The Brooklyn Nets eliminated the Boston Celtics in five games on Tuesday night. They have joined the Milwaukee Bucks in qualifying for the conference semifinals, as the Bucks swept the Miami Heat right out of the postseason. The other two Eastern Conference quarterfinal series move to Game 5 on Wednesday night, as the Washington Wizards visit the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks visit the New York Knicks.
Let’s take a closer look at each matchup, and don’t miss our NBA betting predictions.
NBA News: Eastern Conference Games (June 2)
Washington Wizards at Philadelphia 76ers
Game 5 (7:00 pm ET, NBA TV)
76ers lead, 3-1
It looked like the Philadelphia 76ers were ready to roll to a four-game sweep of the Washington Wizards in their opening round series. However, Joel Embiid took a big fall and had to leave with a right knee injury in the first period. It did not take long for the 76ers to give up their lead in the game — and for the Wizards to take advantage. Embiid did not return, and Bradley Beal went off for 27 points for the Wizards, and Russell Westbrook had the 12th triple-double in his postseason career. Rui Hachimura put up 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Embiid had eight points and six rebounds in 11 minutes in Game 4 before he went down; he is still averaging more than a point per minute in this series. When he was injured, he had a shot blocked by Robin Lopez and took a hard fall. The 76ers had a hard time recovering before the fourth quarter, when they tied the game at 106 apiece, but then the Wizards started fouling Ben Simmons every possession. He had not made any free throws through the first three games (0 of 9) and ended up going 5 of 11. Tobias Harris led Philadelphia with 21 points and 13 boards, and Simmons contributed 13 points and a dozen boards. Embiid is doubtful for Game 5, although Philadelphia does not think that the injury is as severe as the bone bruise that sidelined him for 10 games during the regular season. Can the Wizards force a Game 6?
Final Prediction:
Philadelphia 109, Washington 104
Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks
Game 5 (7:30 pm ET, TNT)
Hawks lead, 3-1
The Atlanta Hawks pushed the New York Knicks to the brink of elimination by winning both games in Georgia, including a 113-96 laugher on Sunday night. Trae Young led the Hawks with 27 points, but he was far from the only contributor, as John Collins put up 22 points despite getting hit in the lip. In the third period, the Hawks turned a close game into a rout, going into the fourth period up by 17. That lead would grow to 26 points before the Hawks sent their bench in. Three other Hawks would hit double figures, including Danilo Gallinari, who had 21 points. Young dished out nine assists.
During the first half, Atlanta had a hard time making shots, but in the third period, the Hawks shot 10 of 19 from the floor, including 5 of 9 from downtown. Young had nine points in the period, and Collins had seven. Bogdan Bogdanovic put an exclamation point on the period with a three-ball. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 23 points, his highest total in the series, but he only went 7 of 19 from the floor and was swarmed on defense every time he got the ball. He was frustrated by the defensive coverage and ended up taking a flagrant foul in the fourth period. Derrick Rose had a strong start but ended up settling for 18 points. R.J. Barrett scored 21 points for the Knicks as well.
NBA Betting Odds
Love betting NBA basketball games? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date NBA lines for all games for Regular Season, Playoffs, and the Finals.
