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It took # Toronto_Raptors two extra halves to keep their hopes of defending their NBA title alive, and they beat # Boston_Celtics with a score of 125-122, to equal the Eastern Province semifinal series 3-3, imposing a decisive Game 7, while the Los Angeles Clippers advanced the Denver Nuggets (3-1) in the Western semifinals, winning 96-85.
Kyle Lowry was the best on Toronto’s side with 33 points, while Norman Powell added 23 from the bench in a thrilling game until the closing seconds.
The two teams will meet in a decisive seventh game on Friday for a seat in the regional final to face the Miami Heat.
“In every possession we play like the ball is with us for the last time and we find ways to win,” Lawy said, exhausted after playing 53 in the game.
He continued: “It was a match that brought together two fierce teams that played hard. Either we win or we go home. We had to fix things no matter who does. We are ready for Game 7.”
Powell stole the ball and launched a counterattack, scoring two points plus a free throw by mistake to give Toronto the 121-117 lead with 38 seconds remaining.
After the meeting, the 27-year-old American said, “I focused on defense and transferred it to the other (offensive) side.”
He continued: “I am proud of myself for scoring the winning baskets. The game invited me to be tough and this is what I did. I play it.”
Jason Tatum doubled for Boston before Lowry matched a successful shot for Toronto, which was the sixth in a row to give the Raptors the 123-119 lead.
Tatum scored a hat-trick, reducing the lead to a single point 6.2 seconds before the end, but Powell scored twice, while Marcus Smart missed a hat-trick in the final moments to end the exciting showdown with the team’s victory. Canadian for 125-122.
In another game, the Clippers came close to reaching the regional final for the first time since its founding in 1970, when it was called the Buffalo Braves.
Kawhi Leonard, the star of the Clippers, came close to achieving the first “Triple Double” of his career in the playoffs, after having scored 30 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists.
Leonard said the best player in last year’s final with the Raptors: “We were completely focused, we went into the game and we knew what the plan was. We put all our energy into the first five minutes and we continued like this.”
Serbian Nikola Jukic was the best of the Nuggets, with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
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