Sixers Force Game 7 Against Hawks
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 104-99, at StateFarm Arena on Friday evening in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The 76ers had their backs against the wall against the Hawks following their epic collapse in Game 5, and while they got off to a slow start in this game, they managed to turn things around in the second half and then closed things out in the final seconds to force an epic Game 7. Atlanta jumped out to a 29-22 lead in the first quarter, but Philadelphia reduced that deficit to just four points at the break. The Sixers were dominant in the third quarter and outscored Atlanta by a 33-25 score, so they established a four-point lead with only 12 minutes left on the clock. The Sixers also won the final quarter, 24-23, and that was enough to complete the turnaround. As a result, this series will be decided in an epic Game 7 at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
Seth Curry and Tobias Harris were the top scorers for the Sixers, as both ended with 24 points -- Harris also pulled down five rebounds, while Curry notched three rebounds and two dimes. Joel Embiid finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Ben Simmons only ended with six points and nine rebounds, but Tyrese Maxey looked impressive off the bench and contributed 16 points and seven rebounds.
Trae Young was the best player for the Hawks in this game and finished with 34 points and 12 assists, while Clint Capela and Kevin Huerter both had double-doubles as well -- Capela contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Huerter chipped in with 17 points and 11 boards. Danilo Gallinari came off the bench and contributed 16 points. No other Atlanta player scored in double digits in this one.
The 76ers had their backs against the wall against the Hawks following their epic collapse in Game 5, and while they got off to a slow start in this game, they managed to turn things around in the second half and then closed things out in the final seconds to force an epic Game 7. Atlanta jumped out to a 29-22 lead in the first quarter, but Philadelphia reduced that deficit to just four points at the break. The Sixers were dominant in the third quarter and outscored Atlanta by a 33-25 score, so they established a four-point lead with only 12 minutes left on the clock. The Sixers also won the final quarter, 24-23, and that was enough to complete the turnaround. As a result, this series will be decided in an epic Game 7 at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
Seth Curry and Tobias Harris were the top scorers for the Sixers, as both ended with 24 points -- Harris also pulled down five rebounds, while Curry notched three rebounds and two dimes. Joel Embiid finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Ben Simmons only ended with six points and nine rebounds, but Tyrese Maxey looked impressive off the bench and contributed 16 points and seven rebounds.
Trae Young was the best player for the Hawks in this game and finished with 34 points and 12 assists, while Clint Capela and Kevin Huerter both had double-doubles as well -- Capela contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Huerter chipped in with 17 points and 11 boards. Danilo Gallinari came off the bench and contributed 16 points. No other Atlanta player scored in double digits in this one.
Clippers Shock Jazz in Game 6, 131-119
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz, 131-119, at Staples Center on Friday night in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal-round series. The Clippers have won the series, 4-2.
The Clippers (3-2) came into Friday's home contest riding plenty of momentum from a Game 5 road upset, but still missing their best player in Kawhi Leonard (knee). After a tightly contested first quarter from which the Jazz emerged with a slim two-point lead, Utah took a seemingly commanding advantage before halftime by outscoring Los Angeles, 39-19, in the second quarter. The visitors' advantage extended to 25 points on their first basket of the third period, but it was essentially all downhill from there. The hosts finished the game on an amazing 81-44 run from that point forward, and a pair of Patrick Beverley three-pointers within the last three-plus minutes helped seal the series-clinching win.
Donovan Mitchell fought through his ankle injury to lead the Jazz with 39 points, complementing them with nine rebounds, nine assists and one steal. Royce O'Neale and Jordan Clarkson posted matching 21-point tallies while pulling down 10 and four rebounds, respectively. Bojan Bogdanovic furnished 14 points and four rebounds. Rudy Gobert generated a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included two assists and two steals.
Terance Mann paced the Clippers with a career-high 39 points, supplementing them with two rebounds, one assist and two steals. Paul George supplied 28 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Reggie Jackson delivered 27 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and three steals. Nicolas Batum turned in 16 points, seven boards, two assists, three blocks and two steals. Beverley finished with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block.
The Clippers now move on to the conference finals, where they'll face the Phoenix Suns on the road in Game 1 on Sunday.
The Clippers (3-2) came into Friday's home contest riding plenty of momentum from a Game 5 road upset, but still missing their best player in Kawhi Leonard (knee). After a tightly contested first quarter from which the Jazz emerged with a slim two-point lead, Utah took a seemingly commanding advantage before halftime by outscoring Los Angeles, 39-19, in the second quarter. The visitors' advantage extended to 25 points on their first basket of the third period, but it was essentially all downhill from there. The hosts finished the game on an amazing 81-44 run from that point forward, and a pair of Patrick Beverley three-pointers within the last three-plus minutes helped seal the series-clinching win.
Donovan Mitchell fought through his ankle injury to lead the Jazz with 39 points, complementing them with nine rebounds, nine assists and one steal. Royce O'Neale and Jordan Clarkson posted matching 21-point tallies while pulling down 10 and four rebounds, respectively. Bojan Bogdanovic furnished 14 points and four rebounds. Rudy Gobert generated a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double that also included two assists and two steals.
Terance Mann paced the Clippers with a career-high 39 points, supplementing them with two rebounds, one assist and two steals. Paul George supplied 28 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Reggie Jackson delivered 27 points, 10 assists, three rebounds and three steals. Nicolas Batum turned in 16 points, seven boards, two assists, three blocks and two steals. Beverley finished with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block.
The Clippers now move on to the conference finals, where they'll face the Phoenix Suns on the road in Game 1 on Sunday.