UNDATED (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets have advanced to the second round of the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals by closing out the Boston Celtics in five games.
James Harden had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first postseason triple-double, leading the Nets to a 123-109 win over the Celtics. Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and Kevin Durant had 24 for the Nets, who will face the Bucks in their first appearance in the second round since 2014.
Brooklyn reeled off an 11-2 burst in less than 90 seconds to take a 108-91 lead midway through the fourth.
Jayson Tatum had 32 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics.
The Nets will host Game 1 of the Bucks series on Saturday.
The Suns had no trouble beating the short-handed Lakers for a three-games-to-two lead, rolling to a 115-85 victory. Devin Booker scored 30 points and Phoenix made 14 3-pointers and had just four turnovers against the NBA’s regular-season defensive efficiency leader.
Cameron Payne chipped in 16 points for the Suns, who outscored Los Angeles, 32-10 in the second quarter to take a 30-point lead into the locker room.
The Lakers had just 36 points in the first half while playing without Anthony Davis, who missed the game with a groin injury suffered on Sunday.
James scored 17 of his 24 points in the third quarter but couldn’t rally the listless Lakers. James sat at the end of the bench by himself in the final period before heading to the locker room with about five minutes left.
Game 6 is Thursday in Los Angeles.
The Nuggets were able to take a three-games-to-two lead in their series despite Damian Lillard’s franchise playoff-record 55 points.
Michael Porter Jr.’s 3-pointer with 1:33 left in the second overtime sent Denver past the Trail Blazers, 147-140. Porter finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, who closed on a 9-0 run.
Nikola Jokic fell one assist shy of a triple-double, delivering a team-high 38 points and 11 boards. Monte Morris added 28 points off the bench.
Lillard scored 17 of Portland’s 19 points in the two overtimes, but he didn’t score again after his 12th 3-pointer in 17 attempts put the Blazers ahead 140-138 with 3:47 left.
