Saturday Roundup

SPORTS

NBA Playoffs: 76ers, Suns, Mavericks, Grizzlies Advance As Round of 16 Concludes

The NBA Playoffs' Round of 16 concluded on Friday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Thursday Game:

At  Toronto:

Joel Embiid scored 33 points and grabbed ten rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers smothered the homestanding Toronto Raptors 132-97 in game six to close out their conference quarterfinal series four games to two.

Tyrese Maxey (who dished out eight assists) and James Harden (15 assists) added 25 and 22 points respectively to the Sixers' coffers.

Chris Boucher (off the bench and who grabbed 10 boards) and Pascal Siakam topped the Raptors with 25 and 24 points respectively.

The Sixers will open their conference semifinal series with the Miami Heat down in South Florida on Monday.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Thursday Games:

At New Orleans:

Chris Paul scored 33 points (while dishing out eight assists) while Deandre Ayton added 22 as the Phoenix Suns held off the New Orleans Pelicans 115-109 on the road in game six and won their series four games to two.

Brandon Ingram was one of seven Pelicans to score in double figures, leading New Orleans with 21 points to go with his 11 assists.

At Salt Lake City, Utah:

Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson each scored 24 points (while the former grabbed nine boards and dished out eight assists) as the Dallas Mavericks upended the visiting Utah Jazz 98-96 on the road in game six and won their series four games to two.

Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 23 points while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out eight assists.

The Suns and Mavericks will square off in a conference semifinal series, set to open in Phoenix on Monday.

Friday Game:

At Minneapolis:

Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks each scored 23 points as the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a fourth-quarter double-digit deficit and overcame the homestanding Minnesota Timberwolves 114-106 in game six of their conference quarterfinal series, which the Grizzlies won in six games.

Anthony Edwards topped the Wolves with 30 points while Jaden McDaniels came off the bench and added 24.

The Grizzlies will take on the Golden State Warriors in a conference semifinal series, set to open in Memphis on Sunday.

Devils Close Out Another Rough Season With Home Defeat

At Newark, New Jersey:

In the regular-season finale for both clubs, Pius Suter scored the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Detroit Red Wings knocked off the hosts New Jersey Devils 5-3.

The Devils will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth straight year and ninth time in ten seasons.  They close out the season with six straight defeats and eight straight at home.

Nats Blow Out Giants To Snap Eight-Game Skid

At Oracle Park, San Francisco:

Juan Soto hit a home run on Friday as the Washington Nationals (7-15) wound up with a season-high 22 hits in their 14-4 fistbeating of the San Francisco Giants (13-7) to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Saturday Soccer Roundup

At Wolverhampton, England:

Alexis MacAllister (PK-42') Leandro Trossard (70'), and Yves Bissouma (86') each scored once on Saturday as Brighton and Hove Albion dominated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 on the road in English Premier League action.

At Amsterdam, Netherlands:

Davy Klaassen scored twice (51', 80') as Ajax Amsterdam dominated visiting PEC Zwolle 3-0 in Saturday Dutch Eredivisie action.