Pacers and Celtics Advance to Eastern Conference Semifinals

The NBA semifinal bracket is taking shape, with the Eastern leaders, the Cleveland Cavaliers, set to face the Indiana Pacers, who overcame the Milwaukee Bucks with both skill and drama, despite the Bucks being favourites. In the other semifinal, the Boston Celtics await either the New York Knicks or the Detroit Pistons, who are locked in a tightly contested series. On paper, a conference final between Cleveland and Boston, the top two in the East, seems likely, but in the NBA, nothing is guaranteed.

Drama unfolded in last night's game in Indianapolis, which was closely contested until the very end. By the end of the third quarter, both teams were neck and neck, and the parity continued into the final quarter. The Bucks were up by two, but Tyrese Haliburton, with a brilliant individual play, executed a dunk to force overtime. Giannis Antetokounmpo had the chance to prevent this outcome, but his shot didn't go in.

In overtime, the Bucks pulled ahead by seven points with 40 seconds remaining. However, a three-pointer on the next play cut the lead to four. Gary Trent Jr, the Bucks' top scorer with 33 points, lost the ball, allowing Haliburton to complete a three-point play. Finally, Trent Jr made another costly turnover, and in the clutch play, Haliburton scored a layup to secure the Pacers' victory. Antetokounmpo's 30/20/13 performance wasn't enough, and coupled with the Bucks' poor management and some players' lack of form, they bid farewell to the season.

In the other series concluded last night, the Celtics swept the Magic with a 31-point victory. The game was competitive until halftime, with Orlando leading, but everything changed in the second half. Jayson Tatum rose to the occasion with 13 points in the third quarter, alongside Jaylen Brown's 9, steering the game in their favour. In the final quarter, the reigning champions maintained their intensity, closing out a series they dominated from start to finish. The Magic bid farewell to a brilliant season, but they still fall short of competing against the title favourites.