Upbeat Sixers knock out Heat
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons starred again in front of rapper Meek Mill, and the dominant duo ushered the nightmares- intodreams Process of the 76ers into the second round with a 104- 91 win over the Heat on Tuesday night.
The 76ers, winners of 10 games just two seasons ago, are in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2012.
The Sixers won the series 4- 1 and turned theWells Fargo Center into the wildest house party in the city. Embiid had 19 points and 12 rebounds, Simmons had 14 points and 10 boards, and the entire team had rappers, politicians, actors and kids dancing along for the ride.
Mill made a dramatic return hours after Pennsylvania’s highest court ordered him freed while he appeals decade- old gun and drug convictions.
Smart gives Celtics boost in return
Al Horford had 22 points and 14 rebounds, Marcus Smart made an impact in his first game since mid- March and the Celtics beat the Bucks 92- 87 for a 3- 2 lead in their firstround playoff series.
Smart came off the bench and had nine points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks in his first game since undergoing right thumb surgery. He played 25 minutes wearing a protective splint and had a key assist late from the bottom of a scrum beneath three Bucks players.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had a series- low 16 points with 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Bucks.
Milwaukee got within 87- 84 after a layup by Eric Bledsoe, but the Celtics hit enough free throws the rest of the way to secure the win.
Warriors beat Spurs to advance
Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson combined for 49 points and the Warriors advanced to the second round with a 99- 91 victory over the Spurs. The Warriors won the series 4- 1.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half in a losing effort for the Spurs.
This and that
The NBA fined Thunder guard Russell Westbrook $ 10,000 and gave him a postgame technical foul for confronting Jazz center Rudy Gobert during Game 4 on Monday night.
The Pelicans say they’ve voided around 2,500 playoff tickets that were purchased improperly during a pre- sale event for the second round of the NBA playoffs. The club says the event was designed exclusively for season- tickets holders.
A record 236 players were on the NBA’s official early- entry list, including 181 from the college ranks. Last year, 182 players, including 137 from American colleges, were on the early- entry list, up from 162 total and 117 from colleges in 2016.