Los Angeles Clippers v Denver Nuggets (Clippers lead 3-1)
The Clippers came into game five with all the momentum and a chance to finally reach a conference finals. However, the Nuggets rode a hot second half to steal the game. The Clippers lost 111-105 because of a lack of concentration and execution, which has been an issue since the bubble started. The Nuggets took full advantage and rode the hot hand of savvy veteran F Paul Milsap to a game five victory.
The Nuggets looked dead in the water until Milsap (5-11FG 1-3 3PT 6-8FT 17PTS 6REB 1AST 1STL 1TO 29MIN) went off in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 17 points. This lit a fire under the team. The fourth quarter was dominated by C Nikola Jokic (9-17FG 2-6 3PT 2-4FT 22PTS 14REB 5AST 1STL 2BLK 6TO 40MIN) and G Jamal Murray (9-25FG 5-7 3PT 3-3FT 26PTS 8REB 7AST 1TO), whose stars shown brightest in the fourth quarter to ice this game against the Clippers.
The Clippers blew a monumental chance to make history for their team. Instead, they gave the one thing you can’t give an opposing team, hope. F Kawhi Leonard (12-24FG 5-12 3PT 7-7FT 36PTS 9REB 4AST 3STL 3TO 39MIN) played his tail off, but the rest of the team lost its composure in the third quarter. G Lou Williams (4PTS) and F Montrezl Harrell (6PTS) have to play like the Sixth Man of the Year award winners that they are. The Clippers are in game-six because they only managed to pull a combined ten points.
The Nuggets are alive and are playing their best basketball now that their backs are against the wall.
Toronto Raptors v Boston Celtics (Series Tied at 3-3)
There is nothing better than a game seven in sports. This series was amazing to watch and has been the best series in the2020 playoffs so far. The game started with both teams playing at top form, but the Raptors held a slim lead, 26-27. In the second quarter, the Celtics upped their defensive intensity and held the Raptors to under 20 points. They took the lead heading into the half, 50-46, with the Celtics holding the lead.
This game was a back and forth battle for the entire 48 minutes. The Raptors came back to cut the Celtics’ lead to one going into the final quarter, 72-71. The fourth quarter was a battle of the defenses. Down the stretch, huge baskets were being made as the game came down to the final minute of action. In the end, the Celtics pulled away 92-87. They now move on to go to the Eastern Conference finals and take on the Miami Heat.
The Raptors played their hearts out but just didn’t have enough to take on the young and talented Celtics. They had five players score in double digits (Pascal Siakam, Kyle Lowry, Fred Van Fleet, Serge Ibaka, and Norman Powell). Still, the perimeter defense that the Celtics played was amazing. They managed to hold the Raptors to 23.7% from behind the arc.
The Celtics defense in this game was a huge factor in taking down the Raptors. In particular, two players made the difference for the Celtics, G Marcus Smart, and F Jayson Tatum. Smart (6-15FG 2-10 3PT 2-3FT 16PTS 2REB 6AST 3STL 1BLK 1TO 43MIN) was the third option on offense in this game, but his biggest contributions came on the defensive end. He was smothering the Raptors’ guards to limit their production. Smart also came up with the game’s biggest play, blocking F Norman Powell’s layup with 58 seconds left, keeping the Celtics lead at two. Tatum (9-23FG 4-8 3PT 7-10FT 29PTS 12REB 7AST 1STL 1BLK 3TO 44MIN) is now the second-youngest (Kobe Bryant) to post a 25-10-5 line in a game seven. This kid has reached superstardom after leading his squad to the Eastern Conference finals.
The Celtics now have to take this same defensive intensity when they go up against the Heat. The Celtics took the season series against the Heat 2-1. Still, the one loss was in the bubble, and the Heat have looked like a different team. They have the highest confidence of any squad in the playoffs, so the Celtics best be ready.