Knicks seize 2-0 lead over Sixers in a sport with 25 lead modifications, Spurs tie sequence with dominating win over Wolves on Wednesday.
Twenty-five lead modifications …
Two storied rivals …
One elite nearer.
In a back-and-forth duel vs. Philly, Jalen Brunson did what he does greatest to place New York up 2-0.
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
Knicks Shut: After dominant stretch, New York exhibits versatility in late win over Philly
Captain Clutch: One other chapter of big-moment buckets – how Brunson retains doing it
Spurs Reply: Wemby & San Antonio overwhelm Minnesota to even sequence
Lakers at Thunder: Inside Chet’s rise as OKC eyes a 2-0 sequence lead vs. LeBron’s Lakers
Cavs at Pistons: Detroit’s protection seems to be to keep up residence court docket, Cavs intention to bounce again
BUT FIRST … ⏰
The Convention Semifinals deliver two extra Recreation 2s tonight on Prime because the Pistons and Thunder every look to go up 2-0 at residence:
Playoff Hub: Catch the most recent information, evaluation and tales from each sequence in a single spot.
1. KNICKS TAKE BACK-AND-FORTH BATTLE VS. SIXERS FOR 2-0 LEAD
Final week: A 29-point win and a 51-point win.
This week: A 39-point win.
Wednesday: A six-point win.
New York’s dominant offense was in a special form of matchup in Recreation 2 towards Philly, and nonetheless discovered a method to win.
Knicks 108, Sixers 102: Jalen Brunson (26 pts, 6 ast) led 4 Knicks starters in double figures to battle by way of essentially the most lead modifications in a Playoff conflict in over a decade, inching away from Tyrese Maxey (26 pts, 6 ast) and Philly within the remaining moments for a 2-0 sequence edge.
With out Joel Embiid (ankle, hip) and Mitchell Robinson (sickness), the 2 longtime rivals performed to razor-thin margins all evening — with neither crew taking a lead bigger than 7 factors. | Recap
- Reeled In: After New York grew to become the primary crew to win three straight Playoff video games by 25+ factors and trailing by three with 6:56 left, one of many league’s elite clutch groups held Philly to 4-19 4th Q taking pictures and closed on a 9-3 run to win by six
- No Escape: The 25 lead modifications in Recreation 2 rank as essentially the most in a postseason sport since 2015, when the Spurs and Clippers produced 31 lead modifications in Recreation 7 of the First Spherical
- “Simply us executing … discovering a method to get a gritty win,” Karl-Anthony Cities (20 pts, 10 reb, 7 ast) stated. “One thing that, for higher or for worse, hasn’t been in our playing cards the final 4 video games. However this confirmed lots about our locker room.”
Regardless of their current dominant level differentials, the Knicks reduce their enamel in shut video games this season.
- Cozy In Crunch Time: New York owned the East’s Third-best win share (61.8%) in clutch video games this season, going 21-13
- “It’s about attempting to determine a method to get a cease,” coach Mike Brown stated of a decent Recreation 2. “That’s what you may management greater than the ball getting into, and I believed our guys did an honest job of that.”
- No Let Up: With Cities and backup Ariel Hukporti in foul hassle early, the Knicks went smaller — and bought large nights from OG Anunoby (24 pts, 4 stls) and Mikal Bridges (18 pts, 9-13 from subject)
Defensive stops had been a focus for Philly, too, because it tried to take its second Recreation 2 on the highway of those Playoffs.
- Whereas the Sixers didn’t restrict their opponent to 100 factors or much less as they did of their 4 First Spherical wins, they shrank the Knicks’ three-game, 39.7-point win margin to simply six
- Rising Up: The Sixers bought 17+ from VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr and Paul George — whose scorching begin paced an early Philly lead — and bought a late spark from Dom Barlow off the bench, as they combined seems to be towards the Knicks’ high-powered offense
- “We performed adequate protection to win that sport, particularly within the 4th… holding them to 19 [points],” coach Nick Nurse stated… “And we performed nice offense, we simply didn’t shot-make.”
Up Subsequent: The sequence shifts to Philadelphia, the place the Sixers will look to get on the board in Recreation 3 on Friday (7 ET, Prime).
2. CLUTCH BRUNSON MET MOMENT AGAIN IN BACK & FORTH GAME 2
Up 4 with 3:46 left.
“Captain Clutch” had simply hit his second straight jumper for a 103-99 lead.
Jalen Brunson, final yr’s Kia Clutch Participant of the Yr, was in his aspect late in Recreation 2 towards Philly.
And fortunate for him, the sport’s earlier 44 minutes had been simply as shut.
- Profitable Time: Brunson’s 26 factors tied for the game-high, together with three of New York’s six factors in clutch time, the place the Knicks had been lastly capable of separate, 6-0
- Creating House: That second Brunson J with underneath 4 to go put the Knicks up 103-99, giving New York its first lead bigger than 3. Brunson then hit two free throws to match the evening’s largest lead, 107-100
- Remaining Threats: Solely two gamers nonetheless within the championship hunt have scored extra whole clutch factors in these Playoffs than Brunson’s 12, throughout three alternatives
- At all times Closing: That strains up together with his late-game dependability all yr, after logging the Eighth-most whole clutch factors of any participant within the common season (116)
So how does he do it – significantly on the finish of a Playoff sport with 25 lead modifications?
- “Most significantly, simply staying poised, staying composed,” Brunson stated postgame. “Simply determining one play at a time, one step at a time, and never trying too far forward.”
- Nice Late: Since becoming a member of the Knicks in 2022-23, Brunson owns extra 10+ level 4th quarters within the postseason than another participant (18)
- Assembly The Second: Brunson is simply the seventh participant in NBA historical past to common 25+ factors and 5+ assists by way of his first 75 profession Playoff video games, proper on observe Wednesday with 26 and 6
- “I really feel like each single sport’s gonna be prefer it was tonight,” Tyrese Maxey stated of the matchup. “It’s gonna come right down to who makes performs on the finish of the sport.”
3. SPURS SURGE PAST WOLVES, EVEN SERIES AT 1-1
Victor Wembanyama left Recreation 1 of the West Semis as a history-maker, as his 12 blocks set a single-game Playoff file.
However after taking pictures 5-of-17 in Minnesota’s 104-102 win, Wembanyama wasn’t interested by data – solely accountability.
- “It’s lots on me,” stated Wemby postgame. “If I had been higher, and the offensive leaders had been higher, it could have been completely different.”
In Recreation 2, it was completely different.
Spurs 133, Wolves 95: After being held to 11 factors in Monday’s loss, Wemby (19 pts, 15 reb, 2 blk) had 14 by halftime – together with 9 boards – because the Spurs used a 2nd-quarter tsunami to roll previous Anthony Edwards (12 pts) and the Wolves, night the sequence at 1-1.
As for the opposite offensive leaders? Stephon Citadel (21 pts, 4 ast, 6-10 FG) and De’Aaron Fox (16 pts, 5-10 FG) mixed for 37, as seven Spurs scored in double figures for the crew’s most factors in a Playoff sport since 1983. | Recap
“I feel there was some good and a few dangerous,” stated Wemby on the Recreation 1 loss. “However the dangerous was not going to what we all know.”
When San Antonio commits to what it is aware of greatest – Wemby working the paint and its athletes attacking in house – it may well flip video games shortly.
That’s precisely what occurred in Recreation 2.
- Settling: San Antonio shot 10-of-36 (27.8%) from deep in Recreation 1 – its most 3-point makes an attempt since April 12 and its lowest share since March 13
- Attacking: Final evening, eight of their 9 1st-quarter subject targets had been within the paint, opening the surface for a Fox 3 earlier than the horn
- Blazing: Then, the floodgates opened, as San Antonio erupted for a 35-18 2nd quarter, utilizing seven completely different scorers whereas Citadel (8 pts), Wemby (7) and Fox (5) mixed to outscore Minnesota on their very own
- Dominating: Instantly, the Spurs had a 59-35 halftime lead, with 17 of their 21 subject targets coming from the paint and extra dunks (8) than 3s (4)
Chain Response: San Antonio completed with 58 factors within the paint in comparison with Minnesota’s 36, whereas outscoring the Wolves 29-5 in fastbreak factors.
As soon as the Spurs managed the within, the surface opened, as they hit 12 3s within the 2nd half to seal their Third-largest Playoff win in franchise historical past.
And it began with getting again to what they know.
- “Depth to start out the sport,” stated Wemby on the distinction between Video games 1 and a pair of
- “It’s simply that easy?” replied ESPN’s Jorge Sedano
- “Yeah.”
Up Subsequent: Tied 1-1, the sequence shifts to Minnesota for Recreation 3 on Friday (9:30 ET, Prime).
4. ON PRIME: CHET FUELS THUNDER INTO GAME 2 VS. LAKERS
Of all of the gamers to placed on a Thunder uniform, solely two have recorded 24+ factors, 12+ boards and three+ blocks in a Playoff sport:
Kevin Durant and Chet Holmgren.
In Recreation 1 of the West Semis, with Jalen Williams out (hamstring) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander held underneath 20 factors for the primary time all season, it was Holmgren who delivered for OKC – his newest assertion in a season filled with progress.
Tonight on Prime (9:30 ET), Chet and the reigning champs host LeBron James’ Lakers in Recreation 2, with OKC aiming to go up 2-0. | Jeff Zillgitt’s Three Issues To Watch
Wired Proper: The No. 2 decide within the 2022 Draft, Holmgren entered the league as a tantalizing 7-foot prospect with uncommon two-way capability. However he had room to develop, each bodily — at 195 lbs. — and in expertise, after only one yr of faculty as a 19-year-old.
However from Day 1, his mentality by no means wanted maturing.
- “The primary day he walked within the doorways, you might simply inform how a lot he cares in regards to the sport, and his sport,” stated SGA. “He really wants to maximize his potential …
- “And that’s all it comes right down to – a man that desires to be the very best model of himself provides himself the very best probability to get there.”
Holmgren’s relentless pursuit has turned potential into manufacturing – particularly within the greatest moments, from final yr’s title run to this yr’s Playoffs.
- Championship Momentum: After main the 2025 Finals in rebounds, blocks and plus-minus, Holmgren adopted it with an offensive leap this season, posting profession highs in factors (17.1), FG% (55.7%) and offensive boards (1.9) and rebounds (8.9)
- All-Round Impression: That two-way progress earned him his first All-Star nod – and translated to wins, with OKC going 21-5 this season when he posts a double-double
- Playoff Confirmed: Since 2025, the Thunder are 8-2 in Playoff video games when Chet scores 20+ and 14-2 when he data a number of blocks. When he does each? OKC is unbeaten (5-0)
- “There’s no quantity of basketball he can’t deal with,” stated Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “He cares about it and desires to enhance – and the place has he improved? All over the place.”
Even scarier? Chet’s nonetheless climbing.
- “The model of Chet at present … that’s the worst model of Chet we’re gonna get,” stated SGA final week. “Chet’s a man who will get higher day-after-day, yearly – and we’re seeing that unfold by way of our eyes.”
Now, OKC eyes a 2-0 sequence lead, however LeBron and the Lakers stand of their approach, with a knack for bouncing again.
Los Angeles is 20-11 following losses this season, and James – one of many sport’s sharpest problem-solvers – has typically discovered solutions on this spot, proudly owning a 14-10 file in Recreation 2s after dropping Recreation 1.
5. ALSO ON PRIME: PISTONS LOOK TO PROTECT HOME COURT VS. CAVS
One sport stood between the Pistons and an early finish to their 60-win season. Down 3-1 to the Magic within the First Spherical, Orlando had three possibilities to remove them.
One after the other, these possibilities disappeared.
Tonight (7 ET, Prime), Detroit carries a 1-0 sequence lead into Recreation 2 towards the Cavaliers, seeking to retain home-court benefit. | Shaun Powell’s Three Issues to Watch
- Again From The Brink: The Pistons have now received 4 straight video games by a mean of 13.2 factors since trailing 3-1
- “We had been pushed to the restrict,” stated Cade Cunningham. “And it bought us again to taking part in the basketball that we knew we had been able to.”
Their calling card – protection – has fueled a league-best 102.5 DefRtg in these Playoffs, with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson main the way in which.
- On Each Ends: Duren posted an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double in Recreation 1, and a game-high +17 plus-minus to carry off Cleveland
- Matchup Nightmare: Thompson has restricted opponents to 38.4% taking pictures whereas piling up 17 steals and 17 blocks this postseason
With Thompson in every single place and Duren anchoring the within, Detroit’s protection has overwhelmed opponents at a uncommon tempo.
- Motor Metropolis Masterclass: Detroit has tallied 69 blocks and 65 steals within the Playoffs – the primary crew to file 65+ in each classes by way of its first eight video games because the 1993 Rockets
- “That’s simply how the Pistons are going to win,” Thompson stated earlier this spring. “It’s protection first – that’s what makes the Pistons the Pistons. That’s what the crew is constructed off of.”
The Cavaliers, although, can steal residence court docket with a win tonight earlier than heading again to Cleveland.
- The Key? It could be their offense. The Cavs averaged 120 ppg of their 4 wins vs. Toronto, however had been held to 101 in Recreation 1 vs. Detroit
- “It’s consideration to element. We’ve bought to be sharp, and we simply weren’t,” stated Donovan Mitchell. “So many issues that we are able to management … we’ll clear that up and transfer ahead.”
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