NBA: Kyrie Irving leads Dallas Mavericks to semi-final spot with win over LA Clippers

Mavericks beat Clippers 114-101, Magic win against Cavaliers sets up deciding game, Lakers sack head coach after play-offs elimination.

The Dallas Mavericks emerged victorious over the Los Angeles Clippers with a score of 114-101, securing a 4-2 series win in the first round of the NBA play-offs. Kyrie Irving shined in the game, scoring 30 points with 28 of them coming in the second half. Luka Doncic also put on an impressive performance with 28 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds. The win for the Mavericks sets up a Western Conference semi-final match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

On the other side, the Orlando Magic managed to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96, tying their Eastern Conference first-round series at 3-3. Donovan Mitchell's 50 points for the Cavaliers were not enough to secure a win against a Magic team led by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The series will now go to a deciding seventh game, with the winner facing the Boston Celtics.

The tension is high as both teams prepare for the crucial game seven. Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff expressed confidence in his team's ability to perform at home, while Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley emphasized the importance of these moments in basketball. The home team has emerged victorious in all six games of the series, adding to the anticipation of the final showdown.

In other news, the Los Angeles Lakers have made the decision to part ways with head coach Darvin Ham following their elimination from the NBA play-offs by the Denver Nuggets. Despite leading the Lakers to victory in this season's in-season tournament, Ham's team fell short in the play-offs, losing 4-1 to the Nuggets. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka expressed gratitude for Ham's efforts but stated that the decision was made following a full review of the season.

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