The Phoenix Suns are one game away from the Western Conference finals after they defeated the Denver Nuggets’ 116-102.
Recently crowned league MVP Nikola Jokic’s had 32 points but was inaccurate as he shot 13-for-29 while his 20 rebounds and 10 assists were not enough to lift the Nuggets over the Suns, whose win marked their sixth straight victory.
Devin Booker (28 points) combined with Chris Paul in an offensive-led triumph for Phoenix, who are 3-0 up in the series and can progress to their first Western finals since 2009-2010 with a win in game four on Sunday.
Joel Embiid refused to succumb to injury as his Philadelphia 76ers finished 127-111 over the Atlanta Hawks and moved ahead 2-1 in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.
The centre poured in 27 points and had nine rebounds and eight assists despite playing with a cartilage tear in his right knee, turning his ankle during a fall and landing on his back in another fall.
The Hawks did not recover after the 76ers went on an 11-0 run in the third quarter, with the 127-111 loss ending Atlanta’s run of 13 consecutive wins at home and putting them within two games of tumbling out of the post-season.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here