With a 110-96 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors advanced to the NBA Western Conference play-off final.
The Warriors won the series 4-2 because of Klay Thompson’s 30-point performance and Stephen Curry’s 29 points.
They will play either the Phoenix Suns or the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 108-95 to even the series at 3-3 and force a Game 7 on Sunday.
Game five had been a thrashing for the Warriors, but game six was a lot closer, with each team trading the lead three times in the fourth quarter before the Warriors pulled away. It implies they’ve made it to the sixth Western.
“This obviously stings,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.
“Such a special season with a special group, and I want them to cherish that, remember that, despite this loss.”
The Bucks, defending NBA champions, also had a chance to progress, going into a home game with a 3-2 series lead.
Star man Giannis Antetokounmpo played his part, scoring 44 points and 20 rebounds – the first 40-point, 20-rebound game since Shaquille O’Neal in 2001.
But the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum outshone even Antetokounmpo with 46 points to see the visitors keep their semi-final series alive.
“Our season was on the line. I knew that and we knew that. We had to give it all we’ve got,” Tatum said.
The winners of the Bucks-Celtics series will meet the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference final.
