The NBA playoffs continued with two dramatic contests as the New York Knicks eliminated the Detroit Pistons while the LA Clippers forced a decisive Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets.
New York secured their place in the next round with a hard-fought 116-113 victory over Detroit, winning the series 4-2. Jalen Brunson delivered another stellar performance for the Knicks, pouring in 40 points and dishing out 7 assists in 42 minutes of action. Mikal Bridges added 25 points while OG Anunoby contributed 22 points to secure the crucial win.
Detroit showed resilience despite the elimination, with Cade Cunningham nearly recording a triple-double with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jalen Duren added 21 points while Isaiah Hartenstein came off the bench to score 20.
In Los Angeles, fans witnessed an electrifying contest as the Clippers evened their series against Denver at 3-3 with a 111-105 win. The battle between James Harden and Nikola Jokic continued to be a highlight of the matchup.
Harden led the Clippers with 28 points and 8 assists, while Kawhi Leonard recorded a double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Norman Powell provided crucial scoring with 24 points as LA held off Denver's late push.
Statbet analysts note that teams winning Game 6 to force a Game 7 historically win the decisive game approximately 45% of the time, adding another layer of intrigue to the upcoming Clippers-Nuggets finale.
For Denver, Jokic continued his MVP-caliber play with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Jamal Murray nearly recorded a triple-double with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Aaron Gordon contributed 19 points. Russell Westbrook provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists, but it wasn't enough to close out the series.
Both teams combined for an entertaining seesaw battle, with the Clippers using a strong third quarter (32-22) to build a lead they never relinquished despite Denver's fourth-quarter push.
