NBA: Aussie Dyson Daniels was ejected as the Atlanta Hawks were sent packing by the New York Knicks.
RJ Barrett’s game winning three-pointer with 1.2 seconds left on the clock in overtime has forced a game seven as the Toronto Raptors claimed a 112-110 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Barrett’s shot teased the Toronto crowd as the ball bounced high off the rim before eventually dropping into the net to level the series and ensure the Raptors will take another trip to Cleveland. Watch NBA with ESPN on Kayo Sports | Stream an average 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs. | New to Kayo?
In the absence of Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes stepped up for the Raptors, dominating in the paint with 25 points, 14 assists, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Barnes produced team highs in each of those categories besides rebounds as Barrett reeled in nine to go with his 24 points. Ingram’s replacement in the starting five Ja’Kobe Walter took his chance with 24 points, while he matched Barnes with three steals.
For the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley scored a game-high 26 points to go with a whopping 14 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell contributed 24 points. Toronto led for most of the night, by as many as 15 points, before the Cavaliers powered back in the fourth quarter to set up an intense finish. Leading by two points with less than a minute remaining, Toronto handed Cleveland a final lifeline with a shot-clock violation.
Mobley forced his way through the Raptors’ defence to tie up the game 104-104, and Toronto’s Jamal Shead just missed a return shot at the end of regulation. In overtime, Cleveland nudged in front with a Donovan Mitchell driving layup, and led by two points until the game’s final seconds. But RJ Barrett’s three-pointer jump shot bounced off the heel of the rim, looped up in the air and dropped through the net to seal the Toronto win.
“Glory be to God, man. I didn’t make anything in the fourth quarter, overtime, I was playing bad... thank God I was able to make that shot,” said Barrett. The fourth seed Cavaliers will have home court advantage for the game seven decider where either the top seed Detroit Pistons or the Orlando Magic await in the next round.
Fuming LeBron puts rival on notice in upset; star’s ‘disrespect’ claims The top-seeded Detroit Pistons recovered from the brink of NBA playoff elimination with an astounding comeback against the Orlando Magic, taking their series to a decisive game seven. Up 3-2 and seeking a close-out win, the Magic had led by as many as 24 in the second half, before their shooting suddenly collapsed and Detroit took full advantage.
A shell-shocked Orlando missed 23 consecutive field goals -- the longest streak in playoff history -- scoring just one point in over 10 minutes of basketball. Boos rained down on the court as a 71-54 Magic advantage was transformed into an 80-72 Detroit lead, with a stunning 26-1 run.
“Never say die, simple as that. I mean, Detroit grit, it’s what we’ve been talking about all year,” said Cade Cunningham, who led the way with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Having been down 3-1 in the series, the Pistons had looked set to become just the seventh top seed in NBA history to lose in the first round to their conference’s bottom seed.
But they now have a chance to win the series back in Detroit on Sunday, and progress to an Eastern semi-final against either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Toronto Raptors. After an even first quarter, Orlando went on a hot streak for a sudden 17-point lead. Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. all sank three-pointers in less than a minute.
Paolo Banchero stirred to life too, with Orlando shooting 62 per cent in the second quarter as their defence restricted Detroit to 12 points. Detroit were suddenly winning every turnover, while the Magic’s shooting collapsed under the pressure of trying to close out their first playoff series win since 2010. The Pistons, having dominated the regular season with a 60-22 record, will now be favourites to win their own first playoff series since 2008.
“Thank God we get to take this back to the crib. It’s gonna be loud in Detroit, and we got to finish our business,” said Cunningham, who scored 19 in the fourth quarter. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the second round with a 98-78 victory in Houston to overcome the Rockets 4-2 after leading 3-0.
LeBron James was once again instrumental for the Lakers with a game high 28 points, plus eight assists and seven rebounds. Both teams were missing superstars with Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant sidelined with injury, and the Lakers covered their loss better. To go with 41-year-old James’ star showing, Rui Hachimura put up 21 points, while Deandre Ayton grabbed 16 rebounds.
Austin Reaves also chipped in with 15 points as the Lakers progressed to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2023. The win spared the Lakers’ blushes. A loss would have left them one defeat away from being the first team in NBA history to squander a 3-0 playoff lead.
“A lot of our guys, quite frankly, have not been in this position, have not been in a close-out situation, especially on the road, so it was important for me to go out and set the tone,” said James. They will next face top seed and reigning NBA champions the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been enjoying some rest in recent days after sweeping the Phoenix Suns.
The Rockets, meanwhile, will be forced to decide whether to continue going all-in around Durant or cutting their losses and rebuilding, while they had also been floated as a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo suitor if they crashed out of the playoffs.
Detroit Evan Mobley United States Of America Playoff Elimination Epic Scenes North America Cleveland Home Court Advantage Spares Top Seed Wendell Carter America New York Knicks Consecutive Field Goals Toronto Raptors Brandon Ingram Atlanta Hawks Overtime Win Playoff Series Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham Michigan Top Seed Cleveland Cavaliers Canada Northern America Astounding Comeback Epic Comeback Overtime Shot Sets Clutch Overtime Shot Collapse Spares Tobias Harris Ohio Decisive Game Ontario Orlando Magic Toronto
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