Our basketball writers share their observations and insights throughout Round 1 of the NBA postseason.
Monday, April 27
Nuggets in control from the edge
The Nuggets essentially took this one over by repeatedly pulling Rudy Gobert away from the basket with Nikola Jokic, allowing Spencer Jones and Christian Braun plenty of opportunities on the break as Denver's supporting cast entirely outshined Minnesota's. Denver led 10-0 in fast-break points in the first half, and Braun and Jones capitalized on that open space during a 15-4 third-quarter run that blew it wide open.
Without its starting backcourt of Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, closing out a series against this Denver team was always going to be a mountain for Minnesota to climb. But the Timberwolves had the third-worst offensive efficiency by bench players during the regular season, and it showed, as the Nuggets raced away and eventually won their second game of the series. It didn't help Minnesota that Rudy Gobert went scoreless until 20 seconds remained in the third.
The one bright spot for the Timberwolves was another strong performance by Ayo Dosunmu, who helped Chris Finch's side cut the deficit to 10 and give Denver a minor scare late. Gobert was not on the floor for that fourth-quarter run, however, and Jokic capitalized on a couple occasions against the much smaller Naz Reid, smothering a resilient Minnesota squad's momentum. And if the Timberwolves can't solve the balance of going small while somehow slowing Jokic, momentum won't be any easier to come by in a potential Game 7 in Denver. - Jonathan Soveta
Champs cruise to second round
The defending champion Thunder are off to the Western Conference semifinals after sweeping their third straight first-round series. A gritty, overachieving Suns team was unsurprisingly no match for Oklahoma City, which won its four games by an average margin of 17.3 points. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a postseason-leading 33.8 points per game on absurd efficiency, Chet Holmgren continued to anchor a terrifying defense, and not even Jalen Williams' latest hamstring injury could slow down the Thunder.
However, as detailed below (Apr. 22), Williams' absence could complicate things for OKC's offense going forward. The team's first real test could come in Round 2, especially if the Lakers - currently up 3-1 on Houston - get Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves back. - Joseph Casciaro
Cade's Pistons face same old questions on brink of elimination
The eighth-seeded Magic deserve credit for winning a Game 4 rock fight - and little-known Jamal Cain is a terrific story for Orlando - but it's Detroit's glaring offensive flaws that demand our attention. As I wrote in two different playoff previews, there were serious issues hiding under the hood of the Pistons' ninth-ranked offense and 60-win regular season.
The East's top seed didn't shoot the ball well enough or often enough from deep (and didn't address the issue adequately at the trade deadline), and franchise star Cade Cunningham still led a turnover-prone attack. Those issues resurfaced as the Pistons lost three of four games to begin their first-round series. Detroit has recorded more than twice as many as turnovers (72) as made 3-pointers (33), with their Game 4 turnovers (20) more than tripling their made threes (six). Cunningham, himself, coughed it up eight times Monday, giving him an NBA playoff-record 24 turnovers over his last three games.
To be fair to the likely All-NBA First Teamer, the lack of spacing and secondary scoring around Cunningham make his task of running Detroit's offense that much tougher. It also doesn't help that Orlando has neutralized All-Star big man Jalen Duren, who's averaging 9.8 points on 46.9% shooting in the series. But at some point, Cunningham has to find a way to drag his team and this offense to better results.
A dearth of surrounding talent and floor-spacers were excuses for a turnover-prone Cunningham when his team was a 60-loss cellar-dweller. It's somehow still an issue even as they've collectively elevated themselves to 60-win front-runners. Is that an organizational failure or an individual one? The correct answer is that Cunningham and the Pistons must share the blame. - Joseph Casciaro
Rockets finally get hot from three, avoid sweep
The NBA is often described as a make-or-miss league, and while things are usually a little more complicated than that, the Rockets were down 3-0 because they couldn't make shots. They've attempted 17.8 wide-open threes per game, the fourth most this postseason, but are shooting 33.8% on those looks, the seventh-worst mark. Houston shot under 30% from long range in Games 2 and 3. Without Kevin Durant, who's missed three of the four games in this series, the Rockets drilled 40% of their threes in their Game 4 win.
Hot shooting wasn't the only thing that propelled Houston's offense in Game 4. The Rockets, who have often appeared discombobulated at that end of the floor, intentionally targeted weak defenders like Luke Kennard and made quicker, more confident decisions. While it's probably too little, too late - especially with Austin Reaves potentially coming back for Los Angeles - Houston's got something positive to build on for the rest of the first round. - Sam Oshtry
Harden's playoff woes continue
Stop me if you've heard this one before: James Harden is letting his team down in the postseason. While the Cavs' issues go beyond Harden (see below), he's a bigger part of the problem than the solution, as is frequently the case for one of the greatest playoff chokers of his generation. Cleveland's guards, including Harden, knifed through the Raptors' point-of-attack defense in the Cavs' opening two wins. Then the Raptors' ball pressure improved, and Harden committed 15 turnovers over the next two games while making just 11 field goals. Toronto scored 40 points off turnovers in those games - a huge reason the team was able to generate offense despite shooting 13% from three Sunday.
Across Games 3 and 4, Harden shot 40% from the floor, and he didn't reach 20 points in either outing after averaging 25 in the opening two games. With the series headed back to Cleveland, the Cavs need Harden to avoid his recklessness and become a greater scoring threat. Unfortunately for them, that usually ends in playoff disappointment for Harden's team. - Sam Oshtry
Sunday, April 26
Embiid's valiant effort in defeat
It was always going to be an uphill climb for the 76ers, even with Joel Embiid back in the lineup for the first time since April 6. Nobody quite knew what to expect from the seven-time All-Star coming off his recent surgery for appendicitis. It's one thing to be taking part in on-court activities during practice, but the intensity of actual gameplay is another story.
Embiid's night started off pretty well as he scored his team's first eight points in Game 4. But after scoring his 10th point of the opening quarter, he missed six straight field goals. He didn't break the dry spell until midway through the third quarter with an 18-foot jumper. Embiid seemed to find his offensive rhythm from that point on. The 7-footer was making pull-up jumpers, threes, and hook shots down low. He set up Tyrese Maxey for an easy transition basket and carried the ball up the court on the fast break before feeding Quentin Grimes.
Embiid's 26-point, 10-rebound, six-assist stat line in 34 minutes was all the 76ers could ask for considering the circumstances. But the Celtics were simply too good from beyond the arc (as they have been all series), making a franchise playoff-record 24 threes. - Chicco Nacion
Wemby proves why he was unanimous DPOY
It's no coincidence that the Blazers had their second-lowest scoring game of the season Sunday against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. It was business as usual for the Frenchman as he became the youngest player ever with seven blocks in a playoff game and the first player in franchise history to reach that mark since Tim Duncan in 2007, according to ESPN Insights. Wembanyama added four steals to reach double digits in stocks for the third time this season.
Portland managed only 73.8 points per 100 half-court plays and converted 48.3% of its attempts at the rim, per Cleaning the Glass. There's truly no player in the game that has a bigger defensive impact. Wembanyama's presence in the paint makes players think twice about driving and forces opponents into making errant passes. The 7-foot-4 center's ability to frequently keep the ball in play after swats allows the Spurs to quickly counter.
When guards attack Wembanyama off the bounce, he knows when to reach in and poke the ball loose. The two-time All-Star also has the mobility and instincts to cover a wide range of the court. On one possession, he seamlessly switched from challenging a Jrue Holiday drive to blocking a point-blank shot from Robert Williams III. Wembanyama had another stat-stuffing performance, but his plus-28 rating in Game 4 illustrates just how effective he was on both ends. - Chicco Nacion
Barnes making the superstar leap
The Cavaliers flew to Toronto with a 2-0 series lead against a Raptors team that looked overmatched, wouldn't get starting point guard Immanuel Quickley back, and was about to watch Brandon Ingram shoot 11-of-32 at home. The two teams will return to Cleveland tied, largely because Scottie Barnes has been the best player in the series, bridging the gap between stardom and superstardom.
Barnes has been an All-Defensive caliber player all season, but his work on that end of the court has ratcheted up another notch during the playoffs. He remains an impact helper, but the Raptors have leaned on him to defend star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden at times. Barnes can be seen face-guarding Mitchell or Harden one moment, then covering enough ground to contest another Cavalier's shot attempt the next.
However, what's set Barnes' performance apart over the last two games is the consistent force he's played with on the offensive end. Barnes has always been a pass-first star - more of a playmaking forward than a traditional scoring star. But he made a commitment to getting downhill and bullying whoever was in his path in Games 3 and 4, whether he was finishing plays himself or using his rim pressure to create for others. The loudest example of that aggression came with the Raptors down one in the final 40 seconds of Game 4. Such a scenario had too often seen the Raptors force-feed a struggling Ingram. On this occasion, Barnes drove and elevated so ferociously, he nearly ripped the roof off Scotiabank Arena on his ascent, then almost broke Jarrett Allen in half on his way down.
Barnes had to settle for two free throws, but he sunk both to give the Raptors the lead. They never trailed again, thanks in part to four more Barnes free throws in the clutch. It was the perfect bow on a two-game showing that saw Barnes pour in 56 points (on 43 shooting possessions), 17 assists, 14 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals in 77 minutes. The Raptors won those minutes by 32 points. Toronto was a minus-six in 19 minutes without Barnes.
If head coach Darko Rajakovic is to be trusted, Cleveland - and the league - is only getting a taste of Barnes' two-way ceiling. "I expect more from Scottie," Rajakovic deadpanned when asked if this version of Barnes was who he envisioned early in his Raptors tenure. "The way he's playing right now, he's at 60% of the player he's going to be in two or three years," Rajakovic told theScore. "He's going to be one of the best players in the league. How much he cares about winning, how he pushes forward to do whatever it takes to win a game, that's what makes him special. I expect him to continue getting better." - Joseph Casciaro
Cleveland has a 'big' problem
The Cavs need Mitchell and Harden to be better than they were in Game 4 if Cleveland wants to escape the first round, let alone flirt with its Finals upside. A stout Raptors defense has done a great job mixing up its coverages to cause the star guards havoc. Toronto is face-guarding and top-blocking to eliminate Mitchell and Harden from some possessions, bringing different forms of pressure and double-teams to force the ball out of the duo's hands, and generally taking away Cleveland's first actions (and options) on possessions.
It's on Mitchell, Harden, and Kenny Atkinson's coaching staff to figure things out, but some of these struggles would be mitigated if Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen played as big as their sheer size. Both have been tremendous rim deterrents in the series, but Mobley has been exposed guarding in space, outworked for some rebounds, and still looks too uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. Meanwhile, Allen hasn't played with nearly enough force around the rim on either end. Toronto hasn't gotten much from its only true center - a diminished Jakob Poeltl - and yet the smaller Raptors have punished the Cavs inside because small-ball "bigs" like Barnes and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles have bullied Mobley and Allen. The Raptors outscored Cleveland 110-78 in the paint during Games 3 and 4.
This is an all-too-familiar trend for this era of the Cavs, but it can't continue if the league's only second-apron team has any hope of a deep run. - Joseph Casciaro
Saturday, April 25
Ayo has night of his life
Donte DiVincenzo's season-ending Achilles tear and Anthony Edwards' knee injury will have huge implications going forward for the T-Wolves, especially if Edwards is sidelined for an extended period. But let's commend Ayo Dosunmu for stepping into a difficult spot and bringing Minnesota within one victory of its third straight appearance in the second round of the postseason.
Dosunmu went off for a career-high 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting - including a perfect 5-of-5 from deep - to go along with a 12-of-12 clip from the charity stripe in 42 minutes off the bench. The Illinois product is the first player in NBA history to tally at least 40 points, shoot at least 75% from the field, make five-plus threes without a miss, and convert 10 or more free throws without missing in a regular-season or playoff contest, per OptaSTATS. The last player to have a 40-point game off the bench in the postseason was Stephen Curry in 2016.
If anybody still thought the T-Wolves gave up too much for Dosunmu at the deadline, there's no doubt now Minnesota won the trade. Dosunmu has developed into an elite 3-point shooter. He has the soft touch to hit floaters in the lane as well as the strength to power through defenders on drives. The ex-Bulls guard has already proven his worth, and his breakthrough Game 4 performance provided a national stage for what he brings to the table. - Chicco Nacion
Point Towns takes over to draw Knicks level
Karl-Anthony Towns turned in one of the finest playoff performances of his career in Game 4 against the Hawks, registering 20 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists in 29 minutes for his first-ever postseason triple-double. The scoring and rebounding Towns provided was no surprise. But the passing acumen he displayed Saturday evening was critical in tying up their first-round series with Atlanta at two games apiece.
Towns' playmaking took center stage early in the third quarter when Jalen Brunson exited with an apparent ankle injury. Things could've easily unraveled for the Knicks with their star point guard sidelined for nearly five minutes. But Towns took the reins as the lead facilitator during that span, dropping four dimes to help New York double its lead to 18 points by the time Brunson checked back in at the 5:38 mark.
Towns found a cutting OG Anunoby twice and Jordan Clarkson on another occasion when stationed at the top of the key. The 7-footer also set up an open Jose Alvarado 3-pointer after drawing a double team off the drive. Towns has always been a solid passer for his position. Give Knicks head coach Mike Brown credit for leaning into one of Towns' strengths at an important juncture of the contest. - Chicco Nacion
Past analysis
Check out all our archived items from previous days here.
US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER; Hope is here. Call (800)-327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org for 24/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).
ON: Please play responsibly. 19+. ON only. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call ConnexOntario 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca.
