LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Denver Nuggets crushed the Phoenix Suns, 125-100, on Thursday to become the first team to reach the National Basketball Association conference finals as the Boston Celtics forced a decisive game seven against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Western Conference top seeds Denver dominated from start to finish in Phoenix as they polished off the Suns, 4-2, in their best-of-seven conference semi-final.

In Philadelphia, Jayson Tatum scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Celtics held off the 76ers 95-86 to level their Eastern Conference semifinal at three games apiece.

The star forward had made just one of 14 attempts from the floor when he erupted with four three-pointers in the final period as the Celtics thwarted Philadelphia's comeback bid.

They will host game seven on Sunday, trying to deny the Sixers a first trip to the conference finals since 2001 and stay on course for a return to the NBA Finals themselves.

The Nuggets reached the conference finals for the first time since the Covid "bubble" in Florida in 2020 and will face either reigning champions Golden State or the Los Angeles Lakers, who hold a 3-2 lead in their series and host the Warriors on Friday.