The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets scrap during their playoff game on Saturday night. Photograph: Abbie Parr/AP
Nikola Jokić and Julius Randle were ejected after Jaden McDaniels made a meaningless – and provocative – layup at the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
With Minnesota already all but guaranteed victory in a game that ended 112-96, McDaniels chose to make the layup with 2.1 seconds left rather than run out the clock, as is customary. That led to Jokić jogging down from half-court to confront McDaniels, and a shoving match ensued as other players became involved.
“I don’t know what [Jokić] said, to be honest. I just seen someone who was big as hell,” he said of the exchange with the 6ft 11in, 284lbs center.
“I don’t regret it,” Jokić said of his actions. “Because he scored after everybody stopped playing.”
Jokić was ejected for his part in the melee, as was Randle, who joined in the shoving.
McDaniels was already unpopular with the Nuggets after calling Jokić and his teammates “bad defenders” earlier in the series, which the Timberwolves now lead 3-1.
“I didn’t like what McDaniels did,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “The game was over. The game was conceded. In 2026, that stuff just doesn’t happen anymore. That’s something that happens in the ‘80s, where teams would continue to score. But that’s who he is.”
Although McDaniels will attract attention for his part in the game, Ayo Dosunmu, who Minnesota acquired from Chicago in February, was the team’s hero.
Dosunmu scored 43 points, stepping up after injuries to Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo with the highest-scoring playoff performance by a reserve in 50 years.
“Ayo was just out of this world, man,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Just play after play after play.”
Dosunmu made 13 of 17 shots, going 5 of 5 from three-point range, and all 12 of his free throws in a season-high 42 minutes. It was the best performance by a sub since Fred Brown scored 45 off the bench for Seattle in a 116-111 loss to Phoenix in April 1976.
Jamal Murray led Denver with 30 points. Jokić added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. The Nuggets were just 6 for 27 from 3-point range.
The Wolves have won the last three games and can end the series in Game 5 on Monday night in Denver. “I expect us to have a great effort in Game 5,” Nuggets coach David Adelman said. “I really trust our two best players will find a rhythm, and they have to find that at home.”
While Minnesota celebrate victory, the injuries to Edwards and DiVincenzo are real concerns for the Timberwolves’ playoff hopes.
Edwards, a four-time All-Star and the team’s top scorer, left in the second quarter after landing awkwardly and injuring his knee. Team officials helped Edwards to his feet and he placed his arms around their shoulders. He put little weight on his left leg as he hobbled toward the locker room.
Earlier in the first half, Timberwolves guard DiVincenzo headed toward the locker room after he injured his right leg on a non-contact play. Early reports indicated that DiVincenzo may have ruptured his achilles tendon.
In Saturday’s other games, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a playoff-career-high 42 points to lift Oklahoma City to a road win over Phoenix. The reigning NBA MVP finished 15 of 18 from the floor with eight assists to give the Thunder a commanding 3-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Elsewhere, Karl Anthony-Towns totaled 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his first career playoff triple-double as New York earned a victory over host Atlanta and evened their series 2-2. Meanwhile, the East’s No 1 seeds, the Detroit Pistons, are 2-1 down in their series with Orlando after Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece to give the Magic a 113-105 victory.
He lay on the floor for a few moments and appeared to lose his balance as he tried to get up. Trainers rushed over to examine him, and Wembanyama eventually rose to his feet and jogged to the locker room. The injury happened in the second quarter, and the Spurs ruled him out for the second half.
The Spurs eventually lost that game, 106-103, though San Antonio bounced back in Game 3 on Friday, April 24 to take a 2-1 series lead.
But with Game 4 scheduled for Sunday, April 26, Wembanyama’s status will loom large ahead of tip-off.
Here’s everything you need to know about the status of Spurs star forward-center Victor Wembanyama:
Is Victor Wembanyama playing tonight vs. Trail Blazers?
In its first Game 4 injury report issued Thursday night, San Antonio listed Wembanyama as questionable, and that designation has continued into Sunday morning. It is still unclear, at this point, if Wembanyama will play.
There were positive signs, though, that might be pointing to Wembanyama’s return. For one, he put up some shots during the morning shootaround ahead of Friday’s game. Wembanyama was also present on San Antonio’s bench during the game, both of which suggest that he had cleared the initial steps of the concussion protocol.
The Spurs, however, may exercise further caution with their franchise player. Concussions are serious injuries and repetitive concussions can pose long-term risks, including the potential increase of neurodegenerative diseases like Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
According to the Mayo Clinic, recovery time from a concussion varies from person-to-person, though “most symptoms resolve in a few days.” In certain cases, however, symptoms can persist for weeks, or even a month, so caution tends to be the standard.
NBA concussion protocol
In order for a player who was diagnosed with a concussion to return to the floor, the following requirements must be met:
The player is without concussion-related symptoms at rest.
The player has been evaluated by a physician trained in concussion management.
The player has successfully completed the league’s return-to-participation exertion process.
The player’s team physician has had a discuss about the player’s return-to-participation process with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, the director of the NBA’s concussion program. Only then, will the player’s team physician make the final determination on return to play.
Victor Wembanyama stats
In 64 games this season, Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks per game.
Reaves has been dealing with a left oblique muscle strain and has not played since participating in a 139-96 blowout loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.
He was listed as questionable on the Lakers' status report released on April 25.
Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters ahead of Game 3 on Friday, April 24, that Reaves would test whether he would've been able to play in the game. He did not play.
Redick had also confirmed that Reaves had recently played in 5-on-5 games, which usually indicates a player is close to a return.
Austin Reaves stats
Reaves has averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games played this season.
When do Lakers play next?
The Lakers will play the Houston Rockets on Sunday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET). The game will be streamed on Peacock.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 06: Paul Reed #7 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles the ball against Paolo Banchero #5 and Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Kia Center on April 06, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Saturday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter helped Orlando to a 113-105 win over Detroit. Jared McCain and OKC took care of Grayson Allen, Khaman Maluach, and the Phoenix Suns, 121-109. Meanwhile, New York thumped Quin Snyder’s Atlanta Hawks, 114-98. Finally, Minnesota clubbed Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets, 112-96.
Banchero just missed a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists. Carter had a great game for the Magic as well, with 14 points and 17 rebounds.
Orlando now leads, 2-1.
McCain had 7 points in 12 minutes for the Thunder. Grayson Allen is playing again after his hamstring injury and had 7 points off the bench. Maluach scored 2. Down 3-0, the series is all but over for the Suns.
Jalen Johnson had 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Hawks as the Knicks tied the series, 2-2.
Finally, Jones got a DNP for the Nuggets as Minnesota took a 3-1 lead.
Four games on Sunday as Cleveland takes on Toronto in Game 4, San Antonio challenges Portland in Game 3, Boston gets its old rival Philadelphia in Game 4, and Los Angeles faces the Rockets, also in Game 4.
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 23: Collin Murray-Boyles #12 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the net against Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 23, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors are in a weird spot.
From a circumstantial point-of-view, they’re not supposed to win this series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the franchise’s first playoff appearance since the 2021-22 season and the move they made at the trade deadline was for tax reasons. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers went all-in with the blockbuster acquisition of James Harden. Toronto is also without its starting point guard for the series, while its centre is fighting off a relentless back injury.
Yet, it still feels like this roster is expected to push the Cavaliers to the brink, or significant changes may occur in the off-season. The team’s payroll is similar to that of other true contenders, making it tricky to improve the questionable roster construction.
But here the Raptors are, one game away from resetting the series into a best-of-three.
Before the scheduled tip-off at 1:00 p.m. EST, here are three storylines to consider ahead of today’s matchup on TSN.
Familiar territory
Despite playing against only 23 playoff opponents during its 30-year history, Toronto is familiar with falling into an early 2-0 series deficit. It’s happened an astonishing 11 times. Ironically, the Cavaliers have won the opening two contests in each of their four playoff matchups against the Raptors.
When the Raptors win game three, they are 4-1 in the fourth contest of the series:
Defeated the Detroit Pistons 89-83 (2001)
Lost to the Orlando Magic 106-94 (2008)
Defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 105-99 (2016)
Defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 120-102 (2019)
Defeated the Boston Celtics 100-93 (2020)
The rookie and the vet
When Collin Murray-Boyles was taken with the organization’s first top 10 pick since 2021 (Scottie Barnes), no one could have expected that he would look like a calm veteran in his first post-season experience. Murray-Boyles is averaging 17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists on a hyper-efficient 72.7 per cent shooting. He’s also adding nearly one block and steal per contest.
One thing Murray-Boyles was chastised for leading into the NBA draft was how his size would hold up against taller centres. While Cleveland has outrebounded Toronto in two of three games, Murray-Boyles looks like he belongs on the court. The Cavaliers arguably have the most dynamic defensive big man duo in the Eastern Conference with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, yet Murray-Boyles looks comfortable navigating through playoff defences.
While it’s likely that Mobley rediscovers some of his defensive aura, Murray-Boyles’ effectiveness in the paint, particularly with his push-shot, should cause Cleveland to second-guess going with a smaller line-up. As long as the Cavaliers believe their best chance at winning means playing both Mobley and Allen in meaningful moments, that opens up new options made possible by the emergence of Jamison Battle.
Another way Murray-Boyles can dramatically affect the outcome is as a fulcrum in off-ball actions designed to get Brandon Ingram the ball. During numerous instances in the second and third quarters, Murray-Boyles’ screens were visibly more effective at getting Ingram open. When the Cavaliers sold out to deny Ingram, the rookie looked comfortable serving as the connector with the ball in his hands.
Mobley matters
It’s reasonable to think that one of – and probably both – Donovan Mitchell and James Harden produce a supernova-like offensive explosion at some point in the remainder of the series. Toronto has proven it can weather those storms up to a certain point. The Raptors will need RJ Barrett to continue dominating and Brandon Ingram to rediscover himself, but both asks are within the realm of possibilities.
The X-Factor could end up being Mobley. The six-foot-11 big man is averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 60 per cent. These are within the vicinity of his regular-season numbers. Where he could swing the momentum back in Cleveland’s favour is through his defence and shooting.
Mobley can’t let Barnes and Murray-Boyles push him around in the paint. That’ll have a direct impact on whether or not the Cavaliers can improve their spacing on the offensive end with an Allen-less lineup.
His shooting will also further complicate matters for the Raptors. In the first two games, Mobley went a combined 2-for-4 from three. In game three, he finished 0-for-4 from beyond-the-arc. Toronto can’t defend everything. With the Raptors exhausting several resources on containing Mitchell and Harden, they have to hope Mobley struggles from three for the rest of the series.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 11: Anton Bonke #49 of the Charlotte 49ers jumps for the opening tipoff against the Davidson Wildcats at Dale F. Halton Arena on November 11, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After Lucas’ look at Carlos Medlock Jr. on Friday, we’re continuing our preview series of new basketball players with a look at the Spartans’ only transfer (at least so far) for 2026-27: Anton Bonke.
Bonke’s background is pretty interesting. He was born in the Netherlands but moved with his mother to Port Vila, Vanuatu, when he was three. Bonke grew up in Port Vila and I had to figure out where that is:
So, it’s an island north of New Zealand and between Australia and Fiji:
And, apparently, it’s not easy to get to East Lansing from Vanuatu:
Making it even harder, Bonke comes to MSU by way of Eastern Arizona Junior College, Providence College, and the University of Charlotte.
One of our readers posted this Q&A with Bonke from his time at Eastern Arizona JC and there is this all-access video from the 2025-2026 season at Charlotte:
In both sources, Bonke discusses growing up in Vanuatu and how his mom got him involved in several sports as a kid. One of which was rowing – a sport most people don’t care about. I get it. But hear me out for just a moment, please.
Training for rowing often takes place early in the morning, requiring a lot of discipline from a younger person. Its repetitive motion requires those who want to be good at it to hone in on, and strive to improve, the finer details of the sport. Specifically this includes:
How the blades of the oars enter and exit the water,
The sequencing of body movements that propel the boat with oars in the water, and
One’s ability to control the body to avoid disturbing the boat, allowing it glide when the oars are out of the water.
In addition to good endurance, rowers generally possess full-body strength, but specifically in the lower body, and leverage – things that could probably help greatly when trying to carve out space in the paint or cutting out for a rebound.
Despite being a good rower, Bonke’s passion shifted to basketball while in Port Vila. There just weren’t a lot of options to play hoops competitively. Bonke settled for watching NBA games until he could start playing on a team after graduating high school at age 16. He had a family connection in Davis, CA, so Bonke moved there and eventually caught on at Eastern Arizona.
After a year at the JUCO level, Bonke moved to Providence College where he had a pretty limited role. During the 2024-25 season with the Friars, he averaged 6.5 minutes, 1.3 points, and 1.2 rebounds per game over 16 appearances with one start.
Bonke’s production increased immensely last year at Charlotte, however, where he averaged 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per game. Bonke played in all 34 games for the 49ers, with 32 starts. He shot 57.6% from the floor and 34.2% (13-38) on threes.
Charlotte finished the year an even .500 at 17-17 overall and 9-9 in the American Conference. The 49ers finished tied for fifth place in the 13 team league. South Florida, Tulsa, Wichita State, and UAB took the top four spots. So how did Bonke do against those teams and Virginia Tech – the only high-major out-of-conference team Charlotte played last season?
Bonke’s stat line in these nine games is pretty similar to the season overall.
His high minutes were the 41 in the double overtime win against Wichita State on January 3. Bonke scored 25 in a win at Temple on January 28, 20 in a loss to Temple on December 30, and 20 again in a loss at Florida Atlantic on March 1.
Overall, Bonke scored in double figures in 20 of 34 games for the 49ers last season. Charlotte was 10-10 in games in which Bonke reached double figures in points and 7-7 in games where he did not. It seems like the 49ers were just going to be a .500 team regardless last year.
So how will this translate to MSU and the Big Ten?
Size-wise, at least, pretty favorably. Bonke is 7 feet, 2 inches tall and either 260 or 270 pounds, depending on which source you look at. Comparing him to several centers he could square up against in the Big Ten:
Daniel Jacobsen, Purdue: 7-4, 250
Aday Mara, Michigan: 7-3, 255
Samet Yigitoglu, Indiana: 7-2, 270
Moustapha Thiam, Michigan: 7-2, 250
Zvonimir Ivisic, Illinois: 7-2, 245
Eric Reibe, USC: 7-1, 260
Tomislav Ivisic, Illinois: 7-1, 255
Aiden Sherrell, Indiana: 6-11, 255
Note that this list includes players who have transferred in to, or could return to, the teams listed above.
This interesting stat also puts Bonke in pretty good company:
7-footers with 50 dunks and 10 threes in a season per @totally_t_bomb:
Anton Bonke Henri Veesaar (NBA draft process) Ryan Kalkbrenner (NBA) Vlad Goldin (NBA) Kel'el Ware (NBA) Branden Carlson (NBA) Chet Holmgren (NBA) Walker Kessler (NBA) Evan Mobley (NBA) Deandre Ayton (NBA) https://t.co/AbQllK2jt9
Tom Izzo is obviously a believer and recently had this to say on the Drive with Jack podcast:
“We just think this kid has a little bit of everything. He’s tough, he’s got size, he can shoot the 3. We’ll see what happens but we feel like we got ourselves a very good player that is going to really help us.”
Also, according to Izzo, the Spartans had to beat out some competitors to land Bonke. In an article posted on Mlive, Izzo said he thought the Spartans might lose him to Kansas. So, Izzo apparently isn’t the only one who is high on Bonke’s potential. Interestingly, the same Mlive article from Matt Wenzel notes that Bonke has entered his name in the NBA draft (while retaining his college eligibility) – something that doesn’t seem to be mentioned much – but Izzo expects him to be in the Green & White next season.
Let’s close this out with a few video clips of Bonke in action for Charlotte last season and you can judge for yourself if you think his game will translate to the Big Ten.
Here is Bonke staying with his man and forcing him away from the basket as he attempts to drive and then ending the scoring threat for good with a nice rejection:
I didn’t know anything about Anton Bonke before starting this article but I’m going to end it with some hopefulness. This guy seems to have come a long way in a short time playing organized basketball. Perhaps, in some ways, this is where the transfer portal can be good. A guy worked hard to get in a position to come to the United States and, in a few years, has worked his way from Eastern Arizona Junior College to a team with Final Four aspirations.
Izzo has called him “tough” and his demeanor in the all-access video from Charlotte seems to indicate that he’ll be able to take it if and when he experiences some “hard coaching” at MSU.
He appears to have an offensive skill set that can provide buckets in the paint and stretch the floor.
Perhaps Bonke will struggle initially with the defensive demands at MSU and in adjusting to the top-level of college basketball but he’s been making adjustments that have worked for him since he was 16 years old.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 21: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game Two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Last Tuesday, Victor Wembanyama went out of Game 2 early in the second quarter with a concussion. He has since been in the NBA concussion protocols. The Spurs have been working with the NBA to monitor Victor’s progress toward recovery. They are also in the process of evaluations to detemin when and if Wemby should return during this timeline of this series.
On Thursday, he flew with the team. On Friday, he worked out, participated in shoot arounds, and yet did not play once the time came.
Per league protocol, 24 hours after a player sustains a concussion, he can begin the process of returning to play. If symptom-free, he can be cleared to return by team doctors in consultation with a league policy director after 48 hours without full participation.
Thirty minutes before tipoff for Game 3, the forward warmed up at Moda Center.
“He’s progressing every day,” Harper said. “All we can really do is pray for him and hope the trajectory he’s (on) keeps happening.”
Expect a game time decision to Wembanyama’s availability.
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Between the roughly 520 miles of driving, and the two hours sitting on the upper deck press row of Xfinity Mobile Arena, around 95% of my Friday night was spent sitting down while the Celtics battled in a down-to-the-wire thriller against the 76ers.
The decision to drive from my apartment in Richmond, Virginia to South Philadelphia, and immediately head right back within a 24-hour period was ill-advised, and I kind of knew it.
But this is the postseason — it’s the perfect time to make rash decisions. If I’m losing sleep over playoff basketball, I might as well do it because I’m there. From a 11:30 a.m. departure and an arrival back home at 3:30 a.m. Saturday, the entire day was spent in a sort of dream-like haze. You walk through the tunnel, and there Derrick White stands, signing autographs.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum breeze by the media for their postgame pressers, an hour after combining for 11 of the team’s 16 clutch points in front of a raucous Philadelphia crowd. There you are, witnessing a new chapter to one of the NBA’s greatest rivalries. That is why I made the drive.
The nighttime drive from Philadelphia to Richmond was a little over four hours on the road. Not terrible, especially with the Trail Blazers/Spurs radio broadcast to keep you company, but the drive from Richmond to Philadelphia was a slightly worse six and a half hours, featuring hours of stop-and-go traffic and a brief excursion into the heart of Baltimore that Google Maps deemed a “time-saving” maneuver.
During that drive, half of the time was spent on series-adjacent thoughts: how do the Celtics defend the Maxey pick-and-roll? How do the rotations change from Game 2? Can Jayson Tatum find his touch from beyond the arc?
The other half of the drive, spent on things like music and podcasts, ultimately evolved/devolved into basketball, in some way or another. I had spent a good chunk listening to Icelandic artist Björk for the first time (Her album Debut is incredible), which later turned into a bit where I tried my best to do an impression of Björk on the call with Mike Breen and Doris Burke (whether or not it was a good impression, I’ll leave to the imagination).
I also got to thinking about playoff hype videos. We all love them, we all need them. It’s the perfect way to usher in a playoff run, and luckily we’ve got tons of talented content creators out there that have perfected the craft. But what is the best one from this year for the Celtics?
For my money, it comes from @derekwkim (who I see on this blog pretty frequently!). This video, if you haven’t seen it, is absolutely Dy-no-mite. If this doesn’t get you absolutely locked in, check your pulse. It’s too good.
When I finally parked at Xfinity Mobile, I was in a hectic state. On one hand, the traffic was so bad, I only had about an hour to get acclimated with my surroundings. That meant no opportunity to watch shootarounds, take additional notes, or listen to Nick Nurse and Joe Mazzulla’s pre-game pressers.
On the other hand, for every 10 steps you walk, you’re hearing Celtics and Sixers fans just jaw at each other. A glorious rivalry, a tied up series, everyone is confident. This is what it’s all about. The atmosphere of a playoff game is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.
This was my first live Celtics playoff game in any capacity, though it’s actually the second playoff game I’ve ever been to.
In 2024, a friend and I drove over 1,200 miles to Dallas, Texas for a spur of the moment road trip to see Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Mavericks and the Timberwolves. It was a great game, and an even greater atmosphere, just for the fact that Dallas was a game away from their first Finals appearance since 2011.
It was during that trip that I watched the Celtics clinch their second Finals appearance of the Jays era in possibly the seediest motel I’ve ever been in, so that gives me an interesting “where were you when the Celtics swept the Pacers?” experience for that championship season.
If anyone else answers “fearing for bedbugs in Dallas, Texas” that’s a pretty crazy coincidence.
In Philly, I was taking notes on a range of topics: pick-and-roll coverages, Maxey defenders, Jaylen Brown paint touches, to name a few.
I really didn’t interact too much with anyone near me during the game, although I was given a rare, naturally-occurring jumpscare from the older Philadelphia writer that sat beside me, who had a second screen on with the Phillies game and slammed his fist hard on the table after what I assume to be a costly error or game-losing play. Here I am locked in on a Tatum pick-and-roll only to be absolutely shaken by the absolute rage of this man. He, too, was locked in, just on something completely different from the other 19,016 people in attendance.
After watching an electric clutch performance from the Jays and hearing them speak in front of the media, I was off on the road back to Richmond. Now with a shorter, smoother ride, I spent the time thinking over what I just watched.
If you’re reading this, that probably means you’ve also read the many wonderfully-written articles from the blog’s staff about the finer details of this win. I don’t want to harp on too many more details with another game on Sunday, but consider this a 10 Takeaways microdose. We’ll call it 3 Takeaways.
1) Baylor Scheierman has made the most of his opportunities
There’s a clear need for Jordan Walsh to also have an established role in this series, and I understand playoff minutes are hard to come by with Jaylen and Jayson both averaging over 36 minutes, but Scheierman has been so good in his time on the floor this series. If there’s room to expand his minutes, I’d like to see it.
His 12 minutes on the floor felt like a sample of all the things he’s provided in the rotation this season. He hit a pair of threes, grabbed three boards, and hounded the ball on defense, coming away with two steals.
The versatility Scheierman presents, it just feels like it’s going to save the day at some point. He is simply built for the moment.
2) This was the clutch execution we needed to see
There was just something not quite right with how the Celtics offense ran in Game 2, even as they drew as close as two points from the Sixers in the fourth quarter. Too many stalled possessions down to the final seconds, too much overdribbling to make something happen, and of course, not enough shooting execution when they did get a good look.
Game 3 was not the case.
Not to say it was all perfect, after all Pritchard’s late three barely beat the shot clock on a well-defended possession, and the Sixers stuck around by attacking the basket, but through the pressure and the chaos, the Celtics were composed when it mattered.
While it’s not the most important shot of the fourth quarter, Tatum’s 3-pointer with two minutes left shows that composure completely. The Sixers sell out on taking away his drive, so much so that they dare Vooch to pull it from deep. He doesn’t force it, he doesn’t push the ball to the first option he sees, he takes a dribble inside the arc, forces a reaction to collapse onto him, then makes the best read possible by getting it back to Tatum.
And when Tatum took that extra dribble, you just knew that shot was going down. A smart play rewarded.
Clutch execution is an understandable concern with this group, but we saw that the team can shine when it gets down to those final, intense moments of a game. We absolutely needed to see a closeout like this.
3) We saw this core’s playoff experience at work
Joe Mazzulla had a quote that resonated with me when he was asked if the way the team closed out the win was a testament to Tatum and Brown’s playoff experience and leadership. To him, it shows up in other areas even before you reach the clutch stages of this game.
“I think it shows up in how you handle playoff losses, how you handle a bad game, how you handle winning,” he said. “I think the experience just kind of shows up in their poise on a day-to-day basis. Not getting too high, not getting too low, having a clear understanding of what’s at stake and what’s needed on a consistent basis. I thought you saw that tonight.”
It’s a realization that, to those who have followed this team since the very beginning of this era, before we even considered it an era of this duo, we have seen so many battles, so many postseason journeys, so many lessons learned. They’ve reached the top of the mountain, they suffered devastating defeat, and everything in between.
They’ve literally seen it all.
Game 3 was a nailbiter, but it’s not new to this duo. That experience matters.
It’s 3:30 a.m., and I’m finally back home. Face meets pillow, end of journey. Maybe next time I’ll book a flight.
Boston, MA - April 23: Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard holds up the Sixth Man Award before Game 2 of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Annually, the International Association of Structure Movers holds a convention with an awards banquet. Some awards are based purely on the numbers (e.g. “Heaviest Structure Moved on Rubber Tires”), but others are based on the opinions of judges (e.g. “Most Innovative Move”).
I love to use these awards as an example of a typical trade association’s annual recognition banquet because these are incredibly niche undertakings. These ain’t the Oscars—or the NBA’s awards for that matter.
Yet, they kind of are.
The NBA’s regular season awards recognize an array of achievements, but in the end, this is just the league and its media associates patting itself on the back. Call the MVP award the Oscar for Best Actor, or the “Most Innovative Move” and you’ve got the general idea figured out. Of course, an added complication in the NBA is that actual money in terms of max contract values is involved in some NBA awards, but the principle is the same.
When the NBA announced finalists for various individual performance awards last week, no Celtics players were listed. Jaylen Brown was not a finalist for the MVP and Neemias Queta was not a finalist for Most Improved Player. Jayson Tatum is a finalist for Teammate of the Year, which is surprising given the amount of on-the-court time he missed, and Joe Mazzulla is a finalist for an award that he has said he doesn’t really want.
Overall, though, how have the Celtics fared when it comes to these annual awards?
Looking back at the league’s most inclusive award, the All-NBA teams, Boston has nabbed 86 of 930 possible slots since the award was first given in the good old BAA days. This is second to the Lakers, who have filled 101 slots (Kobe, Kareem, and Magic account for 36 of those slots), but well ahead of the Sixers/Nationals, who have 67 All-NBA awards to their credit.
In terms of All-Defense, the Celtics lead the league in selections, with 49 of 570 slots. The Spurs are second with 44.
MVP selections are an interesting story. The Celtics have had 10 MVP awards. This is the most in league history. However, Larry Bird was the last Celtic to win an MVP award, and that was in the ’85-86 season. It’s been 40 years since a Boston player won an MVP award. At one point in time, one out of every four MVP awards had gone to a Celtic. Nowadays, it’s down to one out of eight. The Lakers and Sixers are tied for second place with seven MVP awards apiece.
For the Defensive Player of the Year award, Boston has two winners—Kevin Garnett and Marcus Smart. They are far from the most decorated franchise in league history here. The top awarded teams are, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Detroit Pistons (Ben Wallace was a four-time winner) and the San Antonio Spurs.
Rookie recognition is, as one would suspect, pretty thin on the ground for the Celtics. A team as consistently good as they have been doesn’t tend to give rookies a lot of opportunity to shine. Thus, the C’s have only landed 19 players on the 485 slots available on the All-Rookie team (the Bulls are, somewhat surprisingly, the league leaders, with 25 All-Rookie nominees). The Celtics have had three Rookies of the Year: Tom Heinsohn, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird. The Warriors lead all teams with six winners.
Boston players have won the Sixth Man of the Year award five times, which is tied with the Clippers, surprisingly, for most in league history, and no Celtic has ever been named Most Improved Player.
Overall, the C’s position as the winningest franchise in league history both in terms of games won and in terms of championships is pretty well reflected in player honors. To be sure, there seems to have been some neglect on the All-NBA teams, but from a big picture standpoint, there’s not a whole lot to gripe about here.
This is especially the case when you consider that the league has named seven awards after Celtic figures, the most of any team (Sam Jones, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird, Chuck Cooper, Red Auerbach, John Havlicek, and Bill Russell).
Where things make no sense at all is when it comes to the Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year awards.
The Atlanta Hawks have had the league’s Coach of the Year on six different occasions.
The league began giving this award out in 1963 and Harry Gallatin won the first award as coach of the then St. Louis Hawks. Since then the Hawks have accumulated a record of 2585-2581. I mean, that’s technically a better than .500 record, but c’mon. How thin can you slice that piece of pie?
The last time a Celtic coach won the award? Bill Fitch—in Larry Bird’s rookie year. The following year, the year the C’s won the title, the award went to Jack McKinney, whose Pacer team went 44-38. The Celtics have won five championships since Fitch’s award in 1980. Mind you, as I’ve said elsewhere, I think it’s good that coaches of other teams receive a little bronze statue of Red Auerbach to remind them of the league’s pecking order. But still, there’s very little about this award that makes sense.
Even more mind boggling is the Executive of the Year award. Here, Jerry Colangelo managed to land the award four times during a period in which his Suns finished first in their division exactly twice. During the period that Colangelo was collecting all that hardware, Red Auerbach won the award in 1980, presumably in recognition of his foresight in drafting Larry Bird the year before, and that’s it. No more awards for Red.
Red got zero recognition for moves like acquiring Parish and McHale in one trade, or Dennis Johnson, or Bill Walton. These were all brilliant deals that paid dividends the year that they were made, all were moves one would expect the league’s best executive to make, but none of them were good enough to secure another Executive of the Year award. On the opposite coast, neither Bill Sharman nor Jerry West got the award for building the Showtime Lakers, but hey, Atlanta’s Stan Kasten won it in ’85-86 and ’86-87, years in which two of the greatest teams in NBA history were fielded, neither of which were the Atlanta Hawks.
But what, ultimately, do these awards say about the quality of play on the court or talent on the bench or in the front office?
Not much.
To be sure, bad players don’t make it onto the All-NBA teams, and winning the MVP is basically a guarantee that you’ll end up in Springfield, but these awards are just a side show. They’re not the main event, and they’re not the final measure of the value of players, coaches and executives.
At best, awards are the detritus of a successful season. They’re side effects, secondary symptoms that indicate you’ve done a good job.
Sure, it’s always nice to get an award, to get recognition for doing your job well, whether it’s at an annual rubber chicken dinner hosted by the International Association of Structure Movers or in an NBA press release, but those awards aren’t where it’s at.
My brother-in-law Trent has been in the structure moving business for over thirty years. Despite participating in what was, at the time, the Heaviest Rubber Tire Structure Move in history, as well as a number of other award-winning projects and transport inventions, he says, “I don’t care whether we get an award. I don’t need that kind of recognition to motivate me.”
Joe Mazzulla couldn’t have said it better himself.
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded the first playoff triple-double of his career with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
He took over in the third quarter, when Jalen Brunson was in the locker room and the Knicks began to pull away.
Zero
Jalen Johnson, primarily guarded by OG Anunoby, finished with 14 points on rough 4-for-12 shooting from
OG Anunoby blocks Jalen Johnson’s shot during the third quarter of the Knicks’ 114-98 Game 4 win over the Hawks on April 25 2026 in Atlanta. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
the field. He was a game-worst minus-19.
Unsung hero
Josh Hart set the tone early, and his teammates fed off his energy as they so often do.
He finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Key stat
24.4 — The Hawks’ shooting percentage from 3-point range. They jacked up 41 of them, a plethora of low-quality looks.
Quote
“I thought we did a great job coming out with more tenacity. More desperation I think is the proper word.”
He recorded a game-high 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the field — and 3-for-6 shooting from 3-point range — along with 10 rebounds. He was a game-best plus-19.
OG Anunoby backs down Gabe Vincent during the Knicks 114-98 Game 4 win over the Hawks on April 25, 2026 in Atlanta. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Anunoby’s strong effort in Game 3 went a bit under the radar given the Knicks lost. But across these past two games, Anunoby shot a combined 7-for-14 from 3-point range.
“Just shooting no matter if I’m contested or not contested,” Anunoby said. “I work very hard on my game, so I always think it’s going in.”
Anunoby drilled back-to-back 3s in the second quarter Saturday as the Knicks extended their lead to double digits. His scoring was a steady presence the whole game — he scored six points in each of the first three quarters before finishing with four in the fourth quarter.
It’s been much more than just his shooting, though.
He spent the majority of Saturday matched up with Jalen Johnson and completely neutralized him. Johnson shot just 1-for-5 when Anunoby was guarding him, per the league’s official tracking stats.
In total, the Hawks on offense shot a combined 5-for-15 with Anunoby as the primary defender.
And he was key to the Knicks owning the glass. His rebounding numbers have been up the past two games — he had nine in Game 3.
Has that been a concerted effort?
“It’s a team effort, for sure,” Anunoby said. “We want to control the boards. And then just depending on who I’m guarding. When I’m on the perimeter, sometimes it’s harder to get rebounds. But making an emphasis on coming in, crashing the boards, helping the team finish possessions.”
With Jalen Brunson again not at his best, the Knicks needed others to step up and help carry the scoring load.
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 24: Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a dunk during the second half of Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on April 24, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Victor Wembanyama’s return date, the Spurs headed to Portland for a crucial Game 3. A loss would have upped the pressure considerably on a young San Antonio team that still doesn’t know when it will get its superstar back. Fortunately, the Silver and Black prevailed thanks to fantastic performances from their young guards and a gutsy, physical team effort on both ends.
The urgency to get a win is now squarely on the Trail Blazers’ shoulders. Whether Wembanyama, listed as questionable, plays or not, they need to come out on top on Sunday or face elimination in San Antonio in Game 5. Desperation can be good, as the Spurs showed on Friday with a strong second half, but it can also lead to disarray. It will be on San Antonio to continue to play hard and try to get their opponent to make mistakes and exploit them.
A potential Wembanyama return could completely change the dynamic of the game, making the Spurs clear favorites. Even without him, the Silver and Black have proved they can get tough wins, so it should be a good matchup either way. Heading to San Antonio with a tied series wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, considering the circumstances, but this team clearly wants to continue exceeding expectations, even in the playoffs.
Spurs Injuries: Victor Wembanyama — Questionable (Concussion), Jordan McLaughlin – Questionable (Ankle)
Trail Blazers Injuries: Damian Lillard – Out (Achilles)
What to watch for:
Can Carter Bryant bring the energy again?
While Stephon Castle’s and Dylan Harper’s production understandably got the most attention for the win, there were plenty of others who were essential in Game 3. One of them was Carter Bryant, the rookie who was tasked with playing center in small-ball lineups. Bryant had his moments in the first half but really made his mark in the second, flying around the court on defense but also walking the ball up on offense to help avoid the full-court press the Blazers were using on the guards and keeping the offense moving when he got the ball in the half-court.
The challenge, if Wembanyama misses the game, will be to do it all again. The Blazers were leaving Bryant open, and at times, he was not even looking at the rim. In part, he was just trying to get others involved with handoffs and change the angle of attack, but if they continue to dare him, he’ll have to fire away. Bryant also defended Deni Avdija well when he got the chance, showing discipline against a tough opponent to guard. In general, his length and athleticism make him a good fit for this matchup against a Blazers team that has those traits in spades, so with or more likely without Wemby available, the Spurs could use another good Bryant game.
Gang rebounding will be key
One of the biggest concerns heading into the series was rebounding. The Trail Blazers have great offensive rebounding big men and like to attack the paint, drawing help defense. The Spurs were the best defensive rebounding team in the league, but it was still something they’d have to focus on to limit their opponent’s second-chance opportunities. They did a good job in the first two games, but going into Game 3 without Wemby, it seemed like it was going to be a problem.
Fortunately, the team found another level of energy and physicality on the boards, with the perimeter players, especially the young guys, helping out Luke Kornet, who dutifully boxed out when he was out there. In the end, offensive rebounding became a strength for the Spurs instead of the Blazers, as the visitors finished with 22 second-chance points to 12 for the home team. The Silver and Black will need that level of commitment to both clean the defensive glass and attack offensive boards in Game 4, especially if Wembanyama is out.
Can Keldon Johnson have a big game?
Keldon Johnson, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging five points on 28 percent shooting so far this series. He’s been a big help on the boards, averaging five a game, and has guarded centers at times, but he has massively struggled to provide any kind of offensive punch for the Spurs, especially inside. In Game 3, he went 1-for-7 from the floor, and his only make was a three-pointer. He’s not scored in double digits yet. The Blazers’ length at the forward spots and their interior defense have been giving Keldon fits so far.
Some of his misses, however, have been uncharacteristic, as he normally successfully uses his hook to get his shot past rim protectors, and he has good body control on drives. Johnson will need to continue being aggressive, especially when he’s guarded by Deni Avdija, to make the Blazers’ star spend energy on the defensive end. If Johnson can also do a better job when he has to guard a perimeter scorer, which he has struggled to do, it would help the Spurs massively. Portland is not a great matchup for Keldon, but he needs to find ways to contribute, and if the past is any indication, he will.
Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (45-37, seventh in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Monday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Thunder -10.5; over/under is 213.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Thunder lead series 3-0
BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder look to clinch the series over the Phoenix Suns in game four of the Western Conference first round. The Thunder defeated the Suns 121-109 in the last meeting on Saturday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 42 points, and Dillon Brooks led the Suns with 33.
The Suns are 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Phoenix has a 19-29 record against teams above .500.
The Thunder are 41-11 in Western Conference play. Oklahoma City is second in the league giving up only 107.9 points while holding opponents to 43.7% shooting.
The Suns score 112.6 points per game, 4.7 more points than the 107.9 the Thunder allow. The Thunder average 7.9 more points per game (119.0) than the Suns allow their opponents to score (111.1).
TOP PERFORMERS: Devin Booker is averaging 26.1 points and six assists for the Suns. Brooks is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Cason Wallace is shooting 43.2% and averaging 8.6 points for the Thunder. Isaiah Joe is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 3-7, averaging 106.3 points, 42.2 rebounds, 21.2 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.2 points per game.
Thunder: 8-2, averaging 122.0 points, 44.7 rebounds, 28.0 assists, 10.6 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Mark Williams: day to day (foot), Jordan Goodwin: day to day (calf).
Thunder: Isaiah Joe: day to day (personal), Jalen Williams: out (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Minnesota Timberwolves (49-33, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (54-28, third in the Western Conference)
Denver; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EDT
LINE: Nuggets -10.5; over/under is 223.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Timberwolves lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Timberwolves look to clinch the series over the Denver Nuggets in game five of the Western Conference first round. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-96 in the last meeting on Sunday. Ayo Dosunmu led the Timberwolves with 43 points, and Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 30.
The Nuggets have gone 11-5 against division opponents. Denver is fourth in the NBA with 29.0 assists per game. Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets averaging 10.7.
The Timberwolves are 9-7 against opponents from the Northwest Division. Minnesota is eighth in the Western Conference scoring 50.3 points per game in the paint led by Dosunmu averaging 11.5.
The Nuggets average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.1 more made shots on average than the 12.1 per game the Timberwolves allow. The Timberwolves average 118.0 points per game, 1.1 more than the 116.9 the Nuggets allow to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Murray is averaging 25.4 points and 7.1 assists for the Nuggets. Jokic is averaging 22.7 points over the last 10 games.
Julius Randle is averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and five assists for the Timberwolves. Bones Hyland is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 121.6 points, 46.9 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 6.8 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.6 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 117.2 points, 42.1 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 115.3 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Peyton Watson: out (hamstring).
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards: day to day (undisclosed), Donte DiVincenzo: out for season (leg).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference)
Orlando, Florida; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Pistons -2.5; over/under is 214.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Magic lead series 2-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic host the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-1 lead in the series. The Magic won the last meeting 113-105 on Saturday, led by 25 points from Paolo Banchero. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 27.
The Magic have gone 26-26 against Eastern Conference teams. Orlando is ninth in the Eastern Conference scoring 115.7 points while shooting 46.4% from the field.
The Pistons are 39-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit is fourth in the league scoring 18.0 fast break points per game. Tobias Harris leads the Pistons averaging 3.7.
The 115.7 points per game the Magic score are 6.1 more points than the Pistons give up (109.6). The Pistons average 117.8 points per game, 2.7 more than the 115.1 the Magic give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Banchero is averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Magic. Desmond Bane is averaging 17.5 points over the last 10 games.
Cunningham is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 114.9 points, 45.2 rebounds, 27.2 assists, 9.7 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.2 points per game.
Pistons: 7-3, averaging 115.5 points, 44.3 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 9.4 steals and 7.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.0 points.
INJURIES: Magic: Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee).
Pistons: Kevin Huerter: day to day (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
