Knicks clinch series; Clippers refuse to fade

NEW YORK (AFP) — Jalen Brunson scored 40 points as the New York Knicks clinched a series victory over the Detroit Pistons while the Los Angeles Clippers downed the Denver Nuggets to set up a titanic National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff decider on Thursday.

Brunson drained a game-winning three-pointer with four seconds remaining to give the Knicks a thrilling 116-113 win over the Pistons and seal a 4-2 series triumph.

In the Western Conference, the Clippers beat the Nuggets, 111-105, at the Intuit Dome to level their series 3-3 and force a decisive game seven in Denver on Saturday.

James Harden led the way for the Clippers with 28 points while Kawhi Leonard finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Los Angeles bounced back from Tuesday’s 131-115 game-five drubbing in Denver.

In Detroit, the Pistons had also looked poised to level their best-of-seven series with the Knicks after fighting back from 11 points down to lead 112-105 with just under three minutes remaining.

But an extraordinary late rally spearheaded by Brunson saw the Knicks claw their way back into the contest to tie at 113-113 with 36 seconds left on the clock.

Detroit star Cade Cunningham missed a layup to restore the Pistons lead, and that set the stage for an ice-cold three-pointer from Brunson to give the Knicks what turned out to be the winning lead.

“I stay poised and I rely on the trust and the composure that my teammates give me,” Brunson said. “None of this happens without them.”