Knicks Stun 76ers In Philly
By Dan Bruno
The New York Knicks defeated the host Philadelphia 76ers, 97-92, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday afternoon.
After a slow first quarter, the Knicks took control of the momentum and held on to grab a commanding, 3-1, series lead. The 76ers got out to a strong start and led by 10 points after one quarter. The visitors brought a better effort in the second and rallied to cut it down to a two-point game heading into the break. The Sixers jumped back in front to start the third, but the Knicks kept it close and made a push for a one-point edge entering the final frame. The Knicks kept the momentum going in the fourth and stayed a step ahead the rest of the way for the road win.
Jalen Brunson delivered another incredible performance to lead the way in the win, with 47 points, four rebounds, 10 assists and a block, in 44 minutes. OG Anunoby followed up with 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, while Miles McBride was the only other Knicks player to score in double figures, with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting off the bench.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks, in 44 minutes. Tyrese Maxey followed up with 23 points, six rebounds, six assists and a steal, while Kelly Oubre added 19 points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday in New York.
After a slow first quarter, the Knicks took control of the momentum and held on to grab a commanding, 3-1, series lead. The 76ers got out to a strong start and led by 10 points after one quarter. The visitors brought a better effort in the second and rallied to cut it down to a two-point game heading into the break. The Sixers jumped back in front to start the third, but the Knicks kept it close and made a push for a one-point edge entering the final frame. The Knicks kept the momentum going in the fourth and stayed a step ahead the rest of the way for the road win.
Jalen Brunson delivered another incredible performance to lead the way in the win, with 47 points, four rebounds, 10 assists and a block, in 44 minutes. OG Anunoby followed up with 16 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, while Miles McBride was the only other Knicks player to score in double figures, with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting off the bench.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid led the 76ers with 27 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks, in 44 minutes. Tyrese Maxey followed up with 23 points, six rebounds, six assists and a steal, while Kelly Oubre added 19 points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday in New York.
Clippers Outlast Mavericks, 116-111
The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 116-111, at American Airlines Center on Sunday afternoon in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal-round series. The series is tied 2-2.
The Clippers (2-2) received some disconcerting news prior to tipoff, as they learned Kawhi Leonard would not only miss Sunday's contest, but had no firm timetable for return. Nevertheless, the visitors seemed to take embrace the adversity early, roaring out to a 39-16 lead through one. The Mavericks (2-2) woke up offensively in the second while compiling 33 points, but they only made a six-point dent in their deficit. Dallas then knocked off another 13 points during a dominant third period that closely paralleled the opening period they'd been subjected to, and hosts eventually clawed all the way back to take a one-point lead with 2:15 remaining. However, the Clippers fought back with a 12-6 run over the final 1:55 to escape with the much-needed win.
James Harden and Paul George co-led the Clippers with matching 33-point, six-rebound, one-block efforts while dishing out seven and eight assists, respectively. George added four steals. Ivica Zubac furnished 13 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Terance Mann totaled 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Norman Powell matched Mann's scoring and added one steal.
Kyrie Irving paced the Mavericks with 40 points, complementing them with seven rebounds and five assists. Luka Doncic generated a 29-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included one block. Derrick Jones Jr. provided 14 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. P.J. Washington supplied 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal.
The series now shifts back to Los Angeles, where the the two teams will play Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night.
The Clippers (2-2) received some disconcerting news prior to tipoff, as they learned Kawhi Leonard would not only miss Sunday's contest, but had no firm timetable for return. Nevertheless, the visitors seemed to take embrace the adversity early, roaring out to a 39-16 lead through one. The Mavericks (2-2) woke up offensively in the second while compiling 33 points, but they only made a six-point dent in their deficit. Dallas then knocked off another 13 points during a dominant third period that closely paralleled the opening period they'd been subjected to, and hosts eventually clawed all the way back to take a one-point lead with 2:15 remaining. However, the Clippers fought back with a 12-6 run over the final 1:55 to escape with the much-needed win.
James Harden and Paul George co-led the Clippers with matching 33-point, six-rebound, one-block efforts while dishing out seven and eight assists, respectively. George added four steals. Ivica Zubac furnished 13 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Terance Mann totaled 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Norman Powell matched Mann's scoring and added one steal.
Kyrie Irving paced the Mavericks with 40 points, complementing them with seven rebounds and five assists. Luka Doncic generated a 29-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double that included one block. Derrick Jones Jr. provided 14 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. P.J. Washington supplied 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal.
The series now shifts back to Los Angeles, where the the two teams will play Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday night.
Pacers take down short-handed Bucks on Sunday
The Indiana Pacers took care of the Milwaukee Bucks, 126-113, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs at GainBridge Fieldhouse on Sunday evening. With the win, the Pacers lead the series 3-1.
It was always going to be an uphill battle for the Bucks (1-3), as they were without the superstar duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) for Game 4. They lost another contributor early after Bobby Portis was ejected in the first quarter following an altercation with Andrew Nembhard. It was a close affair in the first half, with the Pacers (3-1) entering halftime with a three-point lead. Indiana put the pedal to the medal after the break, dominating on both ends of the floor in the third quarter to extend their lead to double digits. While the Bucks were able to cut the deficit to single digits early in the fourth quarter, they were missing the fire power of Antetokounmpo and Lillard as Milwaukee faded down the stretch. With the Pacers leading by as much as 19 points late in the game, both teams opted to empty their benches over the final minutes of the contest.
Brook Lopez led the Bucks 27 points and nine rebounds. Khris Middleton registered a double-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Malik Beasley supplied 20 points, three rebounds and two assists. Patrick Beverly chipped in nine points and four assists, while AJ Green led the bench with eight points and three rebounds. Milwaukee shot 51.1 percent from the field, including 12-for-33 from three.
The Pacers were led by Myles Turner, who recorded 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Tyrese Haliburton tallied 24 points, four rebounds and four assists. Nembhard contributed 15 points, three rebounds and nine assists. Obi Toppin led the bench with 13 points and two rebounds, while Pascal Siakam had an all-around game with 13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Indiana shot 51.7 percent from the field and went 22-for-43 from beyond the arc.
The Pacers have a chance to clinch the series in Milwaukee in Game 5 at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, April 30.
It was always going to be an uphill battle for the Bucks (1-3), as they were without the superstar duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) for Game 4. They lost another contributor early after Bobby Portis was ejected in the first quarter following an altercation with Andrew Nembhard. It was a close affair in the first half, with the Pacers (3-1) entering halftime with a three-point lead. Indiana put the pedal to the medal after the break, dominating on both ends of the floor in the third quarter to extend their lead to double digits. While the Bucks were able to cut the deficit to single digits early in the fourth quarter, they were missing the fire power of Antetokounmpo and Lillard as Milwaukee faded down the stretch. With the Pacers leading by as much as 19 points late in the game, both teams opted to empty their benches over the final minutes of the contest.
Brook Lopez led the Bucks 27 points and nine rebounds. Khris Middleton registered a double-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Malik Beasley supplied 20 points, three rebounds and two assists. Patrick Beverly chipped in nine points and four assists, while AJ Green led the bench with eight points and three rebounds. Milwaukee shot 51.1 percent from the field, including 12-for-33 from three.
The Pacers were led by Myles Turner, who recorded 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Tyrese Haliburton tallied 24 points, four rebounds and four assists. Nembhard contributed 15 points, three rebounds and nine assists. Obi Toppin led the bench with 13 points and two rebounds, while Pascal Siakam had an all-around game with 13 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Indiana shot 51.7 percent from the field and went 22-for-43 from beyond the arc.
The Pacers have a chance to clinch the series in Milwaukee in Game 5 at Fiserv Forum on Tuesday, April 30.
T'Wolves Defeat Suns, 122-116, Complete Sweep
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the host Phoenix Suns, 122-116, in Game 4 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at Footprint Center on Sunday.
Minnesota wins this series, 4-0. They will play the winner of the Denver-Los Angeles series, with the Nuggets leading, 3-1.
There were 21 ties and 23 lead changes in this tightly contested game, with neither team leading by more than six points. That was Minnesota in the fourth quarter, riding a 66-55 second half to their victory. The Timberwolves shot 42 percent from three-point range (15-of-36), while Phoenix shot 39 percent (10-of-26). Minnesota also out-rebounded Phoenix, 55-41, while out-assisting them, 23-20.
The Timberwolves (4-0) were led by Anthony Edwards, finishing with 40 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 28 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Jaden McDaniels had 18 points and three boards, while Mike Conley collected 10 points, four rebounds and seven assists.
The Suns (0-4) were led by Devin Booker, totaling 49 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Kevin Durant had 33 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks on 12-of-17 shooting. No other player scored double figures in scoring. Bradley Beal amassed nine points and two assists, while Royce O'Neale registered six points and six rebounds.
Minnesota wins this series, 4-0. They will play the winner of the Denver-Los Angeles series, with the Nuggets leading, 3-1.
There were 21 ties and 23 lead changes in this tightly contested game, with neither team leading by more than six points. That was Minnesota in the fourth quarter, riding a 66-55 second half to their victory. The Timberwolves shot 42 percent from three-point range (15-of-36), while Phoenix shot 39 percent (10-of-26). Minnesota also out-rebounded Phoenix, 55-41, while out-assisting them, 23-20.
The Timberwolves (4-0) were led by Anthony Edwards, finishing with 40 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two blocks. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 28 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Jaden McDaniels had 18 points and three boards, while Mike Conley collected 10 points, four rebounds and seven assists.
The Suns (0-4) were led by Devin Booker, totaling 49 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Kevin Durant had 33 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks on 12-of-17 shooting. No other player scored double figures in scoring. Bradley Beal amassed nine points and two assists, while Royce O'Neale registered six points and six rebounds.