NBA; Celtics & Clippers Post Playoff Wins

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) – The Boston Celtics are one victory away from knocking off the defending NBA Champions.  The Celts own a 3-2 series lead after Jaylen Brown scored 27 points in a 111-89 blowout over the Raptors. Kemba Walker scored 21 for the Celtics, whose starters outscored Toronto’s top five by a whopping 93-45.  The Raptors shot 2-for-15 during its first 15 possessions to fall behind 18-5. A 23-7 Boston run put the Celtics up by 28 late in the first half.  Fred VanVleet scored 18 for Toronto, which trailed by as many as 30. Norman Powell scored 16 for the Raptors, but Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry managed 10 points apiece.  Game 6 is Wednesday.  The Los Angeles Clippers staged a fourth-quarter rally to take a two-tames-to-one lead in the Western Conference semifinals against Denver.  The Nuggets led 97-90 until the Clippers reeled off a 14-4 run in a 113-107 triumph over Denver. Kawhi Leonard had a huge block down the stretch and finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.  Paul George had a team-high 32 points for the Clippers, who are two wins away from their first conference finals berth since the franchise began play 50 years ago. Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for Denver despite a sore right wrist that had him questionable before the game.