NBA
Premier NBA Playoffs Highlights From Friday (September 11, 2020)
View the premier NBA Playoffs highlights from September 11th including Boston's incredible clutch defense, Tatum's heroics, Jokic 'joker-ing' around, and more!
ESPN
The best two words in sports are GAME SEVEN and Friday night’s winner-take-all event absolutely lived up to the hype. Two evenly matched teams – one that has the most championships of all-time, and one that won their first championship in franchise history last year. Boston would come out on top after a game that was destined to go down to the wire. Those top plays in a back-and-fourth Game 7 align with the paramount parts of a Game 5 comeback to form the final day of 2020 featuring multiple NBA Playoff games.
Enjoy the best highlights from Friday’s NBA Playoff action:
After witnessing Jayson Tatum’s amazing performance in Game 7 against the Cavs a couple years ago as a rookie and seeing his vast improvement since then, it seemed inevitable Tatum would perform at a high level again with the lights the brightest in a win-or-go-home atmosphere. The future superstar showed he’s at that level RIGHT NOW and can claim the title of “King of the East” if he can lead Boston past Miami en route to the Finals.
🔥 @jaytatum0 comes up HUGE in GAME 7! 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) September 12, 2020
29 PTS | 12 REB | 7 AST | 4 3PM
ECF begin Tues. (9/15) on ESPN pic.twitter.com/ftHiZw88cb
Analysts say it all the time, but the take that “Marcus Smart makes plays that don’t show up in the box score” has never been more accurate. The box score will show Smart ended with one block, but it was a monumental series-changing rejection. It will be remembered as the most impressive play of the series, but it was just one of many winning plays by Smart in Boston’s biggest game of the year.
Denied by Smart ❌ pic.twitter.com/XHla7HimVS
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 12, 2020
"An incredible block by Marcus Smart!"
— NBA (@NBA) September 12, 2020
👀 @smart_MS3's best HUSTLE PLAYS from this season before his @celtics face MIA in the East Finals, starting Tuesday (9/15) on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/WirnZILCIr
🗣️ AND ONE https://t.co/oxwIKiTtJL
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 12, 2020
this on repeat please 🙏 pic.twitter.com/HcNNyhcyAD
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 12, 2020
Unproven players have made a name for themselves in Game 7 this year as undrafted rookie Lu Dort did a couple weeks ago and Boston’s 2019 1st Rd pick Grant Williams did tonight. Williams didn’t drop 30 points like Dort, but he did make some of the biggest plays of the year for Boston as the clutch block over VanVleet in the final minute essentially clinched the Celtics their third ECF appearance in the last four years.
Grant Williams Game 7 Stats and Highlights
— Unofficial Aron Baynes Fan Club (@BaynesFanClub) September 12, 2020
☘️ 7 minutes (all in 4th)
☘️ 2 Rebounds
☘️ 1 Steal
☘️ Got Kyle Lowry to commit 6th foul
☘️ Missed free throw to create extra possession
☘️ 1 Block (clinched series)
Game 7 Grant is built Baynes tough pic.twitter.com/v1UZAbdxZJ
The biggest play of the Nuggets-Clippers was with slightly over a minute remaining and Game 5 becoming a one-possession battle. Denver’s late lead had gotten evaporated and likely would’ve been overridden if it wasn’t for Denver’s rookie stepping up when it mattered most with a clutch shot, significant block, and vital rebound all in the final 75 seconds.
COLD-BLOODED. https://t.co/5SiYVI69mr
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 12, 2020
DENIED https://t.co/ARf5XswTPr
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 12, 2020
With Denver’s backs against the wall, they’ve played their best as they’re now 4-0 this postseason when facing elimination. Denver’s dynamic duo both came to play in Game 5, and will need to keep it going to reach their first Western Conference Finals since Melo was in town.
🏹🃏 Jamal, Joker force Game 6, Sun. (9/13) at 1pm/et on ESPN!@BeMore27: 26 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST
— NBA (@NBA) September 12, 2020
Nikola Jokic: 22 PTS, 14 REB, 5 AST pic.twitter.com/12gGNFZvbl
Ｔｏｕｃｈｄｏｗｎ https://t.co/V4R9Hh2oJr
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 12, 2020
The Clippers’ Game 5 loss can’t be blamed on Kawhi Leonard as he played well throughout the game. His best play came in the 2nd Qtr with a devastating jam over Denver’s defense while he put up another powerful dunk after a spin move earlier in the game.
The. Klaw. 😤 pic.twitter.com/rXLdvWdZ1O
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 11, 2020
The Klaw drops the VICIOUS hammer.
— NBA (@NBA) September 11, 2020
LAC up 5 after 1Q on @NBAonTNT. pic.twitter.com/3E7KhnVBiT
An underrated aspect of Boston’s highly acclaimed starting lineup is the Center Daniel Theis, who showed his defensive acumen in Game 7 with his own block party.
BLOCK PARTY https://t.co/UzAx5lreJX
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 12, 2020
no no no 🚫 https://t.co/xZso1Yc58e
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 12, 2020
A major factor in why Toronto won Game 6 showed up again in Game 7 as Norman Powell had double-digit points off the bench, and none as exciting these two. Unfortunately the most memorable play from this game will show Powell’s crucial layup attempt getting pinned by Boston’s feisty guard in the final frame.
💥 Norm POWELL in transition! 💥@celtics 21@Raptors 16
— NBA (@NBA) September 12, 2020
WIN or GO HOME GAME 7 on TNT pic.twitter.com/rrpI7BQmBN
With the Nuggets getting beat by as much as 16 at times, the #3 seed turned it around in the 3rd quarter to initiate the comeback from a 3-1 deficit. LAC is still the more likely team to win this series, but if Denver does miraculously pull this comeback off, Millsap’s 14-point 3rd quarter can’t be forgotten as a big reason why.
Paul Millsap gets the open corner 3 off some nice #Nuggets ball movement pic.twitter.com/3K5qUaxKQO
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) September 12, 2020
Unless I'm mistaken, he's supposed to be the one rotating out to Millsap here, not Morris. Beverley gets back into the play to get level with the ball-handler and he just is late. pic.twitter.com/GkOhey3jYb
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) September 12, 2020
Full game highlights of Celtics vs. Raptors in Game 7 and Clippers vs. Nuggets in Game 5 are below.
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