76ers 129, Wizards 112 (PHI wins series)
Hawks 103, Knicks 89 (ATL wins series)
Jazz 126, Grizzlies 110 (UTA wins series)
Mavericks 105, Clippers 100 (DAL leads series, 3-2)
What went down
The Eastern Conference semifinals is set after the Sixers and Hawks disposed of their respective opponents.
Even without Joel Embiid, Philadelphia utilized its other offensive weapons. Ben Simmons notched a triple-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists while Seth Curry scored a playoff career-high 30 points. Tobias Harris was just as brilliant with his 28-point, 9-rebound outing.
Embiid is listed day-to-day due to a small meniscus tear in his right knee. The MVP candidate will need all the rest he can get as the Sixers gear up for a second round battle versus the Hawks who easily took care of the Knicks.
Trae Young fired 36 points, including a defining 3-pointer with a minute left in the game. And in his continued role in playing New York’s villain, he fittingly bowed after making the shot.
Trae puts the finishing touch on his first #NBAPlayoffs series W! 🧊 pic.twitter.com/ATdo5hM9yp
— NBA (@NBA) June 3, 2021
The Jazz also advanced into the next round after blowing the Grizzlies right out of the water from the opening tip. With Donovan Mitchell leading the way, the Jazz opened up a 47-27 lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised to the victory.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, raced to a 3-2 lead behind a huge game from Luka Doncic. Interestingly, only the road team has been victorious after five games. Per Elias Sports Bureau, this is the third time in league history that the away team has won the first five games of a series.
Big-time baller
Luka Magic was once again in full effect against the Clippers. Doncic had 42 points and a playoff career-high14 dimes, as well as eight boards and six threes. He shot the ball 37 times and made 17. He had the ball on a string as he scored or assisted on 31 of the 37 Mavericks’ shots per StatMuse.
Doncic is the second player to have more than 40 points and at least 14 assists in league history, joining LeBron James on the list.
What he said
Trae Young put on an incredible performance for his first playoff series.
Even his postgame words deserve applause:
"I know it's a bunch of shows around this city. And I know what they do when the show is over."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 3, 2021
Trae on his bow at MSG 🎬 pic.twitter.com/k4ZkXH3YXf
Did you see that?
According to The Athletic’s Derek Bodner, Ben Simmons challenged Seth Curry to score 30 points while playing Call of Duty.
Ben Simmons says he told Seth Curry earlier in the day (while they were playing Call of Duty: Warzone) that "I need 30 out of you, and we're gonna get this W."
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) June 3, 2021
Curry had 30 on the dot on 10-17 shooting. They got the W.
Curry heeded the call (pun intended) and went for 30 points on 10-for-17 shots spiked by three treys.
This minor footnote is cool in itself but even Sixers head coach Doc Rivers chimed in and said, "Clearly Seth listens to Ben so we're going to use Ben as a translator for Seth from this point forward."
