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It’s Nail-Biting Time in the NBA Conference Semifinals

It’s Nail-Biting Time in the NBA Conference Semifinals

The Milwaukee Bucks proved, once again, that they’re not ready to step away from the NBA basketball courts last night. Their Conference Semifinals series against the Brooklyn Nets now heads to the final game, and it will be a good one. There are two other games on the schedule for today, with two teams looking at a must-win-to-stay-alive scenario. The final lineup for the NBA Playoffs is starting to take on greater definition, but there still remain a couple of hoops to jump through before seeing a clear picture.

Bucks Hang Onto Playoff Dreams

Game 6 between the Bucks and the Nets wasn’t the prettiest game for Milwaukee, but it got the job done. No one is sure where the extra juice came from as Khris Middleton put up 38 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo adds 30 in a game that the Bucks controlled from the start. Their performances kept the Nets on their heels throughout the game, leading to the 104-89 final score. That was an exclamation mark for the Bucks to show that they are ready to advance, and the series is now tied at 3 each.

Game 7, which is coming tomorrow night, is obviously do-or-die for both teams, but the Bucks are hoping to go a step further. Throughout this series, the home team has won every one of the games. This last contest is hosted by the Nets, and the Bucks are hoping they can buck that trend with a final emphatic win. It won’t be easy, however, with Kevin Durant and James Harden ready to leave it all on the court.

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Clips Can Secure The Series

The LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz will meet for Game 6 tonight out in California. Somewhat surprisingly, the Clippers have a one-game lead right now as they look for their first conference finals berth. Paul George gave them the advantage in Game 5 after putting up 35 points, and he’s going to be expected to have another big night tonight. The Clippers are without Kawhi Leonard once again, but that didn’t keep the team from rallying on Wednesday.

Oddsmakers are expecting a very tight game tonight, but give the Jazz a little bit of an edge. The moneyline sits at -120 in their favor, with the spread listed at only 1.5 points (-112). But, this should be an underdog win. The Clippers have beaten the Jazz four out of six times this season and should be ready with a tighter defense. The Over/Under sits at 220.5 (-115), which is likely to be a little on the high side for this game.

Hawks Closing In On Berth

The Atlanta Hawks have done the unthinkable. They’ve almost made it to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in six years. Taking down the Philadelphia 76ers is no small feat, but the Hawks continue to keep the pressure on and are now 3-2 in the series. In Game 5 on Wednesday, Trae Young and Lou Williams pushed themselves to the final buzzer to give the Hawks two straight wins against their rivals, and they’re now looking for the third with a win tonight. That victory would guarantee them a spot in the Finals.

The problem tonight is that De’Andre Hunter (knee), Brandon Goodwin (minor respiratory condition) and Cam Reddish (right Achilles soreness) all remain out for Atlanta and Young is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. Joel Embiid is expected to be a game-time decision for the Sixers and his absence has already been felt this series. Philly, the number-one seed going into the postseason, is on the brink of being forced out. However, the Sixers are still getting the most support, with a moneyline of -155 and 3 points (-110). Philly is not going to give up and the Hawks are showing signs of frustration. Those points should allow the 76ers to come away with the all-important win that would force Game 7. The Over/Under is at 221.5 (-110) and, as both teams have been struggling so far in the postseason, taking the Under seems to make a little more sense.

Erik is a writer and a sports nut who has had the good fortune to be able to experience a wide variety of world sports action up close and personal. He enjoys staying on top of the changing world of athletics and capitalizing on his writing skills to offer a unique take on what's going on in the ever-changing athletics ecosystem.

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