The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers both moved within touching distance of series progression after statement wins, with Jalen Brunson leading a dominant Knicks performance over Atlanta while Joel Embiid powered Philadelphia past Boston to swing momentum back in their favour.
Read on for a full NBA playoffs wrap!
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AUSSIE’S CAREER-HIGH MARK NOT ENOUGH
The New York Knicks have taken a 3-2 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks after a dominant 126-97 win on home court, powered by a huge night from Jalen Brunson.
Brunson was at his best, finishing with 39 points and eight assists in just 35 minutes as New York controlled the game from start to finish.
Dyson Daniels gave Atlanta an early spark, setting a new playoff career-high with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting, finishing as the Hawks’ second-highest scorer on the night.
However, former NBA star Reggie Miller took aim at Daniels early in the contest after he passed up an open look which spoke to the passiveness that has limited the Australian’s effectiveness on offence in the series.
“Did you see where Daniels caught the basketball? He had a layup… but when you’re asking a guy who isn’t used to scoring and looking at the hoop, that’s a young team for you,” Miller said.
Daniels responded later in the game, stringing together back-to-back baskets as it became clear the Knicks were willing to live with him taking shots.
“That’s what I wanted to see two possessions ago. They’re leaving him (open),” Miller added.
The Hawks were on the back foot early after a 35-22 first quarter set the tone, with New York winning every term on the way to a comfortable finish.
The Knicks shot a blistering 45-of-79 (57%) from the field, including 11 threes at 42%, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in a strong all-round performance.
Atlanta now heads home for a must-win Game 6 on Friday to keep their season alive.
76ERS UPSET CELTICS, FORCE GAME SIX
Joel Embiid scored 33 points and made eight assists to spark Philadelphia over the Boston Celtics 113-97 on Tuesday, keeping the 76ers from being eliminated in the NBA playoffs.
A dominant second half by the big man from Cameroon, in just his second game back after an April 9 emergency appendectomy, enabled the Sixers to pull within 3-2 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first round playoff matchup.
“It’s kind of hard. I only had one chance to go up and back (on the court) before I came back,” Embiid said.
“Using this game and last game to kind of get back into it.
“I found my rhythm in the second half. We adjusted some stuff at halftime. I feel OK. I feel good. We got a win. That’s all that matters.”
The series shifts back to Philadelphia for game six on Friday with a seventh game, if needed, in Boston on Sunday.
“We did our job,” Embiid said.
“We’re going to need everybody to come back to Boston.” Embiid struggled with three-pointers early before dominating in the paint. “When they got the lead early, we kept playing our game,” Embiid said.
“I missed a couple (outside) and I went inside and found some luck.”
Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers, who also had 16 points and nine rebounds from Paul George.
Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds for Boston, which also had 22 points from Jaylen Brown.
But the Celtics were outscored 28-11 in the fourth quarter, producing their fewest points in any quarter this season with the series clincher up for grabs.
For Boston, the fourth quarter was as tough as it gets offensively.
They managed just 11 points in the final period, struggling to find any rhythm from deep while shooting only 11-of-39 (28%) overall from three-point range, a trend that’s starting to define their series.
Across their two losses, the Celtics are 24-of-88 from beyond the arc (27.2%). In their three wins, that jumps to 60-of-144 (41.6%), underlining just how heavily their fortunes hinge on the long ball.
Veteran Derrick White has found life difficult in this series against Philadelphia, averaging 8.2 points while shooting just 21.2% from beyond the arc.
The Celtics, chasing a second NBA title in three seasons, or 76ers will face either New York or Atlanta in the second round.
The Sixers have not won a playoff series since sweeping Brooklyn in the first round in 2023.
The Celtics, who have missed the playoffs only once since 2007, are trying to reach the second round for the fifth year in a row and ninth time in 10 seasons.
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