Pinoyliga Daily NBA Recap: Denver Stays Alive, Celtics Eliminate Champs

A series got extended to a Game Six. Another one determined who will face the Miami Heat in the next round.

The Los Angeles Clippers led as high as 16 points in Game Five and were looking to go for the kill but it was the Denver Nuggets who got the big W by beating the Clippers 111-105 to stay alive in the best-of-seven National Basketball Association (NBA) Western Conference semifinal series. The Clippers even managed to come within two points multiple times in the final stretch but couldn't close out the Nuggets who came out alive in the second half thanks to Paul Milsap's 14 points in the third quarter.

Jamal Murray shot nine for 25 from the field for his 26 points. He shot five for seven from the three-point line and finished with eight rebounds, and seven assists. Nikola Jokic added 22 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Milsap finished with 17 points while Monte Morris scored 12 points off the bench. Denver outscored the Clippers 38-25 in the fourth quarter with Michael Porter Jr. delivering the dagger three-pointer and four free throws in the final minute to extend the Nuggets' season. Porter Jr. scored seven points in the game. 

Kawhi Leonard had 36 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists to lead the Clippers. He shot five for 12 from the three-point line including the long one with 24 seconds left to cut the deficit to four points. Paul George added 26 points on eight for 18 field goal shooting. Marcus Morris Sr. scored 12 points while Patrick Beverley finished with 10 points. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, the last two winners of the league's Sixth Man of the Year award, combined for 10 points on five for 17 field goal shooting. The Clippers couldn't get going when it mattered the most as they shot 38% from the three-point line.  

After a grueling back-and-forth series, the Boston Celtics are heading to the Eastern Conference Finals after outlasting the Toronto Raptors, 92-87 in Game Seven of their East semifinal series. Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker made three clutch free throws in the final 34 seconds to help the Celtics ice the score.

Tatum finished with 29 points despite shooting nine for 23 from the field. He also pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out seven dimes in 44 minutes. Jaylen Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds, and four steals while Kemba Walker had 16 points. Boston won despite shooting 23% from the three-point line and giving up 31 points off their 12 turnovers.

Fred VanVleet led anew for Toronto with 20 points with Kyle Lowry following suit with 16 points before fouling out in the final minute. Pascal Sikam shot five for 12 from the field for 13  points. Serge Ibaka scored 14 points off the bench for the Raptors who couldn't get over the hump after Lowry drilled two free throws that made it a two-point game with 1:21 to go. 

Photo is from Sportsnet