This is the fifth time the Nuggets have reached this stage of the NBA playoffs. After a first dating back to 1978, without success against Seattle, the last three, in 1985, 2009 and 2020, put the Lakers on their way, with as many eliminations at the end. If LeBron James and his team manage to eliminate the defending champion Warriors (3-2), an intense reunion will take place.

In the meantime, their show of strength will have been inversely proportional to the disintegration of the Suns, who had already cracked like this last year at the same stadium, crushed by Dallas at home in an equally crucial Game 7. On the floor, the contrast was striking between the conquering spirit displayed by the Colorado formation, confirming its status as the No. 1 seed inherited from a remarkable regular season, and the guilty apathy of the Arizona team, as if again liquid in the face of pressure.

The Nuggets, who folded at the break, reached with a 30-point lead (81-51), did not ask for so much and it was almost too easy for them, after five first games much more hooked. But it is clear that they also achieved a performance close to excellence in all points, like Jokic (32 pts on 13/18 shooting, 12 assists, 10 rbds).

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets shoots against the Phoenix Suns during Game 6 of the NBA Conference Semifinals Series on May 11, 2023 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona © Christian Petersen/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Booker eclipsed

"We had the same mindset as playing at home. We were aggressive, we played rough, we made them take difficult shots, "wanted to retain the double MVP 2021 and 2022, who will have turned to a triple-double average on this semifinal, and was impeccably supported by Jamal Murray (26 pts) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (21 pts).

Determined, their team applied an intractable defense on Devin Booker (4/13 shooting, 12 pts, 8 assists), Kevin Durant saving appearances in the second half (23 pts).

Unlike Phoenix, Boston, with its back to the wall after losing at home 48 hours earlier, has found the resources to stay alive (3-3) and will have the opportunity to finish the job in front of its home crowd Sunday.

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum outsmarts P.J. Tucker of the Philadelphia 76ers during Game 6 of the NBA Conference Semifinals Series on May 11, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia © Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Jayson Tatum, who scored 16 of his 19 points in the final quarter, symbolized the resilience shown by the C's. The winger (9 rbds, 6 assists, 2 blocks) lived an ordeal in attack during the first 36 minutes (1/13 shooting), before his resurrection in the period of truth, marked by four winning baskets out of five attempted, which knocked out Philadelphia.

Curse Rivers?

"We had to insist, despite the difficulty, the empty moments, because a match lasts a long time. Luckily I have some great teammates who have held up. Each of us had an impact on the meeting. And all that matters is that we won it," commented the late hero of the evening.

Despite the failure of its leader in the first act, Boston counted up to 16 units ahead, guided by Marcus Smart (22 pts), Jaylen Brown (17 pts) and Malcolm Brogdon (16 pts), while limiting the impact of Joel Embiid, then contained to 3/9 shooting.

But the MVP, finally author of 26 points (10 rbds, 3 blocks), was able to react after the break, to allow the Sixers to erase this delay, well helped by Tyrese Maxey (26 pts). James Harden, on the other hand, never took off (13 pts on 4/16 shooting, 9 assists), he who was able to play the saviors twice in this series.

Boston Celtics' Marcus Smart during Game 6 of the NBA Conference Semifinals Series on May 11, 2023 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia © Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Philly went into the final quarter leading 73-71. A comeback finally not followed by effect, because the defense of the Celtics was intractable, conceding only five baskets out of twenty attempted.

And to resurface the specter of the curse that seems not to let go of Doc Rivers, who now risks losing a fourth play-off game, after leading 3-2 and therefore had the opportunity to win. Three failures suffered in 2009, 2010 and 2012, when he coached... Boston.

© 2023 AFP