Knicks Surge Late, Get Past Cavaliers
The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 102-93, at Madison Square Garden in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Sunday. The Knicks now lead the series 3-1.
The Knicks continue to play exceptionally well and showed efficiency on both ends of the court to increase their series lead against the Cavaliers. Thanks to this win, the Knicks are only one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals just for the second time in the last 22 years. New York got off to an excellent start here and raced out to a 30-23 lead in the first quarter, an advantage they’d increase to nine points after a 24-22 score in the second quarter. The Cavaliers played with a bigger sense of urgency in the third quarter and reduced the deficit to just two points after a 26-19 score, and they even tied the game with less than 10 minutes left. However, the Knicks would up the tempo, and the Cavaliers couldn’t respond. New York won the fourth quarter by a 29-22 score, and now they hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Game 5 will be played Wednesday at Cleveland.
Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks with 29 points, six rebounds and six assists across 43 minutes. RJ Barrett had 26 points. Josh Hart posted 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Julius Randle had a subpar performance and finished with seven points and two boards while shooting 3-for-10 from the field. Mitchell Robinson notched a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. The big man also recorded two blocks.
Darius Garland led the way for the Cavaliers with 23 points, 10 assists and two rebounds. Caris LeVert posted 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Donovan Mitchell finished with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. Mitchell also shot 5-for-18 from the field. Jarrett Allen delivered 14 points and four boards. Evan Mobley recorded 12 points, seven boards and two blocks before fouling out.
The Knicks continue to play exceptionally well and showed efficiency on both ends of the court to increase their series lead against the Cavaliers. Thanks to this win, the Knicks are only one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals just for the second time in the last 22 years. New York got off to an excellent start here and raced out to a 30-23 lead in the first quarter, an advantage they’d increase to nine points after a 24-22 score in the second quarter. The Cavaliers played with a bigger sense of urgency in the third quarter and reduced the deficit to just two points after a 26-19 score, and they even tied the game with less than 10 minutes left. However, the Knicks would up the tempo, and the Cavaliers couldn’t respond. New York won the fourth quarter by a 29-22 score, and now they hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Game 5 will be played Wednesday at Cleveland.
Jalen Brunson led the way for the Knicks with 29 points, six rebounds and six assists across 43 minutes. RJ Barrett had 26 points. Josh Hart posted 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Julius Randle had a subpar performance and finished with seven points and two boards while shooting 3-for-10 from the field. Mitchell Robinson notched a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. The big man also recorded two blocks.
Darius Garland led the way for the Cavaliers with 23 points, 10 assists and two rebounds. Caris LeVert posted 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Donovan Mitchell finished with 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. Mitchell also shot 5-for-18 from the field. Jarrett Allen delivered 14 points and four boards. Evan Mobley recorded 12 points, seven boards and two blocks before fouling out.
Warriors Defeat Kings in Game 4, 126-125. Series Tied at 2-2
The Golden State Warriors defeated the visiting Sacramento Kings, 126-125, in Game 4 of the Western Conference First-Round Playoffs at Chase Center on Sunday.
This series is tied 2-2
There were 10 ties and 19 lead changes in this tightly contested game, with neither team leading by more than 10 points. Golden State rode a 37-23 third quarter to their win, holding the lead for 17 of the final 18 minutes of this game. Sacramento made things close behind a 33-24 fourth quarter but missed a game-winning three at the buzzer. Golden State shot 50 percent from the field while holding Sacramento to 47 percent shooting. The Warriors also out-assisted the Kings, 31-25.
The Kings (2-2) were led by De'Aaron Fox, finishing with 38 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Keegan Murray amassed 23 points and seven rebounds. Domantas Sabonis collected 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two blocks. Malik Monk led the bench with 16 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals.
The Warriors (2-2) were led by Stephen Curry, tallying 32 points, five rebounds and four assists. Klay Thompson totaled 26 points, two rebounds and three assists. Jordan Poole had 22 points, two rebounds and four assists, while Andrew Wiggins accrued 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and four blocks. Kevon Looney generated eight points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Draymond Green led the bench with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Game 5 will be on Wednesday in Sacramento.
This series is tied 2-2
There were 10 ties and 19 lead changes in this tightly contested game, with neither team leading by more than 10 points. Golden State rode a 37-23 third quarter to their win, holding the lead for 17 of the final 18 minutes of this game. Sacramento made things close behind a 33-24 fourth quarter but missed a game-winning three at the buzzer. Golden State shot 50 percent from the field while holding Sacramento to 47 percent shooting. The Warriors also out-assisted the Kings, 31-25.
The Kings (2-2) were led by De'Aaron Fox, finishing with 38 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Keegan Murray amassed 23 points and seven rebounds. Domantas Sabonis collected 14 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and two blocks. Malik Monk led the bench with 16 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals.
The Warriors (2-2) were led by Stephen Curry, tallying 32 points, five rebounds and four assists. Klay Thompson totaled 26 points, two rebounds and three assists. Jordan Poole had 22 points, two rebounds and four assists, while Andrew Wiggins accrued 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and four blocks. Kevon Looney generated eight points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Draymond Green led the bench with 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Game 5 will be on Wednesday in Sacramento.
Celtics Come Out On Top In Atlanta
By Dan Bruno
The Boston Celtics defeated the host Atlanta Hawks, 129-121, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First-Round Playoffs at State Farm Arena on Sunday.
The Celtics got out to a strong start with a, 35-25, lead after one quarter and maintained the upper hand in the second, pushing it to a 12-point game by halftime. The Hawks brought a better effort in the third and outscored the visitors, 34-27, to cut the deficit down to five, heading into the final frame. Both sides kept up the tempo in the fourth, but the Celtics stayed in front and closed out the road win to take a 3-1 series lead.
Jayson Tatum totaled 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks, while Jaylen Brown added 31 points, four rebounds and three assists to lead the Celtics. Marcus Smart tallied 19 points, four rebounds and four assists. The Celtics shot 51.7 percent from the field, including 16-of-40 from long range.
Meanwhile, Trae Young led the Hawks with 35 points, three rebounds, 15 assists and two steals, in 41 minutes. De'Andre Hunter followed up with 27 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block, while Dejounte Murray totaled 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block. The Hawks shot 43.9 percent from the field, including 14-of-37 from deep.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday back in Boston.
The Celtics got out to a strong start with a, 35-25, lead after one quarter and maintained the upper hand in the second, pushing it to a 12-point game by halftime. The Hawks brought a better effort in the third and outscored the visitors, 34-27, to cut the deficit down to five, heading into the final frame. Both sides kept up the tempo in the fourth, but the Celtics stayed in front and closed out the road win to take a 3-1 series lead.
Jayson Tatum totaled 31 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks, while Jaylen Brown added 31 points, four rebounds and three assists to lead the Celtics. Marcus Smart tallied 19 points, four rebounds and four assists. The Celtics shot 51.7 percent from the field, including 16-of-40 from long range.
Meanwhile, Trae Young led the Hawks with 35 points, three rebounds, 15 assists and two steals, in 41 minutes. De'Andre Hunter followed up with 27 points, seven rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block, while Dejounte Murray totaled 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block. The Hawks shot 43.9 percent from the field, including 14-of-37 from deep.
Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday back in Boston.
Timberwolves Edge Nuggets in OT, 114-108
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 114-108, in overtime at Target Center on Sunday night in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinal-round series. The Nuggets lead the series, 3-1.
The Nuggets (3-1) had erased an early one-point deficit to take a four-point advantage into halftime, but the Timberwolves (1-3) regained their edge in the third quarter and owned a 12-point lead as late as the 2:50 mark of the fourth quarter before Denver's 12-0 run forced overtime. However, Minnesota atoned during the extra period, racking up an impressive 18 points, with Anthony Edwards' clutch 26-footer with 11.1 seconds remaining sealing the series-saving victory for the hosts.
Nikola Jokic led the way with a 43-point, 11-rebound double-double that included six assists and two steals. Jamal Murray followed with 19 points, seven boards and five assists. Michael Porter provided 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Aaron Gordon contributed 14 points, seven boards, three assists and one block. Bruce Brown supplied 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Edwards paced the Timberwolves with 34 points, adding six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. Mike Conley registered 19 points, eight assists and two rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns generated a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double that included two assists, one steal and one block. Rudy Gobert offered a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double of his own along with one assist and two blocks. Kyle Anderson furnished 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block.
The series now shifts back to Ball Arena in Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
The Nuggets (3-1) had erased an early one-point deficit to take a four-point advantage into halftime, but the Timberwolves (1-3) regained their edge in the third quarter and owned a 12-point lead as late as the 2:50 mark of the fourth quarter before Denver's 12-0 run forced overtime. However, Minnesota atoned during the extra period, racking up an impressive 18 points, with Anthony Edwards' clutch 26-footer with 11.1 seconds remaining sealing the series-saving victory for the hosts.
Nikola Jokic led the way with a 43-point, 11-rebound double-double that included six assists and two steals. Jamal Murray followed with 19 points, seven boards and five assists. Michael Porter provided 15 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Aaron Gordon contributed 14 points, seven boards, three assists and one block. Bruce Brown supplied 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Edwards paced the Timberwolves with 34 points, adding six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals. Mike Conley registered 19 points, eight assists and two rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns generated a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double that included two assists, one steal and one block. Rudy Gobert offered a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double of his own along with one assist and two blocks. Kyle Anderson furnished 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block.
The series now shifts back to Ball Arena in Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday night.