Category: NBA

Following the Knicks' 115-93 loss to the Celtics in Game 3 on Saturday afternoon, coach Tom Thibodeau and the players spoke on a number of topics after the game...

Handling 'Hack-a-Mitch'

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has implemented the "hack-a-Mitch" strategy in this series and it's worked out for them. Intentionally putting Mitchell Robinson on the free-throw line -- where he's a career 52 percent shooter -- has allowed Boston to maintain momentum while neutralizing the Knicks' offense.

Mazzulla used the strategy again in Game 3 on Saturday and Robinson responded by going 4-for-12 at the line. He's now 11-for-38 (29 percent) this postseason. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was asked about the decision-making process of leaving Robinson in.

"You got to make a decision between 5 and 2 and then go from there. If he’s making, he stays; if he’s not, we got to get him out," Thibodeau said. "Is he impacting the game? Is that more beneficial to leave him in? There’s a lot of factors that go into that."

To the MSG crowd's credit, they were encouraging to Robinson whenever he was put on the free-throw line. They went crazy when he hit his first, and the big man would make three in a row at one point in the game.

The six-year center was practicing his free-throw shooting during pregame warmups but it seems the Celtics will keep sending him to the line until he gives them a reason not to. In the meantime, Robinson's teammates are looking to lift him up.

"You encourage. It's a tough position to be in, especially mentally. We're going to have each other's back regardless," Jalen Brunson said of Robinson. "No matter what happens, we're going to win together, we're going to lose together. We're going to go through that together."

On Saturday, Robinson played 19 minutes, scoring six points and coming down with eight rebounds, six offensive.

Towns' hand injury

During Saturday's loss, Karl-Anthony Towns was seen holding his shooting hand in pain after being fouled on a shot.

The first-year Knick did not come out of the game and scored 21 points on 5-of-18 shooting while coming down with 15 rebounds in 37 minutes on the court.

Towns was asked about his hand after the game.

"It is what it is," Towns said. "I just want to do whatever I can to be out there."

Viewers on social media were trying to read Towns' lips and they believe he said that he broke something, but the big man would not give any indication of what's going on.

"It is what it is. I'm going to keep finding ways to play. I ain't tripping," he said. Towns also gave a non-answer when asked if he had an X-ray done after the game.

"It's the playoffs. People are going to get hit and you have to play through things. That's why you do it throughout the entire season. No one is playing 100 percent but you can understand you can play well when you're feeling less than your best. That's all part of it; the mental part of the playoffs is huge."

Back in January, Towns sustained a sprained thumb and it was revealed he has a bone chip in his right thumb, which has played through this season.

Karl-Anthony Towns was asked about his hand injury:

"It is what it is. I just want to do whatever I can to be out there."

When asked, Towns declined to elaborate on whether or not he got an X-ray or any other imaging on the hand pic.twitter.com/Mk170EEMvM

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025

Saturday was billed as the biggest Knicks home game in the past 25 years. It ended up being a big letdown for the home crowd.

The Celtics built a 16-point lead in the first quarter; it ballooned to 31 points in the third quarter. The Garden crowd erupted when the Knicks cut the deficit to 20 with 10 minutes to play, but there was no miracle comeback on Saturday.

Poor energy/offense doomed the Knicks early, and the Celtics' hot shooting was too much to overcome in Game 3.

In some ways, what happened on Saturday was the worst-case scenario for New York.

The Celtics found a rhythm behind the arc and looked way too comfortable on the Knicks' home floor. At times, it looked like a replay of the regular season, when Boston thoroughly dominated the Knicks.

“They got some clean looks early, and they see it go in. That gives them confidence and it’s hard to shut them off,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said after the game. “We have to have greater awareness. We can’t allow missed shots to take away from defensive tenacity.”

Another issue brought up in the postgame locker room? The Knicks’ low-energy start to the game.

“They just came out with more urgency,” Mikal Bridges said.

“I don’t think we came with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think it was subconsciously satisfied with being up 2-0,” Jalen Brunson added. “But it’s not what we need to approach the game.”

If you read these quotes and wonder how a team in the Knicks’ position can start a game without good energy, you’re probably not alone.

Sometimes players use the "we didn’t have good energy" excuse as a cliché to describe a loss. In this case, it didn’t seem to be a throwaway line. Several players felt the effort on defense was influenced by what happened on the other end of the floor. 

“We can’t let makes and misses affect how we’re playing on the defensive end. When we’re not making shots, we’ve got to make it tough for them,” Josh Hart said. “We’ve got to fly around more. We’ve got to rebound the ball, we’ve got to deny them of second chance points. We’ve got to do more things. We know this was far from our best game. We’ve got to regroup and get back to it Monday.”

It's easy to see how the Celtics can carry their strong shooting on Saturday into Game 4. Boston has won a lot of games behind strong three-point shooting. They were 25-for-100 from beyond the arc in the first two games of this series. What happened on Saturday made that look like an aberration.

I didn’t get the sense that the Knicks felt particularly deflated or worried after Game 3. I get the sense that they still feel they can compete against Boston and be in a position to win these games by executing in the clutch. They talked a lot about using Sunday and Monday morning/afternoon to identify their Game 3 mistakes and correct them. They’ve been able to do that at different times over the course of the season.

If they can execute that plan and turn things around in Game 4, they will have a clear path to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years. But if Monday is anything like Saturday, it’s easy to see this series slipping away from the Knicks and their season, yet again, ending in the second round.

The Knicks knew this was coming.

After the Celtics blew 20-point leads in back-to-back games, the defending champions had something to prove to the basketball world and to themselves to get back into this Eastern Conference semifinal series. And they did that on Saturday, throwing a haymaker in the first quarter and never letting the Knicks get back up, in their 115-93 win in Game 3.

"We knew they would come out with aggression and we have to make sure we’re bringing aggression and force as well," head coach Tom Thibodeau said of the lackluster first quarter. "There’s going to be runs where you’re not making shots. Get going with your defense, and then all of a sudden, you get rhythm. We have to be better, and we will be."

That first quarter saw the Celtics shoot 58 percent, including 6-for-7 from three. Conversely, the Knicks shot just 35 percent in the opening frame and hit just one three in seven attempts.

"They were down 2-0 and you knew they were going to come out with a sense of urgency and a sense of desperation. That's something that we should've did a better job with," Josh Hart said. "We knew it was going to happen and we didn’t play with enough urgency, physicality from the jump, and make them uncomfortable.”

Hart said that a lack of urgency and physicality was the biggest thing he could point to for the team's defensive breakdowns on Saturday before giving the Celtics credit.

"They’re the defending champs, they weren’t coming here to lay down," he said. "We have to reset, regroup, watch the film, see where we can get better and take that to Monday."

In the first two games in Boston, the Celtics shot a combined 25 percent from three (25-for-100). It was a huge reason for the Knicks' massive comebacks, but when the shots started falling, it was going to be a different game. The Celtics were 50 percent from three (20-for-40), and to Hart and Thibodeau's points, the lack of intensity on the defensive end allowed Boston to sink shots early, and built up their confidence.

"They were 20-of-40 from three. There’s not a lot I can say," Jalen Brunson said. "There’s a lot we need to discuss tomorrow and figure out. We need to play with a better sense of urgency."

Brunson was asked why the urgency was missing from Saturday's game and the All-Star guard took a beat to gather his thoughts before answering.

"I don’t think we came with the mindset of being satisfied, but I think it was just subconsciously satisfied being up 2-0," he said. "That’s not the way we need to approach the game."

Brunson said the team didn't cover the three-point line effectively, and any lack of communication and miscues "falls under the same umbrella" as not having enough urgency.

"The intent was there, but sometimes if you miss shots, you tend to not have the same type of energy," Thibodeau said. "There's a lot of different ways you can help win a game. No one is going to shoot great every night but do other things to help the team win. That’s basically what we've done all year. We fell short today. And we have to take a good hard look at the film and get ourselves ready for the next game."

That next game comes on Monday back at MSG. The Knicks are 1-3 at home in these playoffs after Saturday's loss, so it'll be tough to take the 3-1 series lead from these Celtics, who at least for one game, put the first two blown games behind them.

But the Knicks knew this was going to be a tough series. It was highly unlikely the Knicks would sweep the Celtics even after taking the first two games, but they know they need to adjust and be better, or else risk Boston taking control of the series.

"Learn from Games 1-3, especially today," Brunson said of Game 4's preparation. "Just come out with some urgency and be ready to go on Monday."

Kerr senses Warriors are close to perfecting formula without Steph originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors’ offense has lived through, around and in between Steph Curry for 16 seasons.

It’s what Steve Kerr knows best since becoming head coach of the Warriors in 2014. Along with Draymond Green and, for many years, Klay Thompson, the recipe was dynastic with Chef Curry leading the charge in the kitchen.

But since his superstar point guard sustained a hamstring injury in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals, Kerr has had to find a new recipe, or as he stated, formula, that will work against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

And despite a 102-97 loss in Game 3 on Saturday night at Chase Center, Kerr senses they’re close.

“We’re right there,” Kerr said postgame. “We feel great about our chances. This is what the playoffs are all about. There’s these emotional swings and momentum shifts, and we just got to take tomorrow off and get the guys refreshed, recharged, and come back in Monday and tee it up again.”

Kerr used Game 2 in Minnesota to experiment with different lineups and rotations, as Golden State became the first NBA team ever to insert 14 players in the first half of a playoff game.

He admitted he wanted to see what worked and didn’t work in Curry’s first full game sidelined. He got his answers. Kerr started second-year center Trayce Jackson-Davis, who had been out of the rotation since January, in Game 3, although he only played just over 11 minutes.

Moses Moody, who started 34 games for the Warriors, including the final 28 of the regular season, played just three minutes Saturday after struggling during these playoffs.

Rookie center Quinten Post, who started Game 2, played a little more than two minutes in Game 3.

The point is, it has been an adjustment for everyone to figure out the remedy without Curry, but Kerr feels they’re headed in a promising direction.

“I felt really good about the way the game went tonight, we just couldn’t close it out,” Kerr said. “But we controlled much of that game. [We were] up six or whatever it was with eight minutes to go, and I liked where we were. We just couldn’t finish.

“So the formula looks good. We’ll have some adjustments to make, but I like the matchup. I like what we’re doing.”

Jimmy Butler led the Warriors with 33 points on 12-of-26 shooting from the field and 2 of 4 from 3-point range, with seven rebounds and seven assists in 43 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga recorded a playoff career-high 30 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 36 minutes off the bench.

Butler, too, believes the team is beginning to figure things out without Curry. While he wanted a win as bad as anybody, he knows there still are positives to take away from the loss.

“That we can compete without Steph,” Butler said. “We’re still as confident as ever, and we’re gonna go back to the film, to the drawing boards and figure it out. Come back in here on Monday and get this thing to 2-2.”

There’s no easy solution when you’re without your best player. Especially in the playoffs. But Butler and Kuminga proving they can co-exist has come at the perfect time for the Warriors. And if the rest of the ingredients fall into place, Kerr could be just a game away from mastering the Steph Curry-less formula.

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Kuminga's ‘I'm here' moment comes at perfect time for him, Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Kuminga checked into Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter and immediately knocked down a jump shot.

Moments later, he blocked Jaden McDaniels’ dunk attempt and completed an and-1 driving floater on the other end of the court. He lay on the Chase Center floor for several seconds as the crowd rose to its feet and reached the highest volume of the night at that point.

Both embraced one another.

“I think that got me going,” Kuminga said Saturday night after the Warriors’ 102-97 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. “Just things like that, trying to involve the crowd, it just gave us this type of boost where we feed off that type of energy. 

“It was just one of those moments. Like: I’m here.”

Here, after the most difficult and adverse month of his four-year NBA career. 

The DNPs (Did Not Play). The chatter. The pressure. The confusion.

That’s a lot for anyone to take on at once, not to mention a 22-year-old. But Kuminga’s patience – as he lay on the Chase Center floor looking up at the twinkling lights with a roar of Warriors fans applauding him – finally paid off.

But it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. Not knowing when you’re going to play or be a part of the rotation. Being thrown into garbage minutes to try and light a spark without any rhythm. Kuminga played a total of 49 minutes in Golden State’s seven-game series against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, including three DNPs.

He played 36 minutes off the bench Saturday night, scoring a career playoff-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field and 3 of 4 from 3-point range, with six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

“It’s not easy,” Kuminga said of being in and out of the rotation. “It’s very tough. I think the only thing that kept me ready was watching how we play, working out every other day and just watching film. I think that was the only preparation. … It’s not easy, especially when you don’t get too many opportunities to be out there.

“I can do all that in my workouts and stuff like that, but if you’re not in the game, it’s different and more serious. Just within the time, it keeps getting better. Like I said, I’m just gaining my confidence back.”

Kuminga and Jimmy Butler combined for 63 points.

The numbers during the regular season showed that lineups with the two together on the court simply didn’t work for the Warriors. The past two games have shown otherwise.

Of course, Golden State has been a much different team playing without superstar Steph Curry, which Kerr believes partly is the reason why having the two aggressive forwards on the floor at the same time can work.

Kuminga believes it’s also a comfort thing as the two become more acquainted with each other on the court. That could be a good sign for Game 4 as the Warriors trail the series 2-1 and need to find a way to win without Curry, who will be re-evaluated before Game 5 on Wednesday.

While Kerr and Kuminga’s teammates spoke highly and proudly of the young forward in their postgame comments, Kuminga was the least pleased. Mostly because his career performance didn’t result in a win.

That didn’t stop the praise, however.

“He was brilliant,” Kerr said postgame. “JK played one of the best games of his life. It was fantastic to see, and you can see how necessary he is in this matchup, especially without Steph. We’re having a tough time getting free, and he’s obviously capable of giving us some points, getting to the rim. And I thought he was fantastic.

“I’ve said it a couple times to you guys, I’ve just been impressed with the way he’s handled things the last couple weeks, with the way he stayed ready and put in the work. It paid off tonight.”

Warriors guard Buddy Hield, the team’s human injection of joy on and off the court, called Kuminga “elite” and questioned if he knows anyone who works as hard as he does.

“It’s a beautiful sight to see,” Butler added of Kuminga’s aggressiveness.

Of course, a win would have been the icing on the cake for Kuminga and the Warriors. But after the turbulent road Kuminga has been on the last few weeks, it’s safe to say he isn’t just getting his confidence back — it’s back. Fully. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Warriors entering a pivotal Game 4.

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Without Steph, Warriors' defense unable to offset offensive struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – When Stephen Curry limped off the floor in the first half of Game 1 in the Warriors’ Western Conference semifinals series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the conventional wisdom was that he took with him his team’ best chances for a deep postseason run.

There was no doubt, however, that Golden State’s offense would suffer. And, boy, has it.

After winning Game 1 with 99 points, with Buddy Hield filling the void created by Curry’s departure, the Warriors managed 93 in a 24-point rout by the Wolves in Game 2.

It wasn’t much different Saturday, with the series shifting to Chase Center for Game 3. Golden State played one half of great defense but only one quarter of strong offense in a 102-97 loss that gives Minnesota a 2-1 series lead.

Jimmy Butler III produced a gargantuan performance, with 33 points and seven assists, along with seven rebounds but four turnovers. Jonathan Kuminga was terrific: 30 points, along with two assists and six rebounds.

The other eight Warriors combined for 34 points – on 12-of-37 shooting, including 5 of 15 beyond the arc. With Curry sidelined, Golden State’s offense too easily lapses into dry spells and late-clock shots that rarely go down.

“Jimmy obviously is creating plenty, but it’s different,” coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s not the same level of stretching the defense out like Steph does. So, we’ve got to find ways to score more, to try to generate more shots. And we’ll look at the tape and figure that out.”

The tape will reveal that after Butler’s two free throws gave the Warriors an 82-77 lead with 8:16 remaining, they didn’t make another field goal until a Hield tip-in with 2:58 left ended a 13-2 run. The Warriors got two stops during that stretch, but the Wolves got seven.

That was enough to give Minnesota a four-point lead (90-86). When the Warriors’ next six possessions yielded three points, they were trailing by eight with less than a minute remaining and the uphill battle was too much to overcome.

“Probably just didn’t get the shots we wanted to get, turned the ball over a few times, didn’t contest shots, didn’t take the three out of the game,” Butler said. “And that was it.”

Golden State shot 7 of 20 in the fourth quarter. More astonishing was the failure to a generating a single point off seven Timberwolves’ turnovers in the fourth.

It’s natural that scoring would be harder for the Warriors without Curry. He’s peerless. Kerr has lived lavishly off a system he designed to emphasize Steph’s attributes. His absence has coaches seeking and players scrounging. The defensive rating for Game 3 was 108.2, the offensive rating 103.2.

Aside from a third quarter when the Warriors made their first 3-pointers of the game and totaled 31 points on 50-percent shooting, the Warriors were 24 of 59 (40.7 percent) from the field.

And yet, Butler was surprisingly unconcerned about the difficulty scoring.

“Scoring is never the problem,” he said. “I think 97 [points] can win in the playoffs. It’s us on the other end. We’ve got to stop them from scoring. We have got to not turn the ball over. We’ve got to get back.

“I definitely think we can score with the best of them. But we have got to be able to guard with the best of them as well.”

The Timberwolves shot a pedestrian 43.9 percent from the field but loaded in the second half, scoring 62 points while shooting 55.6 percent. But their 11 turnovers after intermission gave the Warriors only four points.

Brandin Podziemski and Hield started in the backcourt, with neither making a field goal in the first half and the two combining for 19 points. Hield shot 5 of 11 from the field, including 4 of 8 from distance. Podziemski was 1 of 10 and 1 of 4, and is 14 of 47 and 8 of 30 over his last six games.

Gary Payton II was 1 of 4 from the field, as was Kevon Looney – as was Draymond Green before fouling out in the fourth quarter.

And yet, Kerr was pleased with much of what he witnessed.

“I felt good about the way the game went tonight,” he said. “We just couldn’t close it out. Give them credit. They made all the plays in the fourth and [Julius] Randle and [Anthony] Edwards really got going, and we just couldn’t quite overcome them once we got down.

“But we controlled much of that game, and up six or whatever it was, eight minutes to go, I liked where we were. We just couldn’t finish. The formula looks good. We’ll have some adjustments to make. But I like the matchup. I like what we’re doing.”

There is no doubt Kerr does not like being down two games to one any more than he likes being without his best player.

Unless Kerr and assistant coach Terry Stotts can devise ways to improve the spacing that has become an abstract concept, half-court possessions will be a struggle.

And unless a few more men on the roster can squeeze out more scoring, no matter how well the defense performs, this series will be a labor likely ending in despair.

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The Boston Celtics dominated the New York Knicks in game three to cut the deficit to 2-1 in their NBA Eastern Conference play-off semi-final.

The Celtics blew 20-point third-quarter leads in the first two games of the best-of-seven series in Boston as the Knicks mounted stunning comebacks against the reigning NBA champions.

But the visitors made no mistake in New York, moving into a 71-46 lead at half-time and remaining ruthless to see out a vital victory.

The Celtics rediscovered their three-point shooting ability that deserted them in the first two games, hitting 50% of their shots from beyond the arc in Madison Square Garden.

Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 23 points, while star Jayson Tatum added 22. Jalen Brunson hit a game-high 27 points for the Knicks.

Game four is in New York on Monday.

Timberwolves understand they can't relax despite 2-1 series lead over Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Holding a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference semifinals with a chance to build a commanding advantage on Monday, the Minnesota Timberwolves have no intention of letting off the gas pedal.

Saturday’s 102-97 win over the Warriors at Chase Center put the Wolves in the driver’s seat and came on the heels of their 24-point victory in Game 2 on Thursday night.

Golden State played without superstar and two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry in both games. The results each time were predictable, with the Wolves taking full advantage of Curry’s absence to grab control of the series.

That Minnesota won so handily in Game 2, then followed that up with a solid effort on Saturday, certainly is no surprise. Although the Warriors won the first game of the series when Curry got hurt, trying to sustain life without him for a full game is a completely different story.

While the Timberwolves celebrated after their Game 3 win, the overwhelming sense in their locker room was one of unfinished business.

“There’s no sigh of relief at any point,” Minnesota center Naz Reid said. “This is a playoff series for a reason. Whether you’re up or down, you still got to go take care of business.”

In both Minnesota wins, the Warriors put up a spirited fight to keep things interesting before the Wolves left the court with the W.

The Warriors trailed by 17 at halftime in Game 2 and cut the gap to 62-55 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter before the Wolves finished the quarter with a 20-point advantage. After Minnesota boosted its lead to 22 in the fourth quarter, Golden State made another late push to make the score closer than the game actually was.

For that reason and so many others, the Timberwolves aren’t taking anything for granted at this point, although they do enjoy the look from the perch they’re sitting on currently.

“We’re just more confident now than we have been in the past,” Timberwolves guard Mike Conley said. “We saw it tonight. Being down a couple points in games and we don’t seem to panic. We kind of double down on what we do defensively.”

Given Minnesota’s most recent playoff history, it’s understandable why they don’t want to get into cruise control mode.

During the 2023-24 playoffs, Minnesota won the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals against Denver, lost the next three on the road, then won the final two games to move on to the conference finals.

Two years before that, the Wolves trailed the Grizzlies 2-1 in the opening round of the playoffs but forced the series to go six games.

And it’s not like Minnesota has played a grand style of hoop against the Warriors. The Wolves have made enough mistakes that one could make a legitimate argument that Golden State would have won either or both of the previous two games if Curry hadn’t been forced to sit on the sidelines while nursing his hamstring injury.

“We didn’t play the best basketball ourselves,” Reid said, stating the obvious.

As good as the Wolves played, to a man, they all believe they can be even better.

In Game 3, they outscored the Warriors by 13 in the paint, had a bench scoring advantage of 46-41 and held a 42-39 edge in rebounding.

“We’re just winning the possession battle in clutch time now,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Today, we actually were really big on the boards in clutch time, getting some second-shot opportunities. That’s it.

“(The Warriors) made the game ugly. They did a great job of just being super physical and trying to kind of take it into the mud. We could certainly do things better and smarter. But I was proud of our guys because we got right down there in the mud with them.”

If the Warriors can rally and force the series to go at least six games, there’s a chance Curry can get back into the lineup by then. It’s a long shot, no doubt, but one that the Timberwolves aren’t dismissing.

“When he gets back, it’s still going to be the same challenge for us,” Reid said. “We have to take care of business on the offensive and defensive side.”

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How Kuminga's dunk motivated Ant's second-half revival in Game 3 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

What does it take to motivate Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards at a decisive juncture in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals? 

How about Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga throwing down a dunk over Edwards?

AIR CONGOOOOOOOO ✈️pic.twitter.com/P5kBAl8XVb

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 11, 2025

Following the Timberwolves’ 102-97 victory over the Warriors on Saturday night at Chase Center, Edwards credited Kuminga’s high-flying skills for fueling his second-half turnaround. 

“Poster dunk by me? Nah, I feel like when Kuminga dunked on me,” Edwards told reporters after taking a 2-1 series lead. “It got me going more so than anything.” 

"When Kuminga dunked on me, that got me going."

Anthony Edwards on what motivated him in the second half 👀 pic.twitter.com/QqzHfYpwAQ

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 11, 2025

Edwards, who contributed just eight points in the first half, finished with a game-high 36 points, helping Minnesota regain control of the series against a Steph Curry-less Golden State.

Kuminga, on the opposite end, erupted for 30 points off the bench for the Warriors. The 22-year-old’s valiant effort was ultimately wasted, with Golden State unable to capitalize as Curry watched on from the bench after being ruled out with a hamstring injury. 

Late in the third quarter, Edwards, known in part for his explosive dunks, drove past Kuminga before elevating to the rim over Warriors big man Kevon Looney. 

ANTHONY EDWARDS THROWDOWN!! 😱 pic.twitter.com/9uzZt5H885

— NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2025

That wasn’t the source of motivation for the two-time NBA All-Star, however. Instead, the motivation came after getting humbled to the point where Edwards had to double down on his skills and mentality. 

And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if it leads to a crucial playoff victory. 

“Just trust the work, man,” Edwards added. “I feel like one thing I never lack in confidence. If I got that, I’ll be alright.”

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The three-pointer was falling for the Celtics and the Knicks could not respond in their 115-93 Game 3 loss on Saturday afternoon at MSG.

Boston shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent (20-for-40) from three, while New York shot 40 percent and 20 percent (5-for-25) from three.

Here are the takeaways...

-Celtics entered Game 3 hitting 25-of-100 of their threes, so of course they would hit their first three three-point attempts. But Boston also made it a point to go to the rim -- six of their first nine shots were from two -- especially Jayson Tatum who only shot one three in the first six minutes of the game. On the other side, the Knicks looked tight and were a bit unlucky. Their shots didn't have conviction behind them, and when they did get some open shots, they would rim out. They started just 2-for-11 (1-for-5 from three) before head coach Tom Thibodeau called a timeout.

The Celtics would continue to hit their shots and take advantage of Knicks misses -- and a little bit of hack-a-Mitch to build their lead to 15 points. Payton Pritchard would hit a fadeaway jumper as the clock expired to put the Celtics up 36-20 after one quarter. Boston shot 58 percent (11-for-19) from the field, including 6-of-7 from three in the first. That, plus the Knicks shooting just 35 percent (8-for-23), including 1-for-7 from three, was the difference. What helped the Knicks sort of stay in the game was the offensive glass, which Mitchell Robinson had two of the team's five in that opening frame.

However, Robinson and Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two first-quarter fouls, which limited the forward's play. KAT and Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with six points each. With KAT on the bench and Robinson out to limit the intentional fouls, Precious Achiuwa played three minutes and picked up four points.

-The second quarter was more of the same. The Celtics kept making their threes, and played incredible defense, denying Knicks cutters to the basket just about every chance they had. Boston had their lead reach 25 points at one point, but a burst from the Knicks cut the deficit to 17 and got the MSG crowd back into it. But Tatum and the rest of the sharpshooters on the Celtics silenced them with threes to keep their lead hovering around the 20-point mark.

Heading into the half, the Celtics were shooting 55 percent (24-for-44), including 12-for-19 from three. They also had three steals and four blocks. Jaylen Brown and Tatum led the scoring for Boston with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

For the Knicks, they shot just 40 percent (17-for-43), including 2-for-12 from three. KAT (13) and Brunson (12) led the scoring for New York who were outrebounded, 24-19, at halftime.

-The Celtics would come out of the break and build a game-high 31-point lead before an 8-0 run by the Knicks gave The Garden crowd something to cheer for. But whenever it felt like New York would shift the momentum, a Derrick White three or an and-one from Tatum would stop the push. Sloppy turnovers and poor transition defense allowed Boston to keep a stranglehold on this game.

-The Knicks would get the three-point shot to fall early in the fourth. Two from Brunson and one from Miles McBride cut the Celtics' lead to 20 points before Boston called a timeout. The Knicks' offense would struggle from then on as the Celtics continued to grind New York's defense with easy shots and back-breaking threes.

Thibodeau would pull his starters with three minutes remaining with the Celtics up 23 points. The Celtics were up by 20-plus since two minutes left in the second quarter until the starters were all benched.

-OG Anunoby had a disappointing game, scoring just two points on 1-for-6 shooting. He only had two rebounds and one assist. Brunson led the team with 27 points on 9-for-19 shooting, but turned the ball over four times -- clearly trying too hard to get the offense going.

Josh Hart finished with 10 points while KAT had 21 and Mikal Bridges added 12 to round out the starters' scoring.

On the other side, Pritchard led the Celtics with 23 points while Tatum (22), Brown (19), Al Horford (15), Jrue Holiday (8) and White (17) accounted for the starters' scoring.

Kristaps Porzingis, who has been dealing with aftereffects from a viral infection, played 19 minutes and scored five points.

Game MVP: Payton Pritchard

The Sixth Man of the Year really took it to the Knicks on Saturday. Whenever the Knicks had a run, Pritchard would hit a three or make a great defensive play.

Highlights

Jalen Brunson with the TOUGH fadeaway 😤

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/Eewg2oNtPF

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 10, 2025

What's next

Game 4 between the Knicks and Celtics will take place Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at The Garden.

What we learned as Warriors waste Jimmy Butler's 33 points in brutal Game 3 loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga’s valiant efforts weren’t enough for a Warriors’ Game 3 victory Saturday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, losing 102-97 at Chase Center. 

The Warriors now have lost two consecutive games without an injured Steph Curry, falling in a two-games-to-one hole in the Western Conference semifinals.

Butler played the role of a superstar, and Kuminga was nothing short of sensational. The two combined to score 63 of the Warriors’ 97 points. Butler scored 33 on 12-of-26 shooting, his most since Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals, and also had seven rebounds and seven assists. Kuminga exploded off the bench for 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting. 

He was the only Warrior with a positive plus/minus, finishing as a plus-5, and this was his first 30-point game since the calendar turned to 2025. 

The team that revolutionized the three forgot about that part of the court without the greatest 3-point shooter ever. As the Warriors held a two-point lead at halftime, they had yet to make a single three for the second time ever in the first half of a game under Kerr. They became the first team to have a halftime lead in a playoff game without making any threes since the Cleveland Cavaliers did so against the Toronto Raptors in 2017. 

As a team, the Warriors were 0 of 5 beyond the arc, marking the fourth time this season that a team went into halftime without any threes. Their five 3-point attempts were the fewest by any team this season, and this was the first game in which the Warriors didn’t have a three through the first two quarters since Jan. 6, 2020 – 476 games ago. 

After going 0 of 5 in the first half, the Warriors went 10 of 18 in the second half.

Brandin Podziemski continued to struggle shooting, scoring only five points on 1-of-10 shooting. In three games this series, he has scored 19 points, and is 3 of 13 from long distance.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ Game 3 loss.

Playing Through Jimmy

The game plan was obvious going into Game 3, it became even more clear right from the jump: Give the ball to Butler. 

Without Steph Curry, the offense completely changes and runs through his co-star. Butler repeatedly has said he isn’t a volume shooter and isn’t going to force his way to big scoring nights. He also understood the assignment Saturday night in front of the home fans. 

Butler totaled 13 shots in Thursday’s Game 2 loss for 17 points. He then took seven in the first quarter of Game 3, going 5 of 7 for 11 of the Warriors’ 21 points. By halftime, Butler had taken as many shots as he did all last game (13) and his 18 points were one more than he finished two nights ago. 

The second half was no different. Butler, through three quarters, was up to 28 points, his most this postseason. He added five more points in the fourth, but that wasn’t enough.

It didn’t matter who was in front of Butler. Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, Julius Randle and more. He bodied every defender in his way. Anthony Edwards, welcome to the spin zone. 

More Good Kuminga Minutes 

Perhaps the main positive to Steve Kerr’s experimental minutes in Game 2 was Kuminga finding a rhythm offensively. He played 26 minutes, made his first eight shots and had a team-high 18 points off the bench. Kuminga, after the gam,e said he found his confidence again in the loss. 

That’s how he played from the moment he stepped on the floor in Game 3. Kuminga put on a two-way athletic display, looking like the type of player the Warriors envisioned handing the keys to when they drafted him No. 7 overall. This blocked shot that led to an And-1 on the other side is just one example. 

Kuminga followed Butler’s lead, attacking the Timberwolves frontcourt, but hitting a speed his veteran doesn’t have. Kuminga in the first half had 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, four rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. He and Butler combined to score 30 of the Warriors’ 42 points going into halftime.

After tying his playoff career high of 18 points last game, Kuminga went into the fourth quarter Saturday with 20 points and was a game-high plus-14 at the time. Kuminga scored another 10 points in the fourth quarter, giving him his most points since Dec. 28, 2024.

Draymond’s Dud

What looked like an obvious charge halfway through the third quarter spelled disaster for the Warriors. They challenged the call, but lost and Draymond Green was given his fourth foul. Immediately, the Timberwolves took advantage of his absence. 

Their next six made shots were all at the rim. Without Green, the Timberwolves drove with ease. Green didn’t give the Warriors much in the box score. His value also couldn’t have been more clear. 

Then in the fourth quarter, Green and the Warriors again were on the wrong side of a challenge. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch challenged a foul call on Julius Randle, and upon review, Green was called for an offensive foul for grabbing Randle’s jersey. Not even 20 seconds later, Green was called for a foul contesting a dunk attempt, his sixth of the night. The Warriors were down 84-82 when he fouled out at the 4:38 mark of the fourth quarter.

Jaden McDaniels’ two free throws made it 86-82. The Warriors were outscored 16-15 the rest of the game. In 29 minutes, Green’s final line was two points, two rebounds, four assists, two steals, five turnovers and six fouls. It was a night to forget for the four-time champion.

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Mazzulla sums up C's mentality with epic quote after Game 3 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla may have given his team its mantra for the remainder of its 2025 postseason run.

The C’s bounced back from their two devastating losses to the New York Knicks with a lopsided victory in Game 3, 115-93. After the win, Mazzulla couldn’t help but grin as he addressed the adversity his team is facing after falling into a 2-0 series hole.

“I’ve said it a thousand times, there’s no one way that it’s supposed to go,” Mazzulla said. “There’s no expectations. We’re on a path of trying to go after greatness. You don’t get to dictate the test that’s in front of you. …

“This is the fun part. You don’t get into the journey for it to be easy. It’s been dark, but in a good way. You just gotta tap into your darkness. That’s it. You just gotta do it.”

Tap into your darkness. Add that to the long list of memorable Mazzulla quotes from the last three seasons.

It’s the right mentality for a championship team that hasn’t faced much adversity since the start of the 2023-24 campaign. After a historic regular season, the Celtics steamrolled their opponents en route to an NBA title. This Knicks series is the first time they’ve had their backs against the wall since the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, when they forced Game 7 after going down 3-0 against the Miami Heat but couldn’t complete the comeback.

While no NBA team has ever come back from 3-0, there have been 34 teams to dig out of a 2-0 hole in a best-of-seven series. If the Celtics continue to shoot the way they did in Game 3 (20-for-40 from 3-point range), they will be well on their way to joining that group.

Boston will look to even the series Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Tip-off for Game 4 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Pritchard, C's role players outclass Knicks' supporting cast in Game 3 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

In Saturday’s Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard showed a national audience why he won the 2025 NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in a landslide.

Pritchard propelled the C’s to a 115-93 victory with a team-high — and a playoff career-high — 23 points off the bench. According to Celtics stats guru Dick Lipe, that marks the most points scored by a Boston non-starter in a road playoff game since Kevin McHale against Detroit in 1991.

He helped the Celtics overcome their recent 3-point shooting woes by making five of his 10 attempts from beyond the arc. Boston finished 20-for-40 from deep after shooting 25-for-100 across Games 1 and 2.

“We just had to come out and every possession, we had to win every one of them. If it’s a loose ball, we gotta win it. If it’s a rebound, we gotta win it,” Pritchard told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the win.

“I knew the shots would eventually fall. We took care of it today, but focus on Monday now.”

Pritchard’s performance headlined a huge day for the Celtics’ supporting cast. C’s players not named Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 74 points while Knicks role players (not Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns) totaled only 45 points.

Derrick White and Al Horford added 17 and 15 points, respectively. They shot a combined 6-for-10 from 3-point range.

Although the 3-pointers jump off the page, Pritchard identified the Celtics’ ball security as the reason for their bounce-back win. They had only eight turnovers after recording 16 in Game 2 and 13 in Game 1.

But most importantly, they kept their foot on the gas after blowing consecutive 20-point leads.

“Just our intensity. It didn’t feel like we had as many bad turnovers,” Pritchard told Chin. “Took care of the rock. And then we controlled the end of quarters, didn’t give them any momentum plays, so that’s a big factor.”

The Celtics, trailing the series 2-1, still have their work cut out for them with Game 4 set to be played in front of the raucous Madison Square Garden crowd on Monday. Pritchard is embracing the challenge.

“You wouldn’t want to be in any other position as a competitor,” he told reporters. “This is the best moment you can be in, down 2-0, backs against the wall. You just bring it.”

Tip-off for Monday’s Game 4 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.