B8 Saturday, May 18, 2024 Bristol Herald Courier DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS Jamal Murray failed to make a fadeaway on Den- first possession, then tried a floater that spun around the rim and spit out in portending fashion. Neither of those misses hurt the normally smooth-shooting Nug- gets point guard like what came next for him on defense in Min- nesota in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. As he tried to move around a high screen by Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert early in the first quarter on Thursday night, Murray hurt his right elbow in the collision with the NBA Defensive Player of the raised right elbow and immediately clutched over in pain. He flexed his arm back and forth to try to loosen up the joint as he turned up the court, but it never did. Now hurting again, and so are the defending champion Nuggets.
host Game 7 on Sunday. was never really getting into my rhythm again, and my team ob- viously needed me to tonight, and I said Murray, who also went 3 for 18 in the Game 2 loss. disappointed in myself for not be- ing able to give them the right pro- duction that I know I Murray finished just 4 for 18 from the floor for 10 points in the 115-70 defeat, playing 32 minutes before getting some extended rest in empty-the-bench time down the stretch as Minnesota built a lead as big as 50 points. He said he applied some numbing cream to the elbow to allow him to fully extend it on his jumpers with- out pain, but he never found his rhythm. Murray, who was nagged by a strained left calf during the first- round series against the Los An- geles Lakers, has been bothered by right elbow pain in the past.
He wears a protective sleeve over it. With two off days until the de- cisive game instead of the typical one, Murray will have additional time to heal. Will that be enough? hope, for our he said. hope I can get it This has been quite the eventful postseason for Murray, who hit two last-second game-winners to oust the Lakers in five games in the first round. Then he chucked a heat pack onto the court from the bench in Denver during a Game 2 blow- out by the Wolves that drew him a $100,000 fine from the league.
He bounced back strong with 24 points to lead the Nuggets to vic- tory in Game 3, then sank a half- time buzzer-beater from beyond half court to highlight the Game 4 win in Minnesota. Now all eyes will be on him again in Game 7 as he tries to shake off another disruption. all behind us Murray said. just got to get ready and be able to be better for elbow is hurting after Game 6 flop by Nuggets Celtics in good headspace for 3rd Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray will look to bounce back in Game 7 when the Nuggets play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. ABBIE PARR, ASSOCIATED KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON Opposing fans have been begging for matchups with the Celtics this postseason.
And they are all now wishing that they Miami Heat fans chanted, Want after earning a first-round matchup with the Celtics last month. Boston beat them in five games. Cleveland Cavaliers fans got into the act following their first-round win over the Orlando Magic. After they, too, walked off the court following a 4-1 series loss to the Celtics on Wednes- day, Boston fans near the bench held up signs spelling out a question. wants Boston For now the Celtics will have to wait for that answer after wrap- ping up their third consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference finals with a 113-98 win over the the Cavaliers.
Boston will face the winner of the matchup be- tween the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. New York leads that series 3-2. While Boston won the final two games of its series over a de- pleted team that was miss- ing injured Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, the top seed did have to overcome its first dose of adver- sity this postseason. The Celtics played the entire series without starting center Kristaps Porzingis, who contin- ues to recover from the calf strain he sustained late last round against the Heat. They also had to bounce back after losing Game 2 and home-court advantage against the Cavs.
Three consec- utive wins later, Boston likes the trajectory on just four victo- ries shy of returning to the NBA Finals might think that a given that supposed to be said All-Star Jayson Tatum, who will be making his fifth trip to the conference finals. give a lot of credit to everybody in the front office, the coaching staff, the trainers, the guys that hand out the equipment, the ball boys, the cooks, the chefs, security team. all in this After enduring much criti- cism for some lackluster perfor- mances last postseason, Tatum has been one of his most consistent players, averaging 24.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. His rebounding num- bers are up from 8.1 per game during the regular season. Fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown is following suit averaging a career playoff-high 24.4 points to along with 6.9 rebounds.
a recognition that this team will only go as far as they take it. understand what we can do Tatum said. night just kind of pres- ents different challenges and being ready and up for the task to do whatever is needed be- cause both of us are capable on the basketball court to do literally They are also getting big per- formances from their teammates. One of those came Wednesday from veteran center Al Horford, who connected on six 3-pointers and finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Tatum said energy chasing down loose balls and pumping up the crowd at age 37 is infectious.
Horford said just respond- ing to the energy the Boston fans are giving him. special when here at the Garden. something that I take for Horford said. just felt very connected with them tonight. There were just a few times I wanted to be embraced by that As much as Tatum said he appreciated play this series stepping in for Porzingis, Horford said no doubt that Tatum and Brown are the engines for this team.
NBA consecutive Eastern Conference finals CHARLES KRUPA, ASSOCIATED Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, gestures to a fan after the Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Wednesday in Boston to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. SPORTS LET THE PROS HANDLE IT! BEFORE AFTER FULL SERVICE GUTTER PROTECTION SCHEDULE YOUR FREE INSPECTION NOW! 1-888-989-6063 We offer financing that fits your budget! 1 20 Your Entire OFF 10 OFF Seniors Military See Representative for full warranty details. coupon per household. No obligation estimate valid for 1 year. 1Subject to credit approval.
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