{"id":1499,"date":"2025-04-26T20:58:27","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T20:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/1499\/"},"modified":"2025-04-26T20:58:27","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T20:58:27","slug":"starting-5-april-26-ant-delivers-late-magic-bucks-secure-first-wins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/1499\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5, April 26: Ant delivers late, Magic & Bucks secure first wins"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ant Edwards found another level down the stretch, connecting with Jaden McDaniels on the game-sealing 3 to put the Wolves up 2-1.<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0
April 26, 2025
Clutch Ant:\u00a0Edwards shines late as Wolves overcome LeBron\u2019s 38 to take 2-1 lead
Double 37s: Giannis from inside & Trent Jr. from outside lead Bucks in Game 3 win
Magic Trio: Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, tough defense deliver Orlando win
West Showdowns: Get ready for Dubs-Rockets Game 3 & Nuggets-Clippers Game 4
No. 1s In Play:\u00a0Thunder go for sweep in Memphis, Cavs seek 3-0 lead in Miami<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0
Yesterday\u2019s scores & what to watch today\u2026
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It\u2019s Playoff hoops from day to night with a four-game Saturday. A TNT triple-header opens the day in Miami for Game 3 of Cavs-Heat (1 ET, TNT<\/a>). Then, the action heads to Memphis for Game 4 of Thunder-Grizzlies (3:30 ET, TNT<\/a>) after OKC\u2019s epic Game 3 rally.<\/p>\n

The evening features two critical games out West, beginning with Game 4 of Nuggets-Clippers (6 ET, TNT<\/a>) before the night closes with the pivotal Game 3 of Rockets-Warriors (8:30 ET, ABC<\/a>) in primetime\"\"<\/p>\n

1. ANT TAKES OVER LATE AS WOLVES WITHSTAND LEBRON\u2019S 38 TO GO UP 2-1\"\"
Friday\u2019s Game 3\u00a0of the 2025 First Round matchup between the Wolves and Lakers turned into a duel between 2024 Olympic teammates \u2013 Anthony Edwards and LeBron James.<\/p>\n

With the series tied,\u00a0both stars understood the stakes of the game \u2013 winners of Game 3 in 1-1 series go on to win the series 74.2% of the time \u2013 and lifted their games accordingly
\nAdvantage, Ant:\u00a0LeBron (38 pts, 10 reb, 5 3pm, 4 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk) may have outscored Ant (29 pts, 8 reb, 8 ast, 5 3pm, 2 stl, 1 blk), but it was the youngster that closed the game in Minnesota\u2019s favor<\/p>\n

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Timberwolves 116, Lakers 104: The 5th and final tie of Game 3 came with 4:37 to play as Luka Don\u010di\u0107\u2019s fadeaway jumper knotted the game at 103. From there, the Wolves closed the game on a 13-1 run to protect home court and take a 2-1 series lead. | Recap<\/a> | 5 Takeaways<\/a><\/p>\n

The Ant-Man Takeover: Edwards either scored or assisted on every point<\/a> during the game-deciding run \u2013 while also making one of the biggest defensive plays of the game.<\/p>\n

The Three: Edwards broke the tie (and gave the Wolves the lead for good) with a stepback 3 from the top of the key
\nThe Assist: With the Lakers forcing Edwards to be a playmaker rather than a scorer, he drove the lane and found Naz Reid for an open 3 to extend the lead
\nThe Layup: Edwards was not going to be denied as he sliced through traffic to score at the basket to put the Wolves up 7
\nThe Defense: As Rui Hachimura made his move to the basket, Edwards got all ball as he swiped it off Rui and out of bounds. A foul was initially called on Ant, but a Wolves challenge overturned the call and gave Minnesota possession<\/p>\n

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The Dagger:\u00a0Ant drilled a deep 2 to put the Wolves up by nine \u2013 matching their largest lead of the game (for the moment, at least)<\/p>\n

The Icing:\u00a0Edwards capped off the night with a drive-and-kick to a wide-open McDaniels, who splashed the corner 3 to put the Wolves up 12 \u2013 the only double-digit lead of the game by either team<\/p>\n

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The X-Factor: The Wolves have two wins in this series. And both times, their leading scorer was McDaniels, who ranked 4th on the team in scoring (12.2) during the regular season.<\/p>\n

Two-Way Star: Not only did McDaniels drop 30 points \u2013 matching his season and career highs \u2013 he did so while being the primary defender on Don\u010di\u0107, who finished with 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting
\nThe Streak Continues: The Wolves are now 6-0 this season when McDaniels scores 25+ points
\nThe Pack:\u00a0McDaniels and Edwards combined for 59, while three other Wolves finished in double figures: Julius Randle (22), Naz Reid (11) and Donte DiVincenzo (10), who combined for five 3s<\/p>\n

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The History Book: With his 38-point performance on Friday, LeBron scored the most Playoff points ever by a player in their 40s.<\/p>\n

King x Mailman: LeBron (22 pts in 1st half in 2025) joined Karl Malone (20 pts in 1st half in 2004) as the only 40-year-olds in the last 25 years to score 20+ in a Playoff half. And they did so exactly 21 years apart while playing for the Lakers
\nWhat\u2019s Next: Leading 2-1, Minnesota hosts Game 4 on Sunday (3:30 ET, ABC). Can the Wolves take a commanding 3-1 lead or will the Lakers even the series as it shifts back to SoCal?<\/p>\n

2. GIANNIS INSIDE, TRENT JR. OUTSIDE LEAD BUCKS PAST PACERS
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Gary Trent Jr. couldn\u2019t have picked a better moment to have the best Playoff game of his career.<\/a><\/p>\n

With the Bucks trailing 2-0 and needing a win at home to get them back in the series, Trent Jr. was inserted into the Starting 5 and put on a show alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Bucks 117, Pacers 101: Giannis filled the box score<\/a> (37 pts, 12 reb, 6 ast, 14-of-19 FG) and Trent Jr. caught fire from deep (37 pts, 9 3pm, 4 stl) as the two combined for 74 points to cut their series deficit to 2-1. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Double 37s: Trent Jr. and Giannis became the 9th pair of teammates since 2000 to score 37+ points in the same Playoff game \u2013 and the first Bucks duo to ever do so
\nMaking History: Trent Jr. tied Ray Allen\u2019s franchise record for 3s<\/a> made in a Playoff game, while becoming the first player in NBA history to reach at least 37 pts, 9 3pm and 4 stl in a Playoff game<\/p>\n

Trent Jr. On Tying Allen\u2019s Record: \u201cTo have my name around him or near him, as a shooter, is a great thing for me. It\u2019s a blessing and a testament to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n

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3. MAGIC RIDE STAR DUO, TOUGH DEFENSE TO OUTLAST CELTICS\"\"<\/p>\n

Down 2-0 in the series, and up 12 points with seven minutes to go, the Magic faced one last, fierce run from the defending champion Boston Celtics, who sought a commanding 3-0 lead.<\/p>\n

Magic 95, Celtics 93: But the Magic kept their cool, following their stars, Franz Wagner (32 pts, 8 reb, 7 ast) and Paolo Banchero (29 pts, 6 reb), who combined for 61 points, while the Orlando defense held Boston to its 3rd-lowest point total of the season. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Spellbinding Defense:\u00a0This was the 19th time Orlando earned a win while holding their opponent under 100 points this season \u2013 the 4th-most in the league
\nA Game Of Runs:\u00a0The Celtics ended the 1st half on a 17-5 run, taking a 59-49 advantage into the break. The Magic responded with a 16-3 run in the 3rd quarter to take a lead they never relinquished
\nThe Game\u2019s Crescendo:\u00a0The Celtics tied the game at 91 with 2:31 to go to cap a second 17-5 run, but could not break through, as Wagner responded with a\u00a0pair of clutch buckets<\/a><\/p>\n

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Banchero and Wagner scored 18 of Orlando\u2019s 22 points in the 4th quarter to help fend off Boston.<\/p>\n

Both posted 25+ points for the second straight game. Only one other Orlando duo has done that in the Playoffs \u2013 Shaquille O\u2019Neal and Penny Hardaway in 1995<\/p>\n

Jayson Tatum (36 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast) was listed as doubtful heading into the game, but looked strong, leading all scorers. He passed John Havlicek for the 2nd-most 30+ point Playoff games in Celtics history.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next: Trailing 2-1, the Magic host Game 4 on Sunday (7 ET, TNT), looking to even the series at 2-2 before Game 5 shifts back to Boston<\/p>\n

4. PIVOTAL GAMES TODAY FOR WARRIORS-ROCKETS & NUGGETS-CLIPPERS<\/p>\n

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Jalen Green rose to the occasion \u2013 and then some \u2013 on Wednesday. The 4th-year guard more than quintupled his production from Game 1, helping to knot the series at 1-1 heading into tonight\u2019s Game 3 (8:30 ET, ABC) between the No. 2 Rockets and No. 7 Warriors.<\/p>\n

Complemented by Alperen Sengun\u2019s game-high 16 rebounds, Green ultimately reached 38 points on 13-for-25 shooting, ushering both teams toward an inflection point.<\/p>\n

3rd Time\u2019s The Charm: Of the 267 times a 7-game series has been tied at 1-1, the Game 3 winner has won the series 74.2% of the time<\/p>\n

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The Warriors may be without Jimmy Butler III, who is listed as questionable with a pelvic contusion.<\/p>\n

Signature Spark: Golden State went 23-7 with Butler in the lineup during the regular season, but were 25-27 without him
\nGame Of Margins: Prior to his acquisition at the trade deadline, the Warriors won two of three against Houston. Each was decided by six points or less<\/p>\n

Stephen Curry, though, will be ready to go for Game 3 back at the Chase Center. He\u2019s averaged 27.0 points, 5.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds across 26 Game 3s in his 16-year career<\/p>\n

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The Nuggets and Clippers enter tonight\u2019s Game 4 (6 ET, TNT) with LA up 2-1, after Los Angeles found some separation Thursday in a series that \u2014 up to that point \u2014 had been as close as it gets.
Scoring came from everywhere\u00a0for the hosts, getting 19+ points from four starters and spreading Denver\u2019s defense thin in the 34-point win.<\/p>\n

Double-Digit Dynamo: For Denver, Nikola Joki\u0107 delivered 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists, and with one more board in Game 1, would have a triple-double in every game this series<\/p>\n

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Games 1 and 2 accounted for 29 lead changes in all and were decided by three points or less. The series\u2019 complexion has since changed in moving to the Intuit Dome.<\/p>\n

Fear The Wall: Denver shot 40.3% from the field on Thursday \u2013 22-for-63 outside of Joki\u0107 \u2013 following a combined 45% through two contests at Ball Arena
\nHome Sweet Home: After dropping their first four games at their new arena, the Clippers built a 30-7 record on their own hardwood the rest of the season \u2013 3rd-best in the league at that time<\/p>\n

5. TOP SEEDS IN ACTION: CAVS AIM FOR 3-0 LEAD, THUNDER LOOK TO CLINCH<\/p>\n

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This afternoon,\u00a0the Thunder seek a 4-0 series win in Memphis (1 ET, TNT), while the Cavs are going for a commanding 3-0 lead in Miami (3:30 ET, TNT).<\/p>\n

How did we get here?\u00a0Two very different \u2013 but equally impactful \u2013 4th quarter performances.<\/p>\n

In Game 2,\u00a0Donovan Mitchell showed off his clutch credentials, pouring in 17 4th-quarter points to lead Cleveland to a 121-112 win over Miami.<\/p>\n

It was the sixth time\u00a0that Mitchell has put up 17+ points in the 4th quarter during his Playoff career \u2013 the most by any player in the play-by-play era (1997-98). Three of those games came during his\u00a0iconic 2020 First Round duel\u00a0with Denver\u2019s Jamal Murray.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Check out how Mitchell\u00a0got his buckets Saturday:<\/p>\n

Waiting Like A Spida:\u00a0Mitchell scored 10 of Cleveland\u2019s 20 points in the game\u2019s final 4:25, including eight straight Cavs points to help them pull away
\nMerciless:\u00a0Miami cut Cleveland\u2019s lead to two points three times in the 4th. Twice, Mitchell answered with buckets \u2013 an explosive floater in the lane and a midrange fadeaway heading into the right corner
\nFrom Way Beyond:\u00a0Mitchell hit four 3s during the period, including two from 30+ feet. His last, a 32-footer, put the Cavs up seven with two minutes to go as the Cleveland faithful roared in approval<\/p>\n

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A 30 Piece:\u00a0Mitchell finished the game with 30 points, his 27th career 30+ point Playoff game
\nA Legendary Scorer:\u00a0Donovan has scored 30+ in 48.2% of his 56 career Playoff games \u2013 the 5th-highest percentage in NBA history (min. 10 games), trailing only Michael Jordan (60.9%), Luka Don\u010di\u0107 (55.8%), Allen Iverson (50.7%) and Jerry West (48.4%)<\/p>\n

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Alex Caruso put his stamp on the 4th quarter in OKC\u2019s comeback win in Memphis.<\/p>\n

And it had nothing to do with offense.<\/p>\n

Caruso had three huge steals, bodied up Jaren Jackson Jr. and generally wreaked havoc as the Thunder completed the 2nd-largest playoff comeback in the past 25 seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe changes every game he\u2019s in,\u201d said Coach Mark Daigneault. \u201cHe\u2019s constantly engaged in the competition. The size of the stage or pressure of the game doesn\u2019t impact his game at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Went To Work: Caruso played 23 minutes on Thursday \u2013 his most in the Playoffs since the 2020 Finals
Positive Energy: He was +19 in his 13 2nd-half minutes \u2013 best among OKC\u2019s bench players<\/p>\n

Caruso\u2019s been a defensive force throughout his NBA career. In 34 career Playoff games, he has a total plus-minus of +111, with 36 steals.<\/p>\n

Among The Greats: 17 players in the last 25 years have posted such a +\/- and as many steals in their first 34 Playoff games \u2013 stars like Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard and Dwyane Wade
\nAlways A Factor: Caruso was good for the best Net Rating among NBA bench players this season, at +14.4 (min. 40 games)
\nA Champion: When Caruso won his first title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, the team was 3.6 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor than off<\/p>\n