Another close game between the reigning NBA champions and one of its top challengers produced another classic game Monday night, with the playmaking and drama making up for the flopping and … well, drama. The Rockets beat the Warriors 112-108 to even their best-of-seven series at 2-2 and setting up a three-game series for the ages. Earlier in the evening, the Celtics failed to even their series with the Milwaukee Bucks, who now have control at 3-1 and could become the first team to earn a conference finals berth this year. First, there are two big Game 5s tonight in series tied 2-2.
James Harden’s game is enthralling to some, infuriating to others but deadly effective to all. Even Magic.
James Harden’s 38 points tonight had the Warrior players on ice skates! He led his Rockets to an even series, 2-2.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 7, 2019
With all due respect to the other six teams remaining (maybe Milwaukee most of all), this sure feels like the NBA Finals.
Through four games:
Warriors: 448 points
Rockets: 447 points2-2. We got a series, folks.
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 7, 2019
The Celtics lost by double digits in Game 4, dropped both of their home games to the Bucks and now face elimination in a season where their plans have gone awry from the start.
Interesting take from a friend who attended #Bucks – #Celtics tonight. “That was the strangest NBA playoff game I’ve ever been to. It was like a cemetery in there. The crowd was a total non-factor until the end and booed the Celtics’ off the floor.”
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 7, 2019
Toronto heads back home in a series tied 2-2, riding superstar Kawhi Leonard and some momentum from Game 4.
. Up North we go.
📸: @IBX
#PhilaUnite | #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/OvnbW6qH3n— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) May 6, 2019
The Nuggets and Blazers also have staged a mega-close series, with the next chapter tonight in Denver for Game 5.
Raptors-Sixers is 2-2.
Trail Blazers-Nuggets is 2-2.
Warriors-Rockets is 2-2.
Basketball is great.
— Chris Walder (@WalderSports) May 7, 2019
TOP STORIES
• Harden scores 38 as Rockets even series with Warriors | Associated Press
• After four games, the Rockets-Warriors series is a classic in the making |ESPN.com
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks handle Celtics again to take commanding 3-1 series lead | USA Today
