Sixers Rally For OT Win
By Dan Bruno
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the host New York Knicks, 112-106, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday evening.
The Sixers stunned the Knicks in overtime to avoid elimination and force Game 6 back in Philly. The 76ers jumped out to a great start and led, 26-17, after one quarter. The Knicks responded in the second and outscored the visitors, 32-17, to claim a six-point advantage at the break. Both sides tightened up their play in the third, while the Sixers managed to trim it back to a one-point game heading into the final quarter. The score stayed close in the fourth, but the Knicks secured a six-point lead with 28 seconds left in regulation. Tyrese Maxey came up clutch with a three-point bucket and the foul to cut it to a two-point game, and after the Knicks went 1-for-2 at the foul line, Maxey delivered another three to tie the score in the final seconds and force overtime. The 76ers carried the momentum into the extra frame and held on for the much-needed win.
Maxey led the Sixers with 46 points, five rebounds and nine assists, in 52 minutes. Joel Embiid logged a triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and four blocks, while Tobias Harris racked up 19 points, eight rebounds and a block.
Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 40 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal, in 51 minutes. Josh Hart followed up with 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block, while OG Anunoby tallied 17 points, six rebounds, two steals and a block.
Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Philadelphia.
The Sixers stunned the Knicks in overtime to avoid elimination and force Game 6 back in Philly. The 76ers jumped out to a great start and led, 26-17, after one quarter. The Knicks responded in the second and outscored the visitors, 32-17, to claim a six-point advantage at the break. Both sides tightened up their play in the third, while the Sixers managed to trim it back to a one-point game heading into the final quarter. The score stayed close in the fourth, but the Knicks secured a six-point lead with 28 seconds left in regulation. Tyrese Maxey came up clutch with a three-point bucket and the foul to cut it to a two-point game, and after the Knicks went 1-for-2 at the foul line, Maxey delivered another three to tie the score in the final seconds and force overtime. The 76ers carried the momentum into the extra frame and held on for the much-needed win.
Maxey led the Sixers with 46 points, five rebounds and nine assists, in 52 minutes. Joel Embiid logged a triple-double with 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, a steal and four blocks, while Tobias Harris racked up 19 points, eight rebounds and a block.
Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 40 points, three rebounds, six assists and a steal, in 51 minutes. Josh Hart followed up with 18 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a block, while OG Anunoby tallied 17 points, six rebounds, two steals and a block.
Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Philadelphia.
Cavaliers Hold On To Defeat Cavaliers In Game 5
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic, 104-103, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday night in Game 5 of the first round in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Cavaliers lead the series 3-2.
The Cavaliers and the Magic finally played a tight game, with both teams going back and forth at each other until the final buzzer. In the end, though, the Cavaliers survived Orlando’s comeback attempt in the fourth quarter and escaped with the victory. The Cavaliers jumped to an early lead and raced to a 33-23 score in the first quarter. However, the Magic made defensive adjustments and responded with a 24-15 score in the second quarter, reducing the deficit to just one game. The Cavaliers pushed their lead once again with a 27-23 score in the third quarter, and the differential was five points with 12 minutes left. The Magic came close to turning things around, but the Cavaliers held them off time and time again. A couple of late free throws from Donovan Mitchell iced the game to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 will be played Friday at Kia Center in Orlando.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for Cleveland with 28 points, six rebounds and two assists. Darius Garland recorded 23 points, five rebounds and five assists. Evan Mobley had a double-double of 14 points and 13 boards. Isaac Okoro finished with eight points and four rebounds. Max Strus notched 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Marcus Morris added 12 points coming off the bench. The Cavaliers shot 43.2 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three-point range.
Paolo Banchero led the way for the Magic with 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Franz Wagner posted 14 points, six assists and five rebounds. Jalen Suggs posted 13 points. Wendell Carter recorded 11 rebounds while adding seven points as well. No other Orlando player scored in double digits. The Magic shot 46.2 percent from the field but a meager 29 percent from beyond the arc.
The Cavaliers and the Magic finally played a tight game, with both teams going back and forth at each other until the final buzzer. In the end, though, the Cavaliers survived Orlando’s comeback attempt in the fourth quarter and escaped with the victory. The Cavaliers jumped to an early lead and raced to a 33-23 score in the first quarter. However, the Magic made defensive adjustments and responded with a 24-15 score in the second quarter, reducing the deficit to just one game. The Cavaliers pushed their lead once again with a 27-23 score in the third quarter, and the differential was five points with 12 minutes left. The Magic came close to turning things around, but the Cavaliers held them off time and time again. A couple of late free throws from Donovan Mitchell iced the game to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 will be played Friday at Kia Center in Orlando.
Donovan Mitchell led the way for Cleveland with 28 points, six rebounds and two assists. Darius Garland recorded 23 points, five rebounds and five assists. Evan Mobley had a double-double of 14 points and 13 boards. Isaac Okoro finished with eight points and four rebounds. Max Strus notched 16 points, six rebounds and five assists. Marcus Morris added 12 points coming off the bench. The Cavaliers shot 43.2 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from three-point range.
Paolo Banchero led the way for the Magic with 39 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Franz Wagner posted 14 points, six assists and five rebounds. Jalen Suggs posted 13 points. Wendell Carter recorded 11 rebounds while adding seven points as well. No other Orlando player scored in double digits. The Magic shot 46.2 percent from the field but a meager 29 percent from beyond the arc.
Bucks Throttle Pacers, 115-92
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers, 115-92, at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday night in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal-round series. The Pacers lead the series, 3-2.
The Bucks (2-3) faced an uphill battle to stave off elimination Tuesday, considering both Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) were both sidelined. Matters looked even more bleak after the Pacers (3-2) forged a 31-23 lead through one, but Milwaukee changed the dynamic of the game during the middle quarters. The hosts outscored the visitors by a 64-36 margin during the second and third periods, setting up the double-digit, series-preserving victory.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 16 points, supplementing them with six assists and four rebounds. Myles Turner supplied 13 points, five boards and three assists. Obi Toppin furnished 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard matched Toppin's scoring while adding four rebounds and five assists, respectively, among other contributions.
Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis co-led the Bucks with 29-point contributions while pulling down 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Middleton adding five assists. Malik Beasley delivered 18 points, five rebounds and two steals. Patrick Beverley generated a 13-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds, two steals and one block. Brook Lopez finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two blocks.
The series shifts back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 6 on Thursday night.
The Bucks (2-3) faced an uphill battle to stave off elimination Tuesday, considering both Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) were both sidelined. Matters looked even more bleak after the Pacers (3-2) forged a 31-23 lead through one, but Milwaukee changed the dynamic of the game during the middle quarters. The hosts outscored the visitors by a 64-36 margin during the second and third periods, setting up the double-digit, series-preserving victory.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 16 points, supplementing them with six assists and four rebounds. Myles Turner supplied 13 points, five boards and three assists. Obi Toppin furnished 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard matched Toppin's scoring while adding four rebounds and five assists, respectively, among other contributions.
Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis co-led the Bucks with 29-point contributions while pulling down 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Middleton adding five assists. Malik Beasley delivered 18 points, five rebounds and two steals. Patrick Beverley generated a 13-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds, two steals and one block. Brook Lopez finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two blocks.
The series shifts back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for Game 6 on Thursday night.