Al Horford scored 19 points in his first start since January, and the Hawks held on for an 87-86 victory over the Celtics in a thrilling Game 5 of the Eastern Conference playoffs last night in Atlanta.
The Celtics lead the series 3-2 heading back to Boston for Game 6 tomorrow night. If the Hawks can steal one on the road, the deciding game would be Saturday in Atlanta.
Boston had a chance to clinch the series when Rajon Rondo stole Josh Smith’s inbounds pass with 10 seconds remaining and raced down the court, looking for the winner. But he got hemmed in along the sideline and Smith knocked away a desperation pass, the ball rolling away as time ran out.
A relieved Smith collapsed on the scorer’s table.
Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 16 points apiece. Rondo had 13 points and 12 assists, and the last of his five assists gave Boston a chance to end the series early and get some much-needed rest.
The Hawks kept their season going, getting a huge contribution from a player who wasn’t there for much of it. Horford went down in January with a torn pectoral muscle, missing the rest of the regular season and the first three games of the playoffs. But he made a surprise return in Game 4, one of the few bright spots in an embarrassing 101-79 loss that gave the Celtics command of the series.
Hordford grabbed 11 rebounds, dished out three assists, had three steals and blocked three shots.
Bulls 77, 76ers 69
In Chicago, Luol Deng scored 24 points, Carlos Boozer added 19 points and 13 rebounds, and the Bulls beat the 76ers to avoid a first-round playoff exit.
The top-seeded Bulls finally won without injured point guard Derrick Rose, building a nine-point halftime lead and staying in control down the stretch to pull within 3-2. Game 6 is tomorrow in Philadelphia.
Bulls center Joakim Noah, who sprained his left ankle in Game 3, sat out his second straight game.
Nuggets 102, Lakers 99
In Los Angeles, Andre Miller scored 24 points, including two free throws with 12.8 seconds left, and sixth-seeded Denver avoided playoff elimination by surviving Kobe Bryant’s late scoring barrage in a 43-point performance in Game 5.
Game 6 is tomorrow night in Denver.
Pacers 105, Magic 87
In Indianapolis, Danny Granger scored 25 points to help the Pacers defeat the Magic and clinch their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series 4-1.
It was Indiana’s first series win since 2005 and its first clincher on its home court since the first round of the 2000 playoffs. The Pacers will play Miami or the Knicks in the second round.
Celtics, Rajon Rondo, Al Horford, Eastern Conference, Kevin Garnett, back to Boston, the Hawks, Josh Smith, Carlos Boozer, Danny Granger, Eastern Conference playoff, Derrick Rose online
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