The Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks are still alive after a hectic night of playoff basketball. And the Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the driver's seat. The Sixers, Bucks and Cavs all won Game 5s on Tuesday night, taking down the Knicks, Pacers and Magic, respectively. The Knicks and Pacers still lead their series, 3-2, and missed a chance to close things out. The Cavs, meanwhile, won again at home to go up 3-2 and put themselves one win away from the second round.
In the first game of the night, 76ers All-Star Tyrese Maxey hit a season-saving 3-pointer to force overtime and the Sixers rallied in the extra period for a 112-106 win over the Knicks in their first-round series. The Knicks led by six points with 28 seconds left, but Maxey -- who had a game-high 46 points -- converted a four-point play before knocking in a lengthy 3-pointer to tie it up with eight seconds left.
"Going through my mind right there was just find a way to survive," Maxey said (read more here from James Herbert). "Season's on the line. I trust my work, I trust what I've done all my life. And just try to get to a spot and raise up and knock a shot down."
The Knicks still lead 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, but the Sixers will return home for Game 6 on Thursday night. Jalen Brunson scored 40 points for New York, but he couldn't get a clean look at the end of regulation and had a costly turnover late in overtime.
The Cavs then got another home win to retake the series lead against the Magic. Cleveland got 28 points from Donovan Mitchell and a clutch block from Evan Mobley in a one-point win. The Cavs are up 3-2 in a series that has seen the home team win every game.
The Bucks entered the nightcap without both of their star players. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were both sidelined in Game 5. But with their backs against the wall, Bobby Portis (29 points), Khris Middleton (29 points) and Patrick Beverley (13 points, 12 assists) led the Bucks to a lopsided victory.
The Bucks aren't done yet. No Dame, no Giannis and no elimination. With their backs against the wall, Bobby Portis (29 points), Khris Middleton (29 points) and Patrick Beverley (13 points, 12 assists) led the Bucks to a lopsided victory over the Pacers in Game 5.
Indiana led after the first quarter but was blown out the rest of the way. Game 6 is set for Thursday night in Indy.
(Cleveland leads series 3-2)
The Cavs are one win away from punching their ticket to the second round. Donovan Mitchell scored half of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers notched a one-point win in Game 5 to retake the series lead. The home team has won every game in this series, which shifts back to Orlando for Game 6 on Friday. Paolo Banchero had a game-high 39 points to lead the Magic, but no other Orlando player scored 15 points.
For Cleveland, Evan Mobley came up with a clutch block on Franz Wagner in the closing moments.
The Philadelphia 76ers just snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, rallying back from six down with 25 seconds to play -- courtesy of seven points in 20 seconds from Tyrese Maxey -- for force overtime, where they pulled away for the Game 5 victory. The Knicks now lead this series 3-2 heading into what will be a wild scene for Game 6 in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Milwaukee is taking a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter tonight. The Bucks, who don't have Damian Lillard or Giannis, have received stellar performances from Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis and Patrick Beverley. They're 12 minutes away from forcing a Game 6.
The Bucks are trying to keep their season alive without their stars. They held the Pacers to 17 points in the second quarter and entered halftime with a five-point lead. Khris Middleton has 17 points, while Patrick Beverley has 12 for the Dame- and Giannis-less Bucks.
The Cavs hold a 102-100 lead with under a minute left in Cleveland. With the series tied 2-2, the Cavs are looking to hold serve at home and regain the series advantage. Paolo Banchero has a game-high 36 points for Orlando.
An incredible turn of events has saved the Sixers' season -- at least for now. Maxey just scored seven points in 20 seconds to tie the game! His long 3-pointer with eight seconds left tied the game at 97-97. We're headed for overtime at the Garden!
Nurse could barely give it a minute. Embiid is back in. Season on the line. One-possession game with under five to go.
Risky move here, but Embiid is gassed and playing terribly. Nurse has to get him a breather and hope the Sixers can stay within striking distance for a late push.
The Sixers have one quarter to keep their season alive. Other than Tyrese Maxey, nobody had anything going in the third for Philadelphia, which has nevertheless managed to stay in the game. Joel Embiid is going the full 48 it appears. Non-Embiid minutes have just been too traumatic for Nick Nurse.
Tyrese Maxey (21) and Tobias Harris (12) are outscoring the rest of their Sixers teammates 33-20. Embiid next-highest scorer with eight. Kelly Oubre and Kyle Lowry a combined 1 for 11. Not much is working for Sixers in terms of creating leveraged offense. Mostly, Maxey is just going after buckets on his own. It feels like that has a short shelf life. Need to get some collective tempo going to unlock Embiid.
The Knicks had a huge second quarter and take a six-point lead into halftime. It could be worse for the Sixers, who struggled offensively until the final few minutes of the second quarter. Joel Embiid has been mostly quiet with eight points on 3-of-10 shooting and just two free-throw attempts. Tyrese Maxey had 15 first-half points for the Sixers.
The Knicks outscored the 76ers, 32-17, in that second quarter as Jalen Brunson got going. He has a team-high 15 points at the break, and the Knicks are shooting 51.4% from the floor.
The Knicks have outscored Philly 20-5 over the first six and a half minutes of the second quarter. Philly is still within six, but it's hanging on for dear life. No rhythm offensively. Embiid not having much of an impact with just three points and a lot of perimeter loitering. Knicks have the building ready to erupt every possession.
The all-important non-Embiid minutes arrived for the Sixers over the last minute and change of the first quarter and the first two and a half-minutes of the second. In that time, the Sixers have been outscored 11-5. Tie game.
Jarrett Allen will not play tonight as the Cavs host the Magic in a pivotal Game 5. Allen bruised his rib in Game 4 and was ruled out less than an hour before tip off.
After missing their first eight shots to start Game 5, the Knicks have now made seven straight. Tyrese Maxey is giving them fits on the other end. Sixers with a one-point lead late in first.
New York has missed all eight of its field goals to start Game 5 as Philadelphia is out to an early lead. The Knicks look disjointed to start and are taking everything contested.
Missed shots have been the theme to start Game 5. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey both have five points, but the Knicks have not yet made a field goal. They're 0 for 8 and have dug a 10-2 hole in five minutes.
The teams are a combined 4 for 22 (18%) from the floor.
We're just a few minutes from tip at MSG. Here's how to watch tonight's game.
Mitchell Robinson, who missed Game 4 for the Knicks, is available to play in Game 5. Robinson was initially hurt in Game 3, the same game when he was involved in a controversial play with Embiid (where Embiid grabbed his leg and was called for a flagrant 1 foul). Robinson has averaged 3.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game so far in the series.
Joel Embiid reportedly missed shootaround earlier today as he dealt with migraines. Embiid is was recently diagnosed with Bell's palsy, which he revealed last week after Game 3. Like every other game this series, Embiid was listed as questionable, but expect him to be in the starting lineup and playing a lot as Philly tries to keep its season alive.
