NBA Playoffs Recap: Magic Triumphs in Game 6, Mavericks Dominate Clippers
The NBA playoffs are in full swing. In a pivotal Game 6 showdown, the Orlando Magic secured a crucial victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, forcing a thrilling Game 7.
Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Clippers to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Kyrie Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half, while Luka Doncic finished with 28 points and 13 assists.
The Orlando Magic defeated Donovan Mitchell’s 50 points and held off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96 on Friday night to force a pivotal Game 7 in their NBA playoff series that is now in the first round. Paolo Banchero scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter.
Three nights prior, Banchero, 21, led his team to its greatest victory in years, putting them on his back three nights after scoring 39 points on 14 of 24 shots in a one-point away loss that placed the Magic in danger of elimination.
The Magic pulled away in the final minutes, led by a 3-pointer from Banchero that gave Orlando a 92-89 lead. Franz Wagner scored 26 points, while Jalen Suggs finished with 22 points and six 3-pointers.
Cleveland’s Mitchell was outstanding; he scored all 18 of his team’s points in the fourth quarter. Despite Darius Garland’s 21 points in the end, the Cavs could not overcome their dismal 3-point shooting (7 of 28).
The Cavaliers, who have won Games 1, 2, and 5, will take on the Boston Celtics in Game 7 on Sunday. They have lost seven straight road playoff games since winning a decisive Game 7 in Boston in the 2018 Eastern Conference finals, demonstrating that they are a better team when they are at home.
Since then, the Cavs have not prevailed in a postseason series. The Magic are looking for their first series victory in 14 years as they make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Mavericks 114, Clippers 101
Dallas defeated the Los Angeles Clippers to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Kyrie Irving scored 28 of his 30 points in the second half, while Luka Doncic finished with 28 points and 13 assists.
With his injured right knee, Doncic persevered through yet another difficult shooting night to accomplish what the superstar from Slovenia was unable to accomplish three years prior: defeat the Clippers in Game 6 of a first-round series in Dallas.
For the first time in their previous three first-round encounters in the last five seasons, the fifth-seeded Mavericks defeated the Clippers, and on Tuesday night, they will play the top seed, Oklahoma City, in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Clippers, who had lost the first two games of the series without Kawhi Leonard, won the last two while he was out due to inflammation in his right knee. Paul George led the team with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Los Angeles was ousted in the first round for the second straight season despite James Harden’s 16 points and 13 assists. Harden was only 5 of 16 from the field and missed all six of his 3-pointers.
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Lakers Guard D’Angelo Russell Penalized $25,000 for Post-Game Incident After Playoff Elimination
The NBA has imposed a $25,000 fine on Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell for engaging in verbal abuse directed at a game official immediately following the team’s elimination from the playoffs by the Denver Nuggets earlier this week.
Joe Dumars, the league’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, officially announced the fine on Saturday.
This incident unfolded as the Lakers concluded their season with a 108-106 defeat in Denver, resulting in a 4-1 series win for the Nuggets. Additionally, Los Angeles parted ways with coach Darvin Ham on Friday, marking the end of his two-season tenure with the team.
