Western Conference semifinals

James Harden scored 45 points as the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics in the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;playoffs on Monday before Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Phoenix Suns. &nbsp;

In a pulsating Eastern Conference duel in Boston, Harden produced a vintage performance -– including a pivotal go-ahead three-pointer with 8.4 seconds remaining -- to leave the TD Garden in stunned silence as the Sixers snatched a 119-115 game-one victory.

The Sixers' win was achieved without their best player, injured talisman Joel Embiid, who watched from the bench after failing to recover from a knee injury.

"We're just a resilient team," Harden said. "Even without Joel, we've got the confidence to come here and win games.&nbsp;

"We've been doing it all year long, that's a good one for us."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/belgiums-luca-brecel-becomes-first-continental-europe-player-to-win-snooker-world-championship-588014">Belgium's Luca Brecel becomes first continental Europe player to win snooker World Championship</a>

Harden's points haul came from 17-of-30 shooting and included seven three-pointers.

"He was awesome," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. "Kept his cool, knew when to attack, knew when to give it up."

Tyrese Maxey provided offensive support with 26 points while Tobias Harris added 18 and De’Anthony Melton 17.

The Celtics were led by 39 points from Jayson Tatum while Jaylen Brown chipped in with 23 points and Malcolm Brogdon 20.

With Boston exploiting the absence of Embiid to score freely in the paint, the Celtics jumped out to lead by 12 in the second quarter.

But Harden and Maxey's scoring ensured that the Sixers remained in touch coming down the stretch with only a handful of points separating the two teams in the closing stages.

A loose pass from Brogdon with 32 seconds left on the clock handed Maxey an easy uncontested layup to put Philadelphia 114-113 up, before Tatum hit back with two free throws to give Boston a slender 115-114 advantage.

But with the clock running down, Harden advanced up the court and took his time before nervelessly sinking a sublime three-pointer from 25 feet to give Philadelphia a 117-115 lead with just seconds remaining.&nbsp;

Rivers said Harden's ice-cool three-pointer at the death was a rebuttal to critics who have long accused the 33-year-old former&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;Most Valuable Player of folding under pressure.

"I thought he had just the perfect mindset tonight," Rivers said. "I'm so happy for him because it just tells you what he can do on a given night.&nbsp;

"It's amazing -- the guy's a Hall-of-Famer and all you hear is the other stuff about him. He's fantastic."

Game two of the best-of-seven series takes place in Boston on Wednesday.

<h2>Suns eclipsed</h2>

In Monday's other playoff game, Denver's reigning two-time&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;MVP Jokic finished with 39 points as the Nuggets staged a fourth-quarter rally to eclipse the Phoenix Suns 97-87 and take a 2-0 series lead.

Devin Booker finished with 35 points for Phoenix while Kevin Durant added 24, but the Suns were unable to respond as Denver pulled away to outscore the visitors 27-14 in the fourth quarter.

Jokic's 39-point haul included 26 after half-time as the Nuggets took control of a low-scoring contest that saw Phoenix lead by eight points in the third quarter.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope delivered a crucial cameo for Denver with a flurry of three three-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping to take the game away from Phoenix as the clock ran down.

A gloomy night for Phoenix was compounded by an injury to veteran Chris Paul, who limped to the locker room near the end of the third quarter after appearing to injure his groin.

"Both teams didn't shoot well, it was a low-scoring game 87-97, it was a tough, rough game -- but we won the game and that's the most important thing," Jokic said.

The victory came as Jokic prepares to discover on Tuesday whether he has won the&nbsp;NBA's regular season MVP award for a third straight year.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Jokic had delivered an MVP-caliber performance to drag Denver over the line.

"Nikola's an MVP for a reason. He can take over a game. He can beat you in a lot of ways. I love an aggressive Nikola Jokic," Malone said.

The Denver coach said Jokic however was only focused on ending the Nuggets' wait for a first&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;Championship.

"I know what motivates Nikola Jokic, myself, and the rest of the guys in that locker room - it's not the MVP," Malone said.&nbsp;

"If he wins it, we'll be celebrating and very happy for him because it's a huge accomplishment, three years in a row.&nbsp;

"And if he doesn't win it I'm going to give him a hug because he's still the MVP in my eyes."

The series now heads back to Arizona for game three on Friday.

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James Harden scored 45 points as the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs on Monday before Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Phoenix Suns.

James Harden scored 45 points as the Philadelphia 76ers stunned the Boston Celtics in the NBA playoffs on Monday before Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets took a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Phoenix Suns. In a pulsating Eastern Conference duel in Boston, Harden produced a vintage performance -– including a pivotal go-ahead three-pointer with 8.4 seconds remaining -- to leave the TD Garden in stunned silence as the Sixers snatched a 119-115 game-one victory. The Sixers' win was achieved without their best player, injured talisman Joel Embiid, who watched from the bench after failing to recover from a knee injury. "We're just a resilient team," Harden said. "Even without Joel, we've got the confidence to come here and win games. "We've been doing it all year long, that's a good one for us." Also Read: Belgium's Luca Brecel becomes first continental Europe player to win snooker World Championship Harden's points haul came from 17-of-30 shooting and included seven three-pointers. "He was awesome," Sixers coach Doc Rivers said. "Kept his cool, knew when to attack, knew when to give it up." Tyrese Maxey provided offensive support with 26 points while Tobias Harris added 18 and De’Anthony Melton 17. The Celtics were led by 39 points from Jayson Tatum while Jaylen Brown chipped in with 23 points and Malcolm Brogdon 20. With Boston exploiting the absence of Embiid to score freely in the paint, the Celtics jumped out to lead by 12 in the second quarter. But Harden and Maxey's scoring ensured that the Sixers remained in touch coming down the stretch with only a handful of points separating the two teams in the closing stages. A loose pass from Brogdon with 32 seconds left on the clock handed Maxey an easy uncontested layup to put Philadelphia 114-113 up, before Tatum hit back with two free throws to give Boston a slender 115-114 advantage. But with the clock running down, Harden advanced up the court and took his time before nervelessly sinking a sublime three-pointer from 25 feet to give Philadelphia a 117-115 lead with just seconds remaining. Rivers said Harden's ice-cool three-pointer at the death was a rebuttal to critics who have long accused the 33-year-old former NBA Most Valuable Player of folding under pressure. "I thought he had just the perfect mindset tonight," Rivers said. "I'm so happy for him because it just tells you what he can do on a given night. "It's amazing -- the guy's a Hall-of-Famer and all you hear is the other stuff about him. He's fantastic." Game two of the best-of-seven series takes place in Boston on Wednesday. Suns eclipsed In Monday's other playoff game, Denver's reigning two-time NBA MVP Jokic finished with 39 points as the Nuggets staged a fourth-quarter rally to eclipse the Phoenix Suns 97-87 and take a 2-0 series lead. Devin Booker finished with 35 points for Phoenix while Kevin Durant added 24, but the Suns were unable to respond as Denver pulled away to outscore the visitors 27-14 in the fourth quarter. Jokic's 39-point haul included 26 after half-time as the Nuggets took control of a low-scoring contest that saw Phoenix lead by eight points in the third quarter. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope delivered a crucial cameo for Denver with a flurry of three three-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping to take the game away from Phoenix as the clock ran down. A gloomy night for Phoenix was compounded by an injury to veteran Chris Paul, who limped to the locker room near the end of the third quarter after appearing to injure his groin. "Both teams didn't shoot well, it was a low-scoring game 87-97, it was a tough, rough game -- but we won the game and that's the most important thing," Jokic said. The victory came as Jokic prepares to discover on Tuesday whether he has won the NBA's regular season MVP award for a third straight year. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said Jokic had delivered an MVP-caliber performance to drag Denver over the line. "Nikola's an MVP for a reason. He can take over a game. He can beat you in a lot of ways. I love an aggressive Nikola Jokic," Malone said. The Denver coach said Jokic however was only focused on ending the Nuggets' wait for a first NBA Championship. "I know what motivates Nikola Jokic, myself, and the rest of the guys in that locker room - it's not the MVP," Malone said. "If he wins it, we'll be celebrating and very happy for him because it's a huge accomplishment, three years in a row. "And if he doesn't win it I'm going to give him a hug because he's still the MVP in my eyes." The series now heads back to Arizona for game three on Friday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: 76ers ride on vintage Harden to beat Celtics, Jokic eclipses Suns

James Harden exploded for 45 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 119-115. The win becomes more precious as the Sixers beat Boston without Joel Embiid playing.

The most iconic of Harden's shots on the night was a go-ahead three-pointer with eight seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter. Boston's Al Horford was putting up screen around Harden outside the paint and Harden just leapt in the air to drain a three to tilt the scores in favour of the Sixers 117-115. Have a look at the shot:

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HE HAS 45. <a href="https://t.co/9FVH9RLh33">https://t.co/9FVH9RLh33</a> <a href="https://t.co/jnjc2Odrfu">pic.twitter.com/jnjc2Odrfu</a>
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) <a href="https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1653215393874427905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Harden, at the post-game press conference, spoke about the shot and said that he just thought to himself that 'this is what he does everyday and just take the best available shot.' Listen Harden explain the entire sequence here:

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James Harden walks through the game-winning 3 that gave him 45 PTS 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBAPlayoffs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBAPlayoffs</a> presented by Google Pixel <a href="https://t.co/PgMK8gebJb">pic.twitter.com/PgMK8gebJb</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1653226792449110016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Apart from a mammoth 45 points, Harden also had six assists and caught one rebound. Aside from him, Tyrese Maxey also chipped in with 26 points. For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum had a double-double of 39 points and 11 rebounds while Jaylen Brown dropped 23.&nbsp;

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/belgiums-luca-brecel-becomes-first-continental-europe-player-to-win-snooker-world-championship-588014">Belgium's Luca Brecel becomes first continental Europe player to win snooker World Championship</a>

Boston, however, had early lead in the game as they led the first quarter 38-31 against the Sixers. Philadelphia came out strong in the second quarter with 32 points against Boston's 28 but still had a deficit of three points at the half-time with the scores reading 66-63 in the Celtics' favour.

In the first quarter of the second half, the 76ers erased that three-point deficit and brought the game at 87 apiece as they outscored the Celtics 24-21. The fourth quarter was all to fight for and Boston was running away with it before the 76ers scored the final five points in the game, including Harden's go-ahead three-pointer.&nbsp;

Boston were outscored 32-28 in the last quarter despite leading the game 28-27 with just 13 seconds left on the clock and gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series.

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James Harden exploded for 45 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 119-115. The win becomes more precious as the Sixers beat Boston without Joel Embiid playing.

James Harden exploded for 45 points in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 119-115. The win becomes more precious as the Sixers beat Boston without Joel Embiid playing. The most iconic of Harden's shots on the night was a go-ahead three-pointer with eight seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter. Boston's Al Horford was putting up screen around Harden outside the paint and Harden just leapt in the air to drain a three to tilt the scores in favour of the Sixers 117-115. Have a look at the shot: HE HAS 45. https://t.co/9FVH9RLh33 pic.twitter.com/jnjc2Odrfu — Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 2, 2023 × Harden, at the post-game press conference, spoke about the shot and said that he just thought to himself that 'this is what he does everyday and just take the best available shot.' Listen Harden explain the entire sequence here: James Harden walks through the game-winning 3 that gave him 45 PTS 👀#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel pic.twitter.com/PgMK8gebJb — NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2023 × Apart from a mammoth 45 points, Harden also had six assists and caught one rebound. Aside from him, Tyrese Maxey also chipped in with 26 points. For the Celtics, Jayson Tatum had a double-double of 39 points and 11 rebounds while Jaylen Brown dropped 23. Also Read: Belgium's Luca Brecel becomes first continental Europe player to win snooker World Championship Boston, however, had early lead in the game as they led the first quarter 38-31 against the Sixers. Philadelphia came out strong in the second quarter with 32 points against Boston's 28 but still had a deficit of three points at the half-time with the scores reading 66-63 in the Celtics' favour. In the first quarter of the second half, the 76ers erased that three-point deficit and brought the game at 87 apiece as they outscored the Celtics 24-21. The fourth quarter was all to fight for and Boston was running away with it before the 76ers scored the final five points in the game, including Harden's go-ahead three-pointer. Boston were outscored 32-28 in the last quarter despite leading the game 28-27 with just 13 seconds left on the clock and gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead in the seven-game series. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: James Harden drops 45 points, go-ahead 3-pointer in 76ers vs Celtics Game 1 - WATCH

Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a record-shattering performance Sunday to send the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs while a Jimmy Butler ankle injury raised tensions for the triumphant Miami Heat.

Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was nearly unstoppable as the Warriors won 120-100 at Sacramento to capture their best-of-seven Western Conference series 4-3.

"I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game," Curry said. "But when I'm looking for shots, it usually works in our favor."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pl-diogo-jota-scores-a-stoppage-time-winner-to-hand-liverpool-a-close-4-3-win-over-tottenham-hotspur-587643">PL: Diogo Jota scores a stoppage-time winner to hand Liverpool a close 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur</a>

The 35-year-old guard delivered an incredible performance, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot attempts and going 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 3-of-5 from the free throw line.

"It was about being aggressive," Curry said. "I got 38 shots for a reason. We started to see where the holes were and I could be ultra aggressive and it worked."

Curry also added eight rebounds and six assists.

"Steph was elite. He put these guys on his back and said, 'We're not losing,'" Kings coach Mike Brown said. "Give Steph a ton of credit for doing exactly what he's supposed to do. Heck of a performance."

Curry's 50 points were a career playoff high and the most points in any NBA game seven -- breaking the&nbsp;old mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee.

"What an incredible all-time performance," Curry's backcourt teammate Klay Thompson said. "This is a game seven I'll forever remember as the Steph Curry game."

The Warriors next face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semi-final matchup starting on Tuesday. Golden State faced a James-led Cleveland in four straight NBA Finals, winning three of them.

"It's special from the first series we played him in Cleveland," Curry said. "We're blessed to be playing at this level still and excited about a new chapter."

In Sunday's other playoff contest, Butler scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Miami over the host New York Knicks 108-101 in their Eastern Conference second-round opener but suffered a right ankle injury.

The series continues Tuesday at New York but Butler's status will steal the spotlight until then.

"No idea," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You just don't know with ankle sprains. I don't even know if we will know more by tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see. It will be a waiting game."

Asked how the ankle felt, Butler said, "Like a rolled ankle."

At Sacramento, the Kings had no answer for Curry in the winner-take-all battle. After 20 first-half points, he pressed the attack in the third quarter as the Warriors pulled away along with Kevon Looney, who grabbed 21 rebounds.

"It's huge for us," Curry said. "In each series he makes an impact. It's not loud. It's all the dirty work and we love him for it."

Thompson completed a four-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give Golden State a 91-81 edge entering the fourth. The Warriors stretched the lead to 104-83 with 6:30 remaining and cruised from there.

Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 points but had only six in the second half.

<h2>Heat sizzle late</h2>

There was an intense atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, which had not seen a second-round playoff contest since 2013.

The game and Butler's ankle turned when Butler fell to the court with the Heat up 95-92 and 5:05 to play.

As Butler planted his right foot to drive to the basket, falling Knicks defender Josh Hart's foot struck Butler's foot. Butler limped to the bench but returned to make two free throws and remained in the game.

"He did not want to come out of the game so we left him in," Spoelstra said.

Often standing in a corner far from the run of play, Butler was largely stationary.

"Find a way to win," Butler said of his reason for staying on the court. "Be out there. Be a presence. I didn't do too much except airball a three. But I'll take the dub (W)."

Butler's teammates stepped up. Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer and Bam Adebayo and reserve Kyle Lowry, who scored 12 of his 18 in the second half, added hoops in a pivotal 7-0 run for a 104-94 Miami edge.

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Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a record-shattering performance Sunday to send the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs while a Jimmy Butler ankle injury raised tensions for the triumphant Miami Heat.

Stephen Curry scored 50 points in a record-shattering performance Sunday to send the defending champion Golden State Warriors into the second round of the NBA playoffs while a Jimmy Butler ankle injury raised tensions for the triumphant Miami Heat. Curry, a four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, was nearly unstoppable as the Warriors won 120-100 at Sacramento to capture their best-of-seven Western Conference series 4-3. "I just wanted to come out and look for shots early, get my teammates going throughout the game," Curry said. "But when I'm looking for shots, it usually works in our favor." Also Read: PL: Diogo Jota scores a stoppage-time winner to hand Liverpool a close 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur The 35-year-old guard delivered an incredible performance, hitting 20 of a career-high 38 shot attempts and going 7-of-18 from 3-point range and 3-of-5 from the free throw line. "It was about being aggressive," Curry said. "I got 38 shots for a reason. We started to see where the holes were and I could be ultra aggressive and it worked." Curry also added eight rebounds and six assists. "Steph was elite. He put these guys on his back and said, 'We're not losing,'" Kings coach Mike Brown said. "Give Steph a ton of credit for doing exactly what he's supposed to do. Heck of a performance." Curry's 50 points were a career playoff high and the most points in any NBA game seven -- breaking the old mark of 48 set by Kevin Durant for Brooklyn in a 2021 loss to Milwaukee. "What an incredible all-time performance," Curry's backcourt teammate Klay Thompson said. "This is a game seven I'll forever remember as the Steph Curry game." The Warriors next face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference semi-final matchup starting on Tuesday. Golden State faced a James-led Cleveland in four straight NBA Finals, winning three of them. "It's special from the first series we played him in Cleveland," Curry said. "We're blessed to be playing at this level still and excited about a new chapter." In Sunday's other playoff contest, Butler scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Miami over the host New York Knicks 108-101 in their Eastern Conference second-round opener but suffered a right ankle injury. The series continues Tuesday at New York but Butler's status will steal the spotlight until then. "No idea," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "You just don't know with ankle sprains. I don't even know if we will know more by tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see. It will be a waiting game." Asked how the ankle felt, Butler said, "Like a rolled ankle." At Sacramento, the Kings had no answer for Curry in the winner-take-all battle. After 20 first-half points, he pressed the attack in the third quarter as the Warriors pulled away along with Kevon Looney, who grabbed 21 rebounds. "It's huge for us," Curry said. "In each series he makes an impact. It's not loud. It's all the dirty work and we love him for it." Thompson completed a four-point play with 1.4 seconds remaining in the third quarter to give Golden State a 91-81 edge entering the fourth. The Warriors stretched the lead to 104-83 with 6:30 remaining and cruised from there. Domantas Sabonis led the Kings with 22 points but had only six in the second half. Heat sizzle late There was an intense atmosphere at Madison Square Garden, which had not seen a second-round playoff contest since 2013. The game and Butler's ankle turned when Butler fell to the court with the Heat up 95-92 and 5:05 to play. As Butler planted his right foot to drive to the basket, falling Knicks defender Josh Hart's foot struck Butler's foot. Butler limped to the bench but returned to make two free throws and remained in the game. "He did not want to come out of the game so we left him in," Spoelstra said. Often standing in a corner far from the run of play, Butler was largely stationary. "Find a way to win," Butler said of his reason for staying on the court. "Be out there. Be a presence. I didn't do too much except airball a three. But I'll take the dub (W)." Butler's teammates stepped up. Gabe Vincent made a 3-pointer and Bam Adebayo and reserve Kyle Lowry, who scored 12 of his 18 in the second half, added hoops in a pivotal 7-0 run for a 104-94 Miami edge. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Curry drops 50 as Warriors beat Kings 4-3, Heat take first game in Round 2

Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 against the Sacramento Kings to enter the Western Conference semifinals.

With the series tied at 3-3, it was do or die for both the teams and the game began in cut-throat fashion. Both, the Warriors and the Kings went neck-to-neck in the first quarter with Sacramento edging Golden State 31-30.

Come second quarter, the game again went down to wire with the Kings just going past the Warriors 27-26. The score read 58-56 at half-time and the Warriors had a bit to think about.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nfl-arrayah-barrett-2-year-old-daughter-tampa-bay-buccaneers-lb-shaquil-barrett-dies-drowning-in-family-pool-587774">NFL: 2-year-old daughter of Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Shaquil Barrett dies after drowning in family pool</a>

Golden State came out charging in the third quarter and scored a mammoth 35 points against the Kings' 23. The tables had turned by the time the last quarter of the last game of the seven-game series began with the Warriors leading by 10 points.

Sacramento, who had played brilliantly throughout the series, making the defending champions run for their money, lost steam in the final 12 minutes of their first playoff appearance in 17 years. The Warriors scored 29 points against Sacramento's 19, winning the game 120-100 and moving into the second round of the playoffs.

Stephen Curry was definitely the hero for the Golden State, scoring 50 points. Everyone else from the Warriors, played a second fiddle to Curry with Andrew Wiggins scoring 17, Klay Thompson scoring 16 and Kevon Looney scoring 11 points. Have a look at all the Curry's playoff career-high 50 points:

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All 50 points from Steph's Game 7 masterclass 🔥 
 
GSW win to advance... they'll face LAL in Round 2. 
 
📺 Game 1: 10pm/et Tuesday on TNT 
 
For more, download the NBA App ⤵ 
📲 <a href="https://t.co/YfWXkZJEWF">https://t.co/YfWXkZJEWF</a> <a href="https://t.co/jJ7ougqXPz">pic.twitter.com/jJ7ougqXPz</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1652930855721992193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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For the Kings, Domantas Sabonis was the top scorer with 22 points, De'Aaron Fox scored 16 while Malik Monk and Trey Lyles scored 14 each.&nbsp;

How well the game was fought by the Kings can be ascertained by the difference in various stats like free throw percentage which stands 59.3% for the Kings against the Warriors 63.3%.&nbsp;

For three points, Sacramento didn't do too bad, draining 12 from 47 in comparison with the Warriors, who despite having legendary three-point dropper Step Curry, could drop 15 of their 46 attempts.

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Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 against the Sacramento Kings to enter the Western Conference semifinals. With the series tied at 3-3, it was do or die for both the teams and the game began in cut-throat fashion.

Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 against the Sacramento Kings to enter the Western Conference semifinals. With the series tied at 3-3, it was do or die for both the teams and the game began in cut-throat fashion. Both, the Warriors and the Kings went neck-to-neck in the first quarter with Sacramento edging Golden State 31-30. Come second quarter, the game again went down to wire with the Kings just going past the Warriors 27-26. The score read 58-56 at half-time and the Warriors had a bit to think about. Also Read: NFL: 2-year-old daughter of Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB Shaquil Barrett dies after drowning in family pool Golden State came out charging in the third quarter and scored a mammoth 35 points against the Kings' 23. The tables had turned by the time the last quarter of the last game of the seven-game series began with the Warriors leading by 10 points. Sacramento, who had played brilliantly throughout the series, making the defending champions run for their money, lost steam in the final 12 minutes of their first playoff appearance in 17 years. The Warriors scored 29 points against Sacramento's 19, winning the game 120-100 and moving into the second round of the playoffs. Stephen Curry was definitely the hero for the Golden State, scoring 50 points. Everyone else from the Warriors, played a second fiddle to Curry with Andrew Wiggins scoring 17, Klay Thompson scoring 16 and Kevon Looney scoring 11 points. Have a look at all the Curry's playoff career-high 50 points: All 50 points from Steph's Game 7 masterclass 🔥 GSW win to advance... they'll face LAL in Round 2. 📺 Game 1: 10pm/et Tuesday on TNT For more, download the NBA App ⤵ 📲 https://t.co/YfWXkZJEWF pic.twitter.com/jJ7ougqXPz — NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2023 × For the Kings, Domantas Sabonis was the top scorer with 22 points, De'Aaron Fox scored 16 while Malik Monk and Trey Lyles scored 14 each. How well the game was fought by the Kings can be ascertained by the difference in various stats like free throw percentage which stands 59.3% for the Kings against the Warriors 63.3%. For three points, Sacramento didn't do too bad, draining 12 from 47 in comparison with the Warriors, who despite having legendary three-point dropper Step Curry, could drop 15 of their 46 attempts. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Stephen Curry drop playoff career-high 50 points in Warriors vs Kings Game 7 - WATCH

Trae Young, with the Hawks trailing by one point against the Boston Celtics, dropped a three with 1.8 second left on the clock in the game. The shot was enough to get the game over and take Atlanta to Game 6 in the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 series. The final scores were 119-117 in Atlanta's favour and the series stands at 3-2, advantage Boston.

As for the shot, the clock had seven something left until the game got over and Boston got through the semis. Young, meanwhile, got the ball, he dribbled a bit, moved up court, faked to move further and then took a step back to drain a three, leaving TD Garden stunned in silence. Have a look at the shot here:

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WHO ELSE <a href="https://t.co/SO7yyxZ0jw">pic.twitter.com/SO7yyxZ0jw</a>
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) <a href="https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1651042061402144770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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As for the rest of the game, Atlanta knew they had to win at all cost to keep the series alive and they came out all guns blazing against the Celtics. The Hawks soared high over Boston as they took a three-point in the first quarter with the box score reading 30-27 in their favour.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-nuggets-vs-timberwolves-suns-vs-clippers-game-5-score-result-highlights-and-more-586232">NBA Playoffs 2023: Nuggets vs Timberwolves, Suns vs Clippers Game 5 score, result, highlights and more</a>

The flight was a short lived one though as Boston took the Hawks down in the second quarter, scoring 39 against Atlanta's 28. In the third quarter, the scoreboard battle was on throughout the entire span but Boston managed to steal two points more than Atlanta's 24.&nbsp;

Come last quarter, the Hawks went wild and picked on the Celtics at will, scoring 37 points against Boston's 25 and won the game 119-117. Talking about the individual performances, Jaylen Brown scored 35 for Boston while Jayson Tatum and Derrick White managed 19 and 18, respectively which clearly were less then the requirement.

As for the Hawks, Trae Young scored a double-double of 38 points and 13 assists while John Collins managed 22 in Atlanta's thrilling win.

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Trae Young, with the Hawks trailing by one point against the Boston Celtics, dropped a three with 1.8 second left on the clock in the game. The shot was enough to get the game over and take Atlanta to Game 6 in the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 series.

Trae Young, with the Hawks trailing by one point against the Boston Celtics, dropped a three with 1.8 second left on the clock in the game. The shot was enough to get the game over and take Atlanta to Game 6 in the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 series. The final scores were 119-117 in Atlanta's favour and the series stands at 3-2, advantage Boston. As for the shot, the clock had seven something left until the game got over and Boston got through the semis. Young, meanwhile, got the ball, he dribbled a bit, moved up court, faked to move further and then took a step back to drain a three, leaving TD Garden stunned in silence. Have a look at the shot here: WHO ELSE pic.twitter.com/SO7yyxZ0jw — Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 26, 2023 × As for the rest of the game, Atlanta knew they had to win at all cost to keep the series alive and they came out all guns blazing against the Celtics. The Hawks soared high over Boston as they took a three-point in the first quarter with the box score reading 30-27 in their favour. Also Read: NBA Playoffs 2023: Nuggets vs Timberwolves, Suns vs Clippers Game 5 score, result, highlights and more The flight was a short lived one though as Boston took the Hawks down in the second quarter, scoring 39 against Atlanta's 28. In the third quarter, the scoreboard battle was on throughout the entire span but Boston managed to steal two points more than Atlanta's 24. Come last quarter, the Hawks went wild and picked on the Celtics at will, scoring 37 points against Boston's 25 and won the game 119-117. Talking about the individual performances, Jaylen Brown scored 35 for Boston while Jayson Tatum and Derrick White managed 19 and 18, respectively which clearly were less then the requirement. As for the Hawks, Trae Young scored a double-double of 38 points and 13 assists while John Collins managed 22 in Atlanta's thrilling win. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Hawks' Trae Young drains game-winning three-pointer against Celtics in Game 5 - WATCH

Trae Young nailed a last-gasp three-pointer as the Atlanta Hawks stunned the Boston Celtics 119-117 to keep their Eastern Conference playoff series alive on Tuesday.

Young drained a 29-footer with just 1.8 seconds remaining to silence Boston's TD Garden and ensure a game six back in Atlanta on Thursday.

Young, who finished with 38 points, 13 assists and four rebounds, said the Hawks had been determined to extend the series following the suspension of key guard Dejounte Murray.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-kyle-anderson-on-verge-of-being-naturalised-to-represent-china-at-fiba-basketball-wc-586015">Kyle Anderson on verge of being naturalised to represent China at FIBA basketball WC</a>

Murray was suspended after a clash with a referee after game four on Sunday.

"We were missing a big piece of ours and we want him to play game six, so we want to go back home and have him with us," Young said of Murray.

"I didn't feel there was any pressure on me. Obviously we were without (Murray) but we all had to step our game up another level -- not just me, we all did tonight. Total team win."

The Celtics, leading the series 3-1, had looked to be cruising to victory after dominating for most of the second half to lead by 13 points midway through the fourth quarter.

But with Boston poised to wrap up a 4-1 series victory, Young and the Hawks took over with a startling late rally in the closing minutes that whittled away the Celtics lead.

Young nailed back-to-back three-pointers to level the scores at 111-111 with 2:42 remaining and then hit three free throws to help Atlanta take a 114-113 lead.

Robert Williams handed Boston a one-point advantage to make it 115-114 to the Celtics with 25.6 seconds left on the clock.

But a rash foul by Boston's Marcus Smart presented Young with two more free throws to edge the Hawks into a 116-115 lead.

Young then had a nervous moment after conceding a foul on Derrick White, who shot two free throws to put the Celtics 117-116 ahead with 7.3 seconds left on the clock.&nbsp;

Young however responded superbly, calmly bringing the ball up court before launching a pullup three-pointer to give Atlanta a 119-117 lead before Boston's final desperate last attack fizzled.

Young's 38-point tally included 16 in the fourth quarter, while John Collins provided offensive backup with 22 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 18 points.

Boston's scoring was led by Jaylen Brown with 35 points while Jayson Tatum added 19. Four other Boston players finished in double figures.

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Trae Young nailed a last-gasp three-pointer as the Atlanta Hawks stunned the Boston Celtics 119-117 to keep their Eastern Conference playoff series alive on Tuesday.

Trae Young nailed a last-gasp three-pointer as the Atlanta Hawks stunned the Boston Celtics 119-117 to keep their Eastern Conference playoff series alive on Tuesday. Young drained a 29-footer with just 1.8 seconds remaining to silence Boston's TD Garden and ensure a game six back in Atlanta on Thursday. Young, who finished with 38 points, 13 assists and four rebounds, said the Hawks had been determined to extend the series following the suspension of key guard Dejounte Murray. Also Read: Kyle Anderson on verge of being naturalised to represent China at FIBA basketball WC Murray was suspended after a clash with a referee after game four on Sunday. "We were missing a big piece of ours and we want him to play game six, so we want to go back home and have him with us," Young said of Murray. "I didn't feel there was any pressure on me. Obviously we were without (Murray) but we all had to step our game up another level -- not just me, we all did tonight. Total team win." The Celtics, leading the series 3-1, had looked to be cruising to victory after dominating for most of the second half to lead by 13 points midway through the fourth quarter. But with Boston poised to wrap up a 4-1 series victory, Young and the Hawks took over with a startling late rally in the closing minutes that whittled away the Celtics lead. Young nailed back-to-back three-pointers to level the scores at 111-111 with 2:42 remaining and then hit three free throws to help Atlanta take a 114-113 lead. Robert Williams handed Boston a one-point advantage to make it 115-114 to the Celtics with 25.6 seconds left on the clock. But a rash foul by Boston's Marcus Smart presented Young with two more free throws to edge the Hawks into a 116-115 lead. Young then had a nervous moment after conceding a foul on Derrick White, who shot two free throws to put the Celtics 117-116 ahead with 7.3 seconds left on the clock. Young however responded superbly, calmly bringing the ball up court before launching a pullup three-pointer to give Atlanta a 119-117 lead before Boston's final desperate last attack fizzled. Young's 38-point tally included 16 in the fourth quarter, while John Collins provided offensive backup with 22 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with 18 points. Boston's scoring was led by Jaylen Brown with 35 points while Jayson Tatum added 19. Four other Boston players finished in double figures. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Trae Young's three in Game 5 wins it for Hawks against Celtics

The 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 saw two more teams qualifying for the next round as Denver Nuggets beat Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns beat Los Angeles Clippers. In the first game of the day, the Hawks survived another day against the Celtics as Trae Young made a buzzer-beater three to get the series to 3-2.

Here are the recaps from both the Eastern Conference games:

Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves tried their best to survive another day but Denver proved to be just good enough to hold them at a three-point deficit to win the game 112-109. Minnesota started the first quarter well and outscored the Nuggets 29-22 only to let the advantage slip in the second quarter as Denver scored 26 against their 18.

The third quarter again saw the Wolves coming out with a one point lead over the Nuggets as the teams scored 30 and 29 points, respectively. In the fourth quarter, each team played ferociously for every point but Denver eventually scored three more than the Wolves' 32 and those three points made the difference in the end.

With the win, Denver won the seven-game 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 series 4-1 and moved into the next round. In Game 5, Jamal Murray scored 35 while Nikola Jokic scored a double-double of 28 points and 17 rebounds for Denver. From Minnesota, Anthony Edwards dropped 29 and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 26 but all in vain.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-trae-youngs-buzzer-beater-three-in-game-5-wins-it-for-hawks-against-celtics-586177">NBA Playoffs 2023: Trae Young's buzzer-beater three in Game 5 wins it for Hawks against Celtics</a>

Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers

The Suns eventually eclipsed the Clippers after taking time to rise in the series. Such was the dominance of Phoenix in the game that they won the it despite being outscored by 11 points in the last quarter.

The first quarter was fought closely as the Suns scored 32 against the Clippers' 30. Los Angeles responded in LA style as they dumped 40 in the second quarter against Phoenix's 29. But the Suns responded with even more heat as they dropped 50 in the third quarter while LA could manage only 24.&nbsp;

The Clippers were made to bow out of the 2023 NBA Playoffs with a 136-130 game loss and 4-1 series loss. As for the individual performances, Devin Booker exploded for 47 points while Kevin Durant scored 31 for the Suns. From the Clippers, Norman Powell was the highest scorer with 27 points and behind him was Nicolas Batum with 19 points.

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The 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 saw two more teams qualifying for the next round as Denver Nuggets beat Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns beat Los Angeles Clippers.

The 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 saw two more teams qualifying for the next round as Denver Nuggets beat Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns beat Los Angeles Clippers. In the first game of the day, the Hawks survived another day against the Celtics as Trae Young made a buzzer-beater three to get the series to 3-2. Here are the recaps from both the Eastern Conference games: Denver Nuggets vs Minnesota Timberwolves The Wolves tried their best to survive another day but Denver proved to be just good enough to hold them at a three-point deficit to win the game 112-109. Minnesota started the first quarter well and outscored the Nuggets 29-22 only to let the advantage slip in the second quarter as Denver scored 26 against their 18. The third quarter again saw the Wolves coming out with a one point lead over the Nuggets as the teams scored 30 and 29 points, respectively. In the fourth quarter, each team played ferociously for every point but Denver eventually scored three more than the Wolves' 32 and those three points made the difference in the end. With the win, Denver won the seven-game 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 series 4-1 and moved into the next round. In Game 5, Jamal Murray scored 35 while Nikola Jokic scored a double-double of 28 points and 17 rebounds for Denver. From Minnesota, Anthony Edwards dropped 29 and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 26 but all in vain. Also Read: NBA Playoffs 2023: Trae Young's buzzer-beater three in Game 5 wins it for Hawks against Celtics Phoenix Suns vs Los Angeles Clippers The Suns eventually eclipsed the Clippers after taking time to rise in the series. Such was the dominance of Phoenix in the game that they won the it despite being outscored by 11 points in the last quarter. The first quarter was fought closely as the Suns scored 32 against the Clippers' 30. Los Angeles responded in LA style as they dumped 40 in the second quarter against Phoenix's 29. But the Suns responded with even more heat as they dropped 50 in the third quarter while LA could manage only 24. The Clippers were made to bow out of the 2023 NBA Playoffs with a 136-130 game loss and 4-1 series loss. As for the individual performances, Devin Booker exploded for 47 points while Kevin Durant scored 31 for the Suns. From the Clippers, Norman Powell was the highest scorer with 27 points and behind him was Nicolas Batum with 19 points. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Nuggets vs Timberwolves, Suns vs Clippers Game 5 score, result, highlights and more

Jimmy Butler produced a scintillating 56-point performance as the Miami Heat scored a stunning come-from-behind victory to leave the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on the brink of elimination from the NBA playoffs on Monday.

In an electrifying battle at Miami's Kaseya Center, Butler all but single-handedly led Miami to a 119-114 win that leaves the Bucks 3-1 down in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.

Milwaukee, who welcomed Giannis Antetokounmpo back into their lineup after a two-game injury absence, had looked to be cruising towards victory after leading from the opening seconds and keeping Miami at arm's length throughout.

Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-warriors-steph-curry-makes-costly-timeout-call-vs-kings-in-game-4-watch-585610">Warriors' Steph Curry makes COSTLY timeout call vs Kings in Game 4&nbsp;</a>

Milwaukee led by 14 points early in the fourth quarter and seemed to be poised to square the series at two games apiece after a ruthless shooting performance from Brook Lopez with Antetokounmpo providing scoring support.

But Butler led an astonishing late 13-0 run to transform the contest and with the crowd roaring him on, scored a jaw-dropping 21 points in the fourth quarter to leave the Bucks shellshocked in defeat.

Butler's points haul was the fourth-highest individual scoring performance in an NBA playoff game ever.&nbsp;

Only Michael Jordan (63 points), Elgin Baylor (61) and Donovan Mitchell (57) have scored more in a postseason game.

"For my team to get this (win), in this way, in this atmosphere, in this city, is huge," an exhausted Butler said.

Butler is now relishing the chance of possibly eliminating the Bucks from the postseason in Milwaukee in game five on Wednesday.

"To play basketball in Milwaukee, in front of their crowd, to be together, on the road -- that's where championships are won. And we've got a shot," Butler said.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra saluted Butler's basketball intelligence.

"He's one of the most intelligent basketball players in this association," said Spoelstra.

"You can't do what he does on both ends of the court just by running around and trying to figure things out.&nbsp;

"He understands what we're trying to do and he understands what they're trying to do -- and they're a very good team."

Butler's tally came from 19-of-28 shooting with three three-pointers.&nbsp;

Crucially, Butler's haul included 22 points in the first quarter, a burst of scoring that helped Miami stay just in touch.

No other Miami player broke 20 points, with Bam Adebayo the next highest Miami scorer with 15 points. Only two other Miami players cracked double figures.

Milwaukee were left stunned at how victory had eluded them.

Lopez finished with 36 points and 11 rebounds while Antetokounmpo made a triple double on his return with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.

"We had our opportunities in the fourth quarter but we didn't make enough plays at either end, and they did," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said.

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Jimmy Butler produced a scintillating 56-point performance as the Miami Heat scored a stunning come-from-behind victory to leave the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on the brink of elimination from the NBA playoffs on Monday.

Jimmy Butler produced a scintillating 56-point performance as the Miami Heat scored a stunning come-from-behind victory to leave the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on the brink of elimination from the NBA playoffs on Monday. In an electrifying battle at Miami's Kaseya Center, Butler all but single-handedly led Miami to a 119-114 win that leaves the Bucks 3-1 down in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series. Milwaukee, who welcomed Giannis Antetokounmpo back into their lineup after a two-game injury absence, had looked to be cruising towards victory after leading from the opening seconds and keeping Miami at arm's length throughout. Also Watch: Warriors' Steph Curry makes COSTLY timeout call vs Kings in Game 4 Milwaukee led by 14 points early in the fourth quarter and seemed to be poised to square the series at two games apiece after a ruthless shooting performance from Brook Lopez with Antetokounmpo providing scoring support. But Butler led an astonishing late 13-0 run to transform the contest and with the crowd roaring him on, scored a jaw-dropping 21 points in the fourth quarter to leave the Bucks shellshocked in defeat. Butler's points haul was the fourth-highest individual scoring performance in an NBA playoff game ever. Only Michael Jordan (63 points), Elgin Baylor (61) and Donovan Mitchell (57) have scored more in a postseason game. "For my team to get this (win), in this way, in this atmosphere, in this city, is huge," an exhausted Butler said. Butler is now relishing the chance of possibly eliminating the Bucks from the postseason in Milwaukee in game five on Wednesday. "To play basketball in Milwaukee, in front of their crowd, to be together, on the road -- that's where championships are won. And we've got a shot," Butler said. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra saluted Butler's basketball intelligence. "He's one of the most intelligent basketball players in this association," said Spoelstra. "You can't do what he does on both ends of the court just by running around and trying to figure things out. "He understands what we're trying to do and he understands what they're trying to do -- and they're a very good team." Butler's tally came from 19-of-28 shooting with three three-pointers. Crucially, Butler's haul included 22 points in the first quarter, a burst of scoring that helped Miami stay just in touch. No other Miami player broke 20 points, with Bam Adebayo the next highest Miami scorer with 15 points. Only two other Miami players cracked double figures. Milwaukee were left stunned at how victory had eluded them. Lopez finished with 36 points and 11 rebounds while Antetokounmpo made a triple double on his return with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. "We had our opportunities in the fourth quarter but we didn't make enough plays at either end, and they did," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Butler 56 as Heat beat Bucks to take 3-1 lead

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was in beast mode during Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies. LeBron was the architect of the Lakers' overtime victory as he dropped 20 points.

James, with nearly seven seconds left on clock in the fourth quarter and the Lakers' training by two points, made a clutch lay-up as he pushed the game into the OT. LeBron, while making the game-pushed-in-OT play, took the ball up court before laying it up for two points. The ball bounced on the rim a bit before sinking down, sending everyone at Crypto.com arena. Have a look at the video here:

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The King sends it to OT <a href="https://t.co/EhmqQHLbrn">pic.twitter.com/EhmqQHLbrn</a>
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1650723020569452551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Once the game was in the OT, LeBron and Lakers didn't relent and outscored the Grizzlies 13-7 to win the game 117-111. The last two games of the seven-game series have been quite chirpy from Grizzlies' side at least.&nbsp;

Memphis guard Dillon Brooks was, in fact, ejected in Game 3 after hitting LeBron in groin area. The league, however, refrained from suspending Brooks. Earlier, after Game 2, Brooks had called LeBron 'old' but LeBron didn't reply to any of the talks from Brooks instead showed what is he capable of in Game 4.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-lebron-james-leads-lakers-past-grizzlies-in-game-4-585921">LeBron James leads Lakers past Grizzlies in Game 4</a>

For the Lakers, LeBron scored a double-double - his first 20-20 in his 1,691 career games, as he dropped 22 points and caught 20 rebounds. Apart from him, Austin Reaves scored 23 points while Anthony Davis also scored a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron, at 38 years and 115 days old, also became the oldest player in NBA history to record 20+ points and 20+ rebounds in a Playoff Game. &nbsp;Wilt Chamberlain at 36 years and 262 days old had set the previous record on May 10, 1973.&nbsp;

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LeBron James (38 years, 115 days old) becomes the oldest player in NBA history to record 20+ points and 20+ rebounds in a Playoff Game. 
 
Wilt Chamberlain (36 years, 262 days old) set the previous record on May 10, 1973. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PLAYOFFMODE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PLAYOFFMODE</a> <a href="https://t.co/3FO4jxSuTl">pic.twitter.com/3FO4jxSuTl</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1650730749002121217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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For the Memphis Grizzlies, Desmond Bane scored 36 points while Ja Morant could manage only 19 as Memphis lost the game and now are on the brink of getting out of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was in beast mode during Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies. LeBron was the architect of the Lakers' overtime victory as he dropped 20 points.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was in beast mode during Game 4 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs Round 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies. LeBron was the architect of the Lakers' overtime victory as he dropped 20 points. James, with nearly seven seconds left on clock in the fourth quarter and the Lakers' training by two points, made a clutch lay-up as he pushed the game into the OT. LeBron, while making the game-pushed-in-OT play, took the ball up court before laying it up for two points. The ball bounced on the rim a bit before sinking down, sending everyone at Crypto.com arena. Have a look at the video here: The King sends it to OT pic.twitter.com/EhmqQHLbrn — Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 25, 2023 × Once the game was in the OT, LeBron and Lakers didn't relent and outscored the Grizzlies 13-7 to win the game 117-111. The last two games of the seven-game series have been quite chirpy from Grizzlies' side at least. Memphis guard Dillon Brooks was, in fact, ejected in Game 3 after hitting LeBron in groin area. The league, however, refrained from suspending Brooks. Earlier, after Game 2, Brooks had called LeBron 'old' but LeBron didn't reply to any of the talks from Brooks instead showed what is he capable of in Game 4. Also Read: LeBron James leads Lakers past Grizzlies in Game 4 For the Lakers, LeBron scored a double-double - his first 20-20 in his 1,691 career games, as he dropped 22 points and caught 20 rebounds. Apart from him, Austin Reaves scored 23 points while Anthony Davis also scored a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. LeBron, at 38 years and 115 days old, also became the oldest player in NBA history to record 20+ points and 20+ rebounds in a Playoff Game. Wilt Chamberlain at 36 years and 262 days old had set the previous record on May 10, 1973. LeBron James (38 years, 115 days old) becomes the oldest player in NBA history to record 20+ points and 20+ rebounds in a Playoff Game. Wilt Chamberlain (36 years, 262 days old) set the previous record on May 10, 1973. #PLAYOFFMODE pic.twitter.com/3FO4jxSuTl — NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2023 × For the Memphis Grizzlies, Desmond Bane scored 36 points while Ja Morant could manage only 19 as Memphis lost the game and now are on the brink of getting out of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

NBA Playoffs 2023: Lakers' LeBron makes clutch shot to send Game 4 vs Grizzlies into OT - WATCH

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