Indiana realized rather early in Game 2 that the Pacers weren't expected to beat the Knicks twice on Friday. Only had to beat New York once, in Game 2, to earn that 2-0 lead. Did not require lifting the enormity of the scope of a 2-0 series advantage
NO. 3 KNICKS VS. NO. 4 PACERS New York took two of three meetings from Indiana, winning once at home and once in Indianapolis and losing to the Pacers at home during a November matinee. Of course, a lot has changed since November. NEW YORK C: Karl-Anthony Towns – Knick legend
NO. 1 THUNDER VS. NO. 6 TIMBERWOLVES The Thunder beat the Wolves on New Year's Eve. That isn't code. The teams played each other thrice in February, a home-and-home scheduled 24 hours and 800 miles apart (two good games, road team won each time). Minnesota won
The Knicks, safe to say, are goin' for it. All those first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, who wouldn't check himself out of a Turkish prison if given the option. Bridges performs as if aware of the package New York let loose for him, he appreciates the commitment
Howdy. The playoffs are great. They should extend each of these series to best-of nine, give everyone a few days off to get healthy. Also I think three-point shooters should have to have a foot on the line for the three-pointer to count, like a base to touch, but that&
GOLDEN STATE 1, MINNESOTA 1 The Warriors tried to make it Jimmy Butler's night. The Timberwolves put Jaden McDaniels on him. The Warriors tried to make Pat Spencer a thing. The Timberwolves tried to put Jaden McDaniels. The Warriors tried a line shift, five reserves entering at once,
NO. 6 TIMBERWOLVES VS. NO. 7 WARRIORS The Warriors topped the Wolves in three outta four regular season games, featuring some rather disparate lineups. Andrew Wiggins managed two starts, expected, but Dennis Schröder started twice, that was this season. Trayce Jackson-Davis started twice, wild, so did Jonathan Kuminga. The Minnesota
NO. 1 THUNDER VS. NO. 4 NUGGETS The two teams split the season series, strong co-parenting. OKLAHOMA CITY C: Isaiah Hartenstein – big and burly and smart and left-handed so he jumps directly into Nikola Jokic's shooting motion, right into the right hand. None of this will matter one
NO. 2 CELTICS VS. NO. 3 KNICKS These guys know each other? BOSTON C: Kristaps Porziņģis – bad offensively against Orlando but I can't be bothered, crushes the other team by being out there, standing tall. Played very well in two appearances against the Knicks (24 per on 50/
HOUSTON 3, GOLDEN STATE 3 If everyone stays healthy. If Fred VanVleet crushes in the clutch. If the young players listen to the coaching staff about defense. If the the team isn't rattled by the trade deadline. If all the young role players continue to roll offensively. If
GOLDEN STATE 3, HOUSTON 2 Amen Thompson , threatened with coming off the bench in an NBA game for the first time since 2024, was settled and secure throughout Game 6, remarkable composure for the 22-year old. The Rockets weren't set to be swayed by Thompson's mood
MINNESOTA 4, LOS ANGELES LAKERS 1 Turns out the Lakers were tired. Tired from getting their asses kicked all up and down the court by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Those victorious Wolves didn't flout a distinct advantage but the defense sustained, Minnesota featuring supreme interior disruption from Rudy Gobert.