{"id":5479,"date":"2025-05-01T07:28:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T07:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/5479\/"},"modified":"2025-05-01T07:28:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T07:28:58","slug":"nba-starting-5-april-28","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/5479\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Starting 5, April 28"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\u201cJust trying to prove I belong<\/a>.\u201d
\u2013 Ant Edwards, after going for 43 to put Minnesota a game away from advancing<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0
April 28, 2025<\/p>\n

Minny Masterpiece: Edwards\u2019 43 pts, Wolves\u2019 clutch run hold off Luka, LeBron & Lakers<\/p>\n

Knicks Win Thriller: Brunson leads Knicks to 3-1 lead over the Pistons<\/p>\n

Celtics, Pacers Up 3-1: Boston & Indy head back home with a chance to clinch<\/p>\n

New Ground For Steph: Ahead of Game 4, Curry found a new level to put Dubs up 2-1<\/p>\n

Jerome Stepping Up: Cavs\u2019 star Sixth Man has Cleveland a game away from 2nd Round<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0
Yesterday\u2019s scores & what to watch today\u2026<\/p>\n

\"\"A TNT doubleheader awaits tonight, with the Cavs (up 3-0) looking to close out their series against the Heat at 7:30 ET<\/a> and the Warriors (up 2-1) and Rockets tangling in SF at 10 ET<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. ANT\u2019S MASTERPIECE, WOLVES\u2019 CLUTCH RUN SEND MINNESOTA TO 3-1 LEAD\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Anthony Edwards entered the fourth quarter with his team down 10 points and facing an even series against the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n

He then scored 14 of his 16 fourth-quarter points in a 21-10 run that put the Timberwolves up one, before the game swung wildly back-and-forth at the end.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been dreaming all my life of these moments,\u201d Edwards said.<\/p>\n

Timberwolves 116, Lakers 113: Luka Don\u010di\u0107 had 38 points, but Edwards (43 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST) and the Wolves answered every challenge in front of an adoring crowd, to take a 3-1 lead in the series. | Recap<\/a> | Star Duos Duel<\/a> | Ant on the Matchup<\/a><\/p>\n

Naz Reid hit a big three to put the Timberwolves up 108-107 with 3:21 to go off an assist from Julius Randle (25 PTS, 7 REB)
\nDorian Finney-Smith followed with a three from above the break to give the Lakers a 113-111 lead with 1:29 left
\nJaden McDaniels (16 PTS, 11 REB) gave the Timberwolves the game-deciding lead with an and-1<\/a> off a slick pass from Reid (10 4th Q points) with 39.5 seconds left \u2026 then stole the ball on the ensuing inbounds pass
\nAfter Edwards drew a foul on James and hit 2 FT\u2019s to go up 116-113 with :11 left, the Timberwolves forced the ball<\/a> out of LeBron and Luka\u2019s hands at the end, forcing a pressured Austin Reaves three that went just long<\/p>\n

\u201cNaz Reid, Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo \u2013 man, those boys came up big in the clutch time,\u201d said Edwards. \u201cBig stops, big shots by Naz, big finish by Jaden, and Donte keeps reading the game and making the right play all night.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Closer In Minnesota: Edwards posted 16 fourth-quarter points \u2013 the third time in his Playoff career he\u2019s reached that mark
\nHistoric Scorer: Edwards had his fifth career 40+ point game in the Playoffs \u2013 only Luka has more before turning 24 years old in the last 50 years
\nHanging In The Balance: There were five lead changes in the final 3:47<\/p>\n

LeBron had a classic chasedown block of DiVincenzo before the Finney-Smith late make, then another on the next possession, but the Lakers \u2014 who played their starting five for the entire second half \u2014 weren\u2019t able to find a bucket late.<\/p>\n

Laker Royalty: LeBron (27 PTS, 12 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL, 3 BLK) and Luka joined Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O\u2019Neal as the only duos in Lakers franchise history to record 20+ PTS each in a half of a postseason game during the PxP era (1997-98)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

2. KNICKS WIN THRILLER, GO UP 3-1 HEADING BACK TO NEW YORK<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery possession is so intense,\u201d ESPN broadcaster Dave Pasch said.<\/p>\n

Cade Cunningham\u2019s poster slam<\/a> had just given the Detroit Pistons the lead over the New York Knicks in the 3rd quarter of Game 4, with the Pistons grinding for a 2-2 tie in the series.<\/p>\n

The intensity only went up from there. There were five lead changes in the third. The Pistons led by 10 early in the fourth. But the Knicks kept the pressure on.<\/p>\n

Knicks 94, Pistons 93: Towns scored eight points down the stretch, including a 27-foot stepback three to put the Knicks up by one with 47 seconds to go and up 3-1 in the series as it heads back to New York. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Towns hit a three<\/a> to give the Knicks an 88-87 lead with 2:43 left in the fourth. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jalen Brunson then traded buckets, before Towns (27 pts, 9 reb) finished with a five-point flurry to give the Knicks the win.<\/p>\n

Brunson (32 PTS, 11 AST) and Cunningham (25 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST) took turns making history Sunday.<\/p>\n

Unshakeable: Brunson, who scored 15 fourth-quarter points after returning from an ankle injury, became the first player with 30+ PTS and 7+ AST in the first four games of a Playoff run
\nSetting New Standards: Brunson became the first player since 1997-98 to score 12+ points in the fourth quarter of four straight Playoff games
\nPoint Guard Wizardry: Brunson is the franchise\u2019s all-time leader with five Playoff games of 30+ PTS and 10+ AST<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

There With Zeke: Cunningham became the second Piston to put up a triple-double in the Playoffs, joining Isiah Thomas, who did it twice
\nPowering The Pistons: He became the third player in NBA history to total four consecutive 20+ point double-doubles in their first four career postseason games<\/p>\n

Game 5: After the series\u2019 last three games were decided by 6 points or less, the Knicks look to close \u2013 and the Pistons look to keep their historic season going \u2013 Tuesday at 7:30 ET on TNT.<\/p>\n

3. CELTICS, PACERS GRAB 3-1 LEADS LEAVING SUNDAY <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Magic brought the Celtics to the brink.<\/p>\n

But, facing a 2-2 tie or 3-1 series lead, the defending champs didn\u2019t break.<\/p>\n

Celtics 107, Magic 98: The Celtics finished the game on a 16-7 run \u2013 with 9 of those points from Jayson Tatum (37 pts, 14 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl) \u2013 to hold off a combined 55 points from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and go up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Flowers For Tatum: The Celtics star\u2019s 70th Playoff win before the age of 27 puts him in a class with Magic Johnson (85), Kobe Bryant (79), Tony Parker (79), Jaylen Brown (74), Kawhi Leonard (73), and LeBron James (72) as the only players to ever do it
\nJT In Clutch: With the Celtics up 4 late and the Magic breathing down their necks, Tatum stuck this turnaround<\/a> to create distance. All Of Tatum\u2019s Best<\/a>
\nA\u2019s For Jays: Jaylen Brown added 21 pts & 11 reb, as the Celtics\u2019 star duo both scored 20+ in a Playoff game for the 46th time \u2013 8th all-time<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Others? Elgin Baylor & Jerry West (74), Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen (68), Kobe Bryant & Shaquille O\u2019Neal (67), Larry Bird & Kevin McHale (58), Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook (56), Stephen Curry & Klay Thompson (53) and Tim Duncan & Tony Parker (50)
\nSpeaking Of History: Al Horford joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (3x) as the only players to record 5+ blks in a game at 38 or older
\nCeltics Coach Joe Mazzulla: \u201cThere should be a separate stat sheet for guys like him [Horford].\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

Magic Hang Tough: At no point was this more than a single-digit game, as Orlando led early, then kept the Celtics close throughout, eventually tying it at 91-91 with 4:18 left.<\/p>\n

Tying It Up: Wendell Carter Jr\u2019s tip-in with just over 4 mins to play<\/a> tied it at 91, bringing the Magic crowd to a roar
\n Paolo\u2019s Early History: Banchero\u2019s 7th consecutive 25+ pt Playoff game joins Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to do so before turning 23
\nMagic Duo: Franz Wagner added 24 pts, 6 reb & 7 ast, as the pair accounted for 56% of the Magic\u2019s points \u2013 and 61% of Orlando\u2019s scoring this series
\nChamps & Clamps: The Celtics have held Orlando to 100 or fewer points in all four games<\/p>\n

Game 5: The series heads back to Boston on Tuesday (8:30 ET, NBA TV)<\/p>\n

\"\"Pacers 129, Bucks 103: Eight Indiana players scored in double-figures, led by Myles Turner\u2019s 23 and Andrew Nembhard\u2019s 20 \u2013 and powered by Tyrese Haliburton\u2019s 15 ast (to go with 17 pts) \u2013 as the Pacers took a 3-1 lead over the Bucks with a dominating offensive performance. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Finding Balance: The Pacers became just the second team since 1995 to have eight players with double-digits in a Playoff game
\nRarer On The Road: Just one other team has ever had 8+ players drop double-digit points on the road in a Playoff game: the Rochester Royals, in 1963
\nNine Years Since: Before the Pacers\u2019 36-ast, 60% FG% night, the last team to go for 35+ ast & 60%+ FG% in a Playoff game was the 2016 Spurs
\nSetting Tone Early: After the Pacers lost Game 3, Turner came out hot, scoring nine points<\/a> in the game\u2019s first 4 \u00bd minutes, as the Pacers never trailed
\nUp Again: After eliminating Milwaukee last year, Indiana is now a game away from securing a spot in the second round
\nSaid Haliburton: \u201cThere was no panic<\/a> from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 28 pts and 15 reb, while Kevin Porter Jr. added 23 pts.<\/p>\n

Lillard Injured: The Bucks\u2019 NBA 75 point guard exited in the first quarter after suffering an injury to his lower leg<\/p>\n

Game 5: The teams square off again Tuesday at 6 ET on NBA TV<\/p>\n

4. CURRY KEEPS BREAKING NEW GROUND AS WARRIORS SEEK 3-1 LEAD OVER ROCKETS <\/p>\n

\"Stephen<\/p>\n

Jesse D. Garrabrant\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

At age 37, Stephen Curry raced over 2.9 miles in Saturday\u2019s Warriors-Rockets Game 3 \u2013 nearly half a mile more than his regular season average, and third-most of anyone in the game.<\/p>\n

Although he was playing in his 150th career Playoff game Saturday, Curry got free time and time again against a young, physical squad.<\/p>\n

As the game went on, he got stronger. Curry (36 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST) broke new ground in a historic second half, scoring and dishing the Warriors to a 2-1 lead ahead of tonight\u2019s Game 4 (10 ET, TNT).<\/p>\n

Curry scored 21 points and dropped seven assists over the third and fourth quarters, showing his versatility as a scorer and passer, reading the defense under pressure.<\/p>\n

It was the first time he\u2019s hit those marks in a half in his hallowed Playoff career.<\/p>\n

The Work Put In: Curry opened the third by coming off a screen and outmuscling Fred VanVleet, creating space for a running scoop layup<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

All-Time Touch: His third bucket was a ridiculous and-1 floater from outside the paint to give the Warriors the lead, as Curry went to his left to draw contact and elate the Bay fans<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Steph Doing Steph Things: Curry hit four three pointers during the second half, creating space with the crossover from the left flank to tie the game at 77 with 9:46 to go\"\"<\/p>\n

A Point Guard Extraordinaire: Steph also cheffed up seven assists in the second half. Gary Payton II was the primary beneficiary, scoring nine points off four Steph dimes, including a three to put the Warriors up four with 4:29 left<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Elite Company: Curry became one of just five players in the top 10 of All-Time Playoff points and top 20 in all-time Playoff assists, joining LeBron James, Jerry West, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was brilliant,\u201d Coach Steve Kerr said afterwards.<\/p>\n

Rockets will look to Jalen Green to bounce back in Game 4 to match Curry and the Warriors (10 ET on TNT).
He scored 23 points in the second half of Game 2, as Houston took its lone win of the series.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just stacking them up tonight,\u201d said Spero Dedes as Green hit his fifth three of the second half
\nCan Green Find His Stroke? A crucial part of Houston\u2019s attack, the Warriors have stifled Green twice this series \u2014 holding him to seven points in Game 1 and nine in Game 3
\nGreen scored 38 points in Game 2 \u2013 the Rockets were 13-1 when he had 30+ points in the regular season<\/p>\n

5. JEROME STEPPING UP FOR CAVS, AS HEAT VOW TO EXTEND SERIES<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Cleveland Cavaliers are blistering hot to start the Playoffs, scoring more than 120 points in each of their three wins against the Miami Heat. (Game 4, Tonight on TNT, 7:30 ET)<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a franchise record, building on a historic regular season.<\/p>\n

But Darius Garland was out for Game 3, and Donovan Mitchell had a rare off night (13 points on 14 shots).<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of teams when you lose your top guy there\u2019s a big drop-off,\u201d said Coach Kenny Atkinson previously. \u201cFor us, there\u2019s very little drop off.\u201d<\/p>\n

So Ty Jerome, who finished third in Kia NBA Sixth Man Of The Year voting, stepped up and showed out, demonstrating inspired floor generalship off the bench.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Steady Playmaking: Jerome became the first Cav to drop 11+ AST and zero turnovers off the bench in team history in Game 3
\nThe Guards Lead: The Cavaliers lead the Playoffs in points per game from their pick-and-roll ball-handlers with 24.3 \u2013 Jerome is accounting for 4.8 PPG, third on the team behind Donovan Mitchell (9.5 PTS) and Garland (8.6)
\nThe Virginia Connection: UVA alums Jerome and De\u2019Andre Hunter were +33 and +34 off the bench respectively in Game 3. Before that, a bench player had never hit that height in Cavs Playoff history<\/p>\n

\"Tyler<\/p>\n

Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Tyler Herro vowed the Heat would not be swept during the postgame press conference for Game 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not time to let go of the rope. We\u2019re going to play to the final buzzer, whether that\u2019s Game 5, 6, 7, another series after this,\u201d said Herro. \u201cWe\u2019re not going out 4-0.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heat-Tested: Miami has a chance to fall back on its defense \u2013 in the last 15 games of the regular season, they posted the fourth-best defensive rating in the Association<\/p>\n

Adebayo noted that the Heat were up 3-0 against the Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals before Boston stormed back to force a Game 7.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to ride it until the wheels fall off,\u201d said Adebayo.<\/p>\n