Our basketball writers share their observations and insights throughout the NBA conference semifinals.
Sunday, May 10
Ant keeps persevering
It's no secret that Anthony Edwards hasn't been at full strength. The four-time All-Star had been on a minutes restriction through the first two games of the series as he managed injuries to both of his knees. Edwards still left his mark with an 11-point fourth quarter in Game 1 to help the T-Wolves draw first blood. He finally returned to Minnesota's starting lineup for Game 3 and put up 32 points, but ran out of gas after playing 40-plus minutes for the first time since Game 2 of the opening-round against the Denver Nuggets.
Edwards seemed to be running on fumes once again in Game 4. He was seen retreating to the tunnel on multiple occasions to get oxygen before returning to play. But Edwards buckled down with his team facing a potential 3-1 series deficit, scoring 16 of his game-high 36 points in the fourth quarter to even up the second-round series. He continuously won his 1-on-1 matchups in isolation, buried a pair of triples, went through multiple defenders in the paint to draw free throws, and had a decisive offensive board and putback to push the home side up four points late.
Edwards is now tied with Dwyane Wade for the fourth-most 30-point playoff games (18) before turning 25, per ESPN Insights. All other players in the T-Wolves franchise history have combined for 17. Minnesota made just one West final before drafting Edwards first overall in 2020. They're now two wins away from a third consecutive conference finals appearance. - Chicco Nacion
Knicks have killer instinct
It was only 10 days ago that the Knicks finished off the Hawks with a 51-point beatdown in Atlanta. With an opportunity to clinch their second straight East finals berth, New York came out with the same urgency in Sunday's Game 4. Mike Brown's squad jumped out to a 43-24 lead after the first quarter, drilling 11 threes to set a playoff record for the play-by-play era. They knocked down seven more treys in the second quarter to tie the NBA postseason mark in any half. The Knicks had an offensive rating of 176 points per 100 possessions in the first half, per Cleaning the Glass.
Deuce McBride led the brigade with 23 points, including 7-of-9 shooting from deep. The West Virginia product set the tone with a trio of early threes, surpassing his point total from the previous two contests combined. Jalen Brunson had six of the team's 25 makes from downtown, which tied the league's single-game playoff record. Karl-Anthony Towns continues to thrive as a playmaking hub, reaching double-digits in assists for the third time in the postseason. New York's plus-194 point differential is the largest in NBA playoff history through a team's first 10 contests, according to Sportsnet Stats.
For the second straight closeout game, the Knicks had the luxury of resting their starters for the entire fourth quarter. The four-game sweep is especially important for OG Anunoby, who missed his second straight contest with a strained right hamstring. Regardless of whether or not he's back for the East finals opener, New York is operating with the precision of a championship-calibre team. - Chicco Nacion
Friday, May 8
Wolves get the full Wemby experience
There was a point in the fourth quarter of Game 3 where it felt like Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs were teetering. The big fella looked fatigued, had just picked up his fifth foul, and the Spurs' 15-point lead was down to one. Minnesota could sense it, and its crowd was ready to explode. Instead, Wembanyama silenced Target Center with a breathtaking stretch of basketball that teased the potential of his final, terrifying form.
He shut down the paint defensively. He played volleyball with himself on the offensive glass. He spun off Rudy Gobert to hit a turnaround jumper. He scored inside. He made multiple three-pointers. He drew two to the ball and found a cutting Dylan Harper. He dominated in every conceivable way. The Wolves are a gritty, playoff-tested team, and Anthony Edwards was inspiring in his own right Friday night, but when Wemby got rolling, it felt as though the other nine players on the court were mere pawns in his own game. Everyone was at his mercy, which may as well have been a peek into the NBA's future.
Wembanyama finished with 39 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks on 13-of-18 shooting in the win, which gave San Antonio a 2-1 series lead. The 22-year-old joined the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Willis Reed, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Shaquille O'Neal as the only players to post a 35-15-5 playoff game. - Joseph Casciaro
Shamet steps up in Anunoby's absence
Landry Shamet was expected to compete with Malcolm Brogdon for the Knicks' last roster spot back in camp before the latter suddenly announced his retirement. Just eight months later, Shamet's readiness off the bench may have all but secured a second straight Eastern Conference finals appearance for a franchise that nearly went a quarter-century without reaching that stage until last year.
With OG Anunoby sidelined due to a hamstring strain, Shamet was an obvious candidate for increased minutes in the Knicks' wing rotation. However, he entered Friday averaging just 9.3 minutes in six playoff contests. In Game 3, the 29-year-old needed only six field-goal attempts to score 15 points off the bench, with all but one of his shots coming in the first half.
Shamet played an especially critical role during the Knicks' fourth-quarter run that coincided with Joel Embiid checking back in for the final six minutes. He stood his ground against Quentin Grimes to force a turnover on the perimeter, then drew a foul by pump-faking Tyrese Maxey, draining two free throws that put New York up 15 with five minutes left. The Knicks led 16-0 in bench points through the first three quarters largely because of Shamet, who finished with a game-high plus-20. - Jonathan Soveta
Thursday, May 8
The SGA-less run that swung Game 2
The Lakers must feel like they're playing uphill against an insurmountable opponent in Oklahoma City. As we discussed below, the Doncic-less squad did a great job limiting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Game 1 and still got smoked by 18 points. In Thursday's Game 2, the Lakers held a lead early in the third quarter, forced Gilgeous-Alexander to the bench with foul trouble ... and still got smoked by 18 points.
Gilgeous-Alexander picked up his fourth foul with 10:34 remaining in the third frame. Austin Reaves' ensuing free throws gave the Lakers a five-point lead and almost an entire quarter to nurse it while the reigning MVP rode the bench. Instead, behind the Thunder's devastating depth and relentless defense, Oklahoma City ran away with the game. Seven different players combined to help the Thunder outscore the Lakers 32-14 over the final 10 minutes of the quarter. By the time Gilgeous-Alexander returned to start the fourth period, the champs were up 13 and cruising.
Perhaps the best encapsulation of the game-breaking run came when Chet Holmgren contained an Austin Reaves drive, calmly stole the ball, and fueled a fast break that ended in a Jaylin Williams three-pointer. You'll rarely see a big man contain a guard's drive as well as Holmgren did or strip a smaller player as cleanly.
Gilgeous-Alexander still finished with a fairly efficient 22 points, but it felt like the Thunder barely needed it. And this is a team that's still missing its second- or third-best player in Jalen Williams. What a squad. - Joseph Casciaro
Pistons suffocate Harden, Cavs
Cade Cunningham was awesome down the stretch as the top-seeded Pistons pulled away for a Game 2 win (and 2-0 series lead) over Cleveland, but it was Detroit's defense that fueled what was almost a wire-to-wire victory. The Cavaliers scored 97 points on an effective field-goal percentage of 45.6%, but even those ugly figures fail to capture how much of a struggle it was for them to create offense.
Ausar Thompson made James Harden's life miserable and slowed Donovan Mitchell until the latter caught fire at one point during the second half. Daniss Jenkins came off the bench and hounded a variety of Cavs. As a team, the Pistons were aggressive yet selective, ignoring non-threats like Dennis Schroder. They collectively covered a ton of ground, sending extra bodies at Harden and Mitchell while working tirelessly to both hedge and recover. Even defensive liabilities like Duncan Robinson and Tobias Harris always managed to be in the right spots at the right time. The entire team was on a string; as focused as they were ferocious.
Even during a second-half Cavs surge, when Mitchell's shot-making began to turn the tide and Cleveland's pick-and-roll actions consistently put the Pistons in rotation, Detroit never wavered. It was a flawless display of connected team-defense.
The Pistons certainly deserve the credit, but that doesn't mean Harden and the Cavs should skirt the blame. Harden's latest playoff stinker saw him score just 10 points on 15 shooting possessions while recording more turnovers (four) than assists (three) for the fourth time this postseason. I also lost count of how many 50-50 balls the Pistons won. Much like Cleveland's first-round series against Toronto, the Cavs are getting outworked. - Joseph Casciaro
Wednesday, May 6
OG tilts the scales for New York, suffers injury scare
The Knicks largely go as Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns do, but it's the two-way play of OG Anunoby that has swung the pendulum in the Knicks' favor this spring. That was the case again in a Game 2 win over the 76ers until Anunoby suffered an apparent leg injury in the final minutes.
Anunoby is the glue guy; New York's connector in so many ways. He's an all-world defender whose hands, strength, and defensive intellect are all equally game-changing. He's a great team-rebounder who does his job on the glass, whether that leaves him with the ball or simply allows a teammate to collect it. On the offensive end, his shooting and cutting make life easier for higher-usage stars like Brunson and Towns. All of those traits were on display in Game 2, as Anunoby finished with 24 points, five rebounds, four steals, two assists, and a block in 37 minutes.
On a night when the Sixers were without Joel Embiid and desperately needed Tyrese Maxey and Paul George to carry them, Anunoby spent time negating both the star guard and the veteran forward. (He probably would've logged some time on Embiid, too, if the behemoth was active.) He hit the deck to battle for possessions. He hit big shots when the Knicks needed him to. He ran the floor to finish fast breaks ignited by his defense. It's no surprise Anunoby finished a game-high plus-12. The man was everywhere.
Anunoby's game and demeanor may be quiet, but his impact is deafening. That's why his crunch-time absence was so concerning, with the Knicks providing no update following the contest. Anunoby missed three weeks with a left hamstring injury earlier this season. Such a postseason blow would be devastating for New York, as it was two years ago. They may not need him to close out the Sixers (though I'd caution Knicks fans not to count their chickens before they hatch), but they'll certainly need him if they have any hope of ending the franchise's 53-year title drought. - Joseph Casciaro
Fatigue kicking in for Sixers
The Sixers' offense was flowing in the first half of Game 2, scoring 62 points on 47% 3-point shooting. Tyrese Maxey's 19 points led all scorers. Then, fatigue kicked in for the Sixers, who played three games in five days, including an emotional Game 7 win over the Celtics on Saturday.
Philly scored 12 fourth-quarter points, shooting 21% (4-for-19) from the field and 10% (1-for-10) from three in the final frame. The Sixers' offensive process crumbled late in the game. When they generated open shots, they didn't have the energy to make them. Four of Philly's starters played at least 40 minutes, including Maxey, who played 47 of 48 minutes and didn't sit in the second half. After a dazzling first half, he scored seven points in the final 24 minutes and committed a season-high six turnovers.
Maxey could've used some rest, especially as the offense flows through him without Joel Embiid, who missed Game 2 with ankle and hip injuries. But Nick Nurse doesn't have reliable backup options. One of the Sixers' weaknesses is their lack of depth, and they're especially thin at guard. With only a day of rest between the next few games, the Sixers' season hinges on their stamina against the league's best fourth-quarter team. - Sam Oshtry
Spurs need more from Wemby on offense
Victor Wembanyama's playoff-record 12 blocks set the tone for the Spurs' defense, even as the Timberwolves adjusted by playing smaller lineups and using clever tactics (see below) to neutralize the French phenom's impact at the rim. But San Antonio lost Game 1 because of its offensive struggles, starting with Wembanyama, who finished with 11 points on 5-for-17 shooting, including 0-for-8 from three.
Wembanyama shot closer to the rim this season compared to the last two years while attempting fewer threes than ever, making a concerted effort to avoid settling for jumpers and to play near the basket. However, in the first true playoff test of his career (no disrespect to the Blazers), Wembanyama reverted to settling for threes instead of attacking inside. The Timberwolves put Rudy Gobert and Julius Randle as the primary defenders on him, and their physicality clearly bothered the former Rookie of the Year. The pair consistently pushed Wembanyama away from the rim, forcing his touches further from the basket than the Spurs would like.
While De'Aaron Fox also played poorly and the Spurs shot 28% from three as a unit, the offense runs through Wembanyama. For San Antonio's offense to function the rest of the series, the Spurs must figure out a way to get Wembanyama touches closer to the rim - 47% of his shots can't come from three. The Spurs superstar must also handle the Wolves' physicality better, beginning with Wednesday night's Game 2. - Sam Oshtry
Tuesday, May 5
Luka-less Lakers have no shot vs. OKC
Things can change quickly during the playoffs, and it's wise to never overreact to one game, but the series-opener between the Thunder and Lakers was a clear peek into the future of what should be a short series. Barring a Hollywood miracle or an unfortunate turn of events for Oklahoma City, the Luka Doncic-less Lakers simply won't be able to score enough against the defending champs.
LeBron James will continue to one-up Father Time, and the absence of Thunder swingman Jalen Williams will allow James to take advantage of smaller matchups (when he shakes free of Lu Dort), as he did Tuesday to the tune of 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting. But good luck to the Lakers as they try to get anything else going against the league's top defense. OKC's terrifying collection of perimeter defenders made Austin Reaves' life hell in Game 1 (3-of-16 shooting) and will continue to do so, while Chet Holmgren shut down the paint. This isn't the dysfunctional, low-IQ Rockets anymore. This is a well-oiled winning machine.
Credit head coach JJ Redick and the Lakers' own defense for their aggressive and effective scheme against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers, but Game 1 had to be sobering for Los Angeles. The Lakers got off to a great start, got a big LeBron game, limited the reigning MVP ... and still never looked capable of winning, en route to an 18-point beatdown. Doncic would've given L.A. a puncher's chance. This version of the Lakers is dead on arrival. - Joseph Casciaro
Cavs go away from what worked
Cleveland appeared to have the right idea about how to attack the Pistons out of the gate; Evan Mobley went straight at Jalen Duren on the first play, and although he missed the layup, Duren could do nothing against the second-chance dunk after committing to the initial contest. Kenny Atkinson's men had three offensive boards after just two minutes, and Duren alone was struggling against Cleveland's giant frontcourt combo of Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
The Cavs, however, seldom tried to nullify Duren from that point on despite the early success. Some of that was due to Allen picking up three fouls within six minutes, but the change in plans nonetheless seemed to really throw off James Harden. The 36-year-old went 1-of-7 from distance Tuesday, settling for a couple rushed attempts that resulted in easy buckets for the Pistons the other way. By the end of the first half, the Cavs were shooting 8-of-22 (36%) and had already surrendered 20 points off turnovers. Harden finished with a team-high seven, tying his Game 4 total against the Toronto Raptors for his most in one game since joining Cleveland.
Unsurprisingly, the Cavaliers' most encouraging stretch was an 11-0 run in the fourth that began during a three-minute breather for Duren. Harden scored nine straight to help tie the game during that span, but the little momentum the Cavs pieced together disintegrated quickly when a full-stretch Duren thwarted an ill-advised floater by Harden. From there, the Pistons center repeatedly combined with Cade Cunningham, and their simple two-man game gave Detroit the breathing room it needed. - Jonathan Soveta
Monday, May 4
Wolves erase Wemby down stretch of Game 1 upset
It might sound preposterous given that Victor Wembanyama recorded an NBA playoff record 12 blocks in Game 1 of the West semifinals, but the Timberwolves actually did a good job of limiting his defensive influence down the stretch. Minnesota accomplished that by leaning on a smaller lineup that saw Julius Randle paired with Naz Reid rather than Rudy Gobert.
According to play-by-play data, the Gobert-less Randle-Reid pairing spent more time on the court in the fourth quarter (10:50) than in the previous three periods combined (7:30). During that fourth-quarter stretch, Minnesota outscored San Antonio by seven points (31-24) in a game they'd ultimately win by just two. The lineup pulled Wemby at least a bit further from the rim than the Spurs would prefer, but Minnesota also utilized the power of the Gortat screen - where the screener seals and eliminates his own defender after setting an on-ball pick. When worked to perfection, a Gortat screen clears a runway to the rim for ball-handlers, as Randle did for Anthony Edwards in the image below:
Wembanyama's poor offensive performance (5-of-17) obviously played a factor in the Game 1 result, but his somewhat muted fourth quarter on the defensive end is what swung the contest. What a simple yet brilliantly effective adjustment by Wolves head coach Chris Finch. - Joseph Casciaro
Can Sixers solve Brunson?
The Knicks continue to find success running offense through Karl-Anthony Towns, but the story of their Game 1 rout over Philadelphia was an unstoppable Jalen Brunson.
After a tough six-game series against Atlanta in which he was hounded by Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Brunson rarely looked bothered during a masterful scoring performance against the Sixers. The three-time All-Star scored 35 points on 81% true shooting in only 31 minutes of action. Brunson had his way with rookie VJ Edgecombe, the bigger Quentin Grimes, and even Paul George at times. Brunson and the Knicks also made a point of putting the laboring Joel Embiid in pick-and-roll actions, as Brunson punished Philly whether Embiid was in drop-coverage or playing higher up the floor.
How head coach Nick Nurse and the 76ers respond to their obvious Brunson problem will go a long way towards deciding the series. Philly doesn't have perimeter defenders like Daniels or Alexander-Walker, but that doesn't mean the Sixers are helpless. I'd expect George to draw more of the Brunson assignment at some point and for Embiid to spend less time on Towns (perhaps on Josh Hart), giving the Knicks at least some pause before using Embiid's man as the screener. The Sixers can also do a better job of targeting the Knicks' franchise star on the other end of the court and making Brunson expend some energy defensively. - Joseph Casciaro
Can Spurs stay hot from three?
The San Antonio Spurs led all teams in 3-point percentage during the first round, connecting on 41.8% of their attempts. Entering the postseason, 3-point shooting was a major concern surrounding San Antonio's title chances. The team ranked 15th in the league in 3-point percentage. The Spurs attempted the most corner threes in NBA history, largely because of Victor Wembanyama's gravity when he rolls to the rim. Even when he doesn't touch the ball, he creates shots for his teammates.
However, despite the shots Wembanyama created, the Spurs' inconsistent shooting often hurt their offense. That went away in the opening round, but Minnesota's defense is better than Portland's, and the Timberwolves also own a better opponent 3-point shooting percentage than the Blazers.
A greater challenge awaits the Spurs when they open their conference semifinal series tonight (9:30 p.m. ET). Whether San Antonio stays hot from beyond the arc will ultimately decide if Wemby and Co. can reach the conference finals. - Sam Oshtry
Depth, health will decide Knicks-Sixers series
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers are the two most talented teams remaining in the East. They both have the top-end talent to earn a trip to the NBA Finals. These teams match up incredibly well, which should create a thrilling series. But health and depth are even more important than talent and matchups. The playoffs are a war of attrition. The Sixers just played a thrilling Game 7 on Saturday and begin their second-round series tonight (8 p.m. ET). Can they withstand another physical battle after such a short turnaround?
It's a fair question to ask, considering Joel Embiid was limping on the court for the final few minutes of Game 7 and Paul George just turned 36. Embiid is probable for Game 1 with a hip contusion, and there is only one day of rest between each game for the first six games of this series. Philly also barely plays its bench, while the Knicks, who are more well-rested, have a reliable second unit. Those factors are ultimately more important than who has the best player in the series or who matches up the best. - Sam Oshtry
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