Australian pair Josh Green and Dante Exum have progressed to the second round of the NBA playoffs after their Dallas Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-101 to clinch their Western Conference series 4-2.
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The Boomers duo now face a clash with Australia teammate Josh Giddey's top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the semi-finals, commencing on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
The Minnesota Timberwolves will take on reigning champions the Denver Nuggets in the west's other last-four series.
Superstars Luka Doncic (28 points, 13 assists) and Kyrie Irving (30 points) led the way for Dallas, while Green added seven points of his own.
The fifth-seeded Mavericks beat the Clippers for the first time in three first-round tries over the past five seasons.
Paul George had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who won the first two times they played without Kawhi Leonard in the series but didn't have enough scoring punch after he was sidelined by right knee inflammation.
James Harden had 16 points and 13 assists but was just five of 16 from the field and missed all six of his 3-pointers as LA were eliminated in the first round for the second consecutive season.
In Orlando, Paolo Banchero scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to help the Orlando Magic overcome Donovan Mitchell's 50 points and hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96.
The win for Joe Ingles' Magic forced a decisive Game 7 in their Eastern Conference first-round series - from which the winner will progress to face the dominant Boston Celtics.
Three nights after scoring 39 points on 14-of-24 shooting in a one-point road loss that left the Magic on the brink of elimination, the 21-year-old Banchero put his team on his back and carried them to their biggest win in years.
Franz Wagner had 26 points and Jalen Suggs made six 3-pointers and finished with 22 for the Magic, who pulled away in the closing minutes.
Mitchell was magnificent for Cleveland, scoring all of his team's 18 points in the fourth quarter, but the Cavs were unable to overcome poor 3-point shooting (seven of 28).
The Magic, in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, are seeking their first series win in 14 years.
- with AAP
Australian Associated Press
