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NBA playoffs 2022 – What’s next for the conference semifinals heading into each Game 5?

NBA playoffs 2022 - What's next for the conference semifinals heading into each Game 5?

What’s next in four thrilling NBA conference semifinal series?

After Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III was a late scratch Monday night, Al Horford picked up the slack with a playoff career-high 30 points in a series-tying Game 4 win over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Despite shooting 9-for-37 from 3-point range, the Golden State Warriors rallied late to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Memphis Grizzlies, who hope Ja Morant can return after missing Game 4 because of a knee injury.

Behind 31 points from James Harden and part two of the triumphant return of Joel Embiid, who missed the first two games of the series because of a concussion and a fractured orbital bone, the Philadelphia 76ers evened their showdown with the Miami Heat. For top-seeded Miami, the health of guard Kyle Lowry continues to be a question mark hovering over this series.

In Dallas, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul had his second straight bizarre performance in a loss, fouling out early in the fourth quarter of Game 4 after committing seven first-half turnovers in Game 3. Meanwhile, Dallas’ role players stepped up on Sunday; Mavs not named Luka Doncic hit 19 of their 20 3-pointers, led by eight from Dorian Finney-Smith and four from Davis Bertans.

With three series tied and a fourth featuring the No. 2-seeded Grizzlies on the brink, where is each headed as the conference semis shift to critical Game 5s?


Lowry returned to the East semifinals knowing his left hamstring was less than 100 percent. But the veteran point guard knows Miami needs him — even after taking a 2-0 lead — as the series shifted back to his hometown.

The 36-year-old gave it a go, but it has been clear through Games 3 and 4 that Lowry won’t be anywhere close to himself the rest of the way — if he returns at all; Lowry will miss Monday’s Game 5 and is considered day-to-day.

Lowry’s prodigious basketball IQ was the only thing pushing him through the injury he suffered in the first round against…

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