Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)
Los Angeles; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT
LINE: Lakers -2.5; over/under is 208.5
WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers lead series 3-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers look to clinch the Western Conference first round over the Houston Rockets in game five. The Rockets defeated the Lakers 115-96 in the last meeting on Monday. Amen Thompson led the Rockets with 23 points, and Deandre Ayton led the Lakers with 19.
The Lakers are 33-19 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles averages 116.3 points while outscoring opponents by 1.7 points per game.
The Rockets are 29-23 in Western Conference play. Houston ranks second in the Western Conference scoring 53.0 points per game in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 17.5.
The Lakers' 11.8 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.6 fewer made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets give up. The Rockets are shooting 47.9% from the field, 0.4% lower than the 48.3% the Lakers' opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: LeBron James is shooting 51.5% and averaging 20.9 points for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Rockets. Jabari Smith Jr. is averaging 3.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 6-4, averaging 107.8 points, 39.6 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.4 points per game.
Rockets: 6-4, averaging 116.8 points, 46.5 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 9.9 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.2 points.
INJURIES: Lakers: Austin Reaves: day to day (oblique), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).
Rockets: Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Kevin Durant: day to day (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The Orlando Magic are one win away from knocking off a No. 1 seed and winning their first playoff series in 16 years.
They’re not celebrating yet.
Desmond Bane scored 22 points, Franz Wagner had 19 in three quarters and the Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 94-88 Monday night to take a 3-1 series lead, putting the East’s No. 1 seed on the brink of elimination.
Game 5 is Wednesday night in Detroit.
“We put our ourselves in position to try to get four, but right now it means nothing,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We have the advantage and now we have to try and make sure we keep that advantage.”
Orlando, which had to win an elimination game at home in the play-in tournament, is on the verge of becoming just the seventh No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 in a series in league history. It’s happened only four times since the playoffs were expanded to a best-of-seven series for all rounds in 2003.
THUNDER 131, SUNS 122
PHOENIX (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren added 24 and Oklahoma City beat Phoenix Suns, capping a four-game sweep in the first-round series.
The Thunder — who have a 12-0 record in the first round over the last three seasons — will face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers have a 3-1 lead, though the Rockets won Game 4.
Phoenix has a 10-game losing streak in the playoffs, dating to 2023.
The Thunder closed the series with an overwhelming offensive performance — making 17 of 34 (50%) 3-pointers — and their big men played particularly well. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren shot 9 of 16 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein added 18 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
NUGGETS 125, TIMBERWOLVES 113
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic snapped out of his prolonged funk with a triple-double, Spencer Jones provided a key spark and Denver staved off elimination with a chippy win over injury-riddled Minnesota in Game 5 of their playoff series.
Jokic had 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds for Denver, which trimmed its deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Jamal Murray scored 24 points and Jones added 20.
Jokic posted his 23rd playoff triple-double, third on the career list, as the Nuggets stopped a three-game skid and played the way they did most of the regular season in securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
The Minnesota Timberwolves raced out to a 3-1 lead, but it might have cost them everything.
Yes, Game 5 on Monday, April 27, when the Denver Nuggets outpaced Minnesota, 125-113, in the first round of the NBA playoffs, was just one game. But it also served as an indicator of just how much Minnesota is missing without Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.
Denver outscored Minnesota by a margin of 37-24 in a third quarter avalanche, as the Nuggets are trying to become just the 14th team in NBA history to win a playoff series after trailing 3-1.
All of this prompts one question: can the Timberwolves make a run without Edwards and DiVincenzo? Can they even get out of this round?
The Nuggets are now playing with significantly more confidence and momentum than they did earlier in the series. Denver’s bench had scored just 16 points in the crushing Game 4 loss; on Monday night, the reserves scored 27. Cameron Johnson and Spencer Jones, the pair of key Denver forwards, combined to drop 38 points in Game 5 just two nights after they scored just 9.
The Nuggets harassed Minnesota’s ball-handlers, forcing them into 25 turnovers Monday night, which was three more than Minnesota’s combined total in Games 3 and 4.
But, more than anything, the Timberwolves played tight and pressed, seemingly hyper-aware of the players they were missing.
“I thought we started the game wanting to make all of the home run plays, instead of wanting to make the plays that help us get into the ball game and make the rhythm plays,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said.
This is where Edwards’ absence hurts the Timberwolves. He’s a stabilizing presence and one of the dynamic scoring threats in the NBA. He averaged 28.8 points per game during the regular season, which ranked third in the league. He can handle the ball, his shooting range helps space the floor and he’s the preferred option in the clutch.
And while backup guard Ayo Dosunmu emerged as a breakout player in Game 4 with his historic 43-point masterpiece, it’s clear the Timberwolves won’t be able to count on that kind of production every night from here on out.
Dosunmu scored 18 points in a solid performance, and the Timberwolves did shrink a 27-point deficit to 10 midway through the fourth, but that run came when Denver eased its pressure and intensity.
So, what’s the path forward for Minnesota?
For one, the Timberwolves should hope that Edwards heals quickly. Because even if they get past the Nuggets, their likely opponent in the second round would be the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, who are a legitimate threat to win the West. But, practically speaking, the Timberwolves will essentially need to play pristine defense like it did during its three-game winning streak in the series, especially in the paint.
In Games 2, 3 and 4, the Timberwolves limited Denver to an average of just 38.7 points in the paint per game. In Game 5, that figure ballooned to 62.
Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was masterful against Nikola Jokić. Forward Jaden McDaniels irritated Jamal Murray and Denver’s other ball-handlers. More of that will be required.
Because without Edwards, the short-handed Timberwolves are not only suddenly vulnerable, they might be marching toward a historic exit.
“I think we were all just trying to press and make plays a little bit too much,” Timberwolves forward Julius Randle said after the game. “The formula was still the same, so we don’t have to change that. We’ll be better next game.”
PHOENIX (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 131-122 on Monday night, capping a four-game sweep in the first-round series.
The Thunder — who have a 12-0 record in the first round over the last three seasons — will face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers have a 3-1 lead, though the Rockets won Game 4.
Phoenix has a 10-game losing streak in the playoffs, dating to 2023.
The Thunder closed the series with an overwhelming offensive performance — making 17 of 34 (50%) 3-pointers — and their big men played particularly well. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren shot 9 of 16 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein added 18 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
Ajay Mitchell added 22 points and made four 3-pointers. Alex Caruso finished with 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander was reliable as usual. Two days after scoring 42 points in Game 3, he had another efficient performance, shooting 10 of 17 from the field.
The Suns showed some fight in the second half, cutting a 15-point deficit to 106-98 entering the fourth. Devin Booker scored 12 points in the third quarter on 5-of-8 shooting.
But every time the Suns got within a few possessions, the Thunder responded. Cason Wallace hit a corner 3 with 5:54 left to extend the Oklahoma City lead to 120-106. Gilgeous-Alexander followed with a spectacular layup, somehow getting the shot to fall over three defenders.
Booker led the Suns with 24 points while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23. Collin Gillespie added 20 points while making six 3-pointers.
The Thunder pushed to a 75-67 lead by halftime after shooting 61.4% from the floor and 60% from 3-point range, hitting 12 of 20 behind the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 before the break, making a wide-open 3-pointer just before halftime.
That offset a hot shooting start for the Suns, who made 11 of 20 3-pointers. Gillespie scored 17 before the break, making all six of his shots, including five 3s.
The Thunder were without starter Jalen Williams, who missed his second straight game because of a left hamstring strain. Suns center Mark Williams (foot) and guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) were also out.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Head coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on April 09, 2026 in New York City. 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 Jordan Bank/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s that time of year again for us: time to update things just as we’ve done for 19 straight seasons. We aren’t going to count them up, but this is around our 4ooth report through thick (mostly) and thin. Like many previous ones, it will be numbers-heavy. Deal with it.
This year, off-course, is different. It is, as Jordi Fernandez said during the season, “this is the summer of our lives.” Ever since the Nets decided to go into a full rebuild sometime back in the early months of 2024, everything pointed to this summer — and to be more specific the 2026 Draft Lottery and the 2026 NBA Draft. They will take place May 10 in Chicago and June 23-24 in Brooklyn.
So how things going?
At the moment, you’d have to say reasonably well. The franchise seems prepared although as we know, luck plays a huge role. The moment could pass, could change, etc. but so far, so good.
The first piece of the off-season is the Lottery, the NBA’s annual house of cards. The Nets’ plan was always to secure a top three seed primarily by depriving Jordi Fernandez of talent, including fielding the youngest NBA roster in 20 years including a unique draft class. That mission was accomplished the last week of the season after some brutal, brutal losses.
Then comes the Draft itself. Largely because of the tank and what the Nets did on June 25, 2024 with the Mikal Bridges trade and the exchange of picks with the Houston Rockets, Sean Marks & co. have more draft capital than anyone else. To reiterate: that’s 13 firsts — nine of them tradeable; 19 seconds — all of them tradeable; plus two first round pick swaps. In each case, it’s the biggest number in the NBA. It’s not quite unprecedented. If memory serves us, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sam Presti once had 36. (He still has 27.)
At the moment again, Brooklyn holds three picks in the 2026 Draft, the third best odds at getting one of the top four picks including the overall No. 1 as well as the No. 33 (their own) and the No. 43 (the Los Angeles Clippers’ second) in the second round. In its Draft Power Rankings, Tankathon puts the Nets combination at No. 3 behind the Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls. Moving up or down on May 10 will change that. So will any trades. As we’ve noted many times, Marks has made trades both big and small within 48 hours of the draft nine times in his 10-year tenure.
There are other positive numbers of course beyond the draft: they have third biggest cache of cap space, somewhere between $30 and $50 million depending on what they do with various team options and contract renewals … and how high they finish in the Lottery. (The difference between the overall No. 1 and worst-case-scenario seventh pick is nearly $7 million in 2026-27 and $30+ million over the course of the four-year rookie deal.)
They also have an ownership with a record of paying the luxury tax when needed. Bobby Marks estimated that Joe Tsai has paid out $323 million in luxury taxes between when he bought into the Nets in 2017-18 as a minority owner and the last time the Nets paid any tax in 2022-23.
One underappreciated aspect of the rebuild is that by keeping their payroll low the past three seasons, the Nets will avoid the dreaded repeater tax over at least next four years. That tax goes into effect when a team goes over the tax threshold three out of four years and includes multipliers that restrict teams in various ways. It helps when you have seven players on rookie deals as Brooklyn likely will next year with Noah Clowney, the Flatbush 5 and their lottery pick making somewhere between $36 million and $42.8 million, again depending on how the little plastic balls fall. If you want to have “sustainable success,” one of the team’s mantras, avoiding the luxury tax and aprons will be key.
The Nets do not operate in a vacuum of course. What the other front offices do matters a lot and a little more than midway through the first round of the playoffs, there are other encouraging signs for Nets fans, particular regarding the fate of three teams the Nets have done business with.
—The Knicks fate is one the most closely tied to the Nets. With three first rounders and a first round swap still owed, it’s given. The firsts are in 2027, 2029 and 2031, the swap, also unprotected, is in 2028. If the Knicks falter, it could be a windfall for the Nets. As the moment, the Knicks and the Hawks are tied 2-2 in the best of seven series and worse for Knicks fans, the guy who they received in that monumental trade is having a terrible series.
The question is what if the New Yorkers fail to meet James Dolan’s high standards — him standing, champagne-drenched and teary-eyed with the Larry O’Brien Trophy clutched in his hands. What will be the next step at the Garden? The Knicks have the fourth oldest roster in the NBA and as a result of the Mikal Bridge and Karl-Anthony Towns trades bereft of first round picks. While the Nets have 13 firsts over the next seven years, the Knicks have four. They also have big contract extensions coming due. Bridges’ four-year, $150 million deal kicks in next season and they’re only $370,000 shy of the second apron. The Nets are $56.5 million under. Other decisions are closing in as well, like Mitchell Robinson’s unrestricted free agency this summer. Be interesting to watch.
—The Rockets too could be at an intersection. The Nets may have to swap firsts in 2027 with the Rockets as a result of the pick exchange that permitted Brooklyn to reclaim their firsts in 2025 and 2026. But they’re down 3-1 to the Lakers even with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on the bench. Moreover, Kevin Durant is hurting and there’s word their locker room isn’t a model of probity. It’s long been assumed that the swap will greatly favor Houston who could wind up with a top Nets pick, aka Jayson Tatum in 2017. But suppose the Rockets decide to part ways with KD and try a modified rebuild, hurting their draft stock in 2027. Better to swap a No. 15 pick for a No. 10 than having to swap a No. 10 for a No. 3, even in a mediocre draft. Another interesting watch.
—Then, there’s the Nuggets who were down 3-1 to the Timberwolves Monday night and not looking like the contender everyone thought they would be. They have big decisions as well, but the urgency is less and they do have Nikola Jokic who is a three-time MVP and an O’Brien trophy winner of recent vintage. But should they team head to Cancun early, ownership and the front office will have to sit down and wonder what went wrong and what’s next.
No, they won’t trade Jokic, but they need to figure out how to get younger and that includes keeping restricted free agent Payton Watson whose breakout year had made him one of the top targets this. He’s also close to MPJ. For Denver to keep him and still find of modicum of flexibility, they may have to find a way to dump Johnson, who is an expiring now at age 30. It won’t be easy. He’s owed $23 million and hasn’t played in 60 games in any of the past four seasons. If another team wanted him, they might ask for a first in return, but at the moment, Denver doesn’t have. They traded their last first along with Porter to the Nets.
Finally, there was word today that Adam Silver likes an anti-tanking plan that would essentially flatten the odds making it possible for even playoff teams to have a chance at winning the overall No. 1 in the future. Sam Amick of The Athletic wrote about the new proposal and its implications.
[A]ccording to league and team sources, a heavy front-runner has emerged among the three proposed solutions to curb the widespread tanking problem that put such a stain on this season: Option No. 1, in which 18 teams would be part of the draft lottery (rather than the current 14) and the bottom 10 teams would all have an 8 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick. The remaining odds — 20 percent in all — would be divided among the remaining eight teams. In the current system, the bottom three teams all have a 14 percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick and the odds decline from there.
Nothing is final, but the league will be talking to GMs on Tuesday about the plan. Silver has said reforming the lottery is a top priority. With so many traded first rounders and swaps, the Nets should get a small advantage if, as Amick reported, the odds are flattened. For example, if in 2027, the Knicks made it to the playoffs but with the 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th worst record, under the old rules the Nets would not be in the lottery, but under the revised rules laid out by Amick, they would have a shot, albeit a small one, at moving up. The more picks, the more chances, the more opportunities to move up.
Amick noted that while this option has legs, it could be modified before the NBA Board of Governors votes on tanking reform next month. At least 23 of the 30 governors — aka the owners — must approve the final package. Silver has said that he expects reforms to be implemented by next season, telling GMs earlier this year, “You should assume for next season your only incentive will be to win games,”
Steve Hetzel getting offers?
The Athletic also reported Monday that Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel, Jordi Fernandez’s No. 2 and long time friend, has been interviewed by the New Orleans Hornets for their open head coaching position.
Brooklyn Nets assistant Steve Hetzel has conducted an interview with the Pelicans for their vacant head coaching position, league sources tell @TheAthletic
Wait? Didn’t Hetzel just get extended by the Nets along with Fernandez and his eight fellow assistants coach?!? Indeed he did but the extension doesn’t prohibit him or other assistants to be interviewed for better jobs elsewhere. It is standard operating procedure for teams to permit their assistants to talk to other teams about head coaching openings elsewhere. Indeed, in 2024, the Nets interviewed Fernandez, then a Kings assistant, for the top job in Brooklyn with Sacramento’s permission.
How legitimate of a candidate is Hetzel? Apparently, he is a serious one. Interestingly, so is another candidate with a Nets background. Sean Sweeney was an assistant under Jason Kidd in Brooklyn, then followed him to Dallas before joining up with the San Antonio Spurs.
Expect the Pelicans as well as other teams with openings to make a decision in advance on the June 23-24 NBA Draft.
Draft Sleeper of the Week: A.J. Dybantsa
How long have we been doing this? Well, our first Draft Sleeper was DeAndre Jordan of Texas A&M back in 2008. The New Jersey Nets did not select him but as we all know and some of us ultimately lament he wound up with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019 as part of the Clean Sweep. Yes, he’s still playing, last season for the Pelicans.
Now, though, the stakes are a lot higher as noted above. Rather than being pessimistic about the Lottery, let’s go for broke and project the Nets winning the Draft Lottery! Huzzah!
So if the aerodynamics of ping pong balls work to our advantage, who would the Nets take with the overall No. 1 in a draft described as both deep and generational??
Beat us! And not just us. There was one piece of intel that the Nets like Kingston Flemings, the 6’5” Houston point guard, burt that’s it. We believe the Nets have started workouts and interviews of prospects. Based on their current picks at Nos. 3, 33 and 43 and what’s known about their history, you’d expect that 60 or more candidates will be brought in and not just for the Draft but for slots on the Summer League, training camp and the Long Island Nets invites. It all goes into the scouting database.
A.J. Dybantsa, the 19-year-old, 6’9” BYU wing, has been seen as one of three franchise changers in the 2026 Draft for more than a year. His skills and NBA fit were being acknowledged in high school! Early this season, the Boston area native, was seen as the second or third of the franchise-changers but a combination of his game and questions about Kansas guard Darryn Peterson’s personality and injuries pushed Dybantsa into the consensus No. 1 spot among draftniks, bypassing Cam Boozer of Duke.
What makes him the top pick? If you go just by the numbers, you can see he had a sensational year for Brigham Young, averaging 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 35 (out of 4o) minutes. He shot 51/33/77 despite being double-teamed a lot of the time.
But he also has the personality indeed a wow factor that as George Steinbrenner once famously said can put “fannies in the seats.“
Some highlights of his season:
They don’t compare him to a Tracey McGrady for nothing.
“I guess you’d rather fail with [AJ] and his upside, than not,” a Western Conference general manager told ESPN this month. “And I know Peterson has upside, maybe Boozer’s upside is a little bit less. … I just think that [AJ], because he’s 6’9” and he could be like 6’10”, 230 [pounds] by the time he’s 25 years old, he could just be a monster. I think you’ve just got to go down swinging with him if you go down.”
Dybantsa also won kudos this week for his good-bye message to the Cougars.
“When I committed to BYU, I knew I was signing up for something bigger than basketball,” he wrote. “A lot of people questioned the decision. For me, the choice was simple. I wanted to go to the place that would best develop me as a basketball player and as a person. BYU was the program that gave me the clearest path to both.”
The sincerity exhibited in the letter belied one concern raised about Dybantsa: his maturity. Could he lead your franchise?
“Dybantsa not the guy you want to set your culture. They’d be better off with lesser talent,” said one league decision-maker (not with the Nets) who did not elaborate
Of course, he is only 19.
Final Note
Congratulations to Mr. Whammy, aka Bruce Reznick. He will join Joe Tsai, Sean Marks and other Nets front office staff at the NBA Draft Lottery. Tsai announced the invitation to Whammy on Monday night in a tweet.
And thanks to Joe Tsai not only for inviting the 90-year-old superfan and Hall of Fame member to the Lottery but for recognizing what Whammy and his late wife, Judy, have done for the Nets going back to New Jersey days. Good all around.
At the trade deadline last February, the Detroit Pistons mostly stayed quiet. Trajan Langdon and the front office made a conscious decision not to make a big move; they wanted to see what this group — which finished with the No. 1 seed in the East — could do in the cauldron of the playoffs. They chose not to add any secondary shot creation, no speed, and just a little shooting from Kevin Huerter (sending out Jaden Ivey).
That lack of secondary playmaking and shooting has Detroit on the verge of being knocked out of the playoffs by the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic.
In a physical, defensive Game 4 on Monday, the Pistons shot just 6-of-30 (20%) from 3-point range and 37.8% overall. And in the face of intense defensive pressure, the Pistons turned the ball over 20 times — eight times by Cade Cunningham, who also shot 7-of-23 on the night. Detroit is just flat-out struggling to score against a quality Orlando defense, they lack shot creators and shooters.
Meanwhile, the Magic were stepping up and making just enough plays.
The result Monday night was a 94-88 Magic win in front of a raucous home crowd, which gives them a commanding 3-1 series lead as everything shifts back to Detroit on Wednesday.
This has been a defensive series and the Magic were not exactly lighting it up — 32.9% shooting as a team. Yet their stars seemed to grind out ways to score, with Desmond Bane having another strong night with 22 points and shooting 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. Paolo Banchero put up 18 points, mostly because he got downhill and got to the free-throw line 13 times.
Franz Wagner added 19 but was out at the end of the game with what the Pistons described as a sore calf. He was replaced by former two-way player Jamal Cain, who was making key shots and defending Cunningham down the stretch. While the Magic stars are finding ways, the Pistons' stars are struggling. Cunningham finished with 25 points, but was 3-of-11 from beyond the arc and had the eight turnovers. Jalen Duren finished the night with 12 points and eight assists, making a real impact on the defensive end but not enough on offense. Duncan Robinson, the best shooter on the team, was 1-of-6 from 3, while Tobias Harris was 0-5 from 3 but still finished with 20 points.
Detroit was slopping from the opening tip with seven turnovers in their first 10 possessions of the night — five in a row at one point — which led to a dozen Pistons points. Combine that with some early fouls by the Pistons and the Magic were up by as many as 12 in the first six minutes. It was the Pistons' bench that settled things down and had them back in the game — behind them the Pistons rip off a 16-3 run. At the end of one quarter, it was 27-26 Detroit.
The Pistons cranked up their defense after the rough start, and in the face of that the Magic settled for a lot more jump shots. With that, Detroit went on a run and led by as many as 10, then it was Orlando's turn to adjust, show some grit and fight back. The result was a 54-52 Magic lead at the half.
This game was close most of the way, but energized at home, the Magic made just enough plays and hit just enough shots in the end to get the win.
Now Detroit heads home for a must-win game and a lot of questions.
The No. 8 Orlando Magic have taken a commanding 3-1 series lead over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, but they may have some trouble brewing.
Star forward Franz Wagner missed the entire fourth quarter of Orlando’s 94-88 victory in Game 4 on Monday, April 27 with right calf soreness. The Magic have taken control over the first-round series against Detroit, and Wagner had been a steady factor in that; he posted an efficient, all-around performance Monday night, scoring 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, adding 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals in just 24:11 on the floor.
But Orlando could find it difficult to fill in for Wagner, who is one of the team’s key offensive threats. Despite the injury, however, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley didn’t seem too concerned about Wagner’s status moving forward.
“I talked to him a little bit (after the game), but that’s about it,” Mosley said. “But he’s in good spirits right now.”
The Magic eventually listed Wagner as questionable to return after he was removed from the game. Though he sat the entire fourth, Wagner was present on the bench, cheering his team on as they repelled a Detroit rally in the final minutes.
Wagner appeared in just 34 games this season. He averaged 20.6 points on 48.1% shooting, adding 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Alongside Paolo Banchero, Wagner is the other top offensive threat for the Magic, who have defended Detroit well in the first round.
In Wagner’s absence, backup Magic forward Jamal Cain stepped up massively in the fourth quarter, and he and Tristan da Silva likely figure to have larger roles if Wagner misses time.
Cain scored 8 points on 4-of-8 shooting Monday night, including a thunderous dunk on Pistons rim protector Jalen Duren.
“We’ve put ourselves in position to try to get four (games), but right now, it means nothing,” Mosley said. “We have the advantage, and now we just have to make sure we try to keep that advantage.”
The Dallas Mavericks capped off a rough season with a silver lining, as rookie phenom Cooper Flagg was named 2025-2026 NBA Rookie of the Year Monday night. In what was a polarizing race between he and Charlotte Hornets’ Kon Knueppel, we saw one of the most historic rookie campaigns from the former, pitted against one of the most efficient rookie shooting seasons from the latter.
A straw poll just days before the season ended had Knueppel winning the award, completely befuddling Mavs’ fans who thought their guy was the obvious winner. Whether or not a poor showing across two PlayIn Tournament games for Knueppel swayed some voters (it technically shouldn’t have factored into their decision, but unseeing something isn’t exactly realistic) is anyone’s guess. When all was said and done, Flagg grabbed 56 first place votes to Knueppel’s 44, it what was the second smallest margin of victory since the 2002-2003 season when the current voting format took effect.
Mavs’ fans got a little something to feel good about, and a very tight, intriguing race feels like it ended positively for all involved. Knueppel made a real name for himself and received a ton of recognition in the highly contested race, while Flagg’s truly remarkable (and in some cases, one of a kind) accomplishments earned him the highly coveted award.
Then, seemingly before the corks from the champagne bottles found their landing spot, we were given a take that was even more unpredictable than the Rookie of the Year race itself. Speaking on NBA Showtime Monday night, studio analyst and former NBA player Carmelo Anthony gave a surprisingly unexpected shoutout… to former Mavericks’ GM Nico Harrison.
Carmelo Anthony shouts out Nico Harrison for Cooper Flagg winning ROY 💀
"Shout out to Nico Harrison for seeing this right here. For understanding his vision. Whatever happened or how it happened, Dallas got something back. They got the #1 pick and a rookie who led the squad in… pic.twitter.com/Bg9qyrANsv
“Shout out to Nico Harrison for seeing this right here; for understanding this vision,” said Anthony, in what is likely one of the most far-fetched interpretations of a scenario you’re likely to see in a long time.
When I first heard the comments, my immediate instinct to cover the topic was quickly tamped down by the thought that bringing it any attention at all would only exacerbate the problem. Still, it is Mavericks-related news that is what we are here for. While everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I have no interest in squabbling about such things with a member of the media, allow me to offer a counter point: this is insane.
Anthony is basically suggesting that Nico Harrison’s trade of Luka Doncic was all part of an overarching vision to draft Cooper Flagg. That Harrison’s ability to see Flagg’s talent and choose him with the number one overall pick was a shoutout worthy effort. Break it down for a moment. Harrison traded Doncic for Anthony Davis in what was a win-now move that he expected to net Dallas at least one championship in the ensuing years. At no point, in any way, shape or form, was Harrison’s plan to tear the team down – a team coming off an NBA Finals appearance – so he could later draft Cooper Flagg and rebuild it. This is not subjective interpretation, but rather, it’s fact. Harrison so much as told us.
Further, Harrison could not have possibly predicted the incredibly bad injury luck the Mavs would encounter (although his personnel changes could have given him a hint of things to come), or that the Mavs’ 1.8% chance would actually put them in position to move up to the top spot in the draft. Once all of that did happen, it certainly was not a shoutout-worthy event to draft Flagg, the by-far consensus number one pick that year.
Anthony’s comments echo Harrison’s own absurd declaration after the Draft Lottery that got Dallas the top pick – something along the lines of “fortune favors the bold.” While that may be true, getting the number one pick was not the result of bold moves with intent. It was the result of extremely fortuitous lottery results on the heels of an epically disastrous post-trade outcome.
To be fair to Anthony, his fellow analysts chuckled (as did he), and none of them reacted with the stunned shock the commentary actually warranted. To that end, it would not surprise me if everyone was aware of what Anthony would deliver, and maybe he did it with tongue in cheek. Anthony and Vince Carter (who was sitting beside him) have a friendly relationship with Nico Harrison and have previously vocalized support for their friend during the unrelenting backlash he received in the post-trade era.
While showing support for your friend, especially in the off-chance it was deliberately facetious to a degree, is a noble gesture, re-writing actual reality into a ludicrous Bizarro World version of reality is plainly irresponsible. Not because Nico Harrison deserves to be treated like Hester Prynne for all time – he doesn’t; better to just move on – but because we should carry a responsibility to truth and this was not that, however much jest may have been baked in (if any). This all could have been time better spent commending the folks who truly did have the vision, and that is the award winner himself and his family who put in endless reps and tons of work to get to this point. That’s where the real story lies.
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Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets players react after game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard were handed fines of $35,000 and $25,000, respectively, for separate issues involving the officials. Smart’s fine came for “questioning the integrity of game officials,” while Kennard’s was “for directing inappropriate language toward officials.”
Kennard’s incident likely came at the end of the game. During the little altercation between the two teams, Kennard also yelled some expletives at the officials, which lip readers will be able to pick up.
dude luke is not what I expected him to be😳 he was so furious it made vando change habits and hold him back😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Kerkdb0gFY
As for Smart’s, it’s a bit more unclear. The phrasing of his fine usually comes after a player criticizes officials to the media postgame. However, this was basically as critical he was of the officials when talking about Deandre Ayton’s questionable ejection.
“Then, obviously, the ejection, we all understood it was some BS,” Smart said. “That’s what we felt. He was just trying to brace himself. Two guys who are sweating their butts off playing the game, his arm slips up, right? But we’re proud of the way he handled and I think that just speaks volumes about who he is and just his progression.
“He’s learning and he could have just as easily – it probably would have been justifiable if he went off. But to keep his composure and stay positive, I think it’s only going to help him and his team.”
Relatively speaking, that’s a pretty tame criticism of officiating and doesn’t feel like one that warrants a fine. He, too, could have said something to the officials on the floor, but that’s typically going to result in phrasing that came with Kennard’s fine.
Nevertheless, this is now $95,000 in fines in the last four days tied to James Williams and his officiating crew. Devin Booker was also handed a $35,000 fine for calling out Williams by name in his postgame presser.
In that instance, the league also rescinded all the technical fouls handed out that game. This time, it doesn’t appear that move came with the fines. But it’s pretty clear this officiating crew shouldn’t officiate another postseason game.
Yet, just five years ago, the NBA announced 363 players had filed as early entry candidates – reportedly the highest number in league history. And the numbers have dipped every year since then.
There’s little mystery behind the trend. The Name Image and Likeness (NIL) era began in July 2021, allowing college athletes to cash in like never before. Clearly, it’s made staying in school more appealing for players not guaranteed to be picked high enough – or at all – during the two-round NBA draft that determines a rookie's salary. The year's draft will be held June 23-24.
Last year, Cooper Flagg, by virtue of getting picked No.1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, was guaranteed a four-year deal worth more than $62 million, according to spotrac. Getting picked No. 30, the last pick of the first round, guaranteed a four-year deal worth $14 million, according to spotrac.
By contrast, not all second-round picks are guaranteed contracts.
Rasheer Fleming, the top second-round pick last year, was guaranteed about $6 million for a four-year, $8.7 million contact, according to spotrac.
Those who go undrafted, good luck.
The case of Florida Gators star Thomas Haugh
The Athletic helped spotlight the new dynamics when Thomas Haugh, a rising senior forward at Florida who was considered potential draft lottery pick, recently diclosed he will return for a fourth season with the Gators.
“Haugh is expected to be among the highest earners in college basketball next season, with sources familiar with the decision projecting that he’s in line to make around what he’d earn in his first two NBA seasons combined if he’d been drafted in the top 20 in this year’s draft,’’ The Athletic reported.
Meanwhile, the number of early entry candidates likely will shrink further before the NBA draft lottery, which is May 10 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. That’s when the order of selection will be determined for the 14 teams who qualified for the lottery.
In its release, Monday, April 27 the NBA explains the process if a player wants to withdraw his name. Under NCAA rules, in order to retain college basketball eligibility, college players who have entered the 2026 NBA Draft must withdraw by May 27. Players who have applied for early entry have the right to withdraw their names from consideration for the draft by notifying the NBA of their decision in writing no later than 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 13
That could include Morez Johnson Jr. (Michigan), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford) and Meleek Thomas (Arkansas), according to Kalbrosky.
Alijan Arenas likely to return to USC despite being on early-entry list
Alijah Arenas, the son of retired NBA Al-Star Gilbert Arenas, will return for his sophomore season at Southern California, the Los Angeles Times has reported. He was a five-star high school recruit who seemed likely to opt for the NBA draft after one season with the Trojans, and his name appears on the early-entry college list the NBA released Monday.
In April 2025 Arena was placed in an induced coma after a car crash, and the accident resulted in a slow start to his freshman season.
NBA draft early-entry college players
Non-international players from colleges who have applied for early entry into the 2026 NBA Draft, with player name, school, height and class (FR=freshman, SO=sophomore, JR=junior).
Matt Able, N.C. State, 6-6, FR
Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas, 6-3, FR
Amari Allen, Alabama, 6-8, FR
Nate Ament, Tennessee, 6-10, FR
Christian Anderson Jr., Texas Tech, 6-3, SO
Alijah Arenas, USC, 6-6, FR
Flory Bidunga, Kansas, 6-10, SO
Finley Bizjack, Butler, 6-4, JR
John Blackwell, Wisconsin, 6-4, JR
Shane Blakeney, Drexel, 6-5, JR
Anton Bonke, Charlotte, 7-2, JR
Cameron Boozer, Duke, 6-9, FR
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, 6-5, FR
Rowan Brumbaugh, Tulane, 6-4, JR
Brayden Burries, Arizona, 6-4, FR
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan, 6-1, JR
Cameron Carr, Baylor, 6-5, SO
Chris Cenac Jr., Houston, 6-11, FR
Rueben Chinyelu, Florida, 6-10, JR
Jacob Cofie, USC, 6-10, SO
Cruz Davis, Hofstra, 6-3, JR
Kennard Davis Jr., BYU, 6-6, JR
Keanu Dawes, Utah, 6-9, JR
AJ Dybantsa, BYU, 6-9, FR
Gabe Dynes, USC, 7-5, JR
Eian Elmer, Miami (Ohio), 6-6, JR
Isaiah Evans, Duke, 6-6, SO
Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State, 6-2, SO
Kingston Flemings, Houston, 6-4, FR
Colby Garland, San Jose State, 6-0, JR
Allen Graves, Santa Clara, 6-9, FR
Juke Harris, Wake Forest, 6-7, SO
Isiah Harwell, Houston, 6-6, FR
Lou Hutchinson, Alabama A&M, 6-7, JR
Morez Johnson Jr., Michigan, 6-9, SO
Acaden Lewis, Villanova, 6-2, FR
Aday Mara, Michigan, 7-3, JR
Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State, 6-8, JR
Malachi Moreno, Kentucky, 7-0, FR
Paulius Murauskas, Saint Mary’s, 6-8, JR
Ebuka Okorie, Stanford, 6-2, FR
Dennis Parker Jr., Radford, 6-6, JR
Koa Peat, Arizona, 6-8, FR
Darryn Peterson, Kansas, 6-6, FR
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama, 6-4, SO
Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky, 6-10, SO
Sebastian Rancik, Colorado, 6-11, SO
Billy Richmond III, Arkansas, 6-6, SO
Hannes Steinbach, Washington, 6-11, FR
Andrej Stojakovic, Illinois, 6-7, JR
Dailyn Swain, Texas, 6-8, JR
Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt, 6-0, SO
Meleek Thomas, Arkansas, 6-5, FR
Aiden Tobiason, Temple, 6-5, SO
Bryson Tucker, Washington, 6-7, SO
Henri Veesaar, North Carolina, 7-0, JR
Keaton Wagler, Illinois, 6-6, FR
LeJuan Watts, Texas Tech, 6-6, JR
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, 6-10, FR
Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor, 6-5, FR
NBA draft early-entry international players
International players who have applied for early entry into the 2026 NBA Draft, with player name, team (country of team in parentheses) and date of birth):
Mohammad Amini, Nancy (France), 6-7, 2005
Pavle Backo, Mega (Serbia), 7-0, 2007
Bassala Bagayoko, Bilbao (Spain), 6-10, 2006
Francesco Ferrari, Virtus Bologna (Italy), 6-9, 2005
Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada, Nancy (France), 5-11, 2006
Vsevolod Ishchenko, Lokomotiv (Russia), 6-3, 2005
Jack Kayil, Alba Berlin (Germany), 6-3, 2006
Sergio de Larrea, Valencia (Spain), 6-6, 2005
Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers (Australia), 6-8, 2007
The 2026 NBA Draft lottery will be held in Chicago on Sunday, May 10 at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. The lottery will determine the order of selection for the 14 teams who have qualified for the so-called lottery picks.
The 2026 NBA draft will take place June 23-24 in New York at the Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets.
The first round will be held at Tuesday, June 23 at 8 p.m. ET (ABC and ESPN)
The second round will be on Wednesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).
The Mavericks star narrowly defeated his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel for NBA Rookie of the Year honors on Monday night, beating him out by 26 points in the voting.
“I was watching Kon just because that’s one of my brothers,” Flagg told NBC after he was named Rookie of the Year. “We have that connection and we’re always going to be there for each other.
“I was watching him as a fan as well, but there’s also going to be that competition at the same time.”
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dunks the ball in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Flagg became the first rookie since Michael Jordan during the 1984-85 season to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. The forward also led all rookies in scoring during the 2025-26 season
The 19-year-old had averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals this year.
The voting was expected to be close after the two former Blue Devils had impressive rookie seasons.
Flagg received 56 first-place votes and Knueppel received 44 first-place votes, with other finalist V.J. Edgecombe not receiving any first-place votes.
Knueppel had averaged 18.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists during his first year in the league with the Hornets. He had also set the rookie record for 3-pointers made with a league-best 273.
Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on April 12, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Knueppel was taken with the fourth overall pick in the draft last year and helped Charlotte reach the NBA Play-In Tournament, where his side eventually fell to the Magic.
Flagg went first overall to the Mavericks and saw his team go 26-56 during the 2025-26 campaign.
The teen became the youngest player in league history to record games with 35, 40, 45 and 50 points.
He also became the youngest player to have at least 10 assists in a game.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers argues a call with referee Tony Brothers #25 during the first quarter against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers had chances to take a decisive 3-1 lead over the Toronto Raptors in Game 4. They had an eight-point advantage with five minutes to play, but squandered the lead with a combination of bad defense, reckless decisions, and missed point-blank shots. This all added up to a 93-89 loss with the series tied at two games apiece.
Likewise, the referees didn’t have a great close to the game. According to the Last Two Minute Report, they missed seven calls down the stretch. Four should’ve gone against the Cavs while three should’ve gone against the Raptors.
This possession for the Raptors ended up in two points thanks to a shooting foul by James Harden and two made free throws by Brandon Ingram.
The second missed call also benefited the Cavs. Donovan Mitchell should’ve been called for a double dribble with 1:36 remaining because he pinned the ball against his leg.
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The replay clearly shows this happened. Mitchell should’ve either thrown this out to the corner or dumped it off to Mobley. It seems like he was going to do that, but something caused him to change his mind. The poor decision resulted in a missed shot. Even though the double dribble wasn’t called, the outcome of this play was the same for Toronto.
The third missed call happened at the 1:08 mark and also went in the Cavs’ favor. Harden should’ve been called for an offensive foul. The league found that he pushed off of Jamal Shead, which created a wide-open 14-foot jumper. Harden missed this.
Even though this was a missed call, the result on the floor was the same. This was an empty possession for Cleveland regardless. Since this wasn’t a loose-ball foul, it wouldn’t have resulted in free throws the other way.
The fourth blown call benefited the Raptors and completely changed the momentum of the game. Mitchell’s eight-second violation caused this game to completely get away from the Cavs. And it shouldn’t have happened. Instead, this should’ve been a foul on Shead.
The league stats: “Sheed moves forward into Mitchell’s path and delivers body to body contact prior to making any contact with the ball.”
Shead made a heads-up play to charge Mitchell, but he does get the body first. He goes through Mitchell to poke the ball free. This should’ve been a foul.
If this were called correctly on the floor, the Cavs would’ve gotten two free throws. Mitchell would’ve had a chance to make it a three-point game. Instead, Toronto came down the court and retook the lead.
The fifth also hurt the Cavs.
With Cleveland down one with 34 seconds left, Sam Merrill should’ve been awarded a free throw with the Cavs keeping possession. Collin Murray-Boyles committed an off-ball foul by throwing him to the ground with 34 seconds left.
The report states: “Murray-Boyles moves into Merrill’s path and delivers contact that affects his FOM (freedom of movement). The contact occurs prior to the release of the inbound pass, and an away from the play foul is warranted.”
The sixth missed call technically benefited Cleveland.
Max Strus should’ve been called for a personal foul after Brandon Ingram rebounded Mitchell’s missed three with 23 seconds remaining. Strus knocked the ball out of bounds. The Cavs fouled Barnes a few seconds later.
The final missed call also disadvantaged Merrill. He should’ve been awarded a free throw after Barnes grabbed during a long two-point make with six seconds remaining.
If this game were called correctly, the Raptors would’ve been awarded one more free-throw attempt, while the Cavs should’ve received four additional free throws. That hurts in a game that was this close.
The Cavs have no one to blame but themselves for the loss. They should’ve won this game even with the calls that went against them. That said, it’s frustrating to be on the wrong end of calls that directly influenced the outcome of a pivotal playoff game. The referees needed to be better than they were.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 26: Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets defends a shot from Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter of a game in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 26, 2026 in Houston, 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. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite being up 3-1 in the series, there have been very few moments where it’s felt like the Lakers have taken that message to heart. With 80 turnovers in the four contests, no team has given the ball away more than LA this postseason.
While it was an underlying issue in the victories, it moved into the forefront after Sunday’s Game 4 defeat. The Lakers turned the ball over 23 times, leading to 30 points for the Rockets. While every game is more complex than a single aspect determining the outcome, it’s hard not to point to the giveaways as a big reason LA was unable to complete the sweep.
“We’ll spend a lot of time over the next couple of days just figuring out ways to try to prevent some of those turnovers,” head coach JJ Redick said postgame.
It’s unclear how much relief should come with the Lakers vowing to find a solution when they made it a point of emphasis from the jump and it’s remained an issue. It’s also unclear how much they can realistically change.
At the end of the day, the Lakers personnel is what it is. Their two lead ballhandlers are out and the two guards replacing them are not natural point guards. LeBron James has shown, even dating back to last year, that his handle is not what it used to be either.
That being said, there were also plenty of turnovers the Lakers had on Sunday that weren’t related to ballhandling but a lack of focus.
“Majority of them was mental,” Marcus Smart said of the turnovers. “We were dropping passes, myself included. I was throwing passes to guys’ legs. Normal passes that we make on a regular basis, right? It’s something we have to clean up. We know it. We understand it.
“It’s not going to get easier. We understand that. But we’ve played this team for four games now and the first three, we did very well. We understand it. We just have to continue to stay poised and get through it.”
Perhaps the Lakers winning the early games despite the turnovers led to them turning a blind eye to the problem. I certainly wouldn’t say the Lakers did “very well” about turnovers prior to Game 4. They just did enough in other areas that those didn’t cost them.
This team, as constructed, has a much smaller margin for error due to injuries. When they turn the ball over to the degree they did in Game 4, it takes near-perfection in every other aspect of the game to win. It’s not a viable path to victory.
The return of Austin Reaves could help alleviate some of the woes. At the very least, it gives the Lakers a player who is more comfortable handling the ball than someone like Jake LaRavia or even Smart and Luke Kennard.
But at the end of the day, the Lakers simply just have to be better at taking care of the ball if they want any chance of closing out this series.
All eyes are on Madison Square Garden for a crucial Game 5 between the Hawks and Knicks.
NBA teams that win Game 5 of a tied best-of-seven series go on to win the series 81.5% of the time (194-44). The team that exits Manhattan with a victory Tuesday night has a great chance of advancing to the second round.
New York was heavily favored entering the series and won Game 1 113-102, but Atlanta has shown why they are one of the stingiest and hottest teams in basketball.
In Game 2, the Hawks rallied from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit, holding the Knicks to a season-low 15 fourth-quarter points and winning 107-106. CJ McCollum scored a game-high 32 points, including a go-ahead basket with 33 seconds left.
Two nights later, Atlanta fended off a New York rally to earn another one-point victory (109-108). McCollum's go-ahead jumper with 12.7 seconds remaining gave the Hawks a stunning 2-1 series lead.
Five years after Trae Young led the Hawks to a stunning five-game first-round series victory over the Knicks, a player Atlanta got when they traded Young to the Wizards in January is taking center stage.
McCollum, the first player since enhanced data tracking in 1997-98 with go-ahead-for-good shots in the final minute of back-to-back playoff games in the same series, is leading Atlanta in the series with 24.5 points per game. Without him, the series might be over.
The 34-year-old guard only scored 17 points in Game 4, and the Knicks comfortably tied the series after getting Karl-Anthony Towns more involved in the offense. He recorded a triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Six of his assists came on baskets scored by OG Anunoby.
"He's a special talent. He can do it all. I know if I get open, he'll find me," Anunoby said after Game 4. "It's amazing playing with a player like him."
Keep reading to learn more about Game 5 between the Hawks and the Knicks and how to watch the NBA playoffs on NBC and Peacock.
The New York Knicks bounced back in a big way after consecutive losses to the Hawks, stifling Atlanta on defense to even their first-round series.
How to watch Game 5 between Hawks and Knicks
When: Tuesday, April 28
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Announcing team: Mike Tirico, Reggie Miller, Zora Stephenson
TV: NBC
Live stream: Peacock
Series status: Series tied 2-2
New York Knicks Game 5 preview
Running the offense through Towns worked for the Knicks in Game 4.
He thrived as a passer, unleashing his inner-Nikola Jokic and racking up the assists while only turning the ball over twice. If the Knicks can continue to utilize Towns as a facilitator, they have a better shot of winning Game 5.
Anunoby will also play a major role. The most consistent player for the Knicks this postseason, he is averaging 20.8 points and 8.8 rebounds, shooting 56% from the field. He has been New York's top scorer in the past two games, tying his playoff career high with 29 points in Game 3 and scoring 22, while being a game-high +19 in Game 4.
And of course, there is Brunson. He left Game 4 in the third quarter with an ankle injury but returned, ending the game with 19 points. While he is on pace for his second-lowest scoring playoff series (25.5 points per game) among the eight he has played with the Knicks, he also is struggling defensively.
"At the end of the day, that’s why it’s a team game," head coach Mike Brown said after Game 4.
Atlanta is attacking the star guard, and if New York wants to be leading this series 3-2, Brunson likely will have to step up his defensive game — or score enough to make it not matter.
Another storyline to watch in Game 5 is Mikal Bridges. The 29-year-old played just five minutes in the second half of Game 3, failing to record a point all night. Miles McBride has stepped up amid Bridges' struggles, but Brown kept Bridges in the starting lineup in Game 4 and likely will do the same Tuesday night.
"We've won a lot of games with the starting group. I didn't want to panic and just change anything. Obviously, we changed some stuff strategy-wise, but I didn’t want to change anything with the starting group because I didn’t feel a need to," Brown said.
For Karl-Anthony Towns, the New York Knicks have to exceed the moment, and coming into Game 4 understanding the magnitude of it delivered a big win to even their series with the Hawks.
Atlanta Hawks Game 5 preview
The Hawks could use some McCollum magic in Manhattan.
But they also could use a Nickeil Alexander-Walker wake-up game. The NBA's most improved player has struggled from the floor in this series, shooting just 5-22 (22.7%) on two-pointers, lower than half his regular season efficiency (career-high 52.5%).
Atlanta likely will try to play a little faster and have more energy in Game 5. The Hawks had zero fast-break points through three quarters of Game 4, ending the game with just seven. They had 20 fast-break points in their Game 2 and 3 wins over the Knicks. And they averaged 18.1 fast-break points in the regular season, third in the NBA behind only the Raptors and the Heat.
“I think they just punked us. We didn’t match their intensity from the jump," Jalen Johnson said after Game 4.
A player who has brought the intensity all series is Jonathan Kuminga. He has emerged as one of Atlanta's X-factors since a midseason trade from the Warriors. Coming off the bench all four games this series, he scored 19 points in Game 2 and 21 in Game 3, both wins. He only scored 10 points in Game 1 and eight in Game 4, both losses.
"Jonathan's just been all in. Whatever that looks like on a given night, and it's something we've talked about as a team," head coach Quinn Snyder said after Game 3. "Are you prepared to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed on a given night in a playoff game?"
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 25: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder in action during the first half in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 25, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
