The NBA Playoffs had a big night on Wednesday, as the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks in Game 5 to force another matchup in Boston and putting NY on the ropes after having a 3-0 lead in the first round series.
Kevin Garnett had his best game of the playoffs after putting up 16 points and 18 rebounds to keep Boston alive in the series and despite the fact that no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, the Celtics feel like they are capable of winning four games in a row against history. The Celtics came out on top 92-86 on Wednesday night and the team kept Carmelo Anthony off his game for the second time in a row, as he scored just 22 points after making 8-of-24 shots, following his 10-for-25 performance in Game 4.
On Thursday two other series could finish up with Game 6, as the Brooklyn Nets travel to Chicago to play the Bulls, while the Denver Nuggets will travel out to California to try and save elimination from the Golden State Warriors, who are up 3-2. The series between the Warriors and the Nuggets got very testy in Game 5, as both teams accused the other of playing dirty and trying to hurt each other on fouls.
Warriors coach Mark Jackson was animated after the game when asked about the physical play, as he felt that the Nuggets were deliberately trying to hurt Stephen Curry, who was dealing with an ankle injury since Game 2. Curry was frustrated during the game and later got into an argument with a fan as he walked off the court and into the locker room and he had to be restrained. Curry has been the MVP for the Warriors after setting the record for 3-pointers in the regular season, but the Nuggets shut him down in Game 5, keeping him to just 1-of-7 from beyond the arc.
The Nets have played well during the season away from home, but the United Center will be rocking as the team has the chance to eliminate the Nets despite the Bulls not having Derrick Rose for the season and Deron Williams will try his best to get things back to Brooklyn for the finish. A big factor for the Bulls on Thursday will be the availability of Kirk Hinrich, as he may miss his second straight game because of a calf injury and Luol Deng and Taj Gibson also were dealing with sickness and could be limited.
Brooklyn hasn't won at Chicago at all this season and if the team can't turn things around they will be sent home for the playoffs. The team rebounded from an awful year last season to get the fourth seed, but without a solid effort on Thursday, the 2012-13 season will be done for the new look Nets.
