Hawks Come Back From 26 Points Down To Win

Trae Young scored 39 points for Atlanta, including all three free throws with 1:26 left after being fouled on a three-pointer. The 76ers had a 26-point lead in the first half and were still up 87-69 at the end of the third period, before collapsing in the fourth, when they were outscored 40-19 by the Hawks. 

ClippersThe L.A. Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard missed Game 5 of the second-round playoffs matchup between the Clippers and the Utah Jazz Wednesday night with a sprained knee.

L.A. won 119-111, taking a 3 games to 2 lead, but Leonard’s availability for Game 6 on Friday, and potentially after that, is uncertain. The two-time NBA Finals MVP appeared to be have been injured when he was fouled near the end of Game 4. He left the game less than a minute later and didn’t return.

Unclear If Suns' Paul  Will Play

The Phoenix Suns said Wednesday that Chris Paul had entered the NBA’s health and safety coronavirus protocols, and it’s unclear if he’ll be available to play for the start of the Western Conference finals next week.

AP cited a source as saying Paul has been vaccinated against Covid-19, meaning he might be cleared to return more quickly. 
Hornets' Ball Named Rookie of Year

The Charlotte Hornets’ Lamelo Ball was named the NBA Rookie of the Year on Wednesday.

Ball got 84 of 99 first-place votes in balloting by 100 writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Ball, who was chosen third overall in 2020 after playing professional basketball in Lithuania and Australia, beat out Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton.

The Arizona Diamondbacks got their 22nd consecutive road loss yesterday, falling 13-7 to the San Francisco Giants, to tie the MLB record. Two other teams have lost 22 straight road games, the 1963 New York Mets and the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics.

Pelicans Fire Head Coach

The New Orleans Pelicans have fired head coach Stan Van Gundy after just one season.

Team basketball operations head David Griffin said Wednesday, “This was something that was very, very difficult,” stating, “This was wrought in our philosophical difference in the way we’re going to reach the next step in our development.”

The Pelicans didn’t make the postseason after finishing 10 games below .500. 

National Basketball Association

Wednesday, June 16 Scoreboard

Second-Round Playoffs

Atlanta 109, Philadelphia 106 -- Atlanta leads series 3-2

Los Angeles Clippers 119, Utah 111 -- Los Angeles Clippers lead 3-2

Thursday, June 17 Schedule (Time Central)

Brooklyn at Milwaukee, 7:30 p.m.

East Semifinals -- Game 6

Women's National Basketball Association

Wednesday, June 16 Scoreboard

Los Angeles 85, Phoenix 80