The NBA postseason continued yesterday with four high-stakes Game 4 matchups that shaped the course of their respective first-round series. Several teams took commanding 3�1 series leads, while others fought to keep their seasons alive. Here�s a full breakdown:
Eastern Conference Games
New York Knicks 94, Detroit Pistons 93 (Knicks lead series 3�1)
At Little Caesars Arena, the New York Knicks survived a major scare from the young Detroit Pistons in a dramatic, one-point thriller.
Jalen Brunson was the hero once again, scoring 32 points and recording 11 assists, but it wasn�t all smooth sailing. Brunson suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury in the third quarter and had to briefly exit the game. However, in a moment that captured his toughness and leadership, he returned in the fourth quarter and carried the Knicks to victory.
Detroit, led by Cade Cunningham and rookie sensation Ron Holland, made a strong push late, nearly stealing the game. However, the Pistons� inexperience showed in the final possessions, missing key free throws and committing a crucial turnover that allowed New York to escape.
Now leading 3�1, the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden with a chance to close out the series in Game 5.
Boston Celtics 107, Orlando Magic 98 (Celtics lead series 3�1)
Over in Orlando, the Boston Celtics showed why they�re one of the title favorites. Jayson Tatum delivered a masterclass with 37 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, dominating on both ends of the floor. Jaylen Brown supported him with a strong 21-point, 11-rebound double-double.
The Magic fought valiantly, with Paolo Banchero scoring 26 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, but their lack of outside shooting and playoff experience ultimately caught up to them. Boston�s suffocating defense in the final six minutes held Orlando to just two field goals, turning a close game into a decisive win.
The Celtics now head home with a 3�1 advantage, looking to finish the job in TD Garden.
Indiana Pacers 129, Milwaukee Bucks 103 (Pacers lead series 3�1)
In a game many expected to be closer, the Indiana Pacers absolutely overwhelmed the Milwaukee Bucks from the opening tip.
Tyrese Haliburton orchestrated the offense brilliantly with 28 points and 13 assists, while Myles Turner contributed 21 points and 7 rebounds. Indiana�s role players also stepped up, with Bennedict Mathurin pouring in 17 off the bench.
For Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled to dominate in his usual fashion, limited to just 22 points and a visibly frustrated figure all night. Compounding the Bucks� woes, Damian Lillard continued to deal with a nagging calf injury, finishing with just 14 points on poor shooting.
The Pacers now hold a 3�1 series lead and have a chance to eliminate the 2021 champions in the next game.
Western Conference Games
Minnesota Timberwolves 116, Los Angeles Lakers 113 (Timberwolves lead series 3�1)
In the most thrilling game of the night, Anthony Edwards delivered a superstar performance, exploding for 43 points to help the Minnesota Timberwolves pull off a stunning late comeback over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
The Lakers seemed poised to even the series behind LeBron James (29 points, 10 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (26 points, 13 rebounds), but critical mistakes down the stretch cost them dearly.
With just over a minute to play, Jaden McDaniels made a momentum-shifting three-point play after a steal and finish in transition. Edwards then buried a deep contested three-pointer to give the Wolves the lead for good.
The loss leaves the Lakers on the brink of elimination, down 3�1, as the series shifts back to Minnesota where the Timberwolves will try to close out at home.
Game 5s will be played over the next two days. Teams with 3�1 leads (New York, Boston, Indiana, Minnesota) will aim to close out their series and rest up for the second round, while the Pistons, Magic, Bucks, and Lakers will be fighting for survival.
