BOSTON Celtics and Toronto Raptors set up a second round encounter in the 2019-2020 NBA playoffs after sweeping their first round opponents on Monday at Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, Florida.
Kemba Walker fired 32 points as Jayson Tatum added double-double 28 points and 15 rebounds as the Celtics edged Philadelphia 76ers, 110-106, and wrapped up the series at 4-0.
It was a tight game for both teams early on before the Celtics used a late third quarter rally to pull away and took a 96-79 edge in the fourth. The 76ers rallied back but could only come to within four.
Defending champions Raptors also reached the next round of competition after a 150-122 annihilation of the injury-hit Brooklyn Nets to close the series at 4-0.
Norman Powell drained five triples and finished with 29 points, Serge Ibaka added double-double 27 points and 15 rebounds and Pascal Siakam had 20 markers and 11 boards for the Raptors.
Meanwhile, Luka Dončić drained a buzzer-beating triple as the Dallas Mavericks escaped with a 135-132 overtime win against Los Angeles Clippers to tie the series at 2-2.
Dončić sent the Mavericks to victory after a contested trey over the defense of Clippers’ Reggie Jackson. He finished with triple-double 43 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists./PN
