After two postseason classics in the fourth game of that series – the Philadelphia 76ers versus the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets versus the Phoenix Suns – the next few episodes were a laughing ending to the bench lineup. Philadelphia and Denver each delivered crucial punches against opponents who looked vastly different but felt awfully similar. But while the league’s other two semifinal series offer compelling narratives, these two encounters continue to deliver basketball’s most scintillating performances on the court. And while both winning teams appear to have great chances of completing that streak victoriously in the upcoming games on Thursday, is it too much to ask that we get just one more game for these two fascinating, dramatic duels between the heavyweights?
Here’s what happened in Tuesday’s two fifth games and what’s next.
Sixers 115, Celtics 103 | Philadelphia leads 3-2
Why the 76ers won: Because that’s the team they can be. All too often, conversations in Philadelphia revolve around this team’s disappointments and failure to live up to expectations. On Tuesday, the 76ers were that team: Joel Embiid, a perennial defensive scare who led both teams with a silky 33 points; James Harden, who did not need to return to heroics but was content with an efficient performance of 17 points and 10 assists; Tyrese Maxey, whose lackluster streak was offset by a brilliant 30-point performance; The role players appear actively when and where they are needed. No, we haven’t always seen this version of Philadelphia this late in the postseason — but it does bring them one step closer and one win away from changing those conversations.
Why the Celtics lost: Boston often thrives on the 3, which means this team sometimes dies on it too. Before the substitutes made a tremendous time commitment, the Celtics were just 9 points from 32 behind the archway, despite ending the regular season with the second-most tries (42.6 per game) and marks (16.6). Al Horford’s ineffectiveness — 0 of 7 behind the archway — was game-changing, and the lack of his trademark ability to stretch the ground made Embiid easier to incite fear in the squad, even as the 76ers continued to aggressively send aid to the Boston stars. The Celtics don’t produce shots on the rim (25th in regular-season attempts per game) and don’t get to the foul line (29th). They don’t have a fast-twitch, defense-penetrating initiator to mess up enemy defenses. This is a crime involving shooting and making shots, and this is what it looks like when it fails.
moment of the game: It is of course this great moment of Embiid.
A week ago, Embiid could barely walk as he struggled with the knee injury that ruled him out of Game 1. That sequence started with Embiid’s sloppy loss of possession, but his recovery sprint, which secured two points in a crucial moment of the game, was something special.
Key Stats: While 10 of Embiid’s 33 points came from the free-throw line, the rest came from jump shots – he didn’t score in restricted area that game and he didn’t need to. Boston let him run in free-throw line jumpers far too often, and Embiid enjoyed the regular nutrition he was given like they were Shirley Temples.
The Sixers should feel they have … a shot at redemption. If this team is really like that, prove it by winning this series. If this is a legacy series for Embiid and Harden, they need to beat the Celtics if they have that advantage. If that’s a statement that will silence whispers about what questions this offseason will bring, then they have to make it.
The Celtics should feel like maybe they’re even better. They didn’t look like that for most of this series, and they let themselves be smashed to pieces by a battered Embiid and the historically subpar Harden. But Boston reached the NBA Finals last year. If you still believe you are this team, then show us.
What’s next: Game 6 will be played on Thursday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Nuggets 118, Suns 102 | Denver leads 3-2
Why the Nuggets won: When Denver’s offense is booming, defense often follows suit. The Nuggets built up a 35-26 lead in the first quarter, but watched it evaporate as their shots stopped firing and Phoenix relentlessly attacked with pace against Nugget defenders who didn’t have time to establish themselves. But as Denver’s offense regained momentum from the start of the second half, a common story ensued: that Denver, with its good defenders centered around its ground-bound superstar Nikola Jokić, is looking lively and actually pretty great. At home, with roleplay heroics and Jokić’s subtle passing game leading the way, it was a loss that put Denver back in the lead of the series.
Why the suns lost: Phoenix’s road to winning games remains quite arduous. After Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined for 72 and 88 points respectively in Games 3 and 4, this incredibly talented duo managed just 54 points combined on Tuesday. Denver had of course gone all out to stop them in the last two games of the series, but the same plan worked better in Game 5 because Booker and Durant just weren’t quite as omnipotent. It also helped that the Suns still don’t know what their supporting cast is. Josh Okogie started but only played eight minutes while Landry Shamet and TJ Warren both struggled to sit on the bench. Especially as Chris Paul continues to be sidelined, it remains uncertain where the extra performances from non-stars will come from – particularly away against a really rowdy Denver crowd at height.
moment of the game: After Jokić’s half-hearted push at new Suns governor Mat Ishbia dominated the topics of conversation after Game 4 – with the discussion ridiculously revolving around the question of whether Jokić should be suspended, even if the question was only asked so speakers could say no – you have to do that I respect Jokić’s amusing reaction before the game.
Key Stats: Bruce Brown had 25 points on Tuesday from just 11 shot attempts, his second-highest point total this entire season. His highest-scoring game since joining the Nuggets last summer? It was a 31-point game against the Phoenix Suns in one of their last regular-season games in early April. While Christian Braun and Michael Porter Jr. deserve credit for their outstanding performances in support of Jokić and Jamal Murray, it should be noted that the Nuggets would not be here if Brown were not a key offseason signing for this team.
The nuggets should feel… invincible. Looking at the team that showed up in Game 5, one almost wonders why this series isn’t already over. Yes, we know why that isn’t the case. That’s no offense to the Suns. But don’t be discouraged by the undeniable brilliance of Booker and Durant going into Game 6. Denver has their own duo in Jokić and Murray who are equally unstoppable in their own way, and a better-fit supporting cast to complement them and understands stars better than anyone in the Suns’ uneven roster. Go and win.
The Suns should feel that anything can happen. On paper, this series has clearly evolved in favor of the nuggets. It’s not just the 3-2 lead Denver now has, but the plus-32 lead Denver has in the series. The first two wins were far more compelling for Denver than the following two were for Phoenix. And yet those two games were victories. And yet the Suns have two players who can truly be the best two players in the world any night. Possibly even that same night. And that’s why there can’t be a loss of confidence just yet, even if you need two wins in a row to keep this season alive. With these two guys, it would be silly to lose that.
What’s next: Game 6 will be played Thursday, May 11 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.
(Top Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)