Jayson Tatum missed his first six 3-pointers before he drilled two straight clutch ones late in the game that pushed the Celtics past the Philadelphia 76ers 95-86 to send the Eastern Conference semifinals back to Boston for Game 7. The defending conference champs are in familiar territory. Boston trailed 3-2 last season in the second round against Milwaukee before it won Game 6 on the road and the clincher at home. Game 7 is Sunday in Boston. Tatum scored 19 points. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 26 points for the 76ers.
The Nuggets defeated Pheonix 125-100 to eliminate the Suns and advance into the Western Conference Finals for the second time in four years. Nikola Jokic overwhelmed the Suns with his third triple-double in four games, notching 32 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to go with three steals while making 13 of 18 shots. Jokic joined Russell Westbrook, Jason Kidd, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to have an all-time-best three triple-doubles in a single playoff series. Denver will host either Golden State or the Lakers starting next Tuesday.