76ers & Celtics advance; Nuggets force Game 7

Andre Iguodala made the go-ahead free throws with 2.2 seconds left as the #8 Philadelphia 76ers rallied for a 79-78 victory over the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in Game 6 to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2003. The Sixers are only the fifth No. 8 seed in history to win a first-round series against a No. 1 seed. Memphis eliminated San Antonio last season, while Golden State (2007), New York (1999) and Denver (1994) also pulled off the rare feat.




Kevin Garnett scored 28 points with 14 rebounds, including hitting the go-ahead basket with 31 seconds left to help the Boston Celtics eliminate the Atlanta Hawks in six games of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals with an 83-80 victory at TD Garden. Up next for the Celtics will be Philadelphia in the Eastern semifinals. That series will begin this Saturday in Boston.




Kobe Bryant scored 31 points despite an upset stomach, but was equally upset with the performance of his supporting cast as the Denver Nuggets rolled to a 113-96 win against the Los Angeles Lakers to force a Game 7 at the Staples Center in L.A. this Saturday in their Western Conference quarterfinal series.