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Franz Wagner scores 34, leads Magic to second straight rout of Cavaliers to tie series at 2-2
Dick Scanlon, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 4:07 p.m. | Save Story
Franz Wagner had 34 points and 13 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic held the Cleveland Cavaliers scoreless for a second-half stretch of almost seven minutes Saturday in a 112-89 victory that tied the Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2. Jarrett Allen had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell had 18 points, all in the first half, and six assists. Game 4 of the series will be Tuesday night in Cleveland, where the No. 4-seeded Cavaliers won the first two before getting blown out twice in Florida.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder roll to 3-0 series lead with 106-85 win over the Pelicans
Brett Martel, Associated Press | Posted April 27 - 4:02 p.m. | Save Story
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 106-85 on Saturday to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Jalen Williams and Josh Giddey each scored 21 for the Thunder. Top-seeded Oklahoma City hit 17 of 36 shots from 3-point range and led by as many as 24 in the fourth quarter. Brandon Ingram scored 19 points and CJ McCollum had 16 for New Orleans. The Pelicans made justr9 of 32 3-point shots and committed 21 turnovers, leading to 23 Thunder points. The eighth-seeded Pelicans will try to avoid elimination at home in Game 4 on Monday night.
Bucks' Lillard has MRI, team awaiting results before deciding if he plays in Game 4 vs. Pacers
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 3:50 p.m. | Save Story
Damian Lillard underwent an MRI to determine the severity of his Achilles injury, and the Milwaukee Bucks could be without the star guard for Game 4 of their playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Lillard has a walking boot on his right foot. He was clearly limping at times during the Bucks' Game 3 loss at Indiana on Friday. Milwaukee trails Indiana 2-1 ahead of Game 4. The Lillard situation raises the possibility of the Bucks being without both him and Giannis Antetokounmpo on Sunday. Antetokounmpo has not played in the series while dealing with a calf injury that he suffered late in the regular season.
NBA Playoffs 2024: A 1st for the Timberwolves, while Mavs and Pacers move closer to Round 2
The Associated Press | Posted April 27 - 8:11 a.m. | Save Story
Minnesota hasn't made the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2004. Indiana hasn't gotten there since 2014. Dallas has gotten there once in the last 13 years. All took big steps toward changing that on Friday. The Timberwolves have a 3-0 lead on Phoenix after winning 126-109 behind 36 points from Anthony Edwards. Indiana survived a 42-point, flair-for-the-dramatic outbreak from Khris Middleton to beat Milwaukee 121-118 in overtime for a 2-1 series lead. And Dallas clamped down on defense to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 101-90, taking a 2-1 edge in that matchup.
Caitlin Clark revs up Pacers fans with pregame playoff appearance in IndyCar replica
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 5:45 a.m. | Save Story
and around the league.
Anthony Edwards scores 36 points, Timberwolves beat Suns 126-109 for 3-0 series lead
David Brandt, Associated Press | Updated April 27 - 12:42 a.m. | Save Story
Anthony Edwards scored 36 points, Rudy Gobert added 19 points and 14 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves used a hot-shooting third quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 126-109 on Friday night and take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series. Minnesota goes for the sweep in Game 4 on Sunday in Phoenix. It was the third straight game the Wolves used a big third to turn a tight game into a comfortable victory. Minnesota hit 7 of 11 3-pointers during the surge, including four from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, to take a 22-point lead into the fourth. Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points while Kevin Durant had 25 and Devin Booker 23.
Luka Doncic and defensive-minded Mavs take a chippy 101-90 win over Clippers for 2-1 series lead
Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 10:21 p.m. | Save Story
Luka Doncic had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and the suddenly defensive-minded Dallas Mavericks took a chippy 101-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers for a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. The Mavs rode the same defense that gave them home-court advantage with a Game 2 victory in LA. The Mavs won in Dallas three years after losing all three first-round games on their floor in a seven-game series loss to the Clippers. Rookie Dereck Lively II scored all 13 of his points in the first half. James Harden scored 21 points for the Clippers, but fellow stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard had little impact.
Haliburton breaks tie with 3-point play, Pacers beats Bucks 121-118 in OT to take 2-1 series lead
Michael Marot, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 7:51 p.m. | Save Story
Tyrese Haliburton completed a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left, capping his first postseason triple-double in his first home playoff game to give the Indiana Pacers a 121-118 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Indiana leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 on Sunday in Indianapolis. Giannis Antetokounmpo again sat out for Milwaukee because of a strained left calf. Haliburton had 18 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. Myles Turner added 29 points and nine rebounds, both playoff career highs. Milwaukee's Khris Middleton banked in a 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to force overtime and had a chance to force a second overtime, but his 3 bounced off the side of the rim. Middleton finished with a playoff-career high 42 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out, Khris Middleton to start for Bucks against Pacers in Game 3
The Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 3:32 p.m. | Save Story
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out of Friday night's Game 3 of their playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, but All-Star Khris Middleton be in the starting lineup. Antetokounmpo has not played since straining his left hamstring April 9. The Bucks made the announcement about the two-time NBA MVP on social media Friday. Middleton sprained his right ankle in Tuesday night's loss to the Pacers. The series is tied 1-1.
James, Lakers facing elimination Saturday. Magic, Pelicans and Heat seek home wins
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 12:05 p.m. | Save Story
There's a quadrupleheader of playoff games in the NBA on Saturday. Cleveland is at Orlando, Oklahoma City is at New Orleans, Boston is at Miami and then the first possible elimination game of this opening round happens when Denver takes a 3-0 series lead into Los Angeles and tries to sweep the Lakers for a second straight season. The Cavs lead the Magic 2-1, the Thunder lead the Pelicans 2-0 and the Heat-Celtics series is knotted at a game apiece.
WNBA training camps open with Caitlin Clark, the rookie class and free agency moves in the spotlight
Doug Feinberg, Associated Press | Posted April 26 - 11:38 a.m. | Save Story
There is a buzz around the opening of WNBA training camps with the arrival of Caitlin Clark, her heralded rookie class and big offseason free agency moves. In addition to the league's success last year, camps open Sunday on the heels of an unprecedented season of college women's basketball. The momentum has led to record-setting viewership of the draft, season ticket sales have skyrocketed and Clark and Angel Reese jerseys have already sold out. But amid all of the excitement there is the stark reality looming. Of the 36 players drafted on April 15, many won't make an opening day roster as there's less than 144 spots available in the league.
76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Dan Gelston, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 8:45 a.m. | Save Story
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament. Embiid wore sunglasses to the podium after he scored 50 points in the Sixers' Game 3 win over the New York Knicks and said he's dealth with various symptoms such as blurred vision and dry eyes. Embiid said he first started noticing the affliction about a "day or two" before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on April 17 in the play-in tournament. Embiid had 23 points, 15 rebounds in the win that sent the Sixers to the playoffs.
NBA Playoffs 2024: Lakers on brink of elimination, Magic strike back vs. Cavaliers, Embiid scores 50
The Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 7:51 a.m. | Save Story
Denver got down double digits and beat the Los Angeles Lakers, again. Joel Embiid had a playoff-career-high 50 points and Philadelphia got back into its series with New York. And the Orlando Magic got a win that their fans waited 13 years to enjoy. Thursday was high-drama in the NBA: Embiid and the 76ers beat New York 125-114 to cut the Knicks' lead in that series to 2-1, the Magic blew out Cleveland 121-83 to cut the Cavaliers' lead in that series to 2-1, and the Nuggets got at least 20 points from four starters and topped the Lakers 112-105 for a 3-0 lead in that matchup.
Gordon, Jokic lead the Nuggets to the brink of a sweep with a 112-105 win over the Lakers in Game 3
Greg Beacham, Associated Press | Updated April 26 - 12:05 a.m. | Save Story
The Denver Nuggets moved to the brink of the second round with a 112-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the first-round series. Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Jamal Murray added 22 points and Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with the Lakers since 2022. Anthony Davis had 33 points and 15 rebounds, and LeBron James added 26 points and nine assists in the Lakers' seventh consecutive postseason loss to Denver over the past two years.
Joel Embiid scores 50 points to lead 76ers past Knicks 125-114 to cut deficit to 2-1
Dan Gelston, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 10:09 p.m. | Save Story
Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win over the New York Knicks in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. Embiid boldly stated "we're going to win this series" after the 76ers dropped Game 2. With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive. The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.
Magic hand Cavaliers worst playoff loss in franchise history, win 121-83 to cut their deficit to 2-1
Dick Scanlon, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 9:21 p.m. | Save Story
Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers' lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2020 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011. Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers.
Stephen Curry wins NBA's Clutch Player of the Year, adding to his trophy collection
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Posted April 25 - 5:24 p.m. | Save Story
Golden State's Stephen Curry led the league in clutch scoring this season, and now he's got another trophy to add to his collection. Curry was announced Thursday night as the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year, adding that award to a resume that includes two MVPs, an All-Star Game MVP, an NBA Finals MVP, a Western Conference finals MVP and nine All-NBA selections. The award is named for Jerry West, someone Curry knows well and someone who once was a consultant for the Warriors.
Khris Middleton joins Antetokounmpo on Bucks' list of players dealing with injuries
Steve Megargee, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 4:07 p.m. | Save Story
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton's status for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers is uncertain after he hurt his ankle in the last game and didn't practice Thursday. Middleton was limping in the first quarter of the Bucks' 125-108 Game 2 loss on Tuesday and briefly went into the locker room. He returned after getting his right ankle re-taped and ended up playing 36 minutes. Milwaukee already played the first two games of this series without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo's potential return date or possible availability for Friday remains uncertain.
Suns' Big 3 in a big pickle, down 2-0 against the Timberwolves as series moves to Phoenix
David Brandt, Associated Press | Updated April 25 - 4:01 p.m. | Save Story
The Phoenix Suns and their so-called Big Three return home to the desert in a big pickle. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and the Suns are in a 2-0 hole heading into Friday's Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who looked mostly dominant in a pair of double-digit wins in the first two games. The Suns hoped to be one of the NBA's best teams this year after acquiring Beal in an offseason trade. There are two more Game 3s on Friday, including Bucks at Pacers and Clippers at Mavericks. Both of those series are tied at 1-1.
