Category: NBA

Allow me to contradict myself from something I said earlier in this series, but what an underwhelming crowd that was for a closeout game.

In the opening two games, the Lakers faithful were awesome and had a huge hand in the purple and gold jumping out to an early lead in the series. But on Wednesday, with a chance to close out this series, the fans matched the energy of the team and the result was a game that felt like it was taking place in early January for a large chunk of it.

The easy retort is that the Lakers gave them nothing to return for during most of that stretch. And while you’re not wrong, this is a playoff game! There shouldn’t need to be a reason to cheer on the team.

A disappointing showing from the fans matched a disappointing showing from the team.

Anyway, let’s dive into the loss. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

LeBron James

39 minutes, 25 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, 9-20 FG, 0-6 3PT, 7-10 FT, -5

LeBron started the game strong in the opening minutes, then faded completely into the background for most of the next three quarters. By the time he turned it back up in the fourth quarter, it was too little too late.

I get he’s 41. I get playing a young Rockets team is exhausting. But this was unacceptable for most of the game.

Grade: C-

Rui Hachimura

37 minutes, 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 4 fouls, 5-11 FG, 2-3 3PT, +5

When Rui has things going, those pull-up mid-range jumpers are things of beauty. When they aren’t, it’s very frustrating to watch. It was very frustrating to watch tonight.

He did hit a timely three, so he gets saved with that.

Grade: C+

Deandre Ayton

38 minutes, 18 points, 17 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 3 fouls, 9-14 FG, +2

Shoutout to the best player on the floor for the Lakers. And really, this is two games going that he’s been the best player on the floor. And he closed Game 3 in a strong way in overtime.

What I’m getting at is Ayton has shown up this series and was the bright spot in a frustrating game.

Grade: A+

Marcus Smart

37 minutes, 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 6 turnovers, 2 fouls, 3-7 FG, 3-7 3PT, 2-2 FT, -7

Don’t let the stats fool you. This was one of Smart’s worst games of the season. On top of the six assists, the shot selection was really bad. With the Lakers’ offense struggling, he took long threes on multiple occasions. After making it a habit of getting to the rim this series, too, he completely abandoned that on Wednesday.

Across the last two games, he has 10 turnovers, is shooting 6-15 from the field and 3-9 from three. Sure hope we’re due for a good Smart game!

Grade: F

Luke Kennard

31 minutes, 1 point, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 0-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 1-2 FT, -3

The Jeremy Lin run for Kennard is well and truly over. He was pulled from the starting lineup in the second half and rightfully so. Does he have one last bit of magic left?

Grade: F

Austin Reaves

34 minutes, 22 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 3 turnovers, 3 fouls, 4-16 FG, 2-8 3PT, 12-13 FT, -5

From an efficiency standpoint, this was not a great game from Austin. From an impact standpoint, it was a positive. He immediately brought another offensive threat in the pick and roll and got to the line repeatedly.

It’s not a shock that he didn’t have a rhythm. It is a shame thought because an average shooting night from Reaves likely ends this series.

Grade: B+

Jaxson Hayes

10 minutes, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, -8

We’re back to the point in the playoffs where Hayes is unplayable in the postseason. They hemorrhaged points in his minutes, and he committed multiple fouls on the rim. When he can’t be a lob threat, he offers nothing offensively.

Grade: F

Jake LaRavia

9 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 fouls, 1-1 FG, -1

This actually felt like a good LaRavia game. He had a couple of nice defensive sequences and scored on a nice cut. But he’s still not even considering shooting threes, so I get why he’s not getting many minutes.

Grade: C

Jarred Vanderbilt

It was only one stint from Vando on Wednesday and rightfully so. The Rockets have spent the series daring Vando to hit threes and he’s now 1-8 with the one make coming on his first shot of the series.

If he’s this unplayable, then I think there’s an argument to give Bronny his shift and see if having a bit more spacing could open something up.

JJ Redick

The Lakers came out with a lack of urgency, which typically circles back to the coach and fair enough. But the Lakers also were doing a lot of things on the floor that were out of his Redick’s control. The missed threes and turnovers were definitely not part of his gameplan.

He did start the game doubling Alperen Şengün and daring the likes of Dorian Finney-Smith and Amen Thompson to beat them from three. When they did, he moved off that, but the damage was done. You have to roll the dice on something and the Lakers lost that gamble.

Grade: C

Wednesday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, Nick Smith Jr., Adou Thiero

Wednesday’s inactives: Luka Dončić

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back for a huge Game 5 win and a 3-2 series lead over the Toronto Raptors.

Let’s go over today’s losers.

LOSER – The First Half

I can’t blame anyone for feeling antsy in the first half. To be honest, if you weren’t starting to worry about a full-blown panic attack, then I don’t know how you do it. This first half had disaster written all over it.

The Raptors could not miss in the first two quarters. They had 74 points at halftime on 64% shooting from the floor and 59% shooting from downtown. No one thought that would be sustainable, but it’s more than enough in one half to steal a Game 5 on the road.

How did the Raptors do it?

Scottie Barnes was the driving force. He put immense pressure on the rim with his downhill attacks, while his playmaking provided a counter. Drawing multiple defenders and hitting the open man is easier said than done. Barnes had the Cavalier defense scrambling to keep up.

Adding fuel to the fire, Cleveland again turned it over like crazy. The Raptors eventually scored 28 points off turnovers in this game, with a good chunk of that coming in a frantic first half.

WINNER – Feeding the Bigs

Clearly, something changed in the second half. The Cavs managed to overcome a 12-point deficit and storm back for a double-digit lead of their own before winning in the closing minutes.

Feeding the bigs was the key to all of that.

Dennis Schroder (more on him soon) apparently told the Cavs as much. At halftime, Schroder addressed his team and told them where they’ve been going wrong. His proposal? To return to ‘Cavs basketball’ play prioritizing Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley as focal points of the offense. I guess Schroder reads Fear the Sword, or any Cavs blog, for that matter.

Schroder says he told the team he wants to see 'Cavs basketball' again and to return to the style they played when he first arrived in Cleveland

"Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are the keys to our team… those are two of the top bigs in the league, so we got to use them" https://t.co/F6S31d5JmR

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) April 30, 2026

The results were immediate. Mobley and Allen re-established the Cavaliers’ efforts in the paint by rolling to the rim and creating easy opportunities. By playing inside-out, the Cavs offense settled into a more sustainable groove — all while energizing the bigs on the other end of the floor.

All of a sudden, Allen and Mobley were rejecting shots and anchoring an elite defense. After coughing up 74 points in the first half, Cleveland only allowed 46 in the second (just 17 points in the fourth). Mobley and Allen’s six combined blocks were a big part of that. Getting them more involved on offense was what sparked it.

Mobley finished with 16 points in the second half, including three clutch triples to secure the win.

WINNER – Dennis Schroder

I had a feeling that Schroder could have a big game in the playoffs. I, however, did not think it would come in such a pivotal moment.

Schroder, for all intents and purposes, saved the Cavs season. This was shaping up to be a crushing Game 5 loss at home. Instead, Schroder more than doubled his total points for the series (he scored 19 points tonight and had only scored 18 points in the previous games combined). More than half of Schroder’s scoring game in the fourth quarter.

Toronto has played an aggressive style of defense at the point of attack. For example, if James Harden has the ball, you can bet a second Raptor is lurking at the nail, cheating off the wing and providing additional help on any potential drives.

This is what opened the door for Schroder to succeed.

Any attention on Harden meant room for Schroder to attack. He was quick to catch the ball and burst to the rim on these opportunities, making the most of the defense being preoccupied with his teammates. That extra ball-handler on the court made a huge difference for Cleveland, as the Raptors had previously stifled their offense with this aggressive help.

Schroder didn’t just have it rolling downhill; he was knocking down three-pointers, as well. Scoring from all three levels made him tonight’s hero — and even Donovan Mitchell was content sitting on the bench to let Dennis cook.

“It’s about the group,” Mitchell said about allowing Schroder to stay in the game. “It’s on me to take a step back… I know who I am, y’all know who I am… but the only thing that matters is winning the game.”

I didn’t expect Schroder to save the day, but I sure am happy he did.

New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -2.5; over/under is 213.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 3-2

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks look to clinch the series over the Atlanta Hawks in game six of the Eastern Conference first round. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 126-97 in the last meeting on Wednesday. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 39 points, and Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 18.

The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference games. Atlanta is 7-8 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Knicks are 35-17 in conference matchups. New York is seventh in the NBA with 45.6 rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 11.9.

The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points higher than the 46.0% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 14.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 more made shots on average than the 12.9 per game the Hawks give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Brunson is scoring 26.0 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 4-6, averaging 111.6 points, 41.0 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 8.0 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.9 points per game.

Knicks: 7-3, averaging 113.1 points, 43.6 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 8.6 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.5 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).

Knicks: None listed.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

There’s a kind of relationship that only championship basketball produces. It isn’t friendship or a business. It’s something more volatile than either, built over four title runs, a thousand film sessions, and three knockdown fights a year just to establish the rules.

Steve Kerr gave us the most honest line of the entire Warriors postmortem cycle when he told The New Yorker’s Charles Bethea:

“There [are] things he’s done that I can never forgive him for, and yet I will do anything for him.”

Not “I’ve forgiven him.” Not “we worked through it.” The things remain unforgivable. The loyalty remains absolute. Those two facts coexist without resolving, and that tension is exactly what made this dynasty breathe.

Kerr described their early years together as a negotiation of dominance, two fiercely competitive people establishing territory. He had to show the rest of the team he was in charge. Draymond, being Draymond, required that demonstration repeatedly and enthusiastically. What emerged was genuine mutual fluency, the kind where you can anticipate someone’s argument before they finish making it because you’ve had it enough times to have it memorized. Then December happened, and all that fluency got tested at max volume.

Which brings us to Draymond’s side of the ledger.

Draymond went to the locker room after an apparent argument with Steve Kerr

He did not play the final 20 minutes of the game

(via @shubhydoo) pic.twitter.com/HF1PywQ2mV

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 23, 2025

During a 120-97 win over Orlando on December 22, the two turned the Warriors bench into a press conference nobody scheduled. Draymond eventually left for the locker room and never came back. From the outside it looked like another episode. From the inside, according to Draymond himself on The Draymond Green Show, it was something far more specific:

“I had to say what I had to say back, and then he went crazier and crazier. And the look that I saw in his eyes, I’m like, ‘I should leave.'”

That’s not impulsivity. That’s a man who has studied Steve Kerr for over a decade reading the temperature in real time and making a calculated decision to exit before the situation became something neither of them could walk back. What followed the game was the part that reframes everything. Draymond told Kerr directly that he didn’t think Kerr had ever truly liked him. Kerr cried. The man who played for Phil Jackson, who coached four champions, who has operated in the NBA pressure cooker for three decades, broke down when confronted with the possibility that the person he fought hardest questioned whether he was genuinely valued. That’s not weakness. That’s what it costs to care deeply about something difficult.

Check out Draymond’s reaction:

Draymond reacts to Steve Kerr's comments in the New Yorker

“I don't take that any way at all, speaking of this December thing, I spoke to him after that and it was like 'I don't think you like me, I don't think you've ever liked me if I'm honest' and like he cried… but if you… pic.twitter.com/IeHFeb3lzR

— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) April 29, 2026

That’s the whole thesis right there, delivered cleaner than any analyst could package it. The unforgivable things are real. The debt is also real. Both are permanent, neither canceling the other out. Kerr, for his part, made clear that his uncertainty about returning as Warriors coach isn’t abstract. It’s personal. The reason walking away feels complicated is sitting right there in the locker room:

“I don’t want to abandon those guys. If Steph and Draymond were retiring this year, I think this would be an easy decision: we all go out together.”

Twelve years. Four championships. Three fights a year becoming one major blowout a season becoming tears in a hallway after a December win over Orlando. What Kerr and Draymond built wasn’t comfortable or clean. It was exactly what championship relationships look like from the inside: real enough to wound, strong enough to survive the wounds, and honest enough to name both truths out loud without flinching.

That’s the rarest thing in professional sports. Not the rings or the wins. But the willingness to stay in something that never fully heals and still choose it anyway.

The Cleveland Cavaliers survived a thriller against the Toronto Raptors, largely thanks to Dennis Schroder.

Schroder, we all owe you an apology. You might have just saved the season.

All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Donovan Mitchell

19 points, 3 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers

This started off as another poor showing from Mitchell. Despite a pair of absurd three-pointers in the first half, Mitchell’s decision-making was once again off from the start. He’s struggled to read Toronto’s defense in every game since Game 2 — but he finally found a groove again in the second half.

It wasn’t perfect. But Mitchell put his head down, and windmill gathered his way back into the interior. His scoring in the paint was a positive, and it helped turn the momentum back in Cleveland’s favor as they began their rally.

Notably, Mitchell was absent for a long stretch during the fourth quarter. Head coach Kenny Atkinson says that was because Mitchell insisted the Cavs keep Dennis Schroder, who was on a heater, in the game instead of him. For all of the complaints we have of Mitchell getting tunnel vision on offense — he’s still one of the more humble superstars in the league. He’ll get bonus points for that.

“It’s on me to take a step back,” said Mitchell. “I know who I am, y’all know who I am… the only thing that matters is winning the game… I could score zero points, as long as we win, I don’t give a damn.”

Grade: C–

James Harden

23 points, 5 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 6 turnovers

This game looks different if Harden doesn’t meet the moment with his scoring in the first half. Toronto couldn’t be stopped, rampaging to 74 points in the first two quarters. Harden kept the Cavs in the race by scoring 19 points of his own to keep Cleveland’s deficit in single digits.

Again, it wasn’t perfect. This was Harden’s fourth game of the series with 5+ turnovers (he had six tonight). Being careless with the ball contributed to 28 points off turnovers for the Raptors. Still, if it wasn’t for a few of his drives to the basket, this Cavalier offense would have been DOA.

Grade: B+

Evan Mobley

23 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks

I’m not sure how many Cavaliers faced more pressure entering this one. Mobley was heavily scrutinized for his poor performances in Toronto. So, how did he respond?

Well, a pair of huge triples in the fourth quarter goes a long way to making you feel better.

Mobley ended with 23 points, shooting 8-13 from the floor and re-integrating himself as one of the league’s best play-finishers. All the while, his rim protection helped pave the way for Cleveland’s second-half comeback.

Grade: B+

Dennis Schroder

19 points, 2 assists

The man of the hour.

I can’t say it enough, Schroder saved the day in Game 5. The sheer intensity and urgency with which he played every minute is a stark contrast to some of the more lackadaisical performances we’ve seen from Cavs playoff games of the past.

Schroder’s ball-handling opened the floor for Cleveland’s offense to get back into the driver’s seat. He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, bursting to the rim and drilling clutch shot after clutch shot.

Schroder says he told the team he wants to see 'Cavs basketball' again and to return to the style they played when he first arrived in Cleveland

"Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are the keys to our team… those are two of the top bigs in the league, so we got to use them" https://t.co/F6S31d5JmR

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) April 30, 2026

Grade: A+++

Jarrett Allen

9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks

The Cavs have been lacking force from their frontcourt. Losing the physicality battle is a theme we’ve seen too often in Cleveland. Part of winning that battle, however, is making sure the bigs are energized by being functional members of the offense. We saw that effect in the second half, as Allen went from a total no-show to a real difference maker.

I can’t say Allen was great, by any means. But a few opportunities in the short-roll and on deep-seals allowed him to get on the board. From there, a handful of great contests (and blocks) at the rim fueled Rocket Arena back into a frenzy.

Grade: C+

Dean Wade

7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Wade was moved back to the bench tonight as the Cavs opted for Max Strus in the starting five. More on that later. But Wade’s defensive impact was as strong as ever, and he made a few nice plays off the ball to make himself visible on offense. That diminished as the game went on, and Wade finished 3-10 from the floor.

But taking that many shot attempts is a step forward in and of itself. And Wade has more than proven he belongs in the playoff rotation, whether it’s as a starter or bench contributor.

Grade: B+

Max Strus

8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Strus joined the starters tonight, a risky move that initially looked like a total dud. The Cavs sacrificed size on the wing and weren’t reaping enough rewards from having another volume shooter next to the backcourt. That started to course correct itself in the second half.

The Cavs found much more success with Strus after halftime. The defense started to play with more urgency, and Strus continued to do all of the little things that won’t show up in the box score.

Grade: C+

Thomas Bryant

0 points, 1 rebound, 1 turnover

Bryant was dusted off the bench for his first meaningful run in this series. It was a mixed bag. He sets crushing screens and can match Toronto’s intensity. But he couldn’t match their speed, and struggled to contain the pick-and-roll.

Grade: D-

Jaylon Tyson

8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists

Tyson’s stepback jumper in the fourth quarter was key to keeping momentum. He hasn’t been afraid of the moment all year, so it was great to see Tyson take and make such a key shot in Game 5.

Grade: C+

Sam Merrill

9 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 1 steal

Merrill is emerging as the silent hero of the series. His effort on defense is as high as anyone on the roster. And, he’s been gradually finding his touch from behind the arch. Merrill added 9 points on 2-3 shooting today, working his way to the free-throw line four times, as well.

Sam finished with a team-high plus-19 in this game.

Grade: B+

The Houston Rockets forced a Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers, defeating them 99-93 in Game 5, in the first round of the NBA playoffs on April 29.

The Rockets one-upped the Lakers, who saw the return of Austin Reaves. He scored 22 points in their Game 5 loss. The Lakers had been without Reaves most of the series ... and will still be without leading scorer Luka Doncic.

Doncic suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain against the Oklahoma City Thunder with days remaining in the regular season, on April 2. He's been out since.

If the Lakers eliminate the Rockets on Friday, May 1, Los Angeles will face the Thunder next in the second round of the playoffs.

The Lakers will still be without Doncic to start the second round against Oklahoma City should they advance, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. But after that?

The Lakers’ mission was to take the Rockets’ postseason life away.

But the Rockets are still breathing. 

And very much alive and confident after beating the Lakers 99-93 on the Lakers homecourt in a pivotal Game 5 to extend the best-of-seven first round playoff series by at least one more game, with the series shifting back to Houston with the Lakers leading 3-2.  

“You gotta give them a lot of credit,” coach JJ Redick said. “They made shots, including some guys who normally don’t make 3s. Our defense, you hope 99 is enough to win, and we just couldn’t make shots. Missed some layups. Certainly had some good looks from 3 that didn’t go down. But we’ll take a look at the whole process, take a look at the substitution patterns and figure out where we can be better in Game 6.”

Even with star guard Austin Reaves making his return to the lineup after being sidelined since April because of a left oblique strain, the Lakers once again struggled offensively for the second consecutive – and 2 ½ games going back to the miraculous Game 3 comeback victory in Houston. 

Reaves finished with 22 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds in 34 minutes in his first game since suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain in the April 2 loss to the Thunder, but struggled with his shooting and finishing, going 4 of 16 from the field. He made 12 of his 13 free throws.  

“I missed a lot of easy looks,” Reaves said. “We didn’t shoot it great as a team. We’ll watch film [on Thursday], get better. We’ll go try to win a game Friday.”

LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points and 7 rebounds, but missed a pull-up 3 with 12 seconds left that would’ve cut the team’s deficit to one point.

Marcus Smart had 6 of the Lakers’ 15 turnovers.

“Take care of basketball, we’ve been through this,” Smart said. “We understand this team and how they play, and they’re very aggressive and we got to take care of basketball. Myself, I had six turnovers and that’s unacceptable for me, especially with only two assists. Especially against this team. So we definitely got to take care of the ball. We got to do a better job, all of us, and collectively, and that’ll help us for sure.”

Deandre Ayton added 18 points and 17 rebounds. 

Jabari Smith led the Rockets with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and a pair of blocked shots. 

What it means

The Rockets are one of just nine teams to force a Game 6 after dropping the first two road games and first home game consecutively under the 2-2-1-1-1 playoff format since the league went to a 16-game playoffs in 1984.

Of the previous eight teams, only two have forced a Game 7.

Overall, the Rockets are the 16th team in NBA history to force a Game 6 after trailing 0-3 in a playoff series.

Turning point

When Smart overhelped off Amen Thompson in the left corner on a Reed Sheppard drive to the late in the shot, opening up a drive-and-kick opporunity that the Rockets took advantage of, with Thompson making the corner 3 to put the Rockets up 79-69 early in the fourth.

After Reaves missed a layup on the Lakers’ ensuing possession, Jabari Smith hit another to put the Rockets up by a game-best 13 points. 

The Lakers kept the game close but didn’t cut their deficit to any closer than three points.

MVP: Alperen Sengun

Sengun recorded a series-high 8 assists to go with 9 rebounds and 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting in Game 5.

The Rockets All-Star center made the Lakers pay for sending extra help his way.

Stat of the game: 7

That’s how many more 3s the Rockets made than the Lakers. 

The Rockets shot 14 of 40 from beyond the arc compared to the Lakers’ 7-of-27 shooting on 3s. 

Up next

Game 6 of Lakers-Rockets is scheduled for Friday at Toyota Center. 

The matchup will tip off at 6:30 pm.

A largely lifeless offensive performance from the Lakers saw the Rockets take a second consecutive win in the series in Game 5 on Wednesday, 99-93. The purple and gold still lead the series 3-2.

While Austin Reaves returned for the contest and eclipsed 20 points, few other Lakers showed up as offense was hard to come by yet again. The Lakers shot 42.1% from the field and 25.9% from the 3-point line. Paired with 15 turnovers leading to 18 Houston points and the Lakers were forced to play catch-up most of the night.

The Lakers led for most of the first quarter-and-a-half, but eventually fell behind by double digits for chunks of the second half. A pair of comebacks in the final minutes saw them close the gap to three on two occassions but never any closer.

Marcus Smart had the first five points for the Lakers to kick off the game, offsetting early buckets from Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason. The Lakers parlayed a Rockets turnover into a Rui Hachimura dunk and a Smart 3-pointer gave the hosts an early four-point lead.

LEBRON FINDS RUI TO START 💥

(via @MindOfBron) pic.twitter.com/QDVSR9QDGE

— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) April 30, 2026

Ayton finished a lob from Smart and put back a Rui missed jumper to force the first timeout of the game with LA up 14-9 just past the midway point of the quarter.

Austin Reaves checked into the game during the break for his first action in just under a month and immediately found Ayton on a pair of feeds in the pick and roll, the latter leading to a basket. After throwing a terrible lob to LeBron James, he got his first points of the night with a long-range pull-up 3-pointer, putting LA up 19-13.

Reaves quickly found his groove with a lefty layup before drawing a foul on a three. Following a LeBron reverse layup off a Jake LaRavia offensive rebound, Austin found LeBron on a pick and roll as the Lakers carried a 28-21 lead into the second period.

The Lakers lead the Rockets 28-21 after 12 minutes of play. Austin Reaves looked great coming off the bench. He has 8 points and 2 assists in his five minutes of play.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) April 30, 2026

The momentum of the first quarter for LA quickly dissipated as Houston got back-to-back threes from Dorian Finney-Smith and Jabari Smith cut it to a one-point game. After Smart and LeBron missed threes, Vando finished a fastbreak layup and LeBron knocked down a midrange jumper before another DFS three had it a 32-30 Lakers lead.

Houston capped off their 17-6 run with a deep 3-pointer from Reed Sheppard to take a one-point lead as LA’s offense went cold after Reaves returned to the bench. Out of a timeout, Sheppard converted a driving layup before LeBron got the Lakers back on the board with a pair of freebies.

The end of the second quarter saw the Lakers struggle massively once again. A lucky 3-pointer from Smart while trying to draw a foul and a deep three from Reaves helped LA avoid disaster. The Rockets used a three from Josh Okogie, a cutting dunk from Amen Thompson and a pair of fastbreak baskets off turnovers to go ahead 48-44, forcing an LA timeout with 1:22 left.

Some pretty cold shooting from the Lakers here – 3/11 from 3. Houston seems content enough to allow those as of now provided it's not Hachimura/Kennard taking them

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) April 30, 2026

Out of the timeout, Rui turned the ball over, but atoned for it by saving the ball from going out of bounds on the other end before then knocking down a triple. Eason closed the half with a corner 3-pointer as the Rockets led 51-47 at the break.

Head coach JJ Redick made a change at the half, swapping out Luke Kennard for Austin. It made a difference early in the quarter as he drew fouls on consecutive possessions to help pull LA within two at 53-51, but the Lakers gave up open threes to Sheppard and Eason and found themselves down eight, the largest deficit of the night.

A lifeless start to the half for LA snowballed as the Rockets ramped up the intensity, opening up an 11-point lead after a Jabari 3-pointer. A string of empty possessions for LA featured either missed open threes or ill-advised shot attempts with the momentum squarely in favor of Houston.

After a quiet first half, LeBron finally came to life, getting to the rim to either draw a foul — including an important fourth foul on Eason — or finish, cutting the lead down to five.Holiday and Alperen Şengün eventually stopped the run, but each of their scores was answered by Ayton baskets.

Lebron IQ 🧠

Cut by Ayton pic.twitter.com/TgwqQONagJ

— 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 🏆 (@PurpGoldLakers) April 30, 2026

Back-to-back turnovers from Smart sandwiched an Aaron Holiday three, making it a 72-64 Houston lead with 2:38 left in the third. To this point, LeBron and Reaves had scored or assisted on 53 of the team’s points.

Şengün converted a pair of freebies out of the break to make it a double-digit lead again. After missing a pull-up jumper, Kennard’s first point of the game came at the free throw line, where he split a pair. On the other end, Okogie threw home a dunk on a baseline cut and LeBron smoked a layup on the other end.

LaRavia closed the period with a layup, but the Rockets took control of the game in the quarter and went into the fourth up 76-67.

Third quarter: Rockets 76, Lakers 67

Houston outscored LA 25-20 in the third. LA's offense has been stuck in the mud in 7 of the past 9 quarters. AR has 16 points and 6 assists. LeBron has 14 points and 7 assists. DA has 12 points and 11 rebounds. LA is shooting 43% with 13 TOs.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 30, 2026

After Reaves free throws to open the final frame, Thompson and Jabari knocked down threes amidst multiple empty Lakers possessions to make it a 13-point game again and force an early timeout.

The break did nothing to change the tide for LA, who could not find any offensive rhythm. Despite Houston going four minutes between field goals, the Lakers couldn’t cut into the deficit as a Şengün fadeaway jumper kept it a 13-point game.

The Rockets went four minutes (9:56 to 5:56) between field goals… and the Lakers didn't take ANYTHING off the lead in that time

— Law Murray 🪺 (@LawMurrayTheNU) April 30, 2026

LA tried to find signs of life after a layup from LeBron made it a nine-point game and forced a Rockets timeout. The run continued after the break as Ayton blocked Şengün on a drive and Rui buried a three on the other end.

After Eason split free throws, Ayton put back a missed Reaves runner to trim it to five points. After Thompson missed a turnaround jumper, LeBron’s lefty lay-in cut it to three. Sheppard finally stopped the bleeding for Houston with a pull-up jumper before stripping LeBron and finishing the layup to quickly restore the lead to seven with 2:20 left.

LeBron banked in a layup out of the timeout to cut it to five again. On the ensuing Rockets possession, Eason was initially called for his sixth fall on a charge, but Houston’s challenge was successful and the call was overturned, leading to two free throws.

Reaves’ 3-pointer missed and Houston was fouled on the rebound with 1:32 left. Şengün made both, extending it to 10 points and effectively sealing the win.

LA had one last spurt that saw them cut it to three with 24 seconds left after a putback dunk from Ayton, but it was too little, too late.

Key Player Stats

Reaves was good in his return all things considered, scoring 22 points with six assists and four rebounds in 34 minutes. LeBron had a quiet first half before turning it on in the second, finishing with 25 points and seven rebounds.

Deandre Ayton had one of his best games as a Laker, finishing with a double-double of 18 points and 17 rebounds. Marcus Smart started the game well before struggling for much of the game, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds while turning it over six times and shooting just 3-7 from the field.

Kennard was kept completely quiet, finishing with one point on 0-4 shooting. Rui had 12 points on 5-11 shooting.

The Lakers will next be in action on Friday in Houston for Game 6. Tip-off is slated for 9:30 p.m.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

According to Shams Charania, he expects the Detroit Pistons to go star hunting this season, and that could mean Lauri Markkanen.

Shams Charania expects the Pistons to make moves this off-season

“I do expect them to be star hunting or hunting for that type of player.”

Via @GetUpESPNpic.twitter.com/LUHjGv0sM6

— Pistons Talk (@Pistons__Talk) April 28, 2026

So, apparently, the Pistons will look to find players that fit their timeline, and Lauri Markkanen and Trey Murphy III fit the mold.

Here we go again…

Like all the trade rumors we saw before, the Pistons wanting Lauri Markkanen doesn’t mean they can get Lauri Markkanen unless they’re willing to pay a certain price. But now that the Jazz are going to be competitive next season, it seems much less likely they make a trade of Markkanen. At the very least, it would seem like the price for Markkanen would be higher than before.

And yet… there are a few things that make me wonder if there’s maybe a slim chance.

The first thing is the upcoming lottery. What happens if the Jazz jump to the 3 or 4 spot and come away with Cam Boozer or Caleb Wilson? Utah is already getting a little redundant at power forward with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. There may be some consideration of some sort of move if the Pistons offer a player like Ausar Thompson and a crazy amount of picks. With the upcoming lottery changes, picks could become even more valuable because any pick could potentially become the #1 pick. It’s at least interesting to think about. And if you feel like the player you’re bringing in could replace Markkanen’s production, it seems at least plausible.

The other thing to consider is Markkanen’s contract. It’s huge, and it’s not something Utah has to worry too much about now, it will be something that could cause problems down the road. Walker Kessler is still a question mark on whether they can get a reasonable contract signed, and Keyonte George has a contract extension coming up. If he continues his breakout play this season, he’s going to rightfully demand a big contract as well.

All that said, it doesn’t feel like a Markkanen move is likely at all this season. The Jazz are in no rush to make any moves and will be pushing hard for the playoffs and beyond. And let’s say they do get lucky in the lottery and draft a top-4 pick. Having so much talent that a player like Cam Boozer comes off the bench is a great problem to have.

It seems like the only scenario in which Utah makes a move is when a team like the Pistons makes an offer that Utah would be irresponsible to turn down. That doesn’t seem likely, so this doesn’t feel like much. It’s worth monitoring, but doesn’t seem very likely.

It was another star-studded crowd for Game 5 between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night. 

Jason Sudekis, star of the Apple TV show “Ted Lasso” sat courtside just as the new trailer was released for Season 4 of the show that premiers on August 5th. 

Did anyone else watch the new Ted Lasso trailer like I did?

Jason Sudekis himself is in the house tonight for Rockets vs. Lakers Game 5 pic.twitter.com/Sz327BCs94

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 30, 2026

In front of Sudekis sat Hollywood’s cutest couple Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin. The duo are huge Los Angeles sports fans and can be seen everywhere from Lakers games to Dodgers games to Rams games at SoFi Stadium.

Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin in the house tonight for Rockets and Lakers Game 5 pic.twitter.com/DwV0H4TEcj

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 30, 2026

Star of NBC’s “Law and Order,” actress Mariska Hargitay shared laughs courtside next to the show’s creator Dick Wolf. Fellow actors John David Washington, Dyan Cannon, Andy Garcia, Jay Mohr and Ray Nicholson. 

Mariska Hargitay from Law and Order is in the house tonight pic.twitter.com/qACQIHD81B

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 30, 2026

Legendary actor Dustin Hoffman was also in attendance. So was Tobey Maguire and Lukas Haas.

Dustin Hoffman in the building tonight for Game 5! pic.twitter.com/Y10z4oB8ac

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 30, 2026

NBA superfan Jimmy Goldstein sat in his usual courtside seat decked out in leather from head to toe, including his cowboy hat. Former Lakers champion Ron Artest aka Metta World Peace, and North Carolina basketball player Caleb Wilson were also in attendance.

Jimmy Goldstein and Ron Artest are in the building tonight for Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs between the Rockets and Lakers pic.twitter.com/ZrcrSVzyRd

— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) April 30, 2026

Another former athlete was courtside as well. Former NFL defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who used to sack quarterbacks for a living, had his eyes on LeBron James and the Lakers all night. 

Moguls were there as well. Tilman Fertita kept a close eye on his Rockets. Another owner, Stan Kasten, who is a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was in attendance. As was comedy mogul Byron Allen and film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg. 

The music industry was also well represented. Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis was there courtside. As was the lead singer of Imagine Dragons Dan Reynolds and actress Minka Kelly. So was music producer Swizz Beatz, the husband of singer-songwriter Alicia Keys.

But the roar of the crowd was the loudest for former MVP and current All-Star shortstop of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mookie Betts.

The stars are out for Rockets-Lakers Game 5 pic.twitter.com/Mg3fT8FqZB

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 30, 2026

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Every season tells a story. This one told several at once for the Golden State Warriors, and most of them didn’t end well.

The Dubs spent the 2025–26 season watching pieces fall off in real time. Jimmy Butler III’s ACL. Stephen Curry’s knee. Moses Moody going down in Dallas. Jonathan Kuminga in a different uniform by February. Thirty-seven wins. A play-in exit that felt like a door closing on something, even if nobody could quite name it.

That’s the record but I’d say it’s not the whole story. Because inside all of that were flashes that didn’t belong to a 37–45 team. Nights where one player bent the game into something else, something worth watching, something that made you forget what the season actually was. This series is about those nights. I’m going to remind you of those games, each one a glimpse of who these Warriors could still be, even if they couldn’t hold onto it. Even though it was a season that slipped away, some moments didn’t.

Let me tell you about the time Steph Curry had in San Antonio back in November.

The night started with a shoe.

Stephen Curry walked into Frost Bank Center wearing Kobe 6s during warmups, the kind of statement that doesn’t need a press release but absolutely functions like one. He was a free agent from his sneaker deal, done with Under Armour after over a decade, and he chose that particular Friday night in San Antonio to quietly let every brand in the world know he was available. “New beginnings,” he told reporters before tip-off.

Steph Curry says he wore the Kobe 6 "Mambacita" before the game against the Spurs to honor Gigi and Kobe Bryant. ❤️

"I wanted to take advantage of that moment and pay tribute."

pic.twitter.com/TYNjsBZxtg

— Guru (@DrGuru_) November 15, 2025

And then the game started, and what followed had nothing to do with new beginnings. What followed was the most ancient version of Stephen Curry there is, the one that shows up when everything else around him starts to look like a group project where nobody did their part.

The Warriors shot 28 percent from the field in the first quarter, including 16.7 percent from three, which is less a shooting slump and more a philosophical question about why they were even taking the shots. Their teammates combined for nine points on 3-of-26 shooting in the first half. Nine. The bench managed 19 points for the entire game. By the time Golden State trailed by 10 with 6:51 remaining, this had all the makings of another entry in a long, ugly road losing streak, the kind where the plane ride home feels longer than the flight actually is.

And then Curry just started cooking.

He scored 14 consecutive points to close the third quarter, turning a deficit into a two-point game with 12 minutes left. Then 10 more in a row in less than two minutes midway through the fourth, each one arriving with the calm indifference of someone who has already decided how the night is going to end and is just letting everyone else catch up to it. He finished the second half with 31 points, exactly half of everything Golden State scored after intermission, on a night essentially handed him the offense like, “yeah man, this feels like your problem now.”

The final line: 49 points on 16-of-26 from the field, 9-of-17 from three, 8-of-8 from the free throw line. The Warriors outscored the Spurs 24-13 over the final 6:42 and survived, 109-108, which is a polite way of saying Steph dragged them out of a game they had no business winning.

Now here is where the story gets good.

Two nights earlier, on Wednesday in that same building, Curry had gone for 46 points in a win. But that second game in three days was the true stunner.

Steph Curry really is the only player this season to score 45+ against the juggernaut Spurs this season and did it twice:

46/5/5 on 52% shooting

Two days later:
49/4/2 on 62% shooting

He won both those games. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/qHbgnGwIqW

— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) March 27, 2026

Because this time, down the stretch, with the game on the line and a hostile building at full volume, Curry didn’t get to operate in clean conditions. He had to create chaos and then resolve it himself. Trailing by one with 6.4 seconds left, he baited De’Aaron Fox into a reach-in foul in transition, the kind of play that requires both instinct and a very specific understanding of when a defender is about to make a bad decision.

As he circled back toward the line, Victor Wembanyama turned to the louder section of the crowd and started waving for more noise, like he was personally trying to summon a playoff atmosphere in November. Curry saw all of it. He said so afterward. And instead of ignoring it, he walked several feet toward the crowd and mirrored the gesture right back at them, inviting more noise, not less, like he was slightly offended they hadn’t brought enough to begin with. Then he backed up and drained the free throw without a tremor.

“I think everyone expects it,” Steve Kerr said afterward.

That sentence is the whole article, if you want it to be.

Because after back-to-back 40-point performances in the same building against the same team, after willing a win out of a roster that shot 3-of-26 in the first half, his own coach wasn’t describing belief. He was describing routine.

The context around the 49 matters because the 46 two nights prior already told you the range was there. What that second game showed the range, plus the timing and the willingness to turn a bad game into a personal experiment, understanding exactly how much theater the moment could hold without ever losing control of it.

He said “new beginnings” before tip-off. He meant his shoe deal. What he actually gave the Warriors that night was something more familiar than that, something that keeps showing up no matter what version of the team is around him.

Everyone expects it.

CLEVELAND — Dennis Schroder scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Mobley hit a pair of pivotal 3-pointers in the final period and finished with 23 points, and the Cleveland Cavaliers rallied for a 125-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night in Game 5 of their first-round series.

Cleveland leads the series 3-2. Game 6 is Friday night in Toronto.

James Harden scored 23 points and Donovan Mitchell added 19 for the Cavaliers.

“This was a step for us from a mental toughness point of view. I thought we showed good poise and resiliency,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “When you could have let your guard down, our guys kept with it.”

RJ Barrett led Toronto with 25 points while Ja’Kobe Walter added 20 and Jamal Shead had 18 off the bench.

The Raptors led 74-67 at halftime and scored the first five points of the third quarter. The Cavaliers slowly rallied but trailed 103-100 going into the final 12 minutes.

Cleveland seized control by scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter. Jaylon Tyson hit a step-back 3-pointer to tie it at 103-all, and a 3 by Mobley gave the Cavaliers a 106-103 lead.

“He’s ready for those moments. He wants those moments. He works relentlessly on the 3-ball. Those were big shots for us for sure,” Mitchell said of Mobley.

Toronto missed its first 11 shots and was 7 of 28 from the field in the fourth while Cleveland made 7 of its first 11 and was 9 of 19.

“I would not just blame the fourth quarter. We cannot allow this team to score 125 points,” coach Darko Rajakovic said.

The Raptors were hobbled in the final period. Forward Brandon Ingram left the game in the second quarter with right heel inflammation. Fellow All-Star Scottie Barnes also was not at full strength after getting kneed in the quadriceps by Thomas Bryant while driving to the basket in the first half.

Barnes scored just 3 of his 17 points in the second half.

“For the most part, I thought we had this game. We played good enough to win. Just in the fourth quarter, they played a little better,” Barrett said. “What can you do? It’s the playoffs. Now, it’s do or die. Give them credit. We’ll be ready Friday.”

The Cavaliers won despite committing 15 turnovers that resulted in 28 Toronto points. They had 10 in the first half which the Raptors converted into 23 points.

“In the second half, I think ball-handling and Dennis helped relieve some of the pressure off (Mitchell) and (Harden) so I think that was part of it. If we are going to win on the road, we’ve got to find a way to clean that up,” Atkinson said.

DETROIT (AP) — Cade Cunningham scored a franchise playoff-record 45 points, including a step-back jumper with 32 seconds left, and the top-seeded Detroit Pistons beat the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic 116-109 on Wednesday night in Game 5 of their first-round series to stave off elimination.

Orlando leads the series 3-2 and will get a second chance to advance at home on Friday night.

The Magic fell to 0-10 in franchise history on the road in a Game 5.

Detroit never trailed and went ahead by 15 early in the final quarter. The Magic made one more run, pulling within three points on Paolo Banchero’s sixth 3-pointer with 1:09 left. Banchero matched Cunningham with 45 points, also a playoff career-high — and missed 7 of 12 free throws.

CAVALIERS 125, RAPTORS 120

CLEVELAND (AP) — Dennis Schroder scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Mobley hit a pair of pivotal 3-pointers in the final period and finished with 23 points, and Cleveland rallied for a victory over Toronto in Game 5 of their first-round series.

Cleveland leads the series 3-2. Game 6 is Friday night in Toronto.

James Harden scored 23 points and Donovan Mitchell added 19 for the Cavaliers.

RJ Barrett led Toronto with 25 points while Ja’Kobe Walter added 20 and Jamal Shead had 18 off the bench. All-star forward Brandon Ingram left the game in the second quarter with right heel inflammation.

Toronto went to Cleveland with a singular mission. They wanted to do something neither team has done yet in this series: Win on the road. A challenging task on a regular day, even more so in the playoffs. The crowd is unwelcoming. The opponent is more comfortable. It’s no surprise they weren’t able to overcome the obstacle, dropping the game to Cleveland 120-125, but now will return home facing elimination, an even more daunting task.

This matchup was the complete opposite style of game 4. After both teams scored in double figures the last time out, this contest saw both teams in triple figures before the fourth quarter even started. With a 40-point second quarter in the mix, there was no shortage of scoring. 

At times, Toronto struggled with the same things they have all series: closing quarters, over-helping, and struggling from the free-throw line. They proved to be their undoing once again, as this will remain the game that got away.

Despite the struggles, there were a number of solid performances that helped give Raps fans some hope for when they return home. Barnes, Barrett, Murray-Boyles, and Walter all had excellent games, with the bench tandem of Shead and Mamu giving it their all as well.

MAMUUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/YNJUmwTgge

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 30, 2026

Barnes finished with 17-5-9, playing a solid all-around game that no one could be mad about. He continues to impress as the floor general, generating a good portion of Toronto’s scoring, especially in the first half. RJ finished with 22-9-4, also a solid game for him as he continues to have a great series as well.

Murray-Boyles has been a difference maker in this series, his defensive effort and activity on the offensive board gaining Toronto extra possessions. Despite being undersized in some matchups, he continues to show no hesitation, even going toe-to-toe with Mobley:

COLLIN MURRAY-BOYLES SAID NOT IN MY HOUSE 🙅‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/E1xD3Frs6E

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) April 24, 2026

Walter found his rhythm tonight, a welcome sight after an 0-9 performance in game 4. He took no time getting going, scoring 17 points in the first half alone, connecting consistently from long range.

The first looked like a summary of the entire series so far. Both teams exchanged baskets leading to a close quarter. Toronto was able to stay ahead for most of it, but had difficulty in the final minutes of the quarter, letting Cleveland close the quarter in the lead. Scottie was a big factor in the first, finding his own shot and distributing, imposing his will on the game. 

In the second, the Raptors took their biggest hit so far with Ingram heading to the changeroom. Later it was announced he wouldn’t return as he continues to battle heel inflammation that he has struggled with since the late stages of the regular season. Already missing Quickley, this seemed like just another disadvantage for Toronto, but Ingram has struggled greatly, and this opened more minutes for Ja’Kobe who answered the call and made some big shots. The Raptors were able to outscore Cleveland by 11 in this frame, making tough defensive plays. It helped that it seemed like all of their shots were falling as well, letting them head to the locker room with a comfortable lead. 

Ja'Kobe Walter had a HUGE first half 🔥

Walter came off the bench and ALREADY has a new postseason career-high 17 points (5-8 3PM)!

Raptors up 74-67 seeking a 3-2 series lead. pic.twitter.com/4scGMClCfS

— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2026

In the third, Cleveland answered Toronto’s challenge, with their bigs controlling much of the scoring early on. The Raptors simultaneously went through a scoring drought, all but eliminating the lead they held coming into the quarter. Every time Cleveland got close though, Toronto was somehow able to answer, capitalizing on turnovers or getting out and running to rebuild their lead. Rinse and repeat. 

There was a fair amount of chippiness in this series that slowly seems to be bubbling up. A little bit of shoving, a little bit of exchanging words, and eventually a crowd or two forming through different stages of the game all indicate the longer this series goes on, the more tensions will escalate.

RJ TOOK OFF ON EM 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TzORe4iN7t

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 30, 2026

In the fourth, Cleveland finally managed to secure a lead, as Toronto came up empty on their first nine shots of the quarter. They blew the lid off though, coming up with big shots just as Cleveland started to pull away. With the game within just two points, it seemed like they were able to hold on and have a chance. 

Perhaps a lack of discipline or maybe a bit of fatigue set in, but they allowed the Cavs to run away with the game by simply not doing any of the things they’d been doing all game that were working. The second and third effort on the boards, the help defence forcing turnovers, the second chance opportunities. They’d lift a shot, brick it, and then hustle back on defence. Their long range shots weren’t working (but continued jacking them), they were coughing it up in the paint, and couldn’t come away with the ball. They got the defensive stops, but converting in the clutch wasn’t in the cards tonight. 

Toronto played the game of fouling for extra possessions, but it wasn’t enough with the lead Cleveland already had. 

Now, they will regroup and review what went wrong in this game and return to their own home crowd, hoping to force a game seven. This chance will come Friday, May 1, as Toronto hosts the Caveliers.