76ers, Nuggets move in one conference final win

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to victory in Game 5

Nikola Jokic scored 17 of his 29 points during the decisive third quarter and the Denver Nuggets excelled in their Western Conference semifinal series by beating the Phoenix Suns 118-102 on Tuesday.

Jokic followed his 53-point display in Game 4 with another outstanding showing, adding 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for most by a center in NBA history.

Bruce Brown scored 25 points, one short of a career playoff high, and Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray each added 19 points as Denver improved to 6-0 at home this postseason to take a 3-2 series lead.

The Nuggets converted a 52-49 halftime lead to a 91-74 lead with a dominant third quarter in which Jokic made seven of eight shots, while Devin Booker scored three points on 1 of 8 from the field.

Booker finished with 28 points but missed 11 of 19 shooting, Kevin Durant scored 26 points and Deandre Ayton added 14 points. No other Suns player has reached double figures.

Denver can earn a trip to the western finals with a win at Phoenix on Thursday in Game 6.

Visiting 76ers sailing past Celtics

Joel Embiid scored 32 points and Tyrese Maxey added 30 with six 3-pointers to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to an easy 115-103 win over the Boston Celtics and a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals series.

Philadelphia led by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter as home fans showered the Celtics with boos.

James Harden had 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, Tobias Harris added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Daniel House Jr.

The 76ers could close out the series and advance to the Eastern finals for the first time since reaching the NBA Finals in 2000-01 with a home win in Game 6 on Thursday.

Jayson Tatum scored 36 points but missed five tries in the first quarter and made 11 of 27 field shots. He was part of a poor shooting attempt by the Celtics, who shot under 40 percent overall and missed 26 of 38 long shots.

Boston cut the deficit to 92-81 with under 10 minutes remaining but Maxey and Embiid responded with 3 seconds in a row. After Jaylen Brown threw a layup, the basket by House Jr. and Maxey extended Philadelphia’s lead to 104-88, effectively ending hopes of a comeback.