National Basketball Association

NBA playoffs: Top moments from Thursday's pair of pivotal Game 6s

Updated Jun. 4, 2021 1:27 a.m. ET

Two Western Conference teams were trying to keep their championship dreams alive on Thursday night. Both came up short.

The NBA action tipped off with the Denver Nuggets aiming to keep Damian Lillard at bay and boot the Portland Trail Blazers from the playoffs. And they did just that thanks to a 36-point outing from their MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, who led the Nuggets to a 126-115 Game 6 victory.

They will now advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Next, the defending champions had their backs against the wall, with the Los Angeles Lakers facing elimination at home against the Phoenix Suns.

And the upstart Suns stunned the defending champions, beating them 113-100 in Game 6 to advance to the Western Conference semifinals to face the Nuggets.

They were led by Devin Booker's 47 points.

This is the first time in LeBron James' career that he has been eliminated in the first round.

Here are the best moments from Thursday's playoff slate:

Phoenix Suns 113, Los Angeles Lakers 110 (Suns win series 4-2)

Lakers forward Anthony Davis attempted to play in Game 6 but only lasted five minutes before re-aggravating his left groin injury.

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The Suns immediately jumped out to a fast start, building a 17-point lead early in the first quarter.

The Suns shot 10-for-12 from 3-point range in the first quarter to take a 36-14 lead. They were led by Devin Booker's hot shooting, who scored 22 points in the opening frame.

Taking a 61-41 lead into halftime, the Suns were led by Booker's monster first half with 33 points, nearly keeping pace with the Lakers on his own.

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It appeared that the Suns would be able to cruise to an easy victory after building a 29-point lead, but the Lakers stormed back to cut the lead to 13 midway through the third quarter.

But the story of the night continued to be Booker, who answered every Lakers' comeback attempt with big shot after big shot.

Denver Nuggets 126, Portland Trail Blazers 115 (Nuggets win series 4-2)

Damian Lillard set an NBA Playoff record in Game 5 with 12 made 3-pointers, and early on in Game 5, it appeared as if Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. was intent on trying to match that record.

Porter Jr. poured in 22 first-quarter points while making six 3-pointers.

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But even with Porter Jr.'s hot shooting, the Blazers carried a 33-29 lead into the second quarter.

And they would extend their lead going into halftime up seven points by score of 68-61.

Lillard led the way for the Blazers in the first half with 19 points.

Lillard also broke the NBA's record for most made 3-pointers in a single series during the first half.

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After falling behind by as many as 14 points in the third quarter, the Nuggets were able to cut the deficit to three points entering the fourth thanks to this running 3-pointer from Monte Morris to beat the buzzer.

The Nuggets would not only complete the comeback, but take a commanding lead in the fourth quarter by as much as nine points.

And they would hold on to win, closing out the Blazers and advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals.

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