NBA playoffs, Drake greets Embiid after Raptors knockout: ‘You will lose 4-0 to Miami’

The Sixers overwhelm the Raptors, dragged by Joel Embiid’s 33 points and 10 rebounds, and thus gain access to the semifinals in which they will challenge Miami. Chris Paul plays a legendary game: 14/14 from the field and 33 points on the scoresheet in the Suns victory who find Devin Booker and take the qualification. In the second round Phoenix will face Dallas, which beats Utah with 24 points from Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson. The Jazz have the shot to force game-7, but Bojan Bogdanovic’s triple goes out on the iron

TORONTO RAPTORS-PHILADELPHIA 76ERS, RACE-6 97-132 | “We will not return to Philadelphia to play Game-7”: a promise kept by James Harden and his Sixers, dragged to the sound of baskets in a match dominated in the second half (70-36 partial in the second half) and won with merit after the difficulties of the last two challenges. For Doc Rivers it is the third victory in his career with 30+ lengths of margin in a challenge that closes a series – all-time record in the playoffs like Pat Riley, the Heat manager that Philadelphia will face in the Conference semifinals

To make the difference is the Sixers quintet, led by 33 points and 10 rebounds by a Joel Embiid with 12/18 shooting and +28 plus / minuswith Tyrese Maxey adding 25 points, 5 triples and 8 assists, while James Harden finally finds rhythm and baskets in a match of 22 and 15 winning passes. Decisive for the balance of Philadelphia is Danny Green – 4/7 from the arc and a lot of defense: “If you need a heavy away win, take Danny with you: he is never upset by anything”, the appreciation of coach Rivers

Instead, the season of the Raptors ends here, forced to do without the injured Fred VanVleet and cling to the 25 points and 10 rebounds by a convincing Chris Boucher leaving the bench. Pascal Siakam also tries them all, author of 24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 44 minutes of play: he remains on the court until it becomes evident that a comeback against Philadelphia became impossible at that point.