Celtics, Wizards Advance in Game 6
Two teams advanced with Game-6 wins in the NBA Playoffs on Friday night, including the Boston Celtics completing the comeback from a 2-0 series deficit with a 105-83 rout of the Chicago Bulls. Avery Bradley had 23 points to lead the hot-shooting Celtics, who shot an impressive 49 percent from the field, including 41 percent from beyond the arc. Boston got just 12 points from star Isaiah Thomas, who left immediately after the game for his sister's funeral. Gerald Green got his fourth straight start and continued to earn it with a 16-point effort. Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 23 points, while Dwayne Wade finished just 1-for-10 in a two-point night. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards followed suit with Boston by blowing out the Atlanta Hawks on the road, 115-99, to advance to the second round. John Wall went off for 42 points, while Bradley Beal added 31, helping the Wizards shoot 53 percent on the night. Wall had 19 of his playoff career high in points come in the fourth quarter, helping Washington hold off an Atlanta comeback. Paul Millsap had 31 points, while Dennis Schroder scored 26 to help lead a Hawks rally that fell just short. The Wizards advance to face the top-seeded Celtics in the second round, which begins in Boston on Sunday afternoon.
Clippers Hold off Jazz to Force Game 7
The Los Angeles Clippers went on the road Friday night and could've possibly taken the momentum in the entire series with a 98-93 Game-6 victory over the Utah Jazz. Chris Paul led the scoring with 29 points, while DeAndre Jordan added a double-double of 13 points and 18 rebounds in the crucial win. Los Angeles went on a pivotal 9-2 run in the fourth quarter to go ahead for good, a run that was capped off by Austin Rivers' go-ahead three-pointer. Joe Johnson missed a three-pointer in the final seconds to end the chances for Utah, who got 31 points from Gordon Hayward in the loss. George Hill added 22, but Utah struggled from the field at 41 percent shooting, including 7-for-26 from three-point range. The decisive Game 7 will take place at the Staples Center on Sunday afternoon, with the winner advancing to face the Golden State Warriors in the second round.
Oilers, Blues Earn Game-2 Victories
Moving on to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is well into their second round, and the Edmonton Oilers took full control of their series on Friday night. Cam Talbot made 39 saves, while Patrick Maroon had the winning power-play goal to give the Oilers a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks, giving them a 2-0 series lead on the road. Andrej Sekera added an unassisted goal early on, giving Edmonton the dominant series lead heading home in their first playoff appearance in 11 years. Jakob Silfverbeg scored the lone goal for the Ducks, while John Gibson made 21 saves in the loss. Talbot has been dominant the first two games of the series, stopping 72 of 76 shots in back-to-back wins. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues evened their series at one apiece, as Vladmir Tarasenko scored twice, including the game-winner, in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. The Blues were able to avenge a Game-1 loss at home, getting the go-ahead goal from Tarasenko with 3:51 left in regulation. That goal gave them their first lead in 116:09 of the series, supporting Jake Allen's 22-save night. Jori Lehtera also scored to help the Blues snap the Predators' five-game win streak in the postseason. The series shifts to Nashville for Game 3 on Sunday afternoon.
Two teams advanced with Game-6 wins in the NBA Playoffs on Friday night, including the Boston Celtics completing the comeback from a 2-0 series deficit with a 105-83 rout of the Chicago Bulls. Avery Bradley had 23 points to lead the hot-shooting Celtics, who shot an impressive 49 percent from the field, including 41 percent from beyond the arc. Boston got just 12 points from star Isaiah Thomas, who left immediately after the game for his sister's funeral. Gerald Green got his fourth straight start and continued to earn it with a 16-point effort. Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 23 points, while Dwayne Wade finished just 1-for-10 in a two-point night. Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards followed suit with Boston by blowing out the Atlanta Hawks on the road, 115-99, to advance to the second round. John Wall went off for 42 points, while Bradley Beal added 31, helping the Wizards shoot 53 percent on the night. Wall had 19 of his playoff career high in points come in the fourth quarter, helping Washington hold off an Atlanta comeback. Paul Millsap had 31 points, while Dennis Schroder scored 26 to help lead a Hawks rally that fell just short. The Wizards advance to face the top-seeded Celtics in the second round, which begins in Boston on Sunday afternoon.
Clippers Hold off Jazz to Force Game 7
The Los Angeles Clippers went on the road Friday night and could've possibly taken the momentum in the entire series with a 98-93 Game-6 victory over the Utah Jazz. Chris Paul led the scoring with 29 points, while DeAndre Jordan added a double-double of 13 points and 18 rebounds in the crucial win. Los Angeles went on a pivotal 9-2 run in the fourth quarter to go ahead for good, a run that was capped off by Austin Rivers' go-ahead three-pointer. Joe Johnson missed a three-pointer in the final seconds to end the chances for Utah, who got 31 points from Gordon Hayward in the loss. George Hill added 22, but Utah struggled from the field at 41 percent shooting, including 7-for-26 from three-point range. The decisive Game 7 will take place at the Staples Center on Sunday afternoon, with the winner advancing to face the Golden State Warriors in the second round.
Oilers, Blues Earn Game-2 Victories
Moving on to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which is well into their second round, and the Edmonton Oilers took full control of their series on Friday night. Cam Talbot made 39 saves, while Patrick Maroon had the winning power-play goal to give the Oilers a 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks, giving them a 2-0 series lead on the road. Andrej Sekera added an unassisted goal early on, giving Edmonton the dominant series lead heading home in their first playoff appearance in 11 years. Jakob Silfverbeg scored the lone goal for the Ducks, while John Gibson made 21 saves in the loss. Talbot has been dominant the first two games of the series, stopping 72 of 76 shots in back-to-back wins. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues evened their series at one apiece, as Vladmir Tarasenko scored twice, including the game-winner, in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. The Blues were able to avenge a Game-1 loss at home, getting the go-ahead goal from Tarasenko with 3:51 left in regulation. That goal gave them their first lead in 116:09 of the series, supporting Jake Allen's 22-save night. Jori Lehtera also scored to help the Blues snap the Predators' five-game win streak in the postseason. The series shifts to Nashville for Game 3 on Sunday afternoon.
