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The Associated Press
April 28, 2025, 5:44 PM
NEW YORK (AP) — The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are on the verge of a second spherical that seems to be taking form shortly within the Jap Convention.
Nothing will be determined Tuesday evening in the one sport out West, the place the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers may be nowhere close to completed in a sequence that’s too near name as they play their Recreation 5.
The Celtics, Knicks and Pacers will all be on their residence flooring with 3-1 leads they took with street victories on Sunday. Groups have didn’t advance with that lead solely 13 occasions in NBA historical past, so all three are in good condition to return to the convention semifinals for the second straight 12 months.
The defending champion Celtics, seeded second, and No. 3-seeded Knicks would arrange the primary playoff assembly between the longtime rivals since 2013. Boston wants yet one more victory over Orlando, whereas New York can end off Detroit after pulling out a 94-93 victory in Recreation 4 after officers mentioned they missed what should have been a foul call towards Josh Hart on Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 3-point try with 0.3 seconds remaining.
The No. 4-seeded Pacers can knock out Milwaukee, playing without Damian Lillard, for the second straight 12 months. Cleveland, the highest seed, was attempting to finish a sweep of Miami on Monday.
“All people within the locker room is aware of what the deal is. We’ve obtained to enter Indiana, play some good basketball,” Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo mentioned. “Clearly we don’t have Dame. However the subsequent man’s obtained to step up. We’ve obtained to do what we’ve obtained to do. Transfer the ball, play collectively, attempt to win the sport and are available again.”
The Nuggets and Clippers, however, may be happening to the wire.
They positive did on Saturday, when Aaron Gordon’s dunk of Nikola Jokic’s missed shot on the buzzer tied the sequence at 2-2. The Clippers had gained Recreation 3 simply, however the different three video games have been determined by three or fewer factors.
So Gordon and the Nuggets didn’t have fun too lengthy after that victory.
“(It’s) 2-2 proper now,” teammate Michael Porter Jr. mentioned. “Large win. We get to return residence, however it’s so removed from over.”
When/The place to Watch: Recreation 5, 8:30 p.m. EDT (NBA TV)
Collection: Celtics lead, 3-1.
BetMGM says: Celtics by 12.5
What to Know: Boston took the 2 video games at residence fairly simply earlier than issues obtained more durable in Orlando, the place the Magic gained Recreation 3 and pushed the Celtics deep into Recreation 4 earlier than falling 107-98. Jayson Tatum scored 36 and 37 factors within the final two after lacking Recreation 2 with a wrist damage. The Celtics might be with out beginning guard Jrue Vacation for a 3rd straight sport with a strained proper hamstring. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero has scored 25 or extra in seven straight playoff video games, tied with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant for the longest streak by gamers below 23.
When/The place to Watch: Recreation 5, 7:30 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Collection: Knicks lead, 3-1.
BetMGM says: Knicks by 5.5
What to Know: The Knicks failed to shut out a sequence on this identical state of affairs final 12 months, dropping to the Philadelphia 76ers in time beyond regulation at residence in Recreation 5 and forcing them to win the sequence on the street. The Pistons are 3-1 at Madison Sq. Backyard this season, counting their victory in Recreation 2 of the sequence, when Karl-Anthony Cities scored simply 10 factors. However the Knicks obtained their All-Star middle moving into Detroit, the place he averaged 29 factors within the Knicks’ two victories. Jalen Brunson has scored 12 or extra factors within the fourth quarter of all 4 video games and is averaging 33.3 within the sequence, simply behind Antetokounmpo’s 33.8 for tops within the postseason.
When/The place to Watch: Recreation 5, 6 p.m. EDT (NBA TV)
Collection: Pacers lead 3-1
BetMGM Sportsbook: Pacers by 7 ½
What to Know: The Pacers look to remove Milwaukee for a second straight season after successful 4-2 final 12 months. The Bucks have misplaced eight straight street playoff video games, and the final 5 got here at Indiana. Milwaukee is having to regroup with out seven-time All-Star Lillard, who was helped off the court docket halfway by way of the primary quarter of the Bucks’ 129-103 Recreation 4 loss at Milwaukee on Sunday. With or with out Lillard, the Bucks have been unable to gradual Indiana down on this sequence. Indiana has compiled at the least 115 factors in every of their three sequence wins and shot 60.2% in Recreation 4 with eight Pacers scoring in double figures. Six Pacers are scoring at the least 12 factors per sport on this sequence, together with Pascal Siakam’s 22.3. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton is averaging 12.3 assists on this sequence and had 15 on Sunday. Antetokounmpo has 33.8 factors, 14.3 rebounds and 5 assists per sport on this sequence, however he isn’t getting sufficient assist. Lillard’s damage probably means a larger position for Kevin Porter Jr., who had 23 factors and 6 assists off the bench Sunday.
When/The place to Watch: Recreation 5, 10 p.m. EDT (TNT)
Collection: Tied, 2-2
BetMGM says: Clippers by 1.5
What to Know: The Clippers’ two losses within the sequence are one fewer than they’d in a bit of greater than a month to complete the common season, once they went 18-3. Jokic, after averaging a triple-double in the course of the common season, is second within the playoffs in each rebounds (13.5) and assists (10.8) per sport whereas averaging 28.5 factors. The Nuggets have gained 12 of their final 13 playoff video games when holding the opponent beneath 100 factors.
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AP Sports activities Author Steve Megargee in Milwaukee contributed to this report.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
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