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The Toronto Raptors forced a Game 7 and the Los Angeles Clippers are one game away from advancing to the playoff games of the NBA Finals on Wednesday in Orlando.
Raptors, Celtics in life or death
Defending champion Toronto Raptors outpointed the Boston Celtics in double overtime 125-122 in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series to force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Friday.
Kyle Lowry scored 33 points and Norman Powell added 23 to allow the Raptors to level the series 3-3 and maintain their hopes of a repeat title.
“Just winning,” said an exhausted Lowry who played 53 minutes. “It was two tough teams playing tough. We had to win the game. Win or go home. Do it. It doesn’t matter who has to do it. Ready for game 7. “
Jaylen Brown scored 31 points and grabbed 16 rebounds; Jayson Tatum had 29 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists, and Marcus Smart posted the second triple-double of his career (23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists) for Boston.
“It was a tough game played. It could have gone either way, ”Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “Great basketball game. Right now, ice your legs and get ready for Friday. “
The winner of this series will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Clippers one win out of the Western Conference Finals
The Los Angeles Clippers are one game away from the Western Conference Finals after defeating the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and also had 11 rebounds, nine assists and four steals in his 96-85 win over the Denver Nuggets. Reserves Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams added 15 and 12 points for the Clippers who now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.
Nikola Jokic led Denver’s scoring with 26 points for 11 rebounds and six assists. Jamal Murray had 18 points and seven assists, Michael Porter Jr. 15 and Gary Harris 10 for the Nuggets.
Ivica Zubac had 11 points and nine rebounds, Marcus Morris Sr. also had 11 points and Paul George had 10 for the Clippers.
Denver fell early in the game, but recovered and tied the score in the third quarter. Los Angeles had a scoring burst and led by 10 early in the quarter.
The Clippers led by 19 with six minutes left in the game, but the Nuggets closed the gap by nine with two minutes remaining. However, the Clippers upped the lead to 13 and never looked back.
All is not lost for Denver, as they also fell 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs to the Utah Jazz before winning three in a row to claim the series.
Nash defends his appointment as coach of the Nets
New Brooklyn Nets coach and two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash said his experience in the league, including 18 seasons as a player and two as an advisor to NBA champion clubs Golden State Warriors, qualified him uniquely for the position.
The eight-time NBA All-Star admitted he “skipped the line” by failing to serve as an NBA assistant coach before taking an important job.
He also dismissed the idea that “white privilege” played a role in his hiring as coach of the Brooklyn Nets despite having no prior coaching experience.
Nash said he learned a lot from Steve Kerr, who guided the Golden State Warriors to the NBA crowns of 2017 and 2018.
“It gave me an idea that was invaluable,” Nash said. “He taught me a lot, either with his words and actions or just by spending time with him.”
NBA plans to move the draft to November 18
The league plans to move the NBA Draft to November 18.
The NBA Board of Governors and general managers will discuss the plan Thursday and Friday.
The league in a memo told teams that the Nov. 18 date is based on “initial discussions with the Players Association.”
This would be the second time that the draft that was originally set for June 25 has been delayed and then pushed back to October 16.
The memo told teams that an additional delay would also allow the league more time to go through the pre-draft process, including a combine in some form, and give it more time to continue the process of deciding when is best. start next season.
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