The Detroit Pistons, which finished with NBA-low 17 wins last season, have announced Monty Williams as their next head coach. The Pistons announced the move Friday in a press release with the franchise owner Tom Gores feeling 'beyond excited.'

“After spending some time with Monty, it’s clear that he’s found a unique balance between achieving victory at the highest level while at the same time nurturing a culture of growth, development and inspiration,” said Gores. “I’m beyond excited. This is a huge win for us.”

Williams was fired by the Phoenix Suns earlier this season after the team lost the Western Conference semifinals second year in a row. The Suns, however, had made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 under Williams but had lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. Overall, Williams won 63% of his regular games in four season with Phoenix.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-number-four-elena-rybakina-pulls-out-of-french-open-2023-due-to-illness-600084">World number four Elena Rybakina pulls out of French Open 2023 due to illness</a>

“A week ago, I was not sure what the future would hold,” Williams was quoted saying in the same release. “But, after talking with Tom and Troy, I was excited hearing their vision for the Pistons going forward. They had a thoughtful plan and I am so appreciative of the emphasis they placed on the personal side of this business. They showed tremendous consideration for me and my family throughout this process."

With Williams at the helm, the Pistons, who have won the NBA Championship three times, would want to get back to the winning ways after making it to the playoffs just two times in last 14 years - the last of which was in 2008. In '08, Detroit had entered the East finals for the sixth consecutive time and had won the NBA title in 2004, but the winnings have been lean ever since.

The new coach, however, exudes confidence with his 367-336 record as a head coach in nine NBA seasons with a decent 29-27 playoff record as well.

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The Detroit Pistons, which finished with NBA-low 17 wins last season, have announced Monty Williams as their next head coach. The Pistons announced the move Friday in a press release with the franchise owner Tom Gores feeling 'beyond excited.

The Detroit Pistons, which finished with NBA-low 17 wins last season, have announced Monty Williams as their next head coach. The Pistons announced the move Friday in a press release with the franchise owner Tom Gores feeling 'beyond excited.' “After spending some time with Monty, it’s clear that he’s found a unique balance between achieving victory at the highest level while at the same time nurturing a culture of growth, development and inspiration,” said Gores. “I’m beyond excited. This is a huge win for us.” Williams was fired by the Phoenix Suns earlier this season after the team lost the Western Conference semifinals second year in a row. The Suns, however, had made it to the NBA Finals in 2021 under Williams but had lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. Overall, Williams won 63% of his regular games in four season with Phoenix. Also Read: World number four Elena Rybakina pulls out of French Open 2023 due to illness “A week ago, I was not sure what the future would hold,” Williams was quoted saying in the same release. “But, after talking with Tom and Troy, I was excited hearing their vision for the Pistons going forward. They had a thoughtful plan and I am so appreciative of the emphasis they placed on the personal side of this business. They showed tremendous consideration for me and my family throughout this process." With Williams at the helm, the Pistons, who have won the NBA Championship three times, would want to get back to the winning ways after making it to the playoffs just two times in last 14 years - the last of which was in 2008. In '08, Detroit had entered the East finals for the sixth consecutive time and had won the NBA title in 2004, but the winnings have been lean ever since. The new coach, however, exudes confidence with his 367-336 record as a head coach in nine NBA seasons with a decent 29-27 playoff record as well. 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: Detroit Pistons hire Monty Williams as new head coach

The Golden State Warriors announced Tuesday that their president and general manager Bob Myers is stepping down from his post after 11 years.

Myers, who joined the Warriors in 2011, had a hugely successful stint with them as the team won four NBA championships in 11 years. Myers won the award of Executive of the Year twice during his tenure as he was acknowledged for his pivotal role in creating a dynasty.&nbsp;

The Warriors also posted a heartfelt message for Myers on their Twitter handle and thanked him for everything. Have a look at the message here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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2x NBA Executive of the Year. 
4x NBA Champion. 
The architect of an era. 
 
After 11 seasons, Bob Myers will step down from his role as President of Basketball Operations / General Manager at the conclusion of his contract. Thank you for everything, Bob. <a href="https://t.co/6DrLsmrqcw">pic.twitter.com/6DrLsmrqcw</a>
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/warriors/status/1663638078098137088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The news of Myers stepping down was first broken by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski who said that Myers felt it was time to move on for him.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a _ngcontent-gcu-c104="" href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/sports/east-finals-all-game-full-score-miami-heat-road-to-nba-finals-2023-1685514836265" ng-reflect-router-link="/article-page/story/1685514836">East Finals: Miami Heat's Road to NBA Finals 2023</a>

At the press conference on Tuesday, Myers said, "You can't make it to a day like this anymore without everyone knowing what you're going to say."

"I've only known how to do things one way my whole life," he said. "It doesn't feel right to do something when I can't give it everything. And that's what it takes to do what we've done over the last, for me, 12 years," he further said during his media address. Have a look at his address here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"I've only known how to do things one way my whole life… and it doesn't feel right to do something when I can't give it everything." 
 
Golden State’s Bob Myers officially announces stepping down as the franchise’s president and general manager <a href="https://t.co/2j1vuBQy2H">pic.twitter.com/2j1vuBQy2H</a>
— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1663641060017405952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Myers's contract will expire in late June and he is expected to work till that time or at least this is what owner Joe Lacob thinks so. A report by The Athletic also claimed uncertainty about Myers's position in the Warriors' management. At the time of that report, the Warriors were facing certain issues regarding salaries and question marks over veteran players and the question still looms.

On Tuesday, Myers, however, seemingly denied part of the report and said, "This wasn't about money, I just want to make that clear."&nbsp;It although remains to be seen whether Myers continues to be in the league with some other team or moves out of it entirely.

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The Golden State Warriors announced Tuesday that their president and general manager Bob Myers is stepping down from his post after 11 years. Myers, who joined the Warriors in 2011, had a hugely successful stint with them as the team won four NBA championships in 11 years.

The Golden State Warriors announced Tuesday that their president and general manager Bob Myers is stepping down from his post after 11 years. Myers, who joined the Warriors in 2011, had a hugely successful stint with them as the team won four NBA championships in 11 years. Myers won the award of Executive of the Year twice during his tenure as he was acknowledged for his pivotal role in creating a dynasty. The Warriors also posted a heartfelt message for Myers on their Twitter handle and thanked him for everything. Have a look at the message here: 2x NBA Executive of the Year. 4x NBA Champion. The architect of an era. After 11 seasons, Bob Myers will step down from his role as President of Basketball Operations / General Manager at the conclusion of his contract. Thank you for everything, Bob. pic.twitter.com/6DrLsmrqcw — Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 30, 2023 × The news of Myers stepping down was first broken by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski who said that Myers felt it was time to move on for him. Also Read: East Finals: Miami Heat's Road to NBA Finals 2023 At the press conference on Tuesday, Myers said, "You can't make it to a day like this anymore without everyone knowing what you're going to say." "I've only known how to do things one way my whole life," he said. "It doesn't feel right to do something when I can't give it everything. And that's what it takes to do what we've done over the last, for me, 12 years," he further said during his media address. Have a look at his address here: "I've only known how to do things one way my whole life… and it doesn't feel right to do something when I can't give it everything." Golden State’s Bob Myers officially announces stepping down as the franchise’s president and general manager pic.twitter.com/2j1vuBQy2H — NBA TV (@NBATV) May 30, 2023 × Myers's contract will expire in late June and he is expected to work till that time or at least this is what owner Joe Lacob thinks so. A report by The Athletic also claimed uncertainty about Myers's position in the Warriors' management. At the time of that report, the Warriors were facing certain issues regarding salaries and question marks over veteran players and the question still looms. On Tuesday, Myers, however, seemingly denied part of the report and said, "This wasn't about money, I just want to make that clear." It although remains to be seen whether Myers continues to be in the league with some other team or moves out of it entirely. 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: Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers decides to step down after 11 years

After an astonishing game-six finish that left the Boston Celtics dumbstruck and the Miami Heat reeling, the two teams must now pick themselves up to do battle again in Monday's NBA playoff series decider.

And neither expects anything less than another epic battle in Boston.

Facing elimination, the Celtics won 104-103 in Miami on Saturday thanks to a heart-stopping buzzer-beater tip-in from Derrick White and pulled level at 3-3 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/boston-celtics-derrick-white-game-6-buzzer-beater-final-shot-vs-miami-heat-video-and-twitter-reaction-597401">Derrick White's buzzer-beater in Game 6 vs Heat sends Twitter in frenzy</a>

The Heat were less than a second from booking a place in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets but after leading the series 3-0, Miami will face the real prospect of being the first team in NBA history to lose after taking such a lead.

Momentum and form suggest the Celtics are on course to complete an unprecedented comeback but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was quick to offer a reminder that his team has a habit of bouncing back from blows.

Miami lost a first play-in game to Atlanta before beating Chicago and entering the playoffs as the eighth seed.

The Heat then defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks before taking out the New York Knicks and grabbing a surprise three-game lead over Boston.

"When we say we did it the hard way, there were some bone-crushing losses where we did the right things, and then last-second shots, just for the wins against us," said Spoelstra, who has won two NBA championships with the Heat.

"The competitive spirit of this group, we are never to be denied. Even after games like that, we would always come back the next game and find a way to get a win. That's what we have to do right now."

But that will require more than competitive spirit and the right mindset -- the Heat need star Jimmy Butler to rediscover his form from earlier in the series.

Over the first three games of the Eastern Conference finals, he was shooting at 46.0% from the field but in the last three, that number has dropped to 36.5% and on Saturday he made only 5-of-21 attempts from the floor.

Adding to the misfire, Bam Adebayo made just 4-of-16 attempts but Spoelstra said such numbers were of no interest to him.

"I don't give a damn what they shot. We were up one. We may win this thing as ugly as it has ever been done. I don't care what guys shoot," he said.

"It's the competitive will that I'm talking about, and those guys are going to bring it on -- it's the playoffs."

<h2>'Not time to celebrate'</h2>

Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics with 31 points on Saturday, knows his team must quickly rid itself of the sense of jubilation caused by the manner of their victory.&nbsp;

"We're all aware it's not time to celebrate," he said. "We didn't accomplish anything. We won a big game that we had to win in incredible fashion. We're proud of the way we played, proud of the way we figured it out.

"But the job is far from finished. (Miami) is a great team, really well-coached team, and we've got to be ready on Monday. It's not over. Both teams want this extremely -- like to the highest degree. They want it. We want it. The guys are competing on both ends, giving everything they have.

"You like being a part of series and games like that. It brings the best out of you. It's going to be tough on Monday for sure."

After an astonishing game-six finish that left the Boston Celtics dumbstruck and the Miami Heat reeling, the two teams must now pick themselves up to do battle again in Monday's NBA playoff series decider.

After an astonishing game-six finish that left the Boston Celtics dumbstruck and the Miami Heat reeling, the two teams must now pick themselves up to do battle again in Monday's NBA playoff series decider. And neither expects anything less than another epic battle in Boston. Facing elimination, the Celtics won 104-103 in Miami on Saturday thanks to a heart-stopping buzzer-beater tip-in from Derrick White and pulled level at 3-3 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. Also Watch: Derrick White's buzzer-beater in Game 6 vs Heat sends Twitter in frenzy The Heat were less than a second from booking a place in the NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets but after leading the series 3-0, Miami will face the real prospect of being the first team in NBA history to lose after taking such a lead. Momentum and form suggest the Celtics are on course to complete an unprecedented comeback but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was quick to offer a reminder that his team has a habit of bouncing back from blows. Miami lost a first play-in game to Atlanta before beating Chicago and entering the playoffs as the eighth seed. The Heat then defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks before taking out the New York Knicks and grabbing a surprise three-game lead over Boston. "When we say we did it the hard way, there were some bone-crushing losses where we did the right things, and then last-second shots, just for the wins against us," said Spoelstra, who has won two NBA championships with the Heat. "The competitive spirit of this group, we are never to be denied. Even after games like that, we would always come back the next game and find a way to get a win. That's what we have to do right now." But that will require more than competitive spirit and the right mindset -- the Heat need star Jimmy Butler to rediscover his form from earlier in the series. Over the first three games of the Eastern Conference finals, he was shooting at 46.0% from the field but in the last three, that number has dropped to 36.5% and on Saturday he made only 5-of-21 attempts from the floor. Adding to the misfire, Bam Adebayo made just 4-of-16 attempts but Spoelstra said such numbers were of no interest to him. "I don't give a damn what they shot. We were up one. We may win this thing as ugly as it has ever been done. I don't care what guys shoot," he said. "It's the competitive will that I'm talking about, and those guys are going to bring it on -- it's the playoffs." 'Not time to celebrate' Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics with 31 points on Saturday, knows his team must quickly rid itself of the sense of jubilation caused by the manner of their victory. "We're all aware it's not time to celebrate," he said. "We didn't accomplish anything. We won a big game that we had to win in incredible fashion. We're proud of the way we played, proud of the way we figured it out. "But the job is far from finished. (Miami) is a great team, really well-coached team, and we've got to be ready on Monday. It's not over. Both teams want this extremely -- like to the highest degree. They want it. We want it. The guys are competing on both ends, giving everything they have. "You like being a part of series and games like that. It brings the best out of you. It's going to be tough on Monday for sure."

NBA: Miami Heat brace for winner-takes-all Game 7 against Boston Celtics after agonizing last loss

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.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-back-in-champions-league-with-4-1-rout-of-chelsea-596587">Manchester United back in Champions League with 4-1 rout of Chelsea</a>

<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

Nikola Jokic passed Wilt Chamberlain as he recorded his eighth playoff triple-double (30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists)&nbsp;in 2023 - the most in one playoff season as the Denver Nuggets came from behind to beat the LA Lakers 113-111 in Game 4. The Nuggets won the series 4-0 and booked their maiden NBA Finals berth in the history of franchise.

LeBron James, however, ensured that the Nuggets earn their win as he scored 8,000 career playoff point and set the record for most points in any half in a playoff game as he raced to 31 point in the first two quarters.

<h2>LeBron runs the show in 1Q</h2>

Lakers superstar LeBron James ran the show in the first quarter, scoring 21 of 34 points LA amassed. James, looking determined to make the game count, drained all four of his attempted threes and went 7-for-9 in FGs as Los Angeles took a six-point lead in the first quarter of the game.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the enforcer for the Nuggets, scoring 10 points including a three 3Ps. Apart from him, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon scored six points each as Denver scored 28 first quarter points. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-great-carmelo-anthony-confirms-retirement-595295">NBA great Carmelo&nbsp;Anthony confirms retirement</a>

<h2>Vintage LeBron owns Nuggets</h2>

LeBron James showed up in playoff mode for the first time in the series as he added 10 more points to his name to go at 31 by the half-time apart from four assists and four rebounds he took by the end of second quarter.

Denver kept fighting with Jokic scoring 13 and Murray scoring nine points in the quarter. All the efforts by Denver, however, fell short before James who just looked unstoppable and ran the game on it own.&nbsp;

Determined to keep the series going, Lakers were leading by 15 points after the first two quarters as the box score read 73-58 in their favour.

<h2>Real Denver shows up in 3Q</h2>

In a complete turnaround of the game, the Nuggets not only wiped off the entire LA lead of 15 points but now lead by five points with the scores reading 94-89 in their favour. The Lakers simply had no answer to all guns blazing Nuggets as they started with a 9-2 run which turned into 18-4 and then 20-8 with almost half the quarter gone.

Jokic had eight points in the quarter as he raced to 23 in total and Jamal Murray also reaching 20-point mark. LeBron, on the other side, kept scoring for LA but could add just six in 3Q as Denver scored 36 against Lakers' 16 points.

<h2>Battle of will in 4Q</h2>

Both the teams went neck-to-neck in 4Q, scoring 13 points each with just about 3 and a half minutes to go in the game. Denver, however, had the lead of five points and they held onto it dearly. The Lakers kept pushing and pushing and ties the game first at 102 each and then at 111 each, both time with FTs by Anthony Davis. Jokic's 2-point lay-up then proved enough to Denver and too much for the Lakers.

<h2>Top scorers of Game 4</h2>

LeBron James top scored in the game from both sides with 40 points and 10 rebounds. Apart from him, Austin Reaves scored 17, Dennis Schroder scored 13 and Anthony Davis chipped in with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds. For the Nuggets, apart from Jokic's triple-double, Jamal Murray dropped 25 and Aaron Gordon scored 22.

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Nikola Jokic passed Wilt Chamberlain as he recorded his eighth playoff triple-double (30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists) in 2023 - the most in one playoff season as the Denver Nuggets came from behind to beat the LA Lakers 113-111 in Game 4.

Nikola Jokic passed Wilt Chamberlain as he recorded his eighth playoff triple-double (30 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists) in 2023 - the most in one playoff season as the Denver Nuggets came from behind to beat the LA Lakers 113-111 in Game 4. The Nuggets won the series 4-0 and booked their maiden NBA Finals berth in the history of franchise. LeBron James, however, ensured that the Nuggets earn their win as he scored 8,000 career playoff point and set the record for most points in any half in a playoff game as he raced to 31 point in the first two quarters. LeBron runs the show in 1Q Lakers superstar LeBron James ran the show in the first quarter, scoring 21 of 34 points LA amassed. James, looking determined to make the game count, drained all four of his attempted threes and went 7-for-9 in FGs as Los Angeles took a six-point lead in the first quarter of the game. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the enforcer for the Nuggets, scoring 10 points including a three 3Ps. Apart from him, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon scored six points each as Denver scored 28 first quarter points. Also Read: NBA great Carmelo Anthony confirms retirement Vintage LeBron owns Nuggets LeBron James showed up in playoff mode for the first time in the series as he added 10 more points to his name to go at 31 by the half-time apart from four assists and four rebounds he took by the end of second quarter. Denver kept fighting with Jokic scoring 13 and Murray scoring nine points in the quarter. All the efforts by Denver, however, fell short before James who just looked unstoppable and ran the game on it own. Determined to keep the series going, Lakers were leading by 15 points after the first two quarters as the box score read 73-58 in their favour. Real Denver shows up in 3Q In a complete turnaround of the game, the Nuggets not only wiped off the entire LA lead of 15 points but now lead by five points with the scores reading 94-89 in their favour. The Lakers simply had no answer to all guns blazing Nuggets as they started with a 9-2 run which turned into 18-4 and then 20-8 with almost half the quarter gone. Jokic had eight points in the quarter as he raced to 23 in total and Jamal Murray also reaching 20-point mark. LeBron, on the other side, kept scoring for LA but could add just six in 3Q as Denver scored 36 against Lakers' 16 points. Battle of will in 4Q Both the teams went neck-to-neck in 4Q, scoring 13 points each with just about 3 and a half minutes to go in the game. Denver, however, had the lead of five points and they held onto it dearly. The Lakers kept pushing and pushing and ties the game first at 102 each and then at 111 each, both time with FTs by Anthony Davis. Jokic's 2-point lay-up then proved enough to Denver and too much for the Lakers. Top scorers of Game 4 LeBron James top scored in the game from both sides with 40 points and 10 rebounds. Apart from him, Austin Reaves scored 17, Dennis Schroder scored 13 and Anthony Davis chipped in with a double-double of 21 points and 14 rebounds. For the Nuggets, apart from Jokic's triple-double, Jamal Murray dropped 25 and Aaron Gordon scored 22. 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 NBA West Finals: Nuggets beat Lakers in Game 4 to book maiden NBA Finals berth

A 13-4 run in 4Q gave Denver Nuggets another win as they beat Los Angeles Lakers 119-108 at crypto.com arena to take a 3-0 lead in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

Jamal Murray dropped 37 points in the game with Nikola Jokic scoring 24 and Michael Porter Jr. getting a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds as Denver take themselves to one-game distance from NBA Championship series.

<h2>Murray shines bright in 1Q</h2>

Jamal Murray dropped 17 points in the first quarter with three rebounds and was 8 of 10 in field goals including a three-pointer as the Nuggets got a 12-point lead. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis scored nine and LeBron scored five as they scored 20 points against Denver's 32.

<h2>Lakers charge in 2Q</h2>

Los Angeles came charging in 2Q with a 14-6 run before they ran into Jamal Murray again who added his first nine points of the quarter with three 3Ps. The Nuggets star scored 13 points in total in 2Q to reach 30 by half-time. For the Lakers, Austin Reeves reached 15 points and so did Anthony Davis along with 11 rebounds &nbsp;to notch up a double-double. The game moved at frantic pace with a last-minute assist by Murray kept Nuggets ahead by three points even though Lakers dropped 35 points against Denver's 26.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-arsenals-defeat-to-nottingham-forrest-hands-man-city-third-consecutive-title-594578">Premier League: Arsenal's defeat to Nottingham Forrest hands Man City third consecutive title</a>

<h2>Neck-to-neck in 3Q</h2>

Anthony Davis scored six of the first eight points for the Lakers as they matched Denver's eight points early in the 3Q to keep the deficit at three points. Los Angeles guard Austin Reeves also joined the party as his three helped the Lakers drew level with Nuggets at 71 points each.

Denver's guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope then exploded for 11 points as Denver threatened to ran away with the game in 3Q but LeBron James back-to-back threes in the last couple of minutes kept Denver's lead to just two points with the box score reading 84-82.

<h2>Lakers lead early in 4Q</h2>

Rui Hachimura's three took Lakers past Denver for the first time in the game since they were ahead 9-7 in 1Q. He dropped another three to take the Lakers ahead once more after Denver came back to erase the one-point deficit. Two three points by Jeff Green and Bruce Brown then gave Denver a five-point advantage with seven minutes to go and Murray's three made it a 9-0 run for the Nuggets.

The run eventually went to 13 and the Lakers just couldn't come back from there as Denver scored 35 points in the quarter against Los Angeles' 26.

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A 13-4 run in 4Q gave Denver Nuggets another win as they beat Los Angeles Lakers 119-108 at crypto.com arena to take a 3-0 lead in the 2023 Western Conference Finals.

A 13-4 run in 4Q gave Denver Nuggets another win as they beat Los Angeles Lakers 119-108 at crypto.com arena to take a 3-0 lead in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. Jamal Murray dropped 37 points in the game with Nikola Jokic scoring 24 and Michael Porter Jr. getting a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds as Denver take themselves to one-game distance from NBA Championship series. Murray shines bright in 1Q Jamal Murray dropped 17 points in the first quarter with three rebounds and was 8 of 10 in field goals including a three-pointer as the Nuggets got a 12-point lead. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis scored nine and LeBron scored five as they scored 20 points against Denver's 32. Lakers charge in 2Q Los Angeles came charging in 2Q with a 14-6 run before they ran into Jamal Murray again who added his first nine points of the quarter with three 3Ps. The Nuggets star scored 13 points in total in 2Q to reach 30 by half-time. For the Lakers, Austin Reeves reached 15 points and so did Anthony Davis along with 11 rebounds to notch up a double-double. The game moved at frantic pace with a last-minute assist by Murray kept Nuggets ahead by three points even though Lakers dropped 35 points against Denver's 26. Also read: Premier League: Arsenal's defeat to Nottingham Forrest hands Man City third consecutive title Neck-to-neck in 3Q Anthony Davis scored six of the first eight points for the Lakers as they matched Denver's eight points early in the 3Q to keep the deficit at three points. Los Angeles guard Austin Reeves also joined the party as his three helped the Lakers drew level with Nuggets at 71 points each. Denver's guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope then exploded for 11 points as Denver threatened to ran away with the game in 3Q but LeBron James back-to-back threes in the last couple of minutes kept Denver's lead to just two points with the box score reading 84-82. Lakers lead early in 4Q Rui Hachimura's three took Lakers past Denver for the first time in the game since they were ahead 9-7 in 1Q. He dropped another three to take the Lakers ahead once more after Denver came back to erase the one-point deficit. Two three points by Jeff Green and Bruce Brown then gave Denver a five-point advantage with seven minutes to go and Murray's three made it a 9-0 run for the Nuggets. The run eventually went to 13 and the Lakers just couldn't come back from there as Denver scored 35 points in the quarter against Los Angeles' 26. 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 West Finals: Murray drops 37 as Nuggets beat Lakers 119-108 to take 3-0 lead

Jimmy Butler led a fourth-quarter fightback as the Miami Heat stunned the Boston Celtics 111-105 to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference finals series on Friday. Miami talisman Butler finished with 27 points as the eighth seeds grabbed a second straight victory at Boston's TD Garden to leave the Celtics with a mountain to climb if they are to reach the NBA finals.

Miami had trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter and the Celtics led by as much as nine with under seven minutes of the final frame remaining.

But Butler led a sensational 20-9 Miami run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that turned the game on its head and left his team just two wins away from returning to the NBA finals as the best-of-seven series heads to Miami for games three and four.

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Miami closes on a 24-9 run 🔥 
 
They win Game 2 go up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals! 
 
BOS/MIA Game 3: Sunday, 8:30pm/et | TNT <a href="https://t.co/7H1RZQJ165">pic.twitter.com/7H1RZQJ165</a>
— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1659769986921930753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"We got some dogs, and I love it, I love every bit of it," an elated Butler said during an on-court interview after the Miami win. "Guys never quit, guys never give up, we love playing with one another -- we got so much faith and trust in one another."

Nine of Butler's 27 points came during the fourth-quarter rally, with the Miami star seemingly fired up after an angry nose-to-nose exchange with Boston's Grant Williams midway through the fourth quarter.

At that stage in the game, Boston led 96-89, but Miami launched a devastating late run that turned the contest decisively in favor of the Heat.

"Just healthy competition, and I love it," Butler said afterwards of his exchange with Williams. &nbsp;"I'm always here to compete, I like to talk at times, as long as we get the win I'm good with it though."

Butler received offensive support from Caleb Martin, with 25 points off the bench, while Bam Adebayo delivered another all-round effort with 22 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.

Duncan Robinson added 15 points from the bench, including three three-pointers.

A shellshocked Boston, meanwhile, were left reflecting on another shattering defeat at home despite 34 points from Jayson Tatum.

Jaylen Brown finished with 16 points but had a wayward shooting night, making only seven of 23 from the field, while Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon had 13 points apiece.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla blamed indiscipline and mental frailty for his team's defeat.

"It comes down to the details and the margins," Mazzulla said. &nbsp;"This is a series of discipline and mindset. And there were times throughout the game where we weren't the more disciplined team."

Asked if he believed Boston's late collapse was "mental", Mazzulla agreed.

"It's mental from the standpoint of who can make the right plays at the right times, who can make the simple plays, who can win those details and those margins," Mazzulla said. "So, yeah, it's definitely mental."

Game three takes place in Miami on Sunday.

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Jimmy Butler led a fourth-quarter fightback as the Miami Heat stunned the Boston Celtics 111-105 to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference finals series on Friday.

Jimmy Butler led a fourth-quarter fightback as the Miami Heat stunned the Boston Celtics 111-105 to take a 2-0 lead in their NBA Eastern Conference finals series on Friday. Miami talisman Butler finished with 27 points as the eighth seeds grabbed a second straight victory at Boston's TD Garden to leave the Celtics with a mountain to climb if they are to reach the NBA finals. Miami had trailed by 11 points early in the fourth quarter and the Celtics led by as much as nine with under seven minutes of the final frame remaining. But Butler led a sensational 20-9 Miami run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that turned the game on its head and left his team just two wins away from returning to the NBA finals as the best-of-seven series heads to Miami for games three and four. Miami closes on a 24-9 run 🔥 They win Game 2 go up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals! BOS/MIA Game 3: Sunday, 8:30pm/et | TNT pic.twitter.com/7H1RZQJ165 — NBA (@NBA) May 20, 2023 × ALSO READ: Basketball: LeBron James, Barak Obama among others pay tribute to NBA great Jim Brown, who passed away aged 87 "We got some dogs, and I love it, I love every bit of it," an elated Butler said during an on-court interview after the Miami win. "Guys never quit, guys never give up, we love playing with one another -- we got so much faith and trust in one another." Nine of Butler's 27 points came during the fourth-quarter rally, with the Miami star seemingly fired up after an angry nose-to-nose exchange with Boston's Grant Williams midway through the fourth quarter. At that stage in the game, Boston led 96-89, but Miami launched a devastating late run that turned the contest decisively in favor of the Heat. "Just healthy competition, and I love it," Butler said afterwards of his exchange with Williams. "I'm always here to compete, I like to talk at times, as long as we get the win I'm good with it though." Butler received offensive support from Caleb Martin, with 25 points off the bench, while Bam Adebayo delivered another all-round effort with 22 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists. Duncan Robinson added 15 points from the bench, including three three-pointers. A shellshocked Boston, meanwhile, were left reflecting on another shattering defeat at home despite 34 points from Jayson Tatum. Jaylen Brown finished with 16 points but had a wayward shooting night, making only seven of 23 from the field, while Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon had 13 points apiece. Boston coach Joe Mazzulla blamed indiscipline and mental frailty for his team's defeat. "It comes down to the details and the margins," Mazzulla said. "This is a series of discipline and mindset. And there were times throughout the game where we weren't the more disciplined team." Asked if he believed Boston's late collapse was "mental", Mazzulla agreed. "It's mental from the standpoint of who can make the right plays at the right times, who can make the simple plays, who can win those details and those margins," Mazzulla said. "So, yeah, it's definitely mental." Game three takes place in Miami on Sunday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Miami Heat beat Boston Celtics 111-105 to take 2-0 lead in NBA Eastern Conference finals series

NBA superstar and Ohio kid LeBron James led the tributes to NFL great Jim Brown on Friday, after the legendary Cleveland Browns running back and civil rights campaigner died at the age of 87.

"We lost a hero today," James said in an Instagram post that also featured a video of four-time NBA champion James, then playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, bowing to Brown as he sat courtside at a game.

"Rest in Paradise to the legend Jim Brown," James wrote. "I hope every Black athlete takes the time to educate themselves about this incredible man and what he did to change all of our lives.

"We all stand on your shoulders Jim Brown."

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Brown played for the Browns for all of an NFL career spanning 1957-65.

He led the NFL in rushing eight of those seasons and retired in July of 1966 with a then-record 12,312 career rushing yards.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-eric-cole-double-bogey-hands-bryson-dechambeau-pga-championship-lead-594150">Golf: Eric Cole double-bogey hands Bryson DeChambeau PGA Championship lead</a>

Brown's excellence on the field was what first made the young LeBron James an admirer, but now the Los Angeles Lakers star known for his work on social justice issues says Brown's efforts during the turbulent civil rights movement was his real gift to today's athletes.

"If you grew up in Northeast Ohio and were Black, Jim Brown was a God," James wrote. "As a kid who loved football, I really just thought of him as the greatest Cleveland Brown to ever play.

"Then I started my own journey as a professional athlete and realized what he did socially was his true greatness.

"When I choose to speak out, I always think about Jim Brown. I can only speak because Jim broke down those walls for me."

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the African-American athletes who attended the 1967 Cleveland Summit organized by Brown in a show of support for Muhammad Ali's refusal to serve in the Vietnam War, also paid tribute to his civil rights legacy.

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My sincerest condolences to Monique and the entire Brown family. I am here for you in friendship always &amp; forever. <a href="https://t.co/Pz4CDtkLzY">pic.twitter.com/Pz4CDtkLzY</a>
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaj33/status/1659690355267362816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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"Jim's dedication to the fight for equal rights was a lifelong effort and something that enabled me to maintain our friendship for over 50 years," Abdul-Jabbar wrote on social media. "The world and I will miss him greatly."

Former US President Barack Obama also joined the tributes to Brown's legacy.

"I was too young to remember Jim Brown’s playing days, but I knew his legacy," Obama tweeted. "One of the greatest football players ever, he was also an actor and activist – speaking out on civil rights, and pushing other Black athletes to do the same. Our thoughts are with Jim’s wife Monique, his children, and everyone who knew and admired him."

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I was too young to remember Jim Brown’s playing days, but I knew his legacy. One of the greatest football players ever, he was also an actor and activist – speaking out on civil rights, and pushing other Black athletes to do the same. Our thoughts are with Jim’s wife Monique, his…
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1659666639351078912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Brown's transformational talent was also recalled by those who followed him in the NFL, including former Dallas Cowboys running backs Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith and Detroit Lions great Barry Sanders.

"There isn't a man who played running back in the NFL who didn’t see Jim Brown as an iconic legend on and off the field," Dorsett said on Twitter, where Smith posted: "My heart aches at this very moment after hearing of the passing of Jim Brown.

"He is and was a true legend in sports and in the community using his platform to help others. Thanks King."

<h2>- 'Absolute legend' -</h2>

Jarrett Payton, whose father, Walter Payton, starred for the Chicago Bears and broke Brown's career rushing record in 1984, mourned Brown's death on a personal level.

"After my pops passed, Jim became an important father figure in my life," Payton tweeted. "He was always there for me. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Sanders also pointed to the pro and the person in paying tribute to Brown.

"You can't underestimate the impact Jim Brown had on the NFL," Sanders said in a tweet. "He will be greatly missed. Additionally, his generosity and friendship with my family is a gift that we will always treasure."

"An absolute legend," tweeted recently retired defensive lineman JJ Watt. "Rest in Peace Jim Brown.

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NBA superstar and Ohio kid LeBron James led the tributes to NFL great Jim Brown on Friday, after the legendary Cleveland Browns running back and civil rights campaigner died at the age of 87.

NBA superstar and Ohio kid LeBron James led the tributes to NFL great Jim Brown on Friday, after the legendary Cleveland Browns running back and civil rights campaigner died at the age of 87. "We lost a hero today," James said in an Instagram post that also featured a video of four-time NBA champion James, then playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, bowing to Brown as he sat courtside at a game. "Rest in Paradise to the legend Jim Brown," James wrote. "I hope every Black athlete takes the time to educate themselves about this incredible man and what he did to change all of our lives. "We all stand on your shoulders Jim Brown." View this post on Instagram A post shared by 👑 (@kingjames) × Brown played for the Browns for all of an NFL career spanning 1957-65. He led the NFL in rushing eight of those seasons and retired in July of 1966 with a then-record 12,312 career rushing yards. ALSO READ: Golf: Eric Cole double-bogey hands Bryson DeChambeau PGA Championship lead Brown's excellence on the field was what first made the young LeBron James an admirer, but now the Los Angeles Lakers star known for his work on social justice issues says Brown's efforts during the turbulent civil rights movement was his real gift to today's athletes. "If you grew up in Northeast Ohio and were Black, Jim Brown was a God," James wrote. "As a kid who loved football, I really just thought of him as the greatest Cleveland Brown to ever play. "Then I started my own journey as a professional athlete and realized what he did socially was his true greatness. "When I choose to speak out, I always think about Jim Brown. I can only speak because Jim broke down those walls for me." NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the African-American athletes who attended the 1967 Cleveland Summit organized by Brown in a show of support for Muhammad Ali's refusal to serve in the Vietnam War, also paid tribute to his civil rights legacy. My sincerest condolences to Monique and the entire Brown family. I am here for you in friendship always & forever. pic.twitter.com/Pz4CDtkLzY — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) May 19, 2023 × "Jim's dedication to the fight for equal rights was a lifelong effort and something that enabled me to maintain our friendship for over 50 years," Abdul-Jabbar wrote on social media. "The world and I will miss him greatly." Former US President Barack Obama also joined the tributes to Brown's legacy. "I was too young to remember Jim Brown’s playing days, but I knew his legacy," Obama tweeted. "One of the greatest football players ever, he was also an actor and activist – speaking out on civil rights, and pushing other Black athletes to do the same. Our thoughts are with Jim’s wife Monique, his children, and everyone who knew and admired him." I was too young to remember Jim Brown’s playing days, but I knew his legacy. One of the greatest football players ever, he was also an actor and activist – speaking out on civil rights, and pushing other Black athletes to do the same. Our thoughts are with Jim’s wife Monique, his… — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) May 19, 2023 × Brown's transformational talent was also recalled by those who followed him in the NFL, including former Dallas Cowboys running backs Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith and Detroit Lions great Barry Sanders. "There isn't a man who played running back in the NFL who didn’t see Jim Brown as an iconic legend on and off the field," Dorsett said on Twitter, where Smith posted: "My heart aches at this very moment after hearing of the passing of Jim Brown. "He is and was a true legend in sports and in the community using his platform to help others. Thanks King." - 'Absolute legend' - Jarrett Payton, whose father, Walter Payton, starred for the Chicago Bears and broke Brown's career rushing record in 1984, mourned Brown's death on a personal level. "After my pops passed, Jim became an important father figure in my life," Payton tweeted. "He was always there for me. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family." Sanders also pointed to the pro and the person in paying tribute to Brown. "You can't underestimate the impact Jim Brown had on the NFL," Sanders said in a tweet. "He will be greatly missed. Additionally, his generosity and friendship with my family is a gift that we will always treasure." "An absolute legend," tweeted recently retired defensive lineman JJ Watt. "Rest in Peace Jim Brown. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Basketball: LeBron James, Barak Obama among others pay tribute to NBA great Jim Brown, who passed away aged 87

Nikola Jokic led Denver Nuggets to a 132-126 victory over Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 1 in Denver. The Lakers, who were trailing by 18 points by half-time fought valiantly in the last quarter as they cut down the lead to just three points but it was not enough.

A final seconds steal by Denver off LeBron James all but sealed the game for Nuggets who definitely were the better team for three quarters of the game. Jokic, however, was too much to handle as he scored 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists.

Lakers superstar LeBron James scored the first points of the game with a lay-up for two points. That was the only time the Lakers led in the first half as the Nuggets ran away with the game on the back of Jokic's historic first-half.

At the end of the first quarter, Denver were ahead by 12 points, leading 37-25. The game continued that same way in the second quarter as well with Denver adding another 35 points while the Lakers could manage only 29.

With Los Angeles down by 18 points by the half-time, they came out charging in the 1st quarter after the half-time but the Nuggets kept them at bay for most minutes.

It was only in the last couple of minutes of the third quarter that the Lakers were able to cut down the lead to 11 points. Nikola Jokic, however, had a different idea as he dropped a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter and extend Nuggets' lead to 14 points.

Such was the dominance of Jokic that he already had 12 rebounds in 1st quarter before he became the first player in the NBA history in over 25 years to score 15 points and 15 rebounds by the half-time. Till the time the game hit the last quarter, Jokic already had a triple-double of 31 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists.

Anthony Davis however, matched Jokic for points as he scored 31 points by the end of third quarter as well and ended with 40 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron also had a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

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Nikola Jokic led Denver Nuggets to a 132-126 victory over Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 1 in Denver. The Lakers, who were trailing by 18 points by half-time fought valiantly in the last quarter as they cut down the lead to just three points but it was not enough.

Nikola Jokic led Denver Nuggets to a 132-126 victory over Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Western Conference Finals Game 1 in Denver. The Lakers, who were trailing by 18 points by half-time fought valiantly in the last quarter as they cut down the lead to just three points but it was not enough. A final seconds steal by Denver off LeBron James all but sealed the game for Nuggets who definitely were the better team for three quarters of the game. Jokic, however, was too much to handle as he scored 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists. Lakers superstar LeBron James scored the first points of the game with a lay-up for two points. That was the only time the Lakers led in the first half as the Nuggets ran away with the game on the back of Jokic's historic first-half. At the end of the first quarter, Denver were ahead by 12 points, leading 37-25. The game continued that same way in the second quarter as well with Denver adding another 35 points while the Lakers could manage only 29. With Los Angeles down by 18 points by the half-time, they came out charging in the 1st quarter after the half-time but the Nuggets kept them at bay for most minutes. It was only in the last couple of minutes of the third quarter that the Lakers were able to cut down the lead to 11 points. Nikola Jokic, however, had a different idea as he dropped a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter and extend Nuggets' lead to 14 points. Such was the dominance of Jokic that he already had 12 rebounds in 1st quarter before he became the first player in the NBA history in over 25 years to score 15 points and 15 rebounds by the half-time. Till the time the game hit the last quarter, Jokic already had a triple-double of 31 points, 19 rebounds and 12 assists. Anthony Davis however, matched Jokic for points as he scored 31 points by the end of third quarter as well and ended with 40 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron also had a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds. 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 West Finals 2023: Jokic leads Nuggets past Lakers in Game 1

The San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday were awarded the top pick in next month's NBA draft, leaving them in pole position to land French prodigy Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio, who finished the regular season bottom of the Western Conference with a 22-60 record, were drawn first in the NBA's lottery to determine who gets the coveted top pick in New York on June 22.

Barring a monumental surprise, the 19-year-old Wembanyama is widely expected to be the No.1 selection in the draft, which sees the cream of basketball's rookie talent up for grabs.

Also See: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-western-conference-finals-los-angeles-lakers-at-denver-nuggets-game-1-live-score-updates-and-results-593089">West Finals 2023, Lakers vs Nuggets Game 1: Live Score and Updates</a>

Wembanyama is now set to follow in the footsteps of French basketball legend Tony Parker, who won four NBA championships with San Antonio between 2003 and 2014.

Tuesday's lottery results also mean Wembanyama is set to begin his NBA career under the tutelage of revered Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, a giant of the NBA who has guided San Antonio to five NBA titles.

"I can't really describe it, my heart's beating," Wembanyama told ESPN in an interview from Paris on Tuesday shortly after learning the likely identity of his new team.

"I've got everyone I love around me, it's a really special moment that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life."

Wembanyama added that he intends to make a fast start to his NBA career -- telling ESPN he wants to vie for championships rapidly.

"I'm a team player, I'm going to make everything to win as many games as I can. I'm trying to win a (championship) ring ASAP so be ready," Wembanyama said.

Peter J. Holt, chairman of Spurs Sports and Entertainment, reacted with delight after learning of the team's lottery win.

"I might faint," Holt said. "I'm so excited. The city of San Antonio, our fans, man we have so many people who love the Spurs. We're pumped."

The 7ft 2in (2.21m) Metropolitans 92 players is seen by many as a transformational talent, a once-in-a-generation player regarded as the most sought-after No.1 draft pick since LeBron James entered the league in 2003.

James himself has been among Wembanyama's legion of admirers, describing him as less a "unicorn" and "more like an alien."&nbsp;

"No one has ever seen someone as tall as he is and as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor," James said. "He's for sure a generational talent."

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The San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday were awarded the top pick in next month's NBA draft, leaving them in pole position to land French prodigy Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio, who finished the regular season bottom of the Western Conference with a 22-60 record, were drawn first in the NBA's lottery to determine who gets the coveted top pick in New York on June 22.

The San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday were awarded the top pick in next month's NBA draft, leaving them in pole position to land French prodigy Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio, who finished the regular season bottom of the Western Conference with a 22-60 record, were drawn first in the NBA's lottery to determine who gets the coveted top pick in New York on June 22. Barring a monumental surprise, the 19-year-old Wembanyama is widely expected to be the No.1 selection in the draft, which sees the cream of basketball's rookie talent up for grabs. Also See: West Finals 2023, Lakers vs Nuggets Game 1: Live Score and Updates Wembanyama is now set to follow in the footsteps of French basketball legend Tony Parker, who won four NBA championships with San Antonio between 2003 and 2014. Tuesday's lottery results also mean Wembanyama is set to begin his NBA career under the tutelage of revered Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, a giant of the NBA who has guided San Antonio to five NBA titles. "I can't really describe it, my heart's beating," Wembanyama told ESPN in an interview from Paris on Tuesday shortly after learning the likely identity of his new team. "I've got everyone I love around me, it's a really special moment that I'm going to remember for the rest of my life." Wembanyama added that he intends to make a fast start to his NBA career -- telling ESPN he wants to vie for championships rapidly. "I'm a team player, I'm going to make everything to win as many games as I can. I'm trying to win a (championship) ring ASAP so be ready," Wembanyama said. Peter J. Holt, chairman of Spurs Sports and Entertainment, reacted with delight after learning of the team's lottery win. "I might faint," Holt said. "I'm so excited. The city of San Antonio, our fans, man we have so many people who love the Spurs. We're pumped." The 7ft 2in (2.21m) Metropolitans 92 players is seen by many as a transformational talent, a once-in-a-generation player regarded as the most sought-after No.1 draft pick since LeBron James entered the league in 2003. James himself has been among Wembanyama's legion of admirers, describing him as less a "unicorn" and "more like an alien." "No one has ever seen someone as tall as he is and as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor," James said. "He's for sure a generational talent." 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: San Antonio Spurs win Draft lottery 2023, poised to pick Victor Wembanyama

The Philadelphia 76ers have fired head coach Doc Rivers after their exit from the NBA playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics.

The 76ers' President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said the decision came after a review of the season.

"Doc is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, a future Hall of Famer, and someone I respect immensely. We’re grateful for all he did in his three seasons here and thank him for the important impact he made on our franchise.&nbsp;

"After having the chance to reflect upon our season, we decided that certain changes are necessary to further our goals of competing for a championship," he said.

Rivers' departure comes after the 112-88 loss to the Celtics in game seven of the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Sunday.

It was the third straight season that Philadelphia were eliminated a game short of the conference finals and it was their sixth straight season of reaching the post-season but failing to get past the second round. The 76ers haven't reached the conference finals since 2001.

Rivers fell to 6-10 in game sevens as a coach - the most game seven defeats of any NBA coach in history and he remains without a game-seven win on the road in his coaching career.

Hopes were high for a championship this season given the form of Joel Embiid, the league's Most Valuable Player this season.

Embiid praised Rivers after Sunday's defeat saying: "He’s been a great leader for all of us, a great motivator."

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Rivers joined the 76ers in 2020 after spells with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Celtics and the Orlando Magic.

The coach, who has enjoyed 16 straight winning seasons, had 154-82 (.653) record in his three seasons in Philadelphia.

Rivers won the NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008 and led them to the NBA Finals again in 2010.&nbsp;

His last appearances in a conference final was in 2012 with Boston, losing to eventual champions&nbsp;the Miami Heat.

Rivers becomes the third coach to reach the post-season this year and then lose their job.

The Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after a first round exit to the Heat while the Phoenix Suns dismissed Monty Williams after their second round loss to the Denver Nuggets.

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The Philadelphia 76ers have fired head coach Doc Rivers after their exit from the NBA playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The 76ers' President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said the decision came after a review of the season.

The Philadelphia 76ers have fired head coach Doc Rivers after their exit from the NBA playoffs at the hands of the Boston Celtics. The 76ers' President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey said the decision came after a review of the season. "Doc is one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, a future Hall of Famer, and someone I respect immensely. We’re grateful for all he did in his three seasons here and thank him for the important impact he made on our franchise. "After having the chance to reflect upon our season, we decided that certain changes are necessary to further our goals of competing for a championship," he said. Rivers' departure comes after the 112-88 loss to the Celtics in game seven of the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Sunday. It was the third straight season that Philadelphia were eliminated a game short of the conference finals and it was their sixth straight season of reaching the post-season but failing to get past the second round. The 76ers haven't reached the conference finals since 2001. Rivers fell to 6-10 in game sevens as a coach - the most game seven defeats of any NBA coach in history and he remains without a game-seven win on the road in his coaching career. Hopes were high for a championship this season given the form of Joel Embiid, the league's Most Valuable Player this season. Embiid praised Rivers after Sunday's defeat saying: "He’s been a great leader for all of us, a great motivator." ALSO READ | IPL 2023: Shubman Gill breaks Sachin Tendulkar's unique record with maiden ton for Gujarat Titans Rivers joined the 76ers in 2020 after spells with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Celtics and the Orlando Magic. The coach, who has enjoyed 16 straight winning seasons, had 154-82 (.653) record in his three seasons in Philadelphia. Rivers won the NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008 and led them to the NBA Finals again in 2010. His last appearances in a conference final was in 2012 with Boston, losing to eventual champions the Miami Heat. Rivers becomes the third coach to reach the post-season this year and then lose their job. The Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after a first round exit to the Heat while the Phoenix Suns dismissed Monty Williams after their second round loss to the Denver Nuggets. 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: Philadelphia 76ers fire coach Doc Rivers after playoff exit against Boston Celtics

The NBA Playoffs are the ultimate test for any basketballer. Few in the game have produced as many clutch moments in the post season as Ray Allen. The two-time NBA champion and hall of famer is in India to promote the sport. The Olympic champion spoke exclusively to WION's Vidur Kathuria on the conference finals as well as what it takes to deliver in high-pressure situations.

Ray Allen on what it takes to be an NBA champion

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.

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<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;

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"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.

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<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

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has escaped suspension after his off-court tussle with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, the&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;announced in a statement on Monday. Jokic has been fined $25,000 for making "improper contact with a spectactor" during the Nuggets' game-four defeat to the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday in their Western Conference playoff series.

Jokic clashed with Ishbia as he attempted to grab a loose ball from the Suns owner in the second quarter of Sunday's game.&nbsp; As the ball flew back into the crowd, Jokic's elbow appeared to knock Ishbia backwards.

Jokic, who scored a career-high 53 points in the loss, later defended his actions and said he was only responding because Ishbia made contact with him first. Ishbia had sought to damp down the controversy earlier Monday by saying he did not want to see the two-time&nbsp;NBA&nbsp;Most Valuable Player hit with a suspension.

"Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story," Ishbia wrote on Twitter on Monday. "Suspending or fining anyone over last night's incident would not be right.&nbsp; "I have a lot of respect for Jokic and don't want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!"

The Suns and top-seeded Nuggets are level at 2-2 in the best-of-seven series, with game five set for Denver on Tuesday.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has escaped suspension after his off-court tussle with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, the NBA announced in a statement on Monday.

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic has escaped suspension after his off-court tussle with Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia, the NBA announced in a statement on Monday. Jokic has been fined $25,000 for making "improper contact with a spectactor" during the Nuggets' game-four defeat to the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday in their Western Conference playoff series. Jokic clashed with Ishbia as he attempted to grab a loose ball from the Suns owner in the second quarter of Sunday's game. As the ball flew back into the crowd, Jokic's elbow appeared to knock Ishbia backwards. Jokic, who scored a career-high 53 points in the loss, later defended his actions and said he was only responding because Ishbia made contact with him first. Ishbia had sought to damp down the controversy earlier Monday by saying he did not want to see the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player hit with a suspension. "Great win for the Suns last night in an amazing series so far! That should be and is the only story," Ishbia wrote on Twitter on Monday. "Suspending or fining anyone over last night's incident would not be right. "I have a lot of respect for Jokic and don't want to see anything like that. Excited for game 5! Go Suns!" The Suns and top-seeded Nuggets are level at 2-2 in the best-of-seven series, with game five set for Denver on Tuesday.

NBA: Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic escapes ban after clash with Phoenix Suns owner

A resurgent James Harden led the way with 42 points and scored a last-gasp three-pointer as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 116-115 in overtime on Sunday to square their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series.

Harden drained a 24-foot corner three with just 19 seconds remaining in overtime at the Wells Fargo Center for a win that leaves the best-of-seven series finely balanced at 2-2.

In a nerve-shredding finale, Boston's Marcus Smart nailed a potential buzzer-beating basket but it did not count as he was unable to get the shot off before time expired.

That left Philadelphia celebrating a gutsy victory that owed everything to the majestic performance of Harden, who bagged his second 40-point game of the series.

"I put the work in and it was all about being aggressive," said Harden afterwards. "Tonight it was really do or die.

"We found a way to win and that's all that's matters in the postseason."

Harden's performance was especially sweet as it came in front of John Hao, a Chinese student left paralyzed in a mass shooting at Michigan State in February that left three students dead and five others injured.

"He's my good luck charm," said Harden, who has been in regular contact with Hao since the shooting tragedy.

"He just gave me good luck, brought me good vibes, good energy. We knew this game was for him."

Harden -- who scored just 28 points across games two and three –- rediscovered his shooting form just in time as the Sixers fought back from a late attack of the jitters to claim a precious victory.

"James was awesome," said Sixers coach Doc Rivers, saluting Harden's bounce-back performance after a limp game-three display.

"For a day and a half, James had to get himself back. No one did that but James," Rivers said.&nbsp;

"I sent him a gospel song before the game called 'Do You Know My Name'. And James Harden was James Harden tonight."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/luka-modric-to-extend-real-madrid-stay-set-to-sign-new-deal-until-2024-589990">Luka Modric to extend Real Madrid stay, set to sign new deal until 2024</a>

Harden finished with 42 points from 16-of-23 shooting with six three-pointers. NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid had 34 points while Tyrese Maxey added 14.&nbsp;

Jayson Tatum led Boston's scorers with 24 points -- all but two of them coming in the second half -- while Jaylen Brown had 23.

The game had gone into overtime after a frenetic fourth quarter that saw Boston come roaring back from a nine-point deficit to take a 105-100 lead with just over two minutes remaining after Malcolm Brogdon knocked down a 25-foot three-pointer.

That hushed Philadelphia's fans but the Sixers clawed their way back to parity after a Harden layup and three unanswered points from P.J. Tucker.

Two Smart free throws put the Celtics back in front at 107-105 with less than a minute remaining, and Al Horford denied Embiid with a superb block as the tension mounted.

But with just 16.4 seconds on the clock Harden tied it at 107-107 with a deft driving jump shot to set up a frantic finish.

A desperate attempted buzzer-beater by Smart bounced off the rim to send the game to overtime.

'Awful' non-foul call

Once again Boston looked ready to claim a decisive 3-1 series lead when Tatum sank a 27-foot three-pointer to make it 115-113 Boston with 38.1 seconds left in overtime.

The Tatum basket was tinged with controversy as he appeared to commit a clear offensive foul, pushing off on Tyrese Maxey, but the score stood and the Celtics were on the brink of victory.

Harden, however, had other ideas and he nervelessly knocked down the winning three.&nbsp;

Rivers was left fuming at the Tatum non-foul call.

"That was awful that that wasn't called," Rivers said. "It was a push off. That could have decided the game."

The series now heads back to Boston for game five on Tuesday.

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A resurgent James Harden led the way with 42 points and scored a last-gasp three-pointer as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 116-115 in overtime on Sunday to square their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series.

A resurgent James Harden led the way with 42 points and scored a last-gasp three-pointer as the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 116-115 in overtime on Sunday to square their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series. Harden drained a 24-foot corner three with just 19 seconds remaining in overtime at the Wells Fargo Center for a win that leaves the best-of-seven series finely balanced at 2-2. In a nerve-shredding finale, Boston's Marcus Smart nailed a potential buzzer-beating basket but it did not count as he was unable to get the shot off before time expired. That left Philadelphia celebrating a gutsy victory that owed everything to the majestic performance of Harden, who bagged his second 40-point game of the series. "I put the work in and it was all about being aggressive," said Harden afterwards. "Tonight it was really do or die. "We found a way to win and that's all that's matters in the postseason." Harden's performance was especially sweet as it came in front of John Hao, a Chinese student left paralyzed in a mass shooting at Michigan State in February that left three students dead and five others injured. "He's my good luck charm," said Harden, who has been in regular contact with Hao since the shooting tragedy. "He just gave me good luck, brought me good vibes, good energy. We knew this game was for him." Harden -- who scored just 28 points across games two and three –- rediscovered his shooting form just in time as the Sixers fought back from a late attack of the jitters to claim a precious victory. "James was awesome," said Sixers coach Doc Rivers, saluting Harden's bounce-back performance after a limp game-three display. "For a day and a half, James had to get himself back. No one did that but James," Rivers said. "I sent him a gospel song before the game called 'Do You Know My Name'. And James Harden was James Harden tonight." ALSO READ | Luka Modric to extend Real Madrid stay, set to sign new deal until 2024 Harden finished with 42 points from 16-of-23 shooting with six three-pointers. NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid had 34 points while Tyrese Maxey added 14. Jayson Tatum led Boston's scorers with 24 points -- all but two of them coming in the second half -- while Jaylen Brown had 23. The game had gone into overtime after a frenetic fourth quarter that saw Boston come roaring back from a nine-point deficit to take a 105-100 lead with just over two minutes remaining after Malcolm Brogdon knocked down a 25-foot three-pointer. That hushed Philadelphia's fans but the Sixers clawed their way back to parity after a Harden layup and three unanswered points from P.J. Tucker. Two Smart free throws put the Celtics back in front at 107-105 with less than a minute remaining, and Al Horford denied Embiid with a superb block as the tension mounted. But with just 16.4 seconds on the clock Harden tied it at 107-107 with a deft driving jump shot to set up a frantic finish. A desperate attempted buzzer-beater by Smart bounced off the rim to send the game to overtime. 'Awful' non-foul call Once again Boston looked ready to claim a decisive 3-1 series lead when Tatum sank a 27-foot three-pointer to make it 115-113 Boston with 38.1 seconds left in overtime. The Tatum basket was tinged with controversy as he appeared to commit a clear offensive foul, pushing off on Tyrese Maxey, but the score stood and the Celtics were on the brink of victory. Harden, however, had other ideas and he nervelessly knocked down the winning three. Rivers was left fuming at the Tatum non-foul call. "That was awful that that wasn't called," Rivers said. "It was a push off. That could have decided the game." The series now heads back to Boston for game five on Tuesday. 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 heroics saves Sixers as Philly square series with Celtics

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

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player on Tuesday, comfortably winning a ballot ahead of the Denver Nuggets' two-time award winner Nikola Jokic.

Embiid, who finished runner-up behind Jokic the past two seasons, earned the accolade after a dazzling regular season campaign that saw him average 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 66 games.

Embiid beat out fellow MVP finalists Jokic and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo in a preferential ballot. Results revealed Tuesday showed Embiid garnered 73 first-place votes, with Jokic 15 and Antetokounmpo 12.

"I don't know really where to start, it's been a long time coming," a delighted Embiid told the TNT network on Tuesday after his award.

"A lot of hard work, I've been through a lot. And I'm not just talking about basketball, I'm talking about life, my story, how I got here and what it took for me to be here.

"It feels good. I don't know what to say. Amazing."&nbsp;

The towering 29-year-old Cameroonian power forward helped the Sixers finish third in the Eastern Conference, but has sat out Philadelphia's last two playoff games after suffering a knee injury in the game three first-round defeat of Brooklyn last week.

Tuesday's MVP honour cements Embiid's status as one of the elite players in the NBA, the latest milestone on a journey that began when he was discovered at a basketball camp run by Cameroonian compatriot and former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute.

After playing a single season of US college basketball, Embiid was chosen by Philadelphia with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.

'Be a leader' 
 
A foot injury meant he missed the entirety of the 2014-2015 season, and further surgery in 2015 ruled him out of the 2015-2016 campaign.

He finally made his regular season debut for the Sixers in October 2016, notching 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While Embiid's talent was apparent from the outset of his NBA career, it is under Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers, who took over the Sixers in 2020, that he has flourished.

Rivers has built his team and game plan around the 7ft (2.13), 280-pound (127-kilo) big man, and was also instrumental in Embiid's improved fitness.

Embiid hired a personal chef and works with a nutritionist after being urged to stay in peak physical condition by Rivers.

"He told me that I needed to be a leader," Embiid said of Rivers' advice in a 2021 ESPN interview.&nbsp;

"If I came back in shape, it also meant to my teammates, 'It's time to go. Joel is ready, he came back, he's in great shape, that means you guys have no excuse to not be in shape.'&nbsp;

"So that's what I did. I took it to heart."

Embiid has repaid Rivers' faith this season with a series of superb performances during the Sixers journey to the playoffs.

His average of 33.1 points helped him win the NBA's scoring title for a second straight year, and his performances have included three 50-point games this season.

Last month he became only the second player in NBA history after the legendary Wilt Chamberlain to record 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 80 per cent shooting in a game as he inspired Philadelphia to a 103-101 win over the Boston Celtics. 
 
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Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player on Tuesday, comfortably winning a ballot ahead of the Denver Nuggets' two-time award winner Nikola Jokic.

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player on Tuesday, comfortably winning a ballot ahead of the Denver Nuggets' two-time award winner Nikola Jokic. Embiid, who finished runner-up behind Jokic the past two seasons, earned the accolade after a dazzling regular season campaign that saw him average 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 66 games. Embiid beat out fellow MVP finalists Jokic and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo in a preferential ballot. Results revealed Tuesday showed Embiid garnered 73 first-place votes, with Jokic 15 and Antetokounmpo 12. "I don't know really where to start, it's been a long time coming," a delighted Embiid told the TNT network on Tuesday after his award. "A lot of hard work, I've been through a lot. And I'm not just talking about basketball, I'm talking about life, my story, how I got here and what it took for me to be here. "It feels good. I don't know what to say. Amazing." The towering 29-year-old Cameroonian power forward helped the Sixers finish third in the Eastern Conference, but has sat out Philadelphia's last two playoff games after suffering a knee injury in the game three first-round defeat of Brooklyn last week. Tuesday's MVP honour cements Embiid's status as one of the elite players in the NBA, the latest milestone on a journey that began when he was discovered at a basketball camp run by Cameroonian compatriot and former NBA player Luc Mbah a Moute. After playing a single season of US college basketball, Embiid was chosen by Philadelphia with the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. 'Be a leader' A foot injury meant he missed the entirety of the 2014-2015 season, and further surgery in 2015 ruled him out of the 2015-2016 campaign. He finally made his regular season debut for the Sixers in October 2016, notching 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. While Embiid's talent was apparent from the outset of his NBA career, it is under Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers, who took over the Sixers in 2020, that he has flourished. Rivers has built his team and game plan around the 7ft (2.13), 280-pound (127-kilo) big man, and was also instrumental in Embiid's improved fitness. Embiid hired a personal chef and works with a nutritionist after being urged to stay in peak physical condition by Rivers. "He told me that I needed to be a leader," Embiid said of Rivers' advice in a 2021 ESPN interview. "If I came back in shape, it also meant to my teammates, 'It's time to go. Joel is ready, he came back, he's in great shape, that means you guys have no excuse to not be in shape.' "So that's what I did. I took it to heart." Embiid has repaid Rivers' faith this season with a series of superb performances during the Sixers journey to the playoffs. His average of 33.1 points helped him win the NBA's scoring title for a second straight year, and his performances have included three 50-point games this season. Last month he became only the second player in NBA history after the legendary Wilt Chamberlain to record 50 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 80 per cent shooting in a game as he inspired Philadelphia to a 103-101 win over the Boston Celtics. 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.

Sixers' Joel Embiid named NBA Most Valuable Player

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

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:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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 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.

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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

Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz was named the NBA's 2023 Most Improved Player on Monday after boosting his scoring average by nearly 11 points a game.

The 25-year-old Finnish forward earned his first All-Star selection this season and finished with career highs of 25.6 points and 1.9 assists plus 8.6 rebounds a game.

Markkanen, who boosted his scoring average by an NBA-best 10.87 points a game this season, also had career-best shooting averages of 49.9% from the floor and 87.5% from the free throw line for the Jazz.

"It feels amazing," Markkanen told NBA telecaster TNT from Helsinki, where he is fulfilling Finland military service requirements. "It's a huge privilege to be in this position."

The 7-footer (2.13m), whose parents were both pro basketball players, was selected seventh overall by Minnesota in the 2017 NBA Draft and played for Chicago and Cleveland before being traded to Utah last September in the deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-butler-56-as-heat-beat-bucks-to-take-3-1-lead-585838">NBA Playoffs 2023: Butler 56 as Heat beat Bucks to take 3-1 lead</a>

"Just being in the right place at the right time," Markkanen said of his campaign.

"I really wasn't the isolation player this year. I always give credit to guys finding me when I was open. I just tried to show up every night and be consistent.

"I really tried to learn and step into that leadership role in the locker room. I'm still working on that."

When it came to the military, Markkanen said he had plenty of others who wanted to play him one-on-one, but none yet who outranked him.

"Days are pretty long but it has been pretty fun," he said. "Made a lot of new friends. We have to go through it together."

He's the first European player to capture the award since Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee in 2017 and the first Jazz player ever to win the award.

Other finalists for the award were New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson from the United States and Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz was named the NBA's 2023 Most Improved Player on Monday after boosting his scoring average by nearly 11 points a game.

Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz was named the NBA's 2023 Most Improved Player on Monday after boosting his scoring average by nearly 11 points a game. The 25-year-old Finnish forward earned his first All-Star selection this season and finished with career highs of 25.6 points and 1.9 assists plus 8.6 rebounds a game. Markkanen, who boosted his scoring average by an NBA-best 10.87 points a game this season, also had career-best shooting averages of 49.9% from the floor and 87.5% from the free throw line for the Jazz. "It feels amazing," Markkanen told NBA telecaster TNT from Helsinki, where he is fulfilling Finland military service requirements. "It's a huge privilege to be in this position." The 7-footer (2.13m), whose parents were both pro basketball players, was selected seventh overall by Minnesota in the 2017 NBA Draft and played for Chicago and Cleveland before being traded to Utah last September in the deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cavaliers. Also Read: NBA Playoffs 2023: Butler 56 as Heat beat Bucks to take 3-1 lead "Just being in the right place at the right time," Markkanen said of his campaign. "I really wasn't the isolation player this year. I always give credit to guys finding me when I was open. I just tried to show up every night and be consistent. "I really tried to learn and step into that leadership role in the locker room. I'm still working on that." When it came to the military, Markkanen said he had plenty of others who wanted to play him one-on-one, but none yet who outranked him. "Days are pretty long but it has been pretty fun," he said. "Made a lot of new friends. We have to go through it together." He's the first European player to capture the award since Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee in 2017 and the first Jazz player ever to win the award. Other finalists for the award were New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson from the United States and Canadian guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. 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: Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen named 2023 Most Improved Player

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

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson is on track to be naturalised to represent China in this year's&nbsp;FIBA World Cup. The 29-year-old&nbsp;is likely&nbsp;to leave for&nbsp;China after the conclusion of the playoffs.&nbsp;

Sources&nbsp;close&nbsp;to the Chinese Basketball Association&nbsp;have informed, the Post, about&nbsp;Kyle Anderson's major switch. He is set&nbsp;to represent the South Asian country as he fits the criteria set in place&nbsp;by CBA president and former NBA legend Yao Ming.&nbsp;

It is to be noted that Anderson's --&nbsp;the nine-year NBA veteran -- maternal grandmother was born in Jamaica to a Chinese father and Jamaican mother. Thus, he has his roots in China. His great-grandfather shifted to the US with his family, and Anderson was born in New York in 1993.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nba-playoffs-2023-lakers-lebron-makes-clutch-shot-to-send-game-4-vs-grizzlies-into-ot-watch-585964">NBA Playoffs 2023: Lakers' LeBron makes clutch shot to send Game 4 vs Grizzlies into OT - WATCH</a>

The process of Anderson being natualised started way back last year. It has been a lengthy affair but the&nbsp;basketballer seems to be on track to make to represent China in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, which commences on August 25.&nbsp;

Reportedly, as per the Chinese media, Yao has now&nbsp;made it “non-negotiable” that&nbsp;players who are&nbsp;being naturalised must have blood relations in China, and “cultural identity”.

It will be interesting to see how Anderson makes the switch and adjusts once the World Cup kicks off later this year.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson is on track to be naturalised to represent China in this year's FIBA World Cup. The 29-year-old is likely to leave for China after the conclusion of the playoffs.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson is on track to be naturalised to represent China in this year's FIBA World Cup. The 29-year-old is likely to leave for China after the conclusion of the playoffs. Sources close to the Chinese Basketball Association have informed, the Post, about Kyle Anderson's major switch. He is set to represent the South Asian country as he fits the criteria set in place by CBA president and former NBA legend Yao Ming. It is to be noted that Anderson's -- the nine-year NBA veteran -- maternal grandmother was born in Jamaica to a Chinese father and Jamaican mother. Thus, he has his roots in China. His great-grandfather shifted to the US with his family, and Anderson was born in New York in 1993. Also read: NBA Playoffs 2023: Lakers' LeBron makes clutch shot to send Game 4 vs Grizzlies into OT - WATCH The process of Anderson being natualised started way back last year. It has been a lengthy affair but the basketballer seems to be on track to make to represent China in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, which commences on August 25. Reportedly, as per the Chinese media, Yao has now made it “non-negotiable” that players who are being naturalised must have blood relations in China, and “cultural identity”. It will be interesting to see how Anderson makes the switch and adjusts once the World Cup kicks off later this year.

NBA: Kyle Anderson on verge of being naturalised to represent China at FIBA basketball WC

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