MANILA – Brooklyn Nets moved on to the next phase of NBA playoffs after ousting Boston Celtics in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, 123-109, on Tuesday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
James Harden posted a triple-double of 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Kyrie Irving tallied 25 markers as the Nets wrapped up the best-of-seven first-round series at 4-1.
In the early round, Kevin Durant struggled with his shots but concluded the match with 24 points. Bruce Brown and Joe Harris have 10 each for the Nets and will tangle with Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Nets ruled the court in the opening rounds and surged to a 31-24 first-quarter lead. The Celtics attempted to come close in the second, but baskets from Irving gave Brooklyn a 59-51 halftime edge.
The Celtics were hanging around in the second half, only trailed 86-79, before the Nets increased the lead for good in the fourth quarter via outside conversions from Harden, Durant, and Irving.
Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, endured an offensive outburst by Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard to secure a 147-140 Game 5 triumph and took a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference first-round series.
With 140-138 late in the second overtime, Nikola Jokić and Michael Porter Jr. scored five straight points for a 143-140 Nuggets lead. Monte Morris and Shaquille Harrison sealed Denver’s win with free throws.
Jokić ended with 38 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, and four steals, while Morris and Porter provided 28 and 26 markers, respectively, for the Nuggets.
Lillard tallied an NBA playoffs record of 12 three-point hits as he finished with 55 points and 10 assists. Robert Covington and CJ McCollum got 19 and 18 markers, respectively, for the Trail Blazers.
On the other hand, Phoenix Suns pushed defending champions Los Angeles Lakers on the brink of dethronement with a lopsided 115-85 Game 5 victory to snatch a 3-2 lead in their West first-round series.
Devin Booker had 30 points, Cameron Payne scored 16 markers, while Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson posted 13 and 11 markers, respectively, for the Suns.
BOX SCORE:
BROOKLYN 123 – Harden 34, Irving 25, Durant 24, Harris 10, Brown 10, Griffin 6, Claxton 6, Shamet 5, T. Johnson 3, Luwawu-Cabarrot 0, James 0, Chiozza 0.
BOSTON 109 – Tatum 32, Fournier 18, Langford 17, Smart 14, Parker 13, Thompson 9, G. Williams 3, Pritchard 3, Nesmith 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
31-24, 59-51, 86-79, 123-109./PN
