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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …
THE NEW YORK KNICKS
Gorgeous. Stunning. Monumental. Magnificent. Select no matter adjective you want, no matter crossover of surprising and superb, and that is what the Knicks delivered, but once more. For the second straight sport, New York overcame a 20-point deficit to upset the Celtics in Boston, this time by a rating of 91-90.
There are many causes for these comebacks, nevertheless it boils right down to a few issues: In crunch time, the Knicks have Jalen Brunson on offense and Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby on protection.
The Knicks are the primary workforce within the play-by-play period (since 1996-97) to have 20-point comebacks in consecutive playoff video games on the street.
- New York was down 16, 84-68, after a Payton Pritchard 3 with 8:40 left. The Celtics would then miss their subsequent 13 photographs over the eight-plus minutes. By then, they trailed, 89-88.
- Jayson Tatum lastly ended the drought, blowing by Mitchell Robinson for a go-ahead dunk with 18.1 seconds left, however Jrue Vacation fouled Brunson on the following possession. Brunson’s two free throws gave New York a 91-90 edge.
- Tatum had the ball in his arms as soon as once more, however this time he could not get previous Robinson, who bought some nice assist protection, first from Anunoby after which, on the final second, from Bridges, who offered the game-clinching steal for the second straight sport.
- Brunson scored 9 of his 17 factors within the fourth quarter. Josh Hart completed with 23 factors, and Karl-Anthony Cities had 21 factors and 17 rebounds.
The offense comes and goes, however the effort by no means wavers, James Herbert writes.
Afterward, the Thunder lastly restored a semblance of order, rolling previous the Nuggets, 149-106, to even their sequence and turn into the primary house workforce to win on this spherical. Oklahoma Metropolis tied a playoff document with 87 first-half factors and by no means appeared again. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 34 factors on 11-for-13 capturing.
😃 Honorable mentions
🏀 And never such morning for …
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THE BOSTON CELTICS
I advised you to not anticipate one other playoff-record 45 missed 3s from the Celtics, and I used to be proper. The one downside? The Celtics shot a depressing 10 for 40 from deep, the very same price (25%) as in Recreation 1.
We are able to certainly copy and paste a number of points from that sport into this one: They constructed an enormous lead, and their offense fully fell aside, stagnant and sloppy.
Tatum completed with a measly 13 factors on 5-for-19 capturing. Jaylen Brown had 20 factors, however on 8-for-23 capturing. The one participant to make at the least half of his photographs from 3 was Kristaps Porzingis, who made the one 3 he took however would not appear fairly wholesome; he performed simply 14 minutes.
We are able to nitpick the offense all we wish. There’s loads unsuitable. However the Celtics are additionally simply lacking tons of wide-open photographs. There’s an extremely straightforward — and concurrently extremely troublesome — repair: Make them. We’ll see if Boston can do this in time to avoid wasting its season.
😔 Not so honorable mentions
🏈 George Pickens traded to Cowboys: Why Dallas received commerce, what’s subsequent
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When Jerry Jones mentioned pre-draft he had some large trades within the works after which the draft got here and went, we questioned if he was bluffing.
Because it seems, it simply took just a little little bit of time. The Cowboys acquired George Pickens (and a 2027 sixth-round decide) from the Steelers for a 2026 third-round decide and a 2027 fifth-round decide.
However Dallas nonetheless comes out forward in Jordan Dajani’s commerce grades.
- Dajani: “Cowboys: A- | At 6-foot-3, 200 kilos, Pickens is a authentic perimeter risk that ought to have Dak Prescott giddy. He’ll open up issues for CeeDee Lamb, and vice versa. On paper, the Cowboys simply created probably the greatest broad receiver duos within the league.”
I agree with Jordan right here. Since Pickens entered the league in 2022, solely Tyreek Hill and Justin Jefferson have extra catches than Pickett on throws 20 yards or extra downfield, and solely Amon-Ra St. Brown has extra catches than Lamb on throws 20 yards or fewer downfield.
After a down yr, Dallas must get again to the playoffs, Jeff Kerr writes, and this, on paper, is a big step in the correct route. There’s nonetheless work to be achieved, although, Tyler Sullivan writes.
Then there’s the Steelers’ facet. Pittsburgh acquired DK Metcalf, but when you have not heard, quarterback stays an enormous query. Aaron Rodgers nonetheless hasn’t signed with the workforce, and a Steelers minority proprietor mentioned it stays a posh concern. Rodgers doubtless wasn’t shocked by the Pickens deal, however the Steelers now have work to do to enhance their pass-catching corps. Keenan Allen and different notable names can be found, and Pittsburgh is reportedly focused on an previous Rodgers buddy. (Sound acquainted, Jets followers?)
Pickens’ tenure in Pittsburgh — very like Pickens on the whole — proved a irritating blended bag, Bryan DeArdo writes.
- DeArdo: “A few of the dangers the Steelers have taken have backfired extra steadily than different groups, particularly on the receiver place. Whereas the Steelers’ willingness to offer gamers with character considerations an opportunity is admirable, it is also a substantial danger that deserves questioning and even criticizing when it would not work out.”
🏀 Stephen Curry out a number of video games with hamstring pressure
Stephen Curry is anticipated to overlook a number of video games — at the least every week, the truth is — because of the hamstring pressure he suffered in Recreation 1, which the Warriors received 99-88 over the Timberwolves.
If Curry misses one week from Wednesday’s announcement, he’d miss Recreation 2 (tonight), Recreation 3 (Saturday), Recreation 4 (Monday) and Recreation 5 (Wednesday). There are three days off between Recreation 5 and Recreation 6.
Since Curry joined the Warriors in 2009, they’re 9-3 within the postseason with out him, and as Recreation 1 confirmed, Golden State can survive if he cannot play. Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced all had large video games, and the Warriors’ protection confirmed up in an enormous method. That protection must proceed to shine, Isabel Gonzalez writes.
On the opposite facet, Chris Finch challenged Anthony Edwards to “set the tone” after a lackluster Recreation 1.
Lastly, each coaches are sad with the refereeing. What a shock!
⚽ PSG beats Arsenal, into UEFA Champions League remaining
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The UEFA Champions League remaining is ready: PSG will face Inter after defeating Arsenal, 2-1, within the second leg and, 3-1, on mixture.
Les Parisiens entered with a 1-0 lead and bought targets from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi to place issues out of attain earlier than Bukayo Saka lastly put one previous a terrific Gianluigi Donarumma to get the Gunners on the board.
PSG has by no means received the competitors (Inter has thrice) however maybe Les Parisiens are too younger to know any higher, Chuck Sales space notes.
- Sales space: “Youth may be taken as an obstacle, however for gamers like Need Doue and Joao Neves, they do not have the burden of PSG’s historical past on them.”
Listed here are Pardeep Cattry’s early keys to the Might 31 remaining and Francesco Porzio’s ode to San Siro on a magical evening.
📺 What we’re watching Thursday
🏒 Hurricanes at Capitals (Hurricanes lead 1-0), 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Warriors at Timberwolves (Warriors lead 1-0), 8:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV
🏒 Oilers at Golden Knights (Oilers lead 1-0), 9:30 p.m. on ESPN