PHILADELPHIA (AP) — On Tuesday, it was the Milwaukee Bucks blowing a 17-point lead to fall behind three-games-to-two against Brooklyn in the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals. One day later, it was the Philadelphia 76ers coughing up a 26-point advantage in a 109-106 loss to the Hawks.
Atlanta outscored the Sixers 40-19 in the fourth quarter to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semis. Trae Young poured in 39 points and John Collins had a double-double of 19 points and 11 boards. Young was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit all three free throws with 1:26 left to put the Hawks ahead.
Danillo Gallinari contributed 16 points and eight rebounds, while fellow backup Lou Williams provided 15 points.
Joel Embiid and Seth Curry combined for 73 points in the loss, with Embiid finishing with 37 and 13 rebounds. Curry added 36 points, but Tobias Harris was held to just four on 2 of 11 shooting.
The Hawks can wrap up the series on Friday in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Clippers took a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference semifinals by earning their third straight win over the Jazz, 119-111. Paul George carried the load with 37 points and 16 rebounds while Los Angeles played without forward Kawhi Leonard because of a a knee injury sustained in Game 4.
Marcus Morris scored 25 points and Reggie Jackson added 22 for the Clippers, who shot 51% from the field.
The Jazz made a franchise record 10 3-pointers and shot 13-of-18 from the field overall in the first quarter. Bojan Bogdanovic led the way, going 6-of-7 from outside, tying an NBA postseason record for most 3-pointers made in a single quarter. Bogdanovic finished with nine treys and 32 points, Donovan Mitchell had 21 points and Rudy Gobert added 17 with 11 rebounds for Utah.
