Paul sets mark in series win
NEW ORLEANS — Chris Paul went 14 for 14 in the best shooting night in NBA playoff history, Devin Booker returned from a hamstring injury to hit a late 3-pointer and the Phoenix Suns beat the New Orleans Pelicans 115-109 on Thursday night to finish off the firstround series in six games.
Paul had the most field goals without a miss in a playoff game, hit all four of his free throws and had eight assists as top-seeded Phoenix overcame a 10point halftime deficit.
“I had no clue,” said Paul, the former Pelican who finished with 33 points. “I think maybe at halftime I said I might have to shoot a little more.”
The Suns will face Dallas in the second round, with Game 1 on Monday night in Phoenix.
Booker hit a 3-pointer with 1:42 left to put the Suns ahead for goad at 106-104. The All-star guard played for the first time in nine days since injuring his right hamstring after scoring 31 points in the first half of Game 2. He had 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting and had five rebounds and three assists in 32 minutes.
Deandre Ayton had 22 points for Phoenix on 10-of-12 shooting.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 21 points.
Embiid, 76ers close out Raptors
Joel Embiid had 33 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 22 points and 15 assists and visiting Philadelphia beat Toronto 132-97 in Game 6 to end the first-round series.
Philadelphia will face Miami in the second round. The top-seeded Heat beat Atlanta in five games.
Chris Boucher had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto.
Bucks mum on Middleton’s status
Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer offered no new details Friday on Khris Middleton’s potential availability for the defending champions’ Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with the Boston Celtics.
Middleton said a week ago that he hoped to come back from his knee injury in two weeks. That means he would miss at least the first two games of the Celtics series, which starts Sunday in Boston.