Joel Embiid, limping all through the sport and maybe fortunate to not have been ejected for kicking a Nets participant within the groin space, blocked a possible tying basket with 8.8 seconds left and the visiting Philadelphia 76ers beat Brooklyn 102-97 on Thursday evening to take a 3-0 lead within the first-round collection.
Tyrese Maxey made the tiebreaking three-pointer with 44 seconds left for the 76ers, who can sweep their means into the second spherical with a victory Saturday in Brooklyn.
SWAT THAT SHOT. <a href=”https://t.co/rn7olGb6RD”>pic.twitter.com/rn7olGb6RD</a>
—@sixers
With James Harden having been ejected within the third quarter for an additional groin shot and Embiid not wanting like his normal dominant self, Maxey took over the offence and scored eight straight factors, turning a five-point deficit right into a 99-96 lead on his three-pointer.
Spencer Dinwiddie made one free throw, then appeared to have a path to the basket for a tying layup earlier than Embiid rose up and swatted it. P.J. Tucker made a free throw to make it 100-97, and the Nets turned it over on their subsequent possession.
Maxey scored 25 factors and Harden had 21 for the 76ers. Embiid shot simply 5 for 13 however had 14 factors and 10 rebounds.
Mikal Bridges scored 26 factors and Dinwiddie had 20 for the Nets, who’ve misplaced 9 straight playoff video games and are on the verge of being swept for the second straight yr. Cam Johnson scored 17 factors.
Embiid went to the locker room for remedy after trying out within the first quarter, then was limping a number of instances later.
The 76ers would possibly’ve been fortunate he was nonetheless within the recreation at that time.
Nets followers loudly booed the choice to not eject him for kicking his leg up towards Nic Claxton’s groin within the first quarter and people not within the area took to social media to ask why he wasn’t, as Golden State’s Draymond Green was for stepping on Sacramento’s Domantas Sabonis in Game 2 of their collection. Green was then suspended by the NBA for Game 3.
But the ruling went towards the 76ers within the third quarter when Harden, whereas carefully guarded by Royce O’Neale, swung out his arm and struck the swingman, who fell to the courtroom in ache.
The Nets raced to a 19-11, driving an emotional enhance after Embiid’s flagrant foul. But Philadelphia would get better to guide 32-28 after one, prolonged the result in 51-40 on Maxey’s three-pointer with 3:52 left within the half and the lead remained 11 on the break.
But Bridges received the Nets off to a fast begin within the third and Johnson scored 13 factors, serving to the Nets outscore the 76ers 35-18 within the third to convey an 82-76 edge to the fourth.
Curry leads Warriors previous Kings in Game 3
Stephen Curry scored 36 factors, Kevon Looney matched his profession excessive with 20 rebounds to go along with 9 assists, and the Golden State Warriors received proper again of their first-round playoff collection by thumping the visiting Sacramento Kings 114-97 in Game 3 on Thursday evening to drag inside 2-1.
As suspended star Draymond Green watched from residence, the defending champions dominated with out him as they’ve executed so many instances earlier than. The fiery ahead was suspended with out pay for stepping on the chest of Domantas Sabonis within the fourth quarter of Monday’s Game 2 at Golden 1 Center. The Warriors additionally have been with out key defensive stopper Gary Payton II after the guard turned sick Wednesday.
Curry shot 12 for 25 with six threes whereas Canada’s Andrew Wiggins added 20 factors and 7 rebounds for the Warriors, who by no means trailed and can now attempt to even the best-of-seven collection in Game 4 on Sunday again on their residence courtroom at Chase Center.
Sabonis, who grabbed Green’s foot through the play in query, was booed at each probability. The large man underwent assessments that exposed a bruised sternum however was in a position to apply Wednesday and cleared to play. He had 14 rebounds by halftime and 16 complete to go along with 15 factors. But Golden State’s smothering inside protection led to some spectacular performs on offence.
De’Aaron Fox was 5 for 14 within the first half for 12 factors however completed with 26 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 assists for the Kings. Fox scored 62 within the first two video games.
Jordan Poole — taking part in on a young left ankle — began in Green’s place and had 16 factors and 5 rebounds, whereas the Warriors additionally counted on contributions from Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody and Donte DiVincenzo.
Suns defeat Leonard-less Clippers
Devin Booker scored 45 factors, Kevin Durant added 26 and the visiting Phoenix Suns beat the Kawhi Leonard-less Los Angeles Clippers 129-124 on Thursday evening to take a 2-1 lead within the Western Conference playoff collection.
Leonard sat out due to a sprained proper knee, the identical damage that has sidelined fellow star Paul George since March 21. Leonard was harm in Game 1, and performed by way of it in Game 2, however afterward his situation did not enhance.
Norman Powell led the Clippers, scoring a profession playoff-high 40 factors on 14-of-22 capturing. Russell Westbrook added 30 factors and 11 assists.
Game 4 is Saturday in Los Angeles.
Booker shot 18 for 29 and had seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks whereas taking part in a game-high 44 minutes. He scored 38 factors in Game 2.
With Leonard watching from the bench, the Clippers saved it shut by way of the primary half, when neither group led by greater than six.
The Clippers received inside three on two free throws by Westbrook with 1:44 remaining. After a 6-0 run by the Suns, Powell hit a three-pointer, received fouled and made the free throw to drag the Clippers to 125-120.
Despite the heroics of former UCLA stars Powell and Westbrook, the Clippers sorely missed Leonard’s offence. He had 38 factors in a Game 1 win at Phoenix and 31 in a loss in Game 2.
The Suns pulled away within the third behind Booker. He scored eight factors in a 17-8 run to open the interval and provides Phoenix its first double-digit lead of the sport, 71-59.
Westbrook scored seven in a row to chop the Clippers’ deficit to 71-66. The Suns answered with eight straight, capped by Durant’s vicious one-handed slam, to guide 79-66. They have been forward by seven going into the fourth.
