Sawt Falasteen - Nuggets avoid NBA playoff sweep while Bucks push Bulls to the brink

The 27-year-old Serbian big man, last season's NBA Most Valuable Player, also delivered eight rebounds and six assists as the Nuggets pulled within 3-1 in their best-of-seven first round series to force a fifth game on Wednesday at San Francisco.

"We put up the fight," Jokic said. "We didn't want to get swept. We have more pride in ourselves."

After Stephen Curry nailed a long jumper to give Golden State a 121-119 lead with 1:21 to play, Jokic made a layup, Monte Morris sank a go-ahead jumper with 33 seconds remaining and after a steal by Austin Rivers, Jokic fired a pass to Will Barton for the deciding corner 3-pointer with 8.3 seconds remaining.

"I was just trying to attack and I just saw the pass in the corner," said Jokic.

No team in NBA history has overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series, but Jokic says the Nuggets have the spirit to make history.

"That's what we have, just fight," he said. "We've really got our second wind so why not?"

Morris had 24 points and Aaron Gordon added 21 for Denver.

Curry had 33 off the bench to lead Golden State while Thompson had 32 in his first 30-point playoff game since the 2019 NBA Finals.

A Curry layup, Andrew Wiggins dunk and Thompson jumper pulled the Warriors within 115-112 with 3:32 remaining. Jokic answered with a baseline jumper but Curry made two free throws and Wiggins jammed in a dunk with 2:28 to play to pull Golden State within 117-116.

Gordon sank two free throws to boost Denver's lead but Curry sank a driving layup and added a free throw to lift the Warriors level at 119-119 with 1:47 remaining, setting up the thrilling finish.

- Giannis powers Bucks' rout -

Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered game highs of 32 points and 17 rebounds to lead the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks over Chicago 119-95. The Greek star center also passed off seven assists and blocked two shots as the Bucks seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, which continues Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Bucks reserve Grayson Allen scored a career playoff high 27 on 10-of-12 shooting, 6-of-7 from 3-point range, while Jrue Holiday added 26 points and Bobby Portis had 14 for Milwaukee.

"I've got to trust my teamamtes," said Antetokounmpo. "They know what the deal is. They can all make plays. The games become easy when you move the ball."

The Bulls, who haven't won a home playoff game since 2015, were led by Zach LaVine with 24 points and 13 assists while DeMar DeRozan added 23 points.

Chicago shot only 38.9% from the floor, a defensive effort Antetokounmpo said the Bucks must repeat if they want to end the series at home in game five.

"We've got to keep up our defense," he said. "We've got to make it tough for them and we've got to hit our shots."

The Bucks were without forward Khris Middleton, out for the remainder of the series due to a left knee injury suffered in a game two loss. Portis replaced him, wearing glasses to protect an eye injury.

The Bulls lost guard Alex Caruso in the second quarter when he was struck in the face by an inadvertent elbow from Milwaukee's Jevon Carter.

Milwaukee began the second half with a 9-2 run for a game-high 65-43 edge. Chicago answered with an 17-3 spurt to pull within 68-60, only for the Bucks to reel off the next 11 points, Antetokounmpo scoring six and assisting on an Allen 3-pointer in the run for a 79-60 edge.

The Bulls came no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

Later playoff games Sunday find Miami at Atlanta and Phoenix at New Orleans.

N.Shalabi--SF-PST