MILWAUKEE (AP) — Khris Middleton scored 38 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo (YAH’-nihs an-teh-toh-KOON’-poh) added 30 and the Milwaukee Bucks never trailed in a 104-89 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday to force a decisive seventh game in their second-round playoff series.
Game 7 will take place Saturday night in Brooklyn. The home team has won each of the first six games in this series. Milwaukee never trailed and broke the game open by going on a 14-0 run that started with less than 8 ½ minutes left. Kevin Durant had 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets.
NBA-NEWS
Mavericks, Carlisle part ways
UNDATED (AP) — Rick Carlisle has stepped down as coach of the Dallas Mavericks, the second major departure for that franchise in as many days.
Carlisle spent 13 seasons in Dallas, leading the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA title. His decision was announced Thursday, one day after general manager Donnie Nelson and the team agreed to part ways, ending a 24-year run for Nelson as part of the organization. Dallas becomes the seventh team with a coaching vacancy, joining New Orleans, Washington, Orlando, Indiana, Portland — and Boston, where Carlisle played for the team that won the 1986 NBA title.
In other NBA news:
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard is officially out for Friday night’s Game 6 of the Western Conference second-round series against the Utah Jazz. Leonard sprained his right knee during Monday night’s Game 4 win. He traveled with the Clippers to Salt Lake City, Lue said, then returned to Los Angeles for further testing. Despite missing Leonard, LA took a 3-2 series lead on Wednesday night with a 119-111 victory behind 37 points from Paul George. The Clippers are 12-9 without their All-Star forward this season, including 1-0 in the playoffs.