Three stars from Tuesday's slate of NBA playoff games
Two shorthanded teams came up with huge Game 5 wins, while another escaped elimination with a miracle comeback. Here are three stars from the NBA playoff games from Tuesday night.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey | 46 points, nine assists, five rebounds
Tyrese Maxey was having a spectacular night even before the final 25 seconds of Game 5, but what he did at the end of regulation made it legendary. Facing a hostile Madison Square Garden crown and with the Sixers facing elimination, Maxey scored seven points in the last 25 seconds to force overtime, then added five more points and an assists in the extra period as the Sixers stunned the New York Knicks, 112-106.
Maxey played 52 minutes and still seemed energetic all through the extra period. He and the Sixers still need to win the next two games to advance, but after Tuesday's miracle win, anything is possible.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley | 14 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks
The Orlando Magic start three 6-foot-10 players, bring another off the bench and have a 6-foot-11 backup center. With Cavaliers starting center Jarrett Allen out, Evan Mobley had to deal with the massive Magic players by himself. He thrived in Game 5, grabbing 13 rebounds and keeping Cleveland close in the battle on the glass. He also scored two big baskets down the stretch as Orlando made a furious comeback.
But his biggest play came when he stuffed Franz Wagner's layup that would have tied the game in the final seconds. Mobley blocked it, Max Strus grabbed the rebound and Cleveland escaped with a 104-103 win that gives them a 3-2 series lead.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis | 29 points, 10 rebounds
In Game 4, Bobby Portis was ejected in the first quarter of Milwaukee's loss. In Tuesday's 115-92 win, Portis stuck around for 39 impressive minutes. He tied Khris Middleton with a game-high 29 points, shot 14-for-24 and logged a +30, meaning the Pacers were outscored by 30 points with Portis on the floor.
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Portis took on the scoring burden and looked Giannis-like on the inside. He had 14 points in the paint and 14 more in the mid-range as he abused Indiana's flummoxed defenders. If Portis wanted to make up for his early exit Sunday, Tuesday's performance was an emphatic mea culpa.
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