WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The Golden State Warriors punched their ticket to the NBA Western Conference semifinals after edging the Denver Nuggets 102-98 in Game 5 to clinch a 4-1 best-of-seven series victory.
Stephen Curry scored a team-high 30 points in his return to Golden State's starting lineup. He converted a three-pointer with 1:33 left and scored again with 29 seconds remaining to help the Warriors seal the win.
Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets notched 30 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, tying the game at 90-90 late in the fourth period after Gary Payton II, who finished with 15 points, came up big with consecutive shots to help the Warriors lead 86-84.
The Warriors now await the winner of the first-round match-up between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves. Memphis currently leads the series 3-2.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 33 points and nine rebounds as defending champions the Milwaukee Bucks smashed the Chicago Bulls 116-100 to finish off the series in five games.
Without Khris Middleton who sprained the medial ligament in his left knee in Game 2, Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks by shooting 11 of 15 from the floor and 11 of 14 from the free-throw line.
As Zach LaVine of the Bulls was sidelined due to health and safety protocols, the Bucks focused its defense on DeMar DeRozan, who had scored 41 points in the Bulls' Game 2 victory. DeRozan was held to only 11 points, shooting 5 of 10.
The third-seeded Bucks advance to face the second-seeded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, after the Celtics swept the Brooklyn Nets. ■
