Blow most of 26-point lead over Celtics — but take series in 6
Knicks hang on to advance
BOSTON Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points and the New York Knicks held on after blowing most of a 26point lead to beat the Boston Celtics, 88-80, in Game 6 on Friday night and advance in the NBA post-season for the first time since 2000.
Iman Shumpert scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half, when the Celtics cut a 75-49 deficit to four points.
But Anthony made a jumper to give New York an 81-75 lead and then sank a 3-pointer, then J.R. Smith converted a three-point play to restore the double-digit lead the Knicks nursed most of the game.
Jeff Green scored 21 points for the Celtics, who had rallied from a 3-0 deficit i n the series and had a chance, at home, to force a decisive seventh game.
No NBA team has advanced in the playoffs after losing the first three games. Deng goes off on Twitter
DEERFIELD, ILL. Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng made it clear Friday on Twitter that the illness that kept him out of a playoff game against the Brooklyn Nets was far more serious than the flu.
He missed the Bulls’ loss in Game 6 on Thursday with what coach Tom Thibodeau said were flu-like symptoms.
In one of a series of tweets from the hospital, Deng wrote: “It really upsets me that everyone thinks I would miss a game” because of the flu.
He also confirmed he had a spinal tap to rule out meningitis earlier in the week. And he indicated he will join the team for Game 7 in Brooklyn if he’s medically cleared, although he might have to spend the night in the hospital.
The Bulls are in danger of losing this first-round series after taking a 3-1 lead, and they were really shorthanded on Thursday, with Kirk Hinrich sidelined by a bruised left calf and Nate Robinson and Taj Gibson playing through what the team said were flu-like symptoms.
Deng insisted his illness was more serious than that. He wrote that he was taken to the emergency room Wednesday and required to take the spinal tap “in order to play on Thursday.” He said the procedure left him with the “worst headache I’ve ever experienced.”
He said he was unable to get out of bed on Thursday but somehow made it to the United Center before being sent home. The symptoms worsened Friday morning, and he was back at the emergency room.