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2025 NBA Playoffs results, highlights, recap April 25 including Anthony Edwards clutch game

It was a sweep for the home teams on Friday night, 3-0.

TIMBERWOLVES 116, LAKERS 104 (Minnesota leads series 2-1)

It raised the eyebrows of some casual fans when Minnesota signed Jaden McDaniels to a five-year, $136 million extension, a deal that kicked in this season. Was he worth more than $27 million a year on average?

This is the Jaden McDaniels Minnesota hoped it was paying for. He has been the difference in this series. McDaniels had 25 points in Minnesota’s Game 1 win, and then on Friday night, he put up 30 on 13-of-22 shooting in Minnesota’s clutch win at home.

This felt like a confidence-boosting win for the Timberwolves in front of a raucous Minnesota crowd. This looks like a team starting to believe in itself. Minnesota is simply outworking Los Angeles through most of this series and did it again Friday night, including running past the Lakers for 21 fast-break points (and a lot of other early offense). Minnesota is capable of playing some incredible high-level basketball — something we have seen dating back to last year, before the Karl-Anthony Towns trade — but it doesn’t do it consistently.

Did Game 3 — and the 13-1 run to close the game — change that? They sound like a team that believes in itself. However, the real test is Sunday: Can they come out and take Game 4 against a desperate Lakers team, taking total control of the series?

The best adjustment J.J. Redick can make before Game 4? Get Luka Doncic healthy. A great LeBron James game — which we got Friday with 38 points — will not be enough.

MAGIC 95, CELTICS 93 (Boston leads series 2-1)

While the focus in this series has been on Orlando’s physicality and how far it goes, Boston had been able to execute well enough against it to pick up a couple of wins at home.

That flipped Friday night in Orlando — the Magic were a little more desperate and Boston got a little sloppy with the ball. The Celtics had 21 turnovers on the night, and while some of those were instances like Payton Pritchard having the ball stolen in the backcourt, there were a couple of 24-second violations and a lot of offensive fouls.

At the same time, the Magic fixed another of their problems on the court: The third quarter. They had been outscored by 19 in the third in the first two games in Boston, and that’s where things tended to get away from them. Not in Game 3 at home. Orlando opened the third quarter on a 14-0 run, retook the lead, and changed the dynamic of the game.

The Magic’s depth also showed out, with things like good play off the bench from Anthony Black.

BUCKS 117, PACERS 101 (Indiana leads series 2-1)

Doc Rivers made his big change, moving Gary Trent Jr. into the starting lineup.

Well, that couldn’t have worked any better.

Trent’s nine 3-pointers tied Ray Allen for the franchise record for most in a postseason game. It was Trent — along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also scored 37 — who sparked the Bucks’ third-quarter comeback and kept their season alive.

Game 4 becomes huge in this series. Can the Bucks get stops again when they need them? Can the Bucks get someone to step up and help Antetokounmpo again? If not, if the Pacers score their way to a 3-1 series lead, this is over.

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Rockets coach Udoka calls out Warriors fans before Game 3 in Bay

Rockets coach Udoka calls out Warriors fans before Game 3 in Bay originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Shots fired.

As expected, there has been no shortage of fireworks between the Warriors and Houston Rockets in their first-round NBA playoff series, with plenty of chatter between the teams and their fanbases.

But Rockets coach Ime Udoka clearly believes Dub Nation only feels comfortable talking trash online, as he said in his pregame press conference at Chase Center before Game 3 on Saturday.

“Very pleasant,” Udoka said with a smile when NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke asked about exchanges with Warriors fans who recognized him during his walks outside the Rockets’ hotel in San Francisco. “… Wherever you go, you might have hostility online and all this, but in person, nobody says anything. You’re not as brave in person.”

After Golden State’s Game 1 win, Houston came out with a physical approach in its Game 2 victory, which led to Jimmy Butler’s pelvic injury that will keep him out of Game 3. During that game, Udoka was heard on a hot mic telling the Rockets’ bench, “Don’t worry, they’re [the refs] not going to call anything, play through it,” and guard Fred VanFleet reportedly told Draymond Green the Warriors “better pray Jimmy’s back.”

Always-candid Rockets forward Dillon Brooks also told reporters Green was “dirty” and to blame for Butler’s injury — a sentiment coach Steve Kerr later called “interesting” — while many Warriors fans have pointed the finger at Houston forward Amen Thompson for crashing into Butler on the play. The entire situation played out during a game where Rockets fans chanted “F–k you, Draymond” in Houston.

It’s safe to say there’s no love lost between the Warriors and Rockets in the high-stakes matchup. And that goes for the fans, too — who now might be more inclined to give Udoka a piece of their mind if they run into him in the Bay.

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Jimmy Butler ruled out for Warriors-Rockets Game 3 due to left pelvic contusion

Jimmy Butler ruled out for Warriors-Rockets Game 3 due to left pelvic contusion originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler will not play in Game 3 between the Warriors and the Houston Rockets on Saturday at Chase Center.

The Warriors ruled Butler out on the official NBA injury report for the pivotal swing game.

Fourth-year NBA forward Jonathan Kuminga will start in Butler’s place, the Warriors announced 30 minutes before tip-off.

Rookie center Quinten Post also will start, with guard Moses Moody shifting to the bench.

NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson reported that Butler was on the Warriors’ practice court at Chase Center getting up shots about an hour before tip-off of Game 3.

Butler was all smiles walking into Chase Center before the game, but the Warriors clearly don’t believe he’s ready to play against a physical Rockets team.

Butler sustained the injury late in the first quarter of the Warriors’ Game 2 loss to the Rockets at Toyota Center.

The 35-year-old’s MRI on Thursday showed no fractures or structural damage.

The Warriors had hoped two full days off between games would give Butler enough time to receive treatment and be ready for Saturday night.

But Golden State also knows they can’t risk Butler making the injury worse. If they want to make a deep NBA playoff run, they’ll need him to be healthy in the long run.

Kuminga rejoined the Warriors’ rotation when Butler sustained the injury. But before that, the 22-year-old had received three consecutive DNPs (Did Not Play).

It remains to be seen how effective Kuminga will be, but he played well against the Rockets in four regular-season games, averaging 21.3 points and 6.8 rebounds.

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Celtics need to fight … any urge to retaliate against Magic

Celtics need to fight … any urge to retaliate against Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jaylen Brown is fed up. It’s hard to blame him.

The Orlando Magic have injured three Boston players with three flagrant fouls through three postseason games. Jayson Tatum bruised his wrist after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s hard foul took him to the floor in Game 1, Kristaps Porzingis needed five stitches after Goga Bitadze’s elbow split his forehead in Game 2, and Brown dislocated a finger after an excessive foul by Cole Anthony early in Game 3.

Once is chance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern. Now Brown is wondering out loud if the Celtics will be forced to match Orlando’s energy in this series.

“There might be a fight break out or something,” Brown said after Boston’s Game 3 loss in Orlando. “Because it’s starting to feel like it’s not even basketball, and the refs are not controlling the environment. So, it is what it is.

“If you want to fight it out, we can do that. We can fight to see who goes to the second round.”

While we are largely unopposed to this first-round matchup turning into WrestleMania, it should be stressed that it is not in Boston’s best interest to get dragged into Orlando’s shenanigans. The Magic are using increased physicality to mask an obvious talent discrepancy, and the Celtics would only be playing into Orlando’s hands to allow its antics to sap their focus.

So, as much as Celtics fans might like to see Torrey Craig dispatched to drop an Orlando player, it’s unlikely to solve what’s truly keeping the Magic in this series.

The Celtics need to fight. They need to fight for better shots. They need to fight to protect the basketball and maximize possessions. And they need to fight the urge to retaliate.

Orlando’s length and physicality has absolutely bothered Boston. The Celtics owned the third-best half-court offense in the NBA during the regular season, generating 104.1 points per 100 possessions against a set defense. But Boston’s efficiency has plummeted against Orlando, dipping to 93.1 points per 100 possessions in the half court through three games.

Too often the Celtics have allowed Orlando to get back and get set. The Magic have done a better job than just about any team this season running the Celtics off the 3-point line, and Boston’s offense has gotten frustrated while settling for poor late-clock shot attempts.

The third quarter on Friday night might have been the Celtics’ most atrocious frame of the season. Boston misfired on 14 of its 17 shot attempts while scoring just 11 points. After Tatum’s 3-pointer early in the frame, the Celtics went nearly seven minutes without a field goal, all with its starters on the floor.

Boston turned the ball over six times in the frame and watched its double-digit lead morph into a six-point deficit heading to the fourth quarter.

The Magic sent multiple crashers at the glass chasing offensive rebounds. Not only did they win Joe Mazzulla’s beloved shot margin (83 attempts to Boston’s 74) because of it, but the Celtics never made them pay by pushing in transition and looking for easy buckets against a scrambling defense.

Boston generated just 78.8 points per 100 possessions in the half-court, per Cleaning the Glass data. Impossibly, Orlando was even worse (76.2), but utilized offensive rebounds to mask some of its woes.

The Celtics turned the ball over a staggering 21 times overall, leading to 26 points. Orlando generated nearly 28 percent of its total offensive output on Boston giveaways. The Celtics ranked second in the NBA in turnover rate during the regular season (12.2 percent) but that number has spiked to 16.1 percent of possessions in the postseason.

🔊 Celtics Talk POSTGAME POD: Celtics’ offense falls flat in Game 3 loss to Magic | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

If you want to throw the spin control on Game 3, it would be easy to note that Tatum looked excellent after starting the day as doubtful on the injury report. Porzingis turned in a total dud, admitting his shot is “janky” at the moment and using an expletive to describe his overall performance. A bench group led by Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser had a nightmare offensive game as well.

And the Celtics still had a chance to force overtime on the final possession.

A fight isn’t going to do these Celtics any good. Regaining some focus, getting back to Celtics basketball, and getting this series over quick is the better path. Let Orlando take its physicality to a beach in Cancun.

The only thing that can prolong this series is Boston getting sucked into a wrestling match. The Celtics can be appropriately physical, but there’s a fine line to walk, especially when the referees are on high alert now.

Yes, the only thing Boston needs to fight is its urge to retaliate.

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Knicks vs. Pistons Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 27

On Sunday, April 27, the New York Knicks (51-31) and Detroit Pistons (44-38) are all set to square off from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.

New York stole Game 3 in Detroit, 118-116, behind a combined 61 points from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson and 20 or more points from four starters. Cade Cunningham double-doubled with 24 points and 11 assists for the Pistons, while Malik Beasley dropped 24 points and the bench combined for 40 points.

The Knicks are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Pistons have a 5-5 record in their last ten games at home. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Knicks vs. Pistons live today

  • Date: Sunday, April 27, 2025
  • Time: 1:00 PM EST
  • Site: Little Caesars Arena
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: ABC / ESPN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Knicks vs. Pistons

The latest odds as of Sunday:

  • Odds: Knicks (+109), Pistons (-130)
  • Spread:  Pistons -2
  • Over/Under: 217 points

That gives the Knicks an implied team point total of 108.02, and the Pistons 109.07.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Sunday’s Knicks vs. Pistons game

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans Jalen Brunson’s point prop and the Knicks +2:

"The Knicks took the pivotal Game 3 that can really swing a series, so the momentum is certainly in their favor. Jalen Brunson, the Clutch Player of the Year, had another heroic effort as Batman (Brunson, 30 points) and Robin (KAT, 31 points) closed the game for New York. I can't expect KAT to have another massive performance, but there's no reason why Brunson can't after 34, 37, and 30 points in the series thus far — Over 29.5 points looks good for Brunson and if the Knicks win here, they can close it out at home in five games, so I lean the Knicks +2 and ML (+110).

If you have the series correct score market — I like the value on the series to end in 5 (+185) more than the Knicks ML here (+110) because they would be laying at least -7.5 at home in Game 5 up 3-1."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Knicks & Pistons game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the New York Knicks at +2.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 217.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Knicks vs. Pistons on Sunday

  • In 3 wins against the Pistons this season the Knicks' average winning margin is +14.3
  • The Over is 29-26 in the Pistons' matchups against Eastern Conference teams this season
  • The Pistons have covered in 15 of their 21 matchups against Eastern Conference Atlantic Division teams this season
  • In 3 wins against the Pistons this season the Knicks' average winning margin is +14.3

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Hernández: Can the Lakers overcome their biggest vulnerability exposed during their Game 3 loss?

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards dunks over Lakers guard Luka Doncic during Game 3 Friday
Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards dunks over Lakers guard Luka Doncic during Game 3 Friday at the Target Center in Minneapolis. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Somehow, the Lakers concealed the shortcoming in plain sight for months, enough to where the situation looked manageable.

That was then.

Now, in a postseason series against an athletic team with size, their lack of a big man has become a major problem. Now, as the Lakers find themselves with a two-games-to-one deficit in their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the absence of a reliable center could be why their season comes to a premature end.

Luka Doncic was said to be feeling awful on Friday night, and his play reflected it. However, an equal, if not greater, factor in the Lakers’ 116-104 loss to the Timberwolves in Game 3 was the team’s complete inability to protect the rim.

Timberwolves forward Julius Randle shoots over Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, guard Gabe Vincent and guard Luka Doncic
Timberwolves forward Julius Randle shoots over Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, guard Gabe Vincent and guard Luka Doncic in Game 3 of their series Friday at the Target Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

Considering how Jaden McDaniels and Anthony Edwards practically skipped to their basket on Saturday night at Target Center, the Lakers might as well have replaced their free-throw lane with a red carpet.

The Timberwolves knew the Lakers couldn’t stop them, and the numbers reflected their lack of respect. They attempted 45 shots in the paint, compared to 28 for the Lakers. They scored 56 points in the paint, compared to 26 for the Lakers.

McDaniels scored 30 points, including 24 in the paint. Edwards finished with 29 points and a team-high eight assists.

“The fact is we don’t have rim protection,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “So if you give up blow-bys, we’re gonna give up something.”

Read more:With Luka Doncic ailing, LeBron James' historic night can't save Lakers in Game 3 loss

The Lakers technically have a center in seven-footer Jaxson Hayes, but Redick clearly doesn’t want to play him, evidenced by how Hayes has logged nine or fewer minutes in each of the three games of this series. The nine minutes Hayes played on Friday were particularly destructive, as he registered a plus/minus of minus-13.

Hayes was a backup before the Lakers sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the trade for Doncic, and Davis’ departure shouldn’t have changed that. Hayes is who he is.

The Lakers knew this could be a problem, which is why they had a deal in place to acquire center Mark Williams for the Charlotte Hornets before the trade deadline. But Williams underwent a physical examination, the Lakers were concerned with what they saw, and the trade was rescinded.

Perhaps general manager Rob Pelinka should have gambled on the 7-foot Williams, who was healthy for the remainder of the regular season. Or perhaps Pelinka should have lined up contingencies in case the trade for Williams didn’t work out. Or perhaps he should have gathered more accurate information on the injury-prone Williams beforehand, which could have saved the Lakers time and afforded them the luxury of redirecting their efforts elsewhere. Or perhaps there was nothing he could have done, given the shortage of available big men.

Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels fight for a loose ball during Game 3
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt and Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels fight for a loose ball during Game 3 of their playoff series Friday at the Target Center. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

None of that matters now. What’s done is done, and the season autopsy can wait until the summer. The Lakers have a series to win.

Figuring out how to do that is the job of Redick, who said he believed his team could overcome its size deficit.

“We’ve done it all year,” he said. “When we’ve been at our best, we’ve been able to be physical on the ball and not allow blow-bys and also have sort of a cover mentality, multiple effort and it was there at times tonight.”

Forward Dorian Finney-Smith shared a similar view.

Read more:'Be a banshee': How the Lakers cultivated a winning spirit

“Just gotta do a better job of standing in front of the ball,” Finney-Smith said. “I feel like we were just giving up too many blow-bys, and it really ain’t had nothing to do with our size. It was just on-base defense and rotations outside of when we gotta scramble. I feel like we didn’t have the sense of urgency the whole game, and they did.”

Redick pointed to some of the other mistakes made by his team.

“I think we had two [plays] where we collected a rebound, we get backtapped, we give up a point,” he said. “Those things really, really accumulate, especially when you’re turning the ball over.”

Provided Doncic recovers from whatever made him vomit over and over in the hours leading up to the Game 3, the Lakers have two of the best players in the league in him and James. They have a dangerous No. 3 option in Austin Reaves. They have solid defenders in Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt. But they don’t have a big man, and at this moment, what they don’t have feels as important as what they do.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Playoffs giving Warriors rookie Post trial-by-fire treatment

Playoffs giving Warriors rookie Post trial-by-fire treatment originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – The flight on which Quinten Post is among the pilots is revealing and enlightening. It’s satisfying and frustrating, joyful and infuriating. His introduction to the world of Warriors basketball has been quite the ride, and he has embraced knowing that he’ll influence how long it lasts this season.

He has progressed from a second-round pick in the NBA draft last June to a two-way contract in September to his NBA debut in December to becoming a fixture in Golden State’s rotation in January to making 14 starts as a rookie.

If that’s not enough to substantiate his value, he’s now crucial to the team’s attempt to make a deep NBA playoff run.
Forgive Post if his head were spinning atop his 7-foot frame, but it seems solidly in place.

“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Post tells NBC Sports Bay Area. “Biggest difference, I mean, I was in Santa Cruz, and now here. Back then I was just trying to prove anything. That I could fit or belong. And now there’s a real responsibility on my shoulders. I have an impact on winning or losing. And that that comes with the pressure. The pressure is a blessing. That means that people are relying on you. That’s something special.

“It’s a super cool situation to be in. It’s a whole different world, obviously, for me.”

Post was a non-factor in his playoff debut against the Rockets last Sunday in Houston. Played 12 minutes, went 0 of 3 from the field, with one rebound, one assist and two fouls in a 95-85 win in Game 1. He recovered Wednesday in Game 2, playing 25 minutes and totaling 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from distance.

The only Warrior to score more points in Game 2 was franchise icon Stephen Curry, who finished with 20.
Yet Post laments his lack of impact elsewhere in a 109-94 loss. Specifically rebounding. The Warriors were outrebounded by 16 (52-36) in Game 1 and by 14 (47-33) in Game 2. He grabbed two in Game 2.

“I don’t think anybody expects that we’re going to out-reach and out-rebound them,” Post says of the Rockets, who in the regular season led the league rebounding. “We just have to limit that and play to our strengths, which is playing fast, limiting our turnovers and playing to our game plan. I don’t think anybody was expecting us to outrebound them when we’re obviously a smaller team.

“But when I come off the bench, that’s something I need to get better at. I need to be a better rebounder. I need to become more physical, and with time that will definitely come. I can help us with it now, but I need to become better at rebounding. One thousand percent.”

Houston’s rebounding is among the early pivotal themes in the series, and it’s particularly noticeable when Rockets coach Ime Udoka turns to a lineup with 6-foot-11, 265-pound Steven Adams playing alongside 6-foot-11, 235-pound Alperen Şengün. Towering over Warriors not named Post, they combined for 21 rebounds in Game 1 and 19 in Game 2.

“And then they have their big wings in there crashing,” Post says. “We just play a smaller style of basketball. But I need to be better, and as a team we need to do better.”

The possession game likely will tilt the series. Houston’s rebounding has been a major factor in it attempting 17 more field goals through the first two games. The Rockets’ poor shooting in Game 1 rendered that irrelevant, but their recovery in Game 2 resulted in a 15-point win.

Post is correct in that it’s unrealistic for the Warriors to win that battle, but he’s also correct in saying he needs to be better at it. Same applies to Draymond Green, who has 11 rebounds in two games – the same total as Stephen Curry – and Moses Moody, who has two. The availability of Jimmy Butler III, who pulled seven rebounds in Game 1, is in question for Game 3.

The Warriors are emphasizing the need to match Houston’s physicality. It’s visible and consistent. All rookies realize the playoffs are a different game; Post is seeing that it’s even more pronounced among big men.

“It’s very physical, so I do see differences,” he says. “And they’ve got a good crowd there in Houston. But I know that we’ll have a good, maybe better, crowd here in Chase. So you just feel the intensity. They play a very physical game, too. They probably bumped up the physicality in Game 2, with the mentality that the ref can’t call everything.

“Looking back at that game, I didn’t even realize some of the things that were going on the court. Shoving, pushing, pulling. That’s kind of what happened. And now we just have to respond in Game 3.”

Post, 25, was exposed to basketball while growing up in the Netherlands, idolizing Dirk Nowitzki, who was born and raised in neighboring Germany. Post is in the rotation because, at 44.9 percent, he was the team’s most accurate 3-point shooter. He stretches the floor, a key component of the offense built around Curry.

Post could not have known last spring that he would be in the NBA playoffs with such future Hall of Famers as Curry, Green and Butler. Or that he would have a significant role.

Moreover, the Warriors could not have known they would need him as much as they do.

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Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards spark Timberwolves in clutch to beat Lakers, take 2-1 series lead

NBA: Playoffs-Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves

Apr 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after making a shoot against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

It was tied 103-103 with 4:37 left in Game 3, but the Lakers had two of the best clutch players the league has ever seen on the floor in LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

The Timberwolves had Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid and that was all they needed.

Minnesota closed the game on a 13-1 run behind their clutch trio to get the win.

Minnesota took a 2-1 series lead in front of a raucous crowd in Minnesota Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday in Minnesota.

Edwards is expected to be the engine for the Timberwolves and he lived up to that, scoring or assisting on nine straight points in the clutch. He finished with 29 points, scoring or assisting on 48 points.

McDaniels is the bellwether so far in this series. He had 25 points and nine rebounds while playing elite defense in Game 1 (a Minnesota win), and on Friday night he scored 30.

The other move critical move in the clutch was Minnesota coach Chris Finch subbing out Rudy Gobert for Naz Reid. This wasn’t about Gobert’s defense (the Lakers were 6-of-13 shooting with him as the primary defender on the night) but more about the offense. Having Gobert on the floor gave a place for J.J. Redick to hide a defender and someone to help off of when Edwards drove the lane. With Reid out there, that hiding space went away, and Reid hit a clutch 3-pointer as well. More importantly, the Timberwolves' defense didn’t suffer. It was a real risk by Finch, the lineup he closed the game with (Edwards, McDaniels, Reid, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo) had a -8.9 net rating in the regular season, but the playoffs are all about matchups, and it worked against the Lakers.

Doncic was clearly slowed, playing through a stomach issue that had him vomiting much of the day and had him on the verge of missing the game, but he still finished with 17 points and eight assists.

LeBron picked up the slack with an impressive 38-point outing.

"He was incredible. He did everything he could in his power to try to will them to a win,” Edwards said of LeBron.

“He was shooting it from Yucatan. For sure, he was shooting it crazy... I'm not gonna lie, it was fun to be competing against him today for sure."

Expect an even more energized LeBron on Sunday in what becomes an almost must-win game for Los Angeles, it can’t go down 3-1 and come out of this series.

However, that was a confidence-boosting, “we got this” kind of win for Minnesota. It believes it is the best team in this series, the deeper and better squad. The one that went to the conference finals a year ago. And those Timberwolves are going to believe Game 4 belongs to them.

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Wagner, Banchero help Magic beat Celtics 95-93 despite 36 points from Tatum in return

NBA: Playoffs-Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic

Apr 25, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) drives around Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during the second quarter of game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Mike Watters-Imagn Images

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Paolo Banchero added 29 and the Orlando Magic beat Boston 95-93 on Friday night to cut the Celtics' lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series.

Jayson Tatum had 36 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics in his return to the starting lineup after missing Game 2 with a bruised wrist.

The defending NBA champions were 33-8 on the road this season but are now 0-3 in Orlando in 2024-25. The Magic host Game 4 on Sunday.

The Celtics, who set several NBA records for 3-point shooting during the regular season, shot 9 for 27 in Game 3 and went 17 minutes between 3-pointers in the second half. The game included 43 fouls, a flagrant foul and 35 turnovers, 21 by the Celtics against the physical Magic defense.

“I feel like it suits our team, our playing style,” said Wagner, who had eight assists and seven rebounds. “We’ve played like that all year, and I feel like whoever plays more aggressive is going to win in this series.”

The flagrant foul was called on Orlando's Cole Anthony after a play in which Boston's Jaylen Brown dislocated his left index finger.

“Maybe a fight will break out (in Game 4),” said Brown, who finished with 19 points and five fouls. “If you want to fight, we can do that and see who goes to the second round.”

The Celtics believe the Magic are already getting plenty of shots in.

“Some fouls they call and some they don’t, and that’s how it’s going to be,” said Kristaps Porzingis, who had seven points and four fouls. “We have to accept the reality and also, we can use that. It goes both ways. It’s really a big difference from the regular season.”

Boston rallied after scoring just 11 points in the third quarter to tie it 91 on Derrick White's layup with 2:31 to play. Wagner answered with a layup, and after a miss by Tatum, followed with another basket for a 95-91 lead with 1:26 to play.

White scored, and after Wagner missed a 3-pointer, the Celtics got the ball and inbounded with 0.3 seconds left but White's pass toward the basket was tapped away as time expired.

The Celtics played without Jrue Holiday, who has a strained right hamstring.

Tatum, who was listed as doubtful late Friday afternoon, scored 21 points in the first half, leading the Celtics to a 10-point lead.

Tatum's 3-pointer early in the second half stretched their lead to 11, but the Celtics missed 17 of their next 19 shots and did not hit another 3-point shot until Al Horford connected with 6:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Wagner and Banchero combined for nine points on a 14-0 run that pulled the Magic ahead and they led 86-74 after the third quarter.

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Trent ties Bucks playoff mark with 9 3s, he and Giannis score 37 in 117-101 Game 3 win over Pacers

Indiana Pacers v Milwaukee Bucks - Game Three

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 25: Gary Trent Jr. #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks makes a three point shot in the second half over Ben Sheppard #26 of the Indiana Pacers during game three of the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 25, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. got hot from deep, Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated in the paint and together they gave the Milwaukee Bucks new life in their first-round playoff series.

Trent tied a franchise playoff record with nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Antetokounmpo also had 37 and the Bucks used a big second half to beat Indiana 117-101 on Friday night and cut the Pacers' series lead to 2-1.

“My mindset was just to come in and get a win," said Trent, who got a rare start and had his highest playoff scoring output.

Trent also was assigned to cover Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was held in check for most of the game.

“I was trying to be all over him to start the game," Trent said. "Let him know you’re there and try to take him out of his game.”

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Trent's aggressiveness earned him a start.

“There were two reasons. The offensive part because he’s really aggressive and the defensive part because of his hands," Rivers said. “We wanted somebody aggressive to attack Haliburton. I thought he did that."

The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62. The Bucks grabbed a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo’s three-point play and led 86-75 at the end of the quarter.

The lead grew to as many as 20 in the fourth and Trent finished 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen's mark for most 3-pointers in a postseason game. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 70-44 in the second half.

Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 10 for the Bucks, who took on the Pacers for the 18th time in the past two seasons.

“We have to stay humble,” Antetokounmpo said. “It's just one game.”

Indiana had won five of the last six playoff games between the teams and ousted the Bucks from the playoffs in the opening round last season.

“We were bad on both sides of the ball,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “They were great, we were bad.”

Pascal Siakam had 28 points and Aaron Nesmith scored 18 for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and 10 assists.

After trailing throughout Game 2, the Bucks grabbed an early lead. Antetokounmpo and Trent combined to score Milwaukee’s first 21 points. No other Bucks player scored until Green sank a 3-pointer with 2:28 left in the opening quarter.

Milwaukee shot 4 for 23 from 3-point range over the first two quarters but was 11 for 18 after halftime.

Bucks star guard Damian Lillard was held to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting. He made just 1-of-8 3-pointers.

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With Luka Doncic ailing, LeBron James' historic night can't save Lakers in Game 3 loss

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Friday, April 25, 2025 -Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Lakers forward LeBron James struggles to shoot over Minnesota defenders during the Lakers' 116-104 loss in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs on Friday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

After a midseason loss to the Clippers, JJ Redick and LeBron James sounded a bit of an alarm, both coach and leader saying the Lakers didn’t have the luxury to just be pretty good.

The Lakers, if they wanted to win tough games, needed to be great.

“It’s just, we don’t have a huge margin for error,” Redick said.

“That’s how our team is constructed,” James said. “We don't have room for error.”

Read more:'Be a banshee': How the Lakers cultivated a winning spirit

But in a single phone call, when the Dallas Mavericks agreed to a blockbuster trade, the Lakers got the ultimate margin mover in Luka Doncic.

Friday night in Minneapolis, that cushion came crashing in, Doncic far from himself because of an illness that had him working out on the court an hour before the game.

With Doncic off, the mistakes took on more weight. The free throws that rattled out? Bruising. The offensive rebounds given up? Crushing. The lapses in attention that led to turnovers? Back-breaking.

Lakers guard Luka Doncic can't block a late three-pointer by Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards in Game 3 on Friday night.
Lakers guard Luka Doncic can't block a late three-pointer by Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards in Game 3 on Friday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Lakers weren’t good enough, losing 116-104 to the Timberwolves in a Game 3 they had chances to win before Minnesota slammed the door to take a 2-1 first-round playoff series lead.

“In the postseason, obviously you're not gonna play a perfect game,” James said. “But the more that you make mistakes on top of mistakes on top of mistakes, things that can be controlled, then it's not gonna give you an opportunity to be in the best possible chance to win.”

The Lakers committed 19 turnovers. They allowed nine offensive rebounds. Minnesota took 13 more shots and scored 10 more points in transition.

“Really hard to win a basketball game in that scenario,” Redick said of the possession disparity.

Doncic, a monster in the first quarter of the first two games of the series, looked badly uncomfortable, starting one for six from the field.

After he checked out for the first time, he put on his warmup jacket and pulled the hood onto his head. He wasn’t able to make it out of the locker room at halftime and missed the first 50 seconds of the third quarter, checking back in with a shirt under his uniform.

Lakers star LeBron James splits the Minnesota defense to score on a layup in the first half of Game 3.
Lakers star LeBron James splits the Minnesota defense to score on a layup in the first half of Game 3. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

He scored 17 points on six-for-16 shooting but never could create the kinds of advantages that have given the Lakers room to maneuver.

“He was fighting, trying to be there for us,” Dorian Finney-Smith said. “I didn't think he was going to come out second half.”

James, though, was sublime. Still stimulated by the chance to silence a road playoff crowd, he played with his most energy all series. He pointed over at the bench after he scored on a midrange jumper when the Lakers executed a play called for him early. He held his three-point celebration in the fourth quarter when he shot the Lakers back into the game. He flew for rebounds and moved his feet on defense in a 38-point, 41-minute game. It was the most points scored in a playoff game by a player over 40.

“He's moving better,” Redick said. “He seems like he's getting healthier by the day.”

Austin Reaves, who struggled shooting in Game 2, hit big shots, keeping the Lakers in it despite the mistakes rapidly mounting and making things tougher. He finished with 20 points.

Read more:Plaschke: Lakers found true grit just when they needed it and silenced their critics

The most fatal wounds were caused by the turnovers. They ranged from multiple 24-second violations to lost rebounds to a ball squirting through James’ hands. One even came when Minnesota Rudy Gobert, Doncic’s favorite target, poked the ball loose leading to a Jaden McDaniels layup.

Twenty-four of McDaniels' 30 points came in the paint.

“He had 30 and he was aggressive from the start to the finish,” James said. “Can't remember the last time he took over 20 shots.”

While the mistakes the Lakers made were brutal, the things they couldn’t control hurt too. Their lack of rim protection got badly exploited by McDaniels, who consistently went over their defense.

Jaxson Hayes, the Lakers' starting center, played less than nine minutes, the Lakers being out-scored by 13 when he played.

The combination of the shrunken margins put the Lakers' season a step closer to conclusion, the team now needing to steal a win Sunday in the shortest turnaround in the series.

Despite being sick, Doncic still played 40 minutes. Reaves played 41. They’ll need to recapture their energy from Game 2 on light rest to avoid facing elimination in Game 5.

“We got control the controllables,” James said. “And I don't think we did that tonight obviously. Nineteen turnovers on the road is not gonna be a good ingredient for winning. Giving up (28) points off those turnovers — they had 20-plus points in transition as well. We gotta control the controllables and if we do, we give ourselves chance to win.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Jaylen Brown: Fight might break out if Magic's hard fouls continue

Jaylen Brown: Fight might break out if Magic's hard fouls continue originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Kristaps Porzingis said after the Boston Celtics’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Magic that the C’s are “not gonna let anybody punk us” in the playoffs. Jaylen Brown took it a step further after Boston’s Game 3 defeat.

Orlando received its third flagrant foul in as many games when Cole Anthony pulled Brown to the floor in the second quarter. The Celtics star writhed in pain after landing awkwardly on his hand, but he stayed in the game.

After the game, Brown revealed he injured his finger on the play.

“I dislocated my index finger, but I got nine more. So I’m all right,” he told reporters.

The Magic’s first flagrant in the series was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s hard foul on Jayson Tatum, who injured his wrist on the play and was forced to miss Game 2 due to the injury. Goga Bitadze earned the second flagrant with the elbow that bloodied Porzingis in Game 2.

Orlando’s three flagrants account for a fraction of the team’s hard fouls in the series thus far. If the trend continues, Brown believes tensions could boil over.

“There might be a fight break out or something,” Brown said. “Because it’s starting to feel like it’s not even basketball, and the refs are not controlling the environment. So it is what it is. If you want to fight it out, we can do that. We can fight to see who goes to the second round.”

The Magic have made it clear they don’t plan on toning down their physical play, so this series could get even more interesting on Sunday in Orlando.

“Definitely was a physical game,” Brown added. “They got away with a lot. When you get away with it, I would do it too. We’ll be ready for Game 4.”

The C’s will look to bounce back from a brutal Game 3 loss in which they scored only 11 third-quarter points and finished with 19 turnovers. Brown and co-star Jayson Tatum combined for 13 of those TOs.

Boston has a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4 on Sunday at Kia Center. Tip-off for the matchup is set at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

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Rockets vs. Warriors Best bets: Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends for April 26

Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors Preview

On Saturday, April 26, and the Houston Rockets (52-30) and Golden State Warriors (48-34) are all set to square off from Chase Center in San Francisco.

In the last game, the Houston Rockets were able to level the series. Unfortunately, the Warriors last Jimmy Butler in that game. His status for game three remains up in the air.

The Rockets are currently 23-17 on the road with a point differential of 5, while the Warriors have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Rockets vs. Warriors live today

  • Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
  • Time: 8:30PM EST
  • Site: Chase Center
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: ESPN2

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Rockets vs. Warriors

The latest odds as of Saturday:

  • Odds: Rockets (+133), Warriors (-157)
  • Spread:  Warriors -3
  • Over/Under: 203 points

That gives the Rockets an implied team point total of 100.86, and the Warriors 102.42.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Rockets vs. Warriors game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Rockets & Warriors game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Golden State Warriors on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Houston Rockets at +3.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 203.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Rockets vs. Warriors on Saturday

  • The Rockets have lost 9 of their last 10 away games against teams with winning records
  • The Rockets' last 6 versus the Warriors have stayed under the Total
  • The Rockets covered the spread in 52% of their regular season games (43-39-0)

The Rockets have gone 22-19 on the road against the spread this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Nuggets vs. Clippers Odds, predictions, recent stats, trends and Best bets for April 26

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Preview

On Saturday, April 26, and the Denver Nuggets (50-32) and Los Angeles Clippers (50-32) are all set to square off from Intuit Dome in Inglewood.

The Clippers handled business in game three, taking a 2-1 series lead. From the opening whistle, they looked like the better team.

The Clippers won 117-83. They shot 48% from the field and 46% from three.

The Nuggets are currently 24-17 on the road with a point differential of 4, while the Clippers have a 9-1 record in their last ten games at home.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Nuggets vs. Clippers live today

  • Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
  • Time: 6:00PM EST
  • Site: Intuit Dome
  • City: Inglewood, CA
  • Network/Streaming: TNT

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Nuggets vs. Clippers

The latest odds as of Saturday:

  • Odds: Nuggets (+200), Clippers (-246)
  • Spread:  Clippers -6.5
  • Over/Under: 212 points

That gives the Nuggets an implied team point total of 104.92, and the Clippers 108.31.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Nuggets vs. Clippers game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Nuggets & Clippers game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Clippers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Denver Nuggets at +6.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 212.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Nuggets vs. Clippers on Saturday

  • The Clippers have won 17 of their last 20 home games following a win
  • The Clippers' last 3 versus the Nuggets have stayed under the Total

The Nuggets finished the regular season with an away record of 24-17

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Bet the Edge is your source for all things sports betting. Get all of Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick’s insight weekdays at 6AM ET right here or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)