PHOENIX (AP) — Nikola Jokic scored 32 points on another triple-double, Jamal Murray added 26 and the Denver Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2020 by defeating the short-handed Phoenix Suns 125-100 in Game 6. Thursday night.
Denver’s victory in the series comes two seasons after the Nuggets were embarrassed in the second round by being swept by the Suns. This time, the sun was setting out on their home turf to finish the season for the second year in a row.
The Nuggets will play in the Conference Finals for the first time since losing to the Lakers in five games in the Florida bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have never reached the NBA Finals.
The Nuggets used a higher seeded 23-2 going into the final game of the first quarter to take a 44-26 lead and never looked back. Kentavious Caldwell Pope — who averages 9.5 points in playoffs — scored 17 in the first quarter while Jokic added 14.
Caldwell Pope finished with 21 points. Jokic shot 13 of 18 from the field and added 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
The Suns were without injured players Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul and were eliminated in a Western Conference Semifinals defeat at home for the second straight season. Ayton suffered a rib bruise in Game 5 on Tuesday while Poole has been out for the past four games with a strained left groin.
Celtics 95, 76ERS 86
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jason Tatum missed the first six three-pointers before hitting two straights late in the game that pushed the Celtics past Philadelphia to send the Eastern Conference Semifinalist to Boston in Game Seven.
The defending conference champions are in familiar territory. Boston trailed 3-2 last season in the second round against Milwaukee before winning Game 6 on the road and the playoff at home.
Game 7 on Sunday.
Tatum, who averaged 30.1 points in the regular season, never stopped shooting even as he made mistakes. He missed 14 of his first 15 shots overall from the floor and his ineffectiveness was a major reason why the Celtics couldn’t hold onto a 16-point lead.
With a shot at their first conference final since 2001 on the line, the Sixers battled their way through the first half before Joel Embiid flashed his MVP form and led the Sixers to a lead in the fourth quarter.
Therese Maxey hit two free throws with 5:25 left for an 83-81 edge.
And that was for Philly.
Tatum buried one 3 for 84-83 and the second made it 87-83 and put the Celtics in firm control going into Game 6.
Embiid and Therese Maxey each scored 26 points for the 76ers.
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