The two best words in sports… three times… in one weekend? Welcome to basketball paradise.
Today’s Lineup
💪 At Long Last
Philly knocks out Boston for the first time since 1982.
🚨 Very Cavalier
Jarrett Allen keys a Cleveland Game 7 win.
👀 Who Wants the West?
Previewing Spurs-Wolves and Thunder-Lakers.
🎉 Happy birthday Victor Oladipo and Dorian Finney-Smith! 🎉
Game Recaps
Rivalry renewed: Embiid, Maxey lead Sixers to 109-100 Game 7 win over Boston
If you’re a Sixers fan, you may still be Processing the events of Saturday night.
It was then that Philly earned a long-awaited win over one of its most bitter foes— one they hadn’t defeated in the playoffs since before Michael Jordan was drafted. But after storming back from 3-1 down to tie the series up, the Sixers delivered in the win-or-go-home bout, ousting Boston thanks to stellar performances from Joel Embiid (34 PTS, 12 REB, 6 AST), and Tyrese Maxey (30 PTS, 11 REB, 7 AST), the latter of whom scored both of the team’s field goals in the final two minutes to vanquish the C’s for good. And don’t forget rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe, who scored 23 PTS, hit five threes, and contributed some crafty defense in a performance far beyond his years.
Jayson Tatum missed the matchup with a knee injury, causing Boston’s Joe Mazulla to bring a major change— the Celtics rolled out a starting lineup that had never played together previously, and though the Sixers pounced en route to an early lead, Boston battled back thanks to some tough buckets from Jaylen Brown (33 PTS, 9 REB). In the end, a bad day from beyond the arc once again spelled doom for the 2024 champs— they connected on just 26.5% of their looks from three, marking an early end to an admirable season.
Is this the year Philly finally gets over the hump and makes the conference finals? The answer is an Amtrak ride away…
🏀 🏀 🏀
Jarrett Allen’s 22 PTS, 19 REB fuel Cleveland’s 114-102
After dropping Game 6 to Toronto, the Cavaliers needed a rebound.
They got just that — 19 of them, in fact — from Jarrett Allen in a dominant two-way showing that buoyed Cleveland’s Game 7 win over the Raptors. In a grimy, hard-fought series, it took 22 PTS, 19 REB, and 3 BLK from the big man to propel the decisive victory, manufacturing offense for a team that saw both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden shoot under 50% from the field.
After a halftime tie, Cleveland pulled away in the third quarter thanks to Allen’s efforts as well as an unreal 60-33 discrepancy on the boards. Scottie Barnes led the Raps with 24, while RJ Barrett and Jamal Shead combined for 37 struggled to find a true offensive rhythm.
Cleveland keeps its Finals hopes alive, while Toronto reaches the end of a promising campaign with many young pieces set to return.
🏀 🏀 🏀
Pistons complete 3-1 comeback with stifling 116-94 win over Magic
Detroit entered the first round as a young 60-win squad with something to prove. They’re leaving it battle-tested.
The top-seeded Pistons completed a 3-1 comeback Sunday afternoon with a double-digit victory over Orlando, one that carried over the momentum from their stunning second-half surge in Friday’s Game 6 win. Cade Cunningham (32 PTS, 12 AST) was brilliant in the closeout effort, as was Tobias Harris (30 PTS, 9 REB, 5/7 from three). The Magic got another gem from Paolo Banchero (38 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST), but shot just 34% from the field outside their top dog, bowing out after a series-long dogfight.
Detroit advanced thanks to dominance in the middle of the game— MoTown mounted a 26-6 run between the late second and early third quarters, jumping out to a lead the Franz Wagner-less Magic could not make up. With their first playoff series win as a core under their belt, the Pistons are advancing with confidence that their best is yet to come.
🧠 Daily Trivia 🧠
Paolo Banchero has a career average of 27.4 PPG in the postseason. Which of these players ranks HIGHER?
Who wants the West?
While the East took its time wrapping up the first round, both West semis are ready to roll. Let’s take a look at some quick hits that could define the two matchups.
Spurs-Timberwolves
Ant, Ayo, Availability: After suffering a knee injury in Minnesota’s first round win over Denver, Anthony Edwards and his health could be the hinge point for the team’s WCF chances. Shams says he could return as early as Game 3, while the Wolves themselves listed him as questionable for Game 1. Meanwhile, Ayo Dosunmu, who scored 43 PTS in Game 4 against Denver, is still day-to-day with a calf injury.
Ferocious Fox: We know Victor Wembanyama will be sensational for San Antonio, but the play of their lead guard could be more influential. De’Aaron Fox shot 43% or better from the field in four of the Spurs’ five games against Portland. The lone outlier? A 6/16 performance in their Game 2 loss.
Next man up: With Edwards and Dosunmu up in the air and Donte DiVincenzo out with a torn Achilles, the Wolves will turn to several unproven names for major production. Luckily, some have already shown they can step up when it counts, namely 2024 first-rounder Terrence Shannon Jr., who scored 24 PTS in the closeout effort against the Nuggets.
Thunder-Lakers
Slowing down Shai: It’s no secret who the most dominant player in the postseason wears Orange and Blue, but just how to keep him off the scoreboard is a much more well-kept mystery. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a cool 33.8 PPG in OKC’s opening round sweep of Phoenix, including a 42-point masterclass in Game 3 in which he missed just three shots.
Returning Reaves: After missing their two leading scorers for much of their tilt with the Rockets, LA got a major boost when Austin Reaves returned to the lineup for Games 5 and 6. AR was rusty in the former, shooting 25% from the field and from three, but settled back into the flow of the offense with an efficient 15 PTS in Game 6. LeBron James will be LA’s most pivotal player, but they’ll need Reaves’ jump-shooting at its best to compete with the reigning champs.
Depth Perception: The Thunder have one of the toughest bench units in the league, particularly at the guard spot, with Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace providing tenacious perimeter defense. They’ll need it against a Lakers second unit with proven producers of its own— Luke Kennard is back in his sixth-man role after playing hero with 27 PTS in Game 1 against Houston.
Three in the Key
👀 Kyrie Cooking
Can’t wait to see those handles back on the court!
🤔 Small ball fading?
Do you agree with Pierre?
🔥 Game 7 Legends
Looking back on some unforgettable closeout performances.
What We’re Enjoying
In the NBA, a great stretch from a single player can mean the difference in a game, a series, or a season. Our guys looked back at some of those instances in their most recent head-to-head trivia battle, naming hoopers with the most high-impact games under 30 minutes. Give it a watch!
Signing Off
And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, remember that your life is on its own timeline. Comparison is the thief of joy, and in the end, the only person you’re competing with is yesterday’s version of you. See you soon!
Walker Carnathan
