Worldwide Sports News

Intentional or not intentional?

That’s the discussion in NBA circles after Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was ejected in the third quarter of the Houston Rockets’ 115-96 victory in Game 4 at the Toyota Center on Sunday night. 

An accidental forearm to the head. A hard foul, yes. A flagrant one? Definitely. But an automatic ejection? That left many to reach a completely different conclusion than referee James Williams.

In Game 2 of the Phoenix Suns vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series, Williams called a technical foul on Devin Booker for trying to save a ball from going out of bounds that accidentally hit a Thunder player in the arm.

“In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name… but James [Williams] was terrible tonight, through and through,” said Booker after the game. “It’s bad for the integrity of the sport.”

The NBA rescinded the technical foul after the game, but the damage had already been done. 

Williams once again found himself at the center of a controversial call in Houston on Sunday. The replay appeared to show that the play was messy, but not malicious.

https://t.co/8NoglBpAOYpic.twitter.com/5Iu1wBTelI

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 27, 2026

Ayton first appears like he’s going to jump to block Alperen Sengun’s shot, then quickly tries to switch into a defending position. His forearm starts low on Sengun’s back and then rises up and catches him in the face. It looks more jarring in slow motion. But it didn’t look intentional in real time or upon review. 

“I was just trying to brace for contact,” Ayton said postgame. “It slipped… I know it looked crazy, but I’m not a dirty player. I just hope he’s alright.”

It was Ayton’s first ever ejection in his eighth season in the league. The disbelief lingered in his voice and in his teammates’ minds as well. 

“That’s some BS,” said Marcus Smart about the call. 

LeBron James didn’t hide his frustration either.

“I know what I saw,” he said. “His arm slipped… you have to be pretty good to do that on purpose.”

Even Sengun, the one who took the hit, shrugged at the ruling. “I didn’t expect him to be ejected. That was soft.”

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka reiterated that sentiment as well. 

Everyone tries to figure out why Devin Booker received a tech pic.twitter.com/YVtg5xe5j0

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 23, 2026

“I was surprised it was a flagrant 2,” admitted Udoka. “That’s the NBA nowadays. They call it a little softer than they used to.”

Lakers head coach JJ Redick went further, describing Ayton as having “a kind soul” and insisting the play wasn’t dirty.

“It looked like he was trying to brace himself with his off-arm against Sengun’s body and his arm slipped and hit him in the head,” said Redick. “I don’t think a [flagrant] 2 was warranted.”

By the end of the night, Williams hadn’t just made one controversial call, but he made two more, ejecting both Lakers rookie Adou Thiero and Rockets guard Aaron Holiday with a little over a minute left in the game for being physical and talking trash to each other. Ironically, their contact looked more intentional than Ayton’s did. 

Adou Thiero and Aaron Holiday were ejected late in Sunday's game.pic.twitter.com/fqJPrlbli6

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 27, 2026

“I didn’t get a great explanation on Adou,” said Redick after the game when asked why he was ejected. “I’m sure James [Williams] will give you that.”

LeBron was equally confused and angry. 

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

“I’m more pissed off about them kicking Adou out,” James said after the game. “I thought that was uncalled for and made no sense. That’s the first time he’s ever been thrown out of a game in his life. I don’t think that was warranted. That was ridiculous.”

Game 5 of the series between the Rockets and Lakers is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN.

The postseason is an entirely different world from the regular season, and this year’s is proving no different. After one of his worst slumps out of the gate and a campaign of evolving roles, questionable quotes, and trade rumors, Karl-Anthony Towns has become the most valuable Knick in the playoffs.

Through four games against the Hawks, Towns is averaging 21 points, 10.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 3.1 stocks in only 32.5 minutes a night, shooting 61 percent from two and 50 percent from three. His highlight 25-point outburst in Game 1 and historic triple-double in Game 4 were keys to securing those victories, while many of his key teammates languished.

Jalen Brunsonhas been out of sorts this series, shooting 29-for-78 since the first quarter of Game 1 and getting picked on defensively to a heightened degree. New York also got mixed games from Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart along the way, hence the even series.

This is a stark departure from what the regular season looked like, but a positive development for Towns that could spur the Knicks further in their championship hunt. Let’s break down how we got here and what it means for New York...

Head coach Mike Brown replaced Tom Thibodeau this summer in an effort to kickstart an offense that looked stuck in the mud during the playoffs and push more collaboration from the coaching staff. The change took some time for Towns to adjust to.

Add an early-season injury, and Towns was really struggling in the early weeks, especially from the field. He openly stated that members of the team were still figuring out their roles.

Towns started picking it back up on both ends leading into the Knicks’ NBA Cup Championship, but a 2-9 skid shortly after put the entire team on notice. Giannis Antetokounmpo trade possibilities were in the air, and Towns' name was floated in rumors. 

But he blocked out the noise and helped set things straight. This happened first on defense, where throughout the year he improved and bought into a more diverse Brown scheme. Offensively, stronger opponents started guarding him with more wings, and he again had to adjust.

Brown admitted to needing to tweak the offense to better incorporate Towns, while also putting him in new positions to challenge and grow his game. This tension may have nauseated Knicks fans through 82 games, but it appears to be paying dividends in their most important moments.

Brown unleashed Towns as a combination scoring-passing threat out of the pinch post against Atlanta, especially in the two Knicks victories. He’s rewarded his coach and team with some of his best play as a Knick.

These sets are giving him space to duck down, drive, or post on Atlanta’s mismatched defenders. His teammates have recognized his advantage and are seeking him out behind the arc and down low. 

The passing has been especially impressive, as at times he’s looked overwhelmed or succumbed to poor decision making. But against the Hawks, he’s making the simple read and finding OG Anunoby consistently on cuts. 

One play they’ve abused has Brunson setting a down screen on Anunoby to cut baseline, while Towns awaits in the high elbow. He can find Anunoby, wait for Brunson to come off for a two-man game, or take something for himself, and Atlanta hasn’t had great answers.

Towns' defense has translated as well. Where in prior playoffs Mitchell Robinson was the clear upgrade, Towns has held his own in this matchup. This has happened despite being switched around different guys and having to adjust to new schemes on the fly.

If not for Towns, the Knicks would be dead in the water in this series. Quite the turnaround for somebody who was in trade rumors a few months ago.

Towns being an effective creator gives Brunson a break, along with unlocking his off-ball game, where he’s effective. It also shifts how defenses guard Towns, from a spot-shooter to a dynamic threat.

New York’s number two option has been their number one with Brunson working through a down series. This should give them much more confidence and optionality as the series and postseason progresses.

I haven’t taken a breath since 12 minutes into Game 2 when Victor Wembanyama took a spill and had a concussion. I think I passed out myself, and I am not sure what happened since. But I woke up and saw the San Antonio Spurs were up 2 games to 1, and Game 4 started with the much anticipated return of Wembanyama because he had to sit out Game 3. Once the spry Portland Trail Blazers were up 19 in the first half in Game 4, I think I passed out again (hey, I am no where near conditioned for Spurs playoff basketball watching like the heydays of the 2000s and 2010s—you’ll have to excuse my being out of armchair point guarding shape).

Thankfully, the good guys came through behind De’Aaron Fox’s game-high 28 points to go with his 7 assists. Wembanyama, in his triumphant return, scored 27 points with 11 rebounds and 7 blocks.

You know all the talking heads who say the Spurs are too young and need “playoff scars” or to wait their turn? They might be right, but nothing is promised or guaranteed. Some players on this current team might not be on the roster next year. Unfortunately, injuries happen: some day-to-day, some seasoning ending, others career ending. Athletes know this so they play to win now.

Deep philosophical diatribes aside, I was just glad to see number one back on the court and doing moves like this in the (expletive)ing playoffs:

I too have no words for this other than *fox emoji *arrow emoji *alien emoji

*thumbs up emoji

A “B+” for Harrison Barnes’s spot-on pass to a streaking Wembanyama for the jam. An “A” for Wembanyama’s statement dunk, and an “A+” for Dylan Harper’s timely screen that allowed Wembanyama to get free for the easy slam.

Before I hear it in the comments, I’m changing Barnes’s arbitrary grade to an A.

Stephon Castle and Wembanyama played a little role reversal with the big man finding his fellow RotY for an open dunk.

Even in practice, this alley-oop could not look any easier and routine for these two. In a live playoff game, well, that’s just poetry in motion.

De’Aaron Fox was on a heater on Sunday afternoon, and the Spurs will definitely need it if they hope to advance deep in the playoffs. On a team of players as unique as Wembanyama, raw, hungry, and talented like Castle and Harper, Fox in this case is what you would call the Mariano Rivera of basketball games. Hopefully, the Spurs’ very own Sandman can continue to be the closer they need.

Is it me or were there a lot of Spurs fans in Portland? What do y’all know that I don’t. Do they have good tacos up in the Pacific Northwest? Do they have Whataburger? I have never been and would like to one day. If they don’t have Whataburger that’s OK. I guess. I can always ship it to myself. Oh, I’m crazy for saying such a thing? I’m not the one who’s depriving the great people of the Northwest from delicious, greasy burgers, pal.

Devin Vassell continues be as constant as the northern star in this series, scoring 11 points on 5 – 9 shooting.

Luke Kornet. Do the pose again. Trademark it, make more t-shirts out of it. This is your moment, make more plays like that and fire up your fans. I’m ready to stan for my man the crocodile from Argyle (Texas).

Harrison Barnes didn’t want to feel left out, so he joined the slamma jamma pajamma party. That sounded better in my head so I think I’ll leave it, and let the corniness marinate a bit.

Do y’all get the sense Wembanyama is getting angrier and angrier the more games he’s playing (and exponentially in the playoffs?). If that’s what it takes, I say we do all the things that might make him angry: bend the spine of a book, perform an unprovoked Dunst Opening move in chess, call a server “garçon,” or putting Nutella on plain white bread.

I only watched these back-to-back alley oops from Castle to Wembanyama twice. No more, no less. Once because we all deserve a sliver of pure joy and happiness in our lives, and a second time because if you watch it more than two times, it dilutes the sliver of pure joy and happiness that you would receive by allowing yourself to watch these beautiful back-to-back alley oops.

If you missed the game because you were too busy deciding between Whataburger ketchup or Spicy Whataburger ketchup, here are the full-game highlights:

Next up, the Spurs will head back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

#1 – What Embiid changed in offense

With Joel Embiid back for the Sixers, the way Boston attacked was a little bit different, as the big man is the anchor of the defense. To start the game, they tried to stick to the hedge coverage they had used with Andre Drummond, but the lack of mobility (and conditioning?) from Joel turned this coverage into a problem for Philly.

The big man isn’t as quick as before, but the rim protection remains very efficient. That’s why Nurse tried to keep him in the paint as much as possible when the Celtics had the ball. Drop coverage was one way of doing it, but it opens pull-up opportunities. High risk, and sometimes high reward, like here with Jaylen Brown’s miss.

To keep Joel Embiid in a rim-protector position, the Sixers tried to reproduce what the Celtics do with a “roaming” role. They matched the big man with the least efficient shooter (here Jordan Walsh) so Embiid could roam in the paint and take away the rim from the Celtics.

However, Walsh’s shooting has improved enough that the Celtics trust him to punish that defensive game plan.

#2 – What Embiid changed in defense

On the other side of the floor, Embiid being back brought something that was lacking in the Sixers offense: gravity.

His presence created more gaps in the Celtics defense, but the Sixers didn’t really take advantage of it, with only 30 attempts from deep and not many catch-and-shoot opportunities created from post-up situations with Embiid.

His presence also created a lot more pressure at the rim for the Sixers, and they generated far more free throws than usual. Before that game, they were generating 14 free throws per 100 shots attempted; that number rose to 26 last night, largely due to Embiid’s skills.

Yet, that wasn’t enough to break the Celtics’ defensive shell, which allowed only 0.97 points per possession when the former MVP was on the floor.

#3 – Tatum passing

While the 2023 MVP didn’t have the impact his team expected, Jayson Tatum played like one, with 30 points, 11 assists, 75% true shooting, and 1.46 points per possession when he was on the floor.

What stood out was his passing, showing great patience and accurate reads to break the Sixers’ pressure. Here, for example, he doesn’t get caught despite having two big bodies on him, remains patient, and finds Nikola Vucevic on the short roll for a little hook.

There are little details that say a lot about a player’s ability to manipulate a defense and create offense. Here, he attacks the mismatch and spins, anticipating that Tyrese Maxey will help from his right. He gathers and recognizes that Baylor Scheierman is open. But when he passes the ball, his eyes are on Walsh, so Kelly Oubre freezes for a second—and when he realizes the pass went to number 55, it’s already too late.

Another impressive night as a creator and offensive engine from Jayson Tatum in these playoffs.

#4 – Payton eruption

While Tatum built the offense for the team, Payton Pritchard just went crazy and took away all hope from the Sixers with another eruption. After a slow start in the series with 31 points in the first three games, the former Sixth Man of the Year scored 32 points and carried the offense when Tatum needed a rest.

He took advantage of less aggressive coverage to drop a bomb against Philly when he recognized that the big man was in drop coverage.

When they switched, he used the spacing to let his speed, handle, and footwork speak for themselves, allowing him to find his spots in the paint with a soft touch.

He was very smart in identifying when the defense made mistakes and making the most of them. Here, the Sixers were supposed to switch, but George is late, allowing PP to drive, use his shoulder to dislodge his matchup, and finish at the rim in a crowded paint. Lethal.

And of course, as always, he knocked down a triple at the buzzer. The best in the business when it comes to closing a quarter.

#5 – Dominating the glass on both ends

The Celtics committed four more turnovers than the Sixers, and yet they attempted seven more shots and four more free throws. How?

Well, they absolutely dominated the glass on both ends. The Sixers were only able to grab six offensive rebounds from their 47 missed shots, while the Celtics generated 14 extra chances from their 45 misses.

The Celtics aren’t just dominating because they are more efficient—they are also winning the possession battle, leaving no chance for the Sixers to compete.

#6 – Finding the corners

The Celtics were a little better than usual at finding great looks in the corner last night, with more than 11% of their shots coming from those spots. That came from very smart floor spacing and great reads from the Celtics. Look at that gorgeous pass from Jaylen Brown to find Scheierman open in the corner—amazing timing, vision, and understanding from JB.

The high volume of corner shots also came from the Sixers’ willingness to stunt at the ball from the strong side. So the Celtics made sure to exploit that to create better shot quality.

They didn’t fall at their usual rate, but it was nice to see the Celtics using three-pointers as catch-and-shoot opportunities rather than forcing pull-ups from deep.

#7 – Creating open looks at the rim

The Sixers tried drop coverage, tested the hedge over and over, and even went to a couple of zone possessions—yet the Celtics’ efficiency at the rim was still outstanding.

With 80% efficiency at the rim and 25 free throws attempted per 100 shot attempts, Joe Mazzulla’s team delivered one of their best rim-attacking performances of the season.

#8 – The bench delivered

At halftime, the Celtics bench had scored 32 points, while the entire Sixers team was stuck at 38. Led by Payton Pritchard, the reserves stayed solid and provided exactly what the Celtics needed in those first 24 minutes to put the Sixers away.

Following the lead of the starters, they took care of the ball and were extremely aggressive on the offensive glass, leading to a lot of extra chances when they (rarely) missed.

The center rotation was impressive, with none of them playing more than 20 minutes, yet all showing different skill sets to help the Celtics build a diverse but solid game plan on both ends of the floor.

#9 – 124 to 86 in first quarters

We often say that games are won in the final minutes—and while that can be true, a point remains just a point, regardless of when it is scored. The Celtics had struggled a bit this season in the clutch, so they decided that the most important quarter wouldn’t be the last, but the first.

Through the first four games of the series, the Celtics are creating a gap of 9.5 points on average. Efficient from the jump, avoiding being caught off guard. Because in the playoffs, a win is a win, regardless of the margin. So they might as well remove any suspense early and take control from the start.

#10 – Triple screen

A little bit of fun to finish things out with a triple-drag action from the Celtics to attack Maxey’s screen navigation and Embiid’s lack of mobility.

On this play, Hauser sets the first screen and the Sixers switch. Then the second screen comes from Tatum, and he knows the Sixers don’t want to switch to protect Maxey from him. So George and Maxey stay matched up with their assignments. Then comes the third screen, where Queta rolls to the rim behind Embiid’s drop coverage.

Maxey is late on the play, Embiid is stuck between protecting the drive or the pass, and that leads to yet another open shot at the rim for the Celtics.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum arrived at the free-throw line with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter in Sunday night’s Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers. There, his seventh foul shot gave the C’s a 30-point lead and sparked a tide-turn at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

We want Boston! We want Boston!

Celtics fans who made the trip to Philadelphia followed the same script as in Game 1, co-opting the Sixers’ play-in tournament chant and using it as their own for the second time this series. For a moment, without looking into the stands or at the colors on the floor, it almost felt like Tatum and company weren’t in Philadelphia. Celtics fans had brought TD Garden to the City of Brotherly Love — something few fan bases in sports can do.

“It’s just another luxury,” Tatum told reporters after Boston’s 128-96 Game 4 win over Philadelphia, per CLNS Media. “Being a part of the most winningest franchise in NBA history, the amount of fans that we have, and how well they travel, is just something I’ve been fortunate enough to experience my entire career. You understand it’s not like that everywhere else. So it’s great to be a part of.”

The same way the Celtics seized their moment to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, Boston fans surrounded by Philadelphia’s rowdiest, relished their chance to taunt the Sixers right back. Seats previously occupied by fans sporting blue and red Sixers gear quickly became empty chairs, allowing those proudly wearing Celtics green to stand out. Nearly eight minutes after Tatum’s charity stripe trip that sparked the earlier roar, Boston fans did it again with 2:48 left in regulation.

We want Boston! We want Boston!

The chants returned for a second and final time, as the starters took a seat and the reserves took the floor. It was as if the Celtics barged through the Sixers’ door, kicked their feet up, and made themselves at home with little to no resistance.

Philadelphia threw in the towel, and Boston’s traveling crowd took notice. They made sure to remind the Sixers of what awaits them Tuesday night back at TD Garden.

Jaylen Brown credited the fan base as an off-court contributor to the team’s performance.

“It’s great for us,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I think momentum and energy all add up to be able to sway things into your favor or not. So just being able to have a Celtics fan base that’s great, that travels well, that gives us that energy even when we’re on the road, is very helpful.”

Brown pushed for urgency in Boston’s locker room, revealing that the Celtics held a brief discussion before Game 3 after losing home-court advantage in Game 2. The message — to treat Game 3 like Game 7 — was simple, but it resonated. From that point on, the Celtics didn’t succumb to comfort. They didn’t play with their food. They made adjustments, flipped the script on Philadelphia, and took back control of the series. On Sunday, that energy shift carried from the court to the stands and helped Boston rob Philadelphia of its home-court advantage.

In the first quarter, the Celtics made it clear they weren’t going back to Boston without a 3-1 lead.

Payton Pritchard set the tone, scoring 13 points off the bench in the opening frame. Then in the second quarter, while continuing to power Boston’s second unit, the Celtics’ reserves matched Philadelphia’s total output with 32 points of their own. In the final seconds of the first half, the Sixers double-teamed and fouled Pritchard before he could get a shot off, and right before the clock hit zero.

Instead, the buzzer-beating maestro finished with a game-high 32 points, leaving him just four shy of breaking Kevin McHale’s franchise playoff record for most points scored by a Celtics reserve in a game (35).

“It’s a pride thing, representing the city of Boston,” Pritchard told reporters, per CLNS Media. “So we play with that pride, and it’s a hard-nosed city, so we want to carry that.”

The Celtics were so locked in that they broke a franchise playoff record by knocking down 24 threes — falling only two shy of the NBA record set by the Cleveland Cavaliers (25) in 2016.

A total of 10 different Celtics contributed at least one 3-pointer as the team shot 45.3 percent from deep for the night. Finding the hot hand from beyond the arc and playing Mazzulla-ball helped separate Boston from Philadelphia. It allowed the Celtics to build multiple double-digit leads that stretched beyond 20 points several times from the second quarter on, before reaching 32 at the final buzzer.

Boston understood that with Joel Embiid back on the floor for Philadelphia, it was time to up the intensity and make the contest as difficult for the Sixers as possible.

“That was huge,” Tatum said. “Especially that three, four-minute spurt in the first quarter. (Nikola) Vooch, Baylor (Scheierman) and J. Walsh, when those guys came in, that run that we went on at the end of the first was huge. And we just continued to carry that throughout. Obviously, the game is easier when you hit shots, but it was just how we got those shots: second and third-chance opportunities. It’s just a big boost for your team when you get those opportunities.”

By the time the Celtics had grabbed their eighth offensive rebound, the Sixers hadn’t recorded their first. By the time the Celtics reached 10 second-chance points, the Sixers were still scoreless in that category. Boston attacked those margins the best way they’ve known how since the start of the season back in October: through a collective team effort.

“That’s Celtic basketball: to play harder, play with more effort, play together, more togetherness, trust each other, and that’s what we did tonight,” Brown said.

Boston became the first team in the Eastern Conference to take a 3-1 series lead and can become the first to punch their ticket and advance to the semifinals. After leaving TD Garden with the series split through the first two games, the Celtics return home for a potential Game 5 clincher Tuesday night, having made up for their Game 2 hiccup with a successful two-game road trip.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
Date: April 27th, 2026
Time: 9:30 PM CDT
Location: Ball Arena
Television Coverage: NBC, Peacock

Before we get to Game 5, the elimination stakes, the wounded Nuggets, and the suddenly very real possibility that Minnesota could end this thing in Denver again, we need to start with Donte DiVincenzo.

Those 79 seconds of Game 4 were certainly the lasat of his season, and given the time it takes to recover from an achilles tear, his contract situation, and the unforgiving NBA aprons, it’s very possible they were his last in a Timberwolves uniform. It’s worth pausing for a second and appreciating what he has meant to this team since arriving before the 2024-25 season.

Since arriving in Minnesota before the 2024-25 season, DiVincenzo has been exactly the kind of player every serious team needs. He’s been one of the hardest-working, scrappiest, most competitive players on the roster. On a team that has spent large chunks of this season having its effort questioned, Donte was never one of the guys you worried about.

Loose ball? He was diving. Extra rotation? He was making it. Broken nose? He was playing through it. Unfortunately, an Achilles tear is not the kind of thing you just slap a mask on and play through. DiVincenzo underwent surgery Sunday afternoon and now begins the long recovery process. It’s a brutal break for a player who has given this franchise so much toughness, and for a Wolves team that could use every ounce of his fire as it tries to finish off Denver.

The same goes for Anthony Edwards, who is now dealing with a second knee injury after clearly gutting his way through the first three-and-a-half games of this series. There’s no questioning Ant’s toughness. You could see him fighting through pain, trying to summon the explosiveness that usually defines him, trying to be the guy this team has leaned on for two straight postseason runs. But he wasn’t himself, and unfortunately, pushing through one issue may have helped lead to another.

The timeline for Edwards’ return remains uncertain, but you know it is killing him that he won’t be on the floor Monday night with a chance to end Denver’s season. That is the kind of stage he lives for. The kind of moment where his competitive wiring usually takes over and turns a playoff game into his personal superhero audition tape. Instead, he has to watch and hope his teammates can keep doing what they’ve somehow managed to do lately: pick up the slack, carry the burden collectively, and give him a chance to rest for whatever comes next.

So yes, there’s a somber cloud hanging over this team even after one of its most satisfying wins of the season. Two starting backcourt pieces down. One of them done for the year. One of them uncertain.

But here’s the thing about Game 4: the Wolves did not look like a team asking for pity.

They looked like a team that had found something.

It was obvious from the jump that Game 4 wasn’t going to be the start-to-finish demolition that Game 3 became. Denver is too good, too proud, and too experienced to simply roll over because Minnesota punched it in the mouth once. The Nuggets were always going to respond. Nikola Jokic was always going to push back (we’ll get to that in a minute…). A former champion does not usually go quietly into the night just because Target Center got loud and Jaden McDaniels started taking up space in everyone’s head.

But to Minnesota’s credit, it did not get high on its own supply. The Wolves came out in Game 4 with the same defensive intensity, the same physical edge, and the same willingness to make Denver uncomfortable. For the second straight game, the Nuggets failed to crack 100 points. In an NBA where everybody scores 120 by accident, Minnesota has turned one of the league’s smartest, most dangerous offenses into a team searching for loose change between couch cushions.

And then came Ayo Dosunmu. What else can you even say about that performance? Forty-three points. Five-for-five from three. Constant rim pressure. Transition bursts. Confidence dripping off every touch. A masterclass from a player who was asked to step into a void left by Edwards and DiVincenzo and responded by authoring one of the most stunning bench performances in NBA playoff history.

Now, let’s be realistic for one second: 43 points from Ayo is not something you can just pencil in again. If your Game 5 strategy is “Ayo turns into playoff Steph Curry with downhill burst,” that’s probably not the soundest plan. But what made the performance so encouraging is that it did not feel fake. He did not play outside himself. He did not hijack the offense. He did not stumble into a bunch of absurd, unsustainable nonsense. He played his game of fast, aggressive, decisive, efficient basketball and simply got enough touches, minutes, and opportunity for the whole world to see what Wolves fans have been watching in flashes since he arrived.

Even if the 43-point explosion was the outlier, the player underneath it is real. The pace, the rim pressure, the three-point accuracy is real, and the confidence is real. With Edwards and DiVincenzo unavailable, the Wolves need every bit of that to survive this series and maybe, somehow, extend this playoff run into something bigger.

But as electric as Ayo was, the foundation remained the same: Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels turning Denver’s two best players into frustrated problem-solvers.

Gobert has been magnificent. Not just good. Magnificent. He has neutralized Jokic in ways we almost never see. Rudy has made him work. He has made him feel size, length, resistance, fatigue, and the constant presence of someone who has fully embraced the biggest defensive assignment of the playoffs.

McDaniels has been every bit as important on Murray. He has hounded him, smothered him, picked him up full court, and made every dribble feel contested. That is what McDaniels can do when he’s fully engaged, and right now he is not just engaged, he is thriving in the villain role Denver seems desperate to cast him in.

The recipe has become clear. Attack the rim. Push the pace. Turn defensive stops into transition chances. Make Jokic and Murray run until the legs start to go. Then clamp down defensively, with Gobert owning the paint and McDaniels crawling inside Murray’s jersey.

That is what Minnesota did in Game 4. That is why the Wolves now lead 3-1. And that is why, even without Edwards and DiVincenzo, there should not be one person in that locker room who believes this cannot be finished Monday night.

Which brings us to the end-of-game chaos…

If you watched the final seconds, and if you’re reading this, let’s be honest, of course you watched the final seconds, you knew what was coming the second Mike Conley tipped that ball ahead to a wide-open Jaden McDaniels.

Jaden was going to score.

There was no universe where he was dribbling that out. Not after the way this series has unfolded. Not after his comments following Game 2 about Denver’s defenders. Not after spending four games buying up real estate inside the Nuggets’ collective brain like he was flipping mental duplexes. With the Wolves about to go up 3-1, with Denver already simmering, McDaniels putting two more points on the board was not just a layup. It was a cherry on top of Denver’s turd sundae.

Jokic did not appreciate the garnish.

He sprinted the length of the floor to confront McDaniels and shoved him toward the Wolves bench. Chaos followed. Julius Randle rushed in aggressively to defend his teammate. There were forceful arm movements, a lot of bodies, a lot of barking, and just enough uncertainty to leave everyone waiting on the league office. Jonas Valanciunas and Aaron Gordon appeared to leave Denver’s bench area to enter the scuffle, which by the strict letter of the law could carry consequences. Jokic, of course, was the one who initiated the whole thing by charging across the floor to start the confrontation in the first place.

And now we wait.

Hopefully, common sense wins. No one appeared to be hurt. This was mostly smoke. The last thing this series needs is more rotation players removed from the equation, especially with DiVincenzo already out, Edwards injured, and Gordon clearly hobbled. This might be the best rivalry in the league right now. Let it breathe. Let it play out. Let the players settle it in Game 5.

Of course, Wolves fans know how these things tend to go. If there is an opportunity for the league to turn the screws on Minnesota, history suggests the screwdriver will at least be removed from the toolbox. Suspending Randle would be weak given that Jokic clearly instigated the incident. But this is the NBA, and logic does not always get the final possession.

Either way, the situation now is brutally simple. Minnesota is one win away from ending Denver’s season. One win away from eliminating the best player on the planet. One win away from finishing off its biggest rival, in Denver, for the second time in three postseasons.

And with that, here are the keys to Game 5.

1. Defense Has to Remain the Anchor

This entire series has changed because Minnesota found the formula defensively.

It starts with Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, the two players who have become Denver’s personal haunted house. Rudy has embraced the Jokic challenge in a way that should end any lingering doubt about his importance to this roster. What Rudy can do is make Jokic work. Make him finish through length. Make him think twice near the rim. Make him spend 48 minutes dealing with a defender who has decided this matchup is personal.

That version of Rudy changes everything.

And Jaden? Jaden has turned Jamal Murray into a man searching for clean oxygen. The full-court pressure, the length, the constant harassment, and the refusal to give him comfortable touches has worn Murray down possession by possession, quarter by quarter. Murray can still hit tough shots, but the Wolves have made him work for every inch, and by the end of these games he has looked like someone who just finished running a marathon while being chased by a very angry spider.

That has to continue. The Wolves cannot let Jokic and Murray breathe life back into this series. They cannot let Denver’s supporting cast get comfortable because the primary actions are generating clean looks. The defensive standard has been set. It has to travel back to Denver.

If Gobert and McDaniels continue to win their battles, the Nuggets simply may do have enough scoring punch to survive, especially with Aaron Gordon hobbled and the rest of the roster looking increasingly unreliable under pressure.

The Wolves don’t need a pretty game.

They need a suffocating one.

2. Keep Running Until Denver’s Legs Give Out

The Wolves have found another pressure point, and it’s not complicated: run Denver into the ground.

The Nuggets are not as deep. They are not as young. They do not have the same supply of fresh legs. And because their offense leans so heavily on Jokic and Murray, the minutes add up.

Minnesota has to make this game feel long. Every defensive rebound should be an invitation to push. Every Denver miss should become a footrace. Every turnover should turn into a sprint the other way. Make Denver’s thin rotation feel every second of the altitude that is supposed to be their advantage.

This is where missing DiVincenzo hurts, because he is one of the guys who naturally plays with that kind of force and chaos. But Minnesota still has enough. Ayo Dosunmu can push. Bones Hyland can fly. Terrence Shannon Jr. can attack. Jaden can run lanes. Even Mike Conley, in a smaller role, can make the right pass to trigger the break.

The Wolves cannot let this become a slow, comfortable, half-court Jokic clinic. That is where Denver regains control.

Make it fast. Make it exhausting. Make it uncomfortable.

And when the fourth quarter arrives, make Denver feel like it has already played five.

3. Attack the Rim Before Falling in Love With the Three

For most of the season, the Wolves lived and died by the three-point line. This series has shifted the equation.

Minnesota’s best offense has not come from launching threes first. It has come from putting pressure on the rim, forcing Denver to collapse, and then letting the perimeter game open naturally from there. That has to remain the offensive identity in Game 5. The Wolves need to collectively generate paint pressure and make Denver’s weak rim protection prove it can hold up for 48 minutes.

That does not mean ignoring the three. Far from it. The threes are going to matter, especially without Donte and Ant spacing the floor. But the threes need to come after the defense bends. Drive first, kick second. Collapse first, punish second.

Denver wants Minnesota to settle. Minnesota has to refuse.

If the Wolves win the points in the paint battle and keep generating high-efficiency looks around the rim, they can survive even without a volcanic three-point night. If they also hit a respectable percentage from deep? That is when this series ends.

4. Maintain Composure

The Nuggets are on the verge of snapping. We already saw the first cracks.

Jaden is in their heads. Rudy is frustrating them. The Wolves’ pace is wearing them down. Their defense is choking off Denver’s preferred actions. And now the defending champs are one loss away from going home.

That is when desperate teams start looking for emotional edges.

Expect the chippiness. Expect the foul baiting. Expect the flopping. Expect the extra shoulder after the whistle, the “accidental” contact, the verbal jabs, the crowd feeding into every complaint, and the officials being put in positions where the Wolves have to decide whether they want to play basketball or argue about injustice.

They have to choose basketball.

That does not mean backing down. Actually, it means the opposite. Minnesota has to be physical, mean, aggressive, and relentless, but under control. No stupid technicals. No retaliation that gives Denver free points. No letting Jokic, Murray, or anyone else turn this into a whistle-and-emotions game.

The Wolves have been the better team for three straight games because they have imposed their style. They cannot give that away by chasing the drama.

Let Denver be the team that unravels.

5. Put Down the Kill Shot

This is the moment.

There is no gentle way to say it. The Wolves have the Nuggets wounded. They have Denver down 3-1. They have the formula. They have the defensive answers. They have proven they can win without peak Edwards and, in Game 4, without their starting backcourt carrying the offense. They have taken Denver’s best punch, adjusted, punched back, and now they are standing over the Nuggets with a chance to end it.

You do not mess around with opportunities like this.

Because if Denver wins Game 5, this series changes. Suddenly it is 3-2 and Game 6 becomes a pressure cooker. Suddenly the Nuggets start believing in the old “one game at a time” mantra that every dangerous team convinces itself of when it is trying to crawl out of a grave.

Minnesota cannot allow that. This has to be a full-team effort. Ayo does not need to score 43 again, because expecting that would be insane. But he has to be confident and aggressive. Randle has to be forceful without being reckless. Jaden has to keep defending like a man who enjoys ruining evenings. Rudy has to keep anchoring everything. Naz has to bring the bench punch. Bones has to supply a few scoring bursts. Shannon has to be ready. Conley has to steady the ship if needed. Kyle Anderson has to glue possessions together. Every available player has to give Minnesota something.

This is not about one guy saving them.

This is about the pack finishing the hunt.

Finish It

The Wolves have Denver exactly where they want them.

They are one win away from ending the season of their biggest rival. One win away from eliminating the best player on the planet. One win away from proving, once again, that this roster was built for this matchup and that Minnesota is not just some annoying playoff obstacle for Denver, it is the problem Denver cannot solve.

But the hardest win in a series is often the closing one. Especially against a team with pride. Especially against a team with Jokic. Especially in Denver. Especially after a game that ended with tempers flaring and everyone in that building ready to treat Game 5 like a street fight with a scoreboard.

Let it be hard.

This is the playoffs. This is the rivalry. This is what they asked for.

The Wolves do not need to be perfect. They need to be connected, physical, fast, and composed. They need to be hungry enough to understand that giving Denver one more breath is the most dangerous thing they can do.

End it now.

End it in their building.

End it the same way they did two years ago, with the Nuggets staring around in disbelief and the Wolves walking off the floor knowing they took something.

The hunt has been long.

The prey is wounded.

Now comes the finish.

After a resounding 114-98 win against the Hawks on Saturday in Atlanta, the Knicks regained homecourt advantage in their first-round playoff series. That wasn’t the only thing. 

The Knicks rediscovered their mojo after two close losses. After notable performances from Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart, New York has a chance to take a 3-2 series lead on Tuesday night.

Here are three keys ahead of Game 5 at Madison Square Garden...

Point KAT

It’s been a season of push-and-pull between head coach Mike Brown and Towns. 

The All-Star has slowly become more acclimated to a role where he is more of an offensive hub with the power to score and facilitate. Towns had the first playoff triple-double of his career in Game 4, notching 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Towns has also been more under control over the last few months -- he had just two turnovers on Saturday.

It was clear from the jump that the Knicks wanted to emphasize Towns as an initiator of the offense, and he excelled. New York found comfort in repeatedly having the big man with the ball at the top of the key, and Anunoby making a lex cut off a screen from Jalen Brunson. Since Atlanta was looking to prevent Jalen Johnson from switching onto Brunson, it opened up several easy passes for Towns to make for Anunoby at the rim.

The trouble with performances like these is consistency. Can the Knicks continue to operate the offense through Towns on Tuesday night? Or will they revert to a bogged down offense? 

Going into Game 5, the Knicks should continue running the offense through Towns. As we saw on Saturday, he doesn’t need to score on every play, but the attention he draws should continue to open up opportunities for his teammates. 

Halfcourt series

When this series has been played in the halfcourt, the Knicks have the advantage.

After giving up 20 fast break points in Game 3, New York held the Hawks to just seven in Game 4. Many of those quick strike opportunities came after the game was in hand. One of the keys to controlling the pace comes from mitigating turnovers.

New York had 10 turnovers through the third quarter in Game 4. Four of the turnovers were live-ball miscues, limiting opportunities for the Hawks to run out. Also, in some of the live-ball turnovers, New York did a good job of getting back to limit easy scoring opportunities.

One concern has been Brunson’s struggles with full court pressure. Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels gave the Knicks captain fits as he brought the ball up in Game 4. Brunson finished the night with six turnovers, as the Knicks made more of a concerted effort to have Hart bring the ball up.

If New York can keep Atlanta in the halfcourt, the team should have control of this series the rest of the way.

Scoring leap

Anunoby has been New York’s most consistent player in the postseason. Through four games, the Knicks forward is averaging 20.8 points on 56 percent from the field and 8.8 rebounds. It’s arguably the best stretch of the nine-year veteran’s career.

Anunoby has made an impact on both ends, making him a must-have on the court. He played a game-high 40 minutes on Saturday, scoring 22 points and collecting 10 rebounds.

Defensively, he’s been the defensive force that the Knicks have come to expect every night. With Hart moving over to guard CJ McCollum more often, we’ve seen an increased amount of Anunoby defending Johnson.

That two-way play has been successful. In 152 minutes with Anunoby on the court during the first round, New York has a net rating of plus-6.7, per NBA Stats. When he has been off the floor, the Knicks have been outscored by 1.2 points per 100 possessions.

Amid Mikal Bridges' struggles and subsequent decrease in playing time in the series, Anunoby’s continued production on both ends has been paramount to picking up wins.