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Thunder Sweep Suns as Nuggets Force Game 6 and Magic Push No. 1 Pistons to the Brink

Injuries are steering first-round outcomes through breakout bench scoring.

Overview

  • Oklahoma City, which clinched its series Monday with a 131-122 win in Phoenix, advanced 4-0 behind 31 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and will face the winner of Lakers-Rockets.
  • Denver, facing elimination Monday, beat Minnesota 125-113 as Nikola Jokic posted a 27-16-12 triple-double to cut the deficit to 3-2 with Game 6 set for Thursday in Minneapolis.
  • Orlando beat top-seeded Detroit 94-88 on Monday to take a 3-1 lead, leaving the Pistons needing three straight wins after committing 20 turnovers.
  • Minnesota still leads the series but lost Anthony Edwards for multiple weeks with a knee bone bruise and hyperextension and lost Donte DiVincenzo for the season to a torn right Achilles.
  • Houston stayed alive Sunday with a 115-96 Game 4 win over the Lakers without Kevin Durant, whose bone bruise and sprained left ankle leave him day-to-day for Wednesday’s Game 5 in Los Angeles.