Philadelphia have forced Game 7 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal series after a 104-99 win over Atlanta while the Los Angeles Clippers overturned a 25-point deficit to eliminate Utah in the west.
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Seth Curry hit six three-pointers and scored 24 points as the top-seeded Sixers avoided elimination on Friday
The 76ers overcame Trae Young's 34-point effort to force a decider on Sunday night in Philadelphia.
Tobias Harris also had 24 points, making four free throws in the final 13 seconds to protect the lead. Joel Embiid added 22 points and 13 rebounds while Australian Ben Simmons had six points, nine rebounds and five assists.
"Tonight I think we showed that mental toughness and came out on top," Simmons said.
Young's long three, just before the shot clock expired, cut Philadelphia's lead to 94-93. Embiid answered with a basket. Free throws by Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, who scored 16 points off the bench, pushed the advantage to 98-93.
Danilo Gallinari's jam with 20 seconds remaining cut the lead to three points.
After rallying from deficits of 18 and 26 points in their last two wins, the Hawks finally started strongly. Atlanta led by 12 points in the first period and by 51-47 at halftime.
The 76ers opened the second half with a flurry of four threes, including three by Curry, for a 12-0 run to open the second half that gave Philadelphia a 59-51 lead. The 76ers led by 11 at 68-57, following a jumper by Embiid.
Atlanta cut the lead to 80-76 entering the final period.
With Atlanta leading 92-84 with 4:03 remaining, Embiid was called for an offensive foul when guarded by John Collins.
Embiid fell on top of Collins on the court and Collins then shoved the 76ers centre before both rose to their feet.
Embiid had his arms stretched out wide with Collins' hands around his neck as both walked off the court under the basket as a brief scuffle ensued.
Officials reviewed the altercation and called technical fouls on each player with no free throws rewarded.
In Los Angeles, the Clippers won 131-119 to take the series 4-2 on the back of Terance Mann's 39 points and Paul George's 28-point contribution.
Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points for the Jazz, who also had four others notch double figures.
Boomer Joe Ingles played 18 minutes and had five points and two assists.
The Clippers advance to a conference final for the first time in the franchise's 51-year history and id so after being 25 points down early in the third quarter.
It is the largest comeback by a team in a series-clinching win over the last 25 seasons and the second straight series Los Angeles has dropped the first two games and come back to advance.
Australian Associated Press
