NBA Playoffs: Suns and Mavs set up second-round date, Sixers to face the Heat
New Orleans, Louisiana - The Phoenix Suns booked their spot in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs, securing the series with a 115-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Devin Booker's return from injury gave Chris Paul more room to attack, and Paul obliged with the best shooting night in NBA playoff history.
He went a perfect 14-of-14 from the floor on the way to a game-high 33 points, making the most field goals without a miss in a single playoff game.
The Suns did not have it easy, though, with Booker's three-pointer putting the Suns ahead at 106-104 with 1:42 remaining.
A CJ McCollum turnover on the next possession effectively secured the Suns the series.
The Pels were up 10 at the half, but foul trouble for McCollum, Herbert Jones, and Jose Alvarado made lineups and finding consequent balance complicated for first-year head coach Willie Green.
Sixers and Mavs also progress
Waiting for the Suns in the next round are the Dallas Mavericks, who wrapped up their series against the Utah Jazz with a 98-96 win in Game 6.
With 4.3 seconds remaining on the clock, Bojan Bogdanović got the ideal look to win the game from a drawn-up play off an inbound. Spencer Dinwiddie scrambled and bought the initial pump-fake, but Bogdanović could not convert the open look, ending the Jazz's season.
The Philadelphia 76ers will face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals after they defeated the Toronto Raptors 132-97 to make it 4-2 in the series.
Joel Embiid and James Harden ultimately stepped up when required, combining for 55 points off 19-of-30 shooting. Embiid added 10 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals while Harden masterfully distributed the ball with 15 assists and committed just three turnovers.
The Raptors had a brutal third quarter with their season on the line, going five-of-19 from the floor for 17 points, before Pascal Siakam eventually fouled out with 24 points.
Luka Dončić was everywhere for the Mavs however, coming up with 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, as well as two steals and blocks.
Cover photo: Collage: USA TODAY Sports