Wemby’s return, Boston’s 3s help Spurs, Celtics go up 3-1. Raptors get even with Cavs & Rockets extend series on Sunday.
From 19 points down … to 21 up.
Wemby and the Spurs packed a historic rally into what seemed like a blink to grab a 3-1 series lead.
Keep reading for what you gotta know from a wild Playoff weekend, three games tonight on NBC & Peacock and what’s ahead this week ⬇️
5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
What’s Trending – West: Four teams one win from advancing, four fighting to survive
What’s Trending – East: Two series tied 2-2, Orlando making Magic, C’s one win from closing
Spurs Surge Back (Again): Wemby’s dominant return ignites another epic San Antonio swing
Rockets Respond: Shorthanded Houston clamps down on Lakers to force Game 5
East Dubs: Raptors even series at 2-2, C’s splash 24 treys to take 3-1 lead
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Three Game 4s tip off tonight across NBC & Peacock, with the Magic (up 2-1) hosting the Pistons, before the Thunder (up 3-0) and Wolves (up 3-1) look to advance.
Catch Up Quick: From the bracket, to schedules, to the latest news from every single series, tap here for the NBA Playoffs Hub.
The Kia Rookie of the Year winner will be announced at 7 ET on Peacock ahead of Pistons-Magic. The three finalists? Philly’s VJ Edgecombe, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg, Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel. See this week’s full NBA Awards announcement schedule here.
1. WHAT’S TRENDING – WEST: CLOSEOUTS OR COMEBACKS?
Four series. Four teams one win away from advancing. Four opponents with their backs against the wall.
A wild Playoff weekend produced fireworks out West, from a frantic Friday to two Saturday takeovers, a pair of San Antonio rallies and a season-saving win in Houston.
How We Got Here: Sunday opened with Victor Wembanyama’s return igniting a 2nd-half Spurs avalanche, before the Rockets avoided elimination.
- Back-To-Back Comebacks: After rallying from 15 down on Friday to take a 2-1 series lead, the Spurs erased a 19-point deficit on Sunday, outscoring Portland 73-35 in the 2nd half to go up 3-1
- Top Two, Twice: It’s the second-largest Spurs comeback in postseason history and the second-largest 2nd-half Playoff point differential (+38) since play-by-play tracking began in 1997-98
- Wemby Masterclass: Leading the way? Wemby, who returned from concussion protocol in dominating fashion (27 pts, 12 reb, 7 blk, 4 stl) – a Playoff stat line unseen in 20+ years
- Rockets Rebound: In a 3-0 hole against LeBron James’ Lakers – after an epic Game 3 OT duel – Houston answered with an emphatic 19-point win last night, forcing a Wednesday Game 5 in Los Angeles (10 ET, ESPN)
Saturday Sizzle: Saturday delivered two statement wins from the Thunder and Wolves, highlighted by a rare pair of 40-balls – one from the reigning Kia MVP, and the other from a scorching-hot spark plug.
- Ayo Emergence: After losing Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles), Ayo Dosunmu dropped 43 for the Wolves off the bench on 13-of-17 shooting, lifting Minnesota past Denver to take a 3-1 lead
- Ant & DiVo Updates: Edwards is reportedly expected to miss multiple weeks with a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee, while DiVincenzo’s season is over with a torn Achilles
- Thunder Strike Again: Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for OKC, scoring 42 on 15-of-18 shooting to fuel a 121-109 win in Phoenix, giving the Thunder a 3-0 series lead
- 40-Ball Fire: Dosunmu’s 43 points are the 2nd-most by a reserve in NBA Playoff history, while SGA is the first player ever to score 42+ pts on at least 83.3% shooting in a postseason game
Huge Games Tonight On NBC & Peacock: The Suns and Nuggets will look to respond tonight with their backs against the wall, as Phoenix welcomes OKC for Game 4 (9:30, Peacock), while Denver hosts Minnesota for Game 5 (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).
- Been Here Before: The last team to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win the series? The Nuggets in 2020 – both in the First Round (vs. UTA) and the West Semis (vs. LAC)
- Phoenix Fight: The Suns will look to become the first team to erase a 3-0 series deficit behind Dillon Brooks, their emotional leader who’s stepped up with back-to-back 30-pieces
2. WHAT’S TRENDING – EAST: PRESSURE RISING, PIVOTAL WEEK LOADING
While four teams face elimination out West, the East is tightening: two series tied at 2-2, the No. 1 seed trailing 2-1 and the Celtics one win from advancing.
- Knicks & Hawks tied 2-2
- Cavs & Raptors tied 2-2
- Celtics lead 76ers 3-1
- Magic lead Pistons 2-1
Now the pressure shifts to a pivotal week, with two Game 5s in Knicks-Hawks and Raptors-Cavs, while Detroit fights to avoid a 3-1 hole and Boston looks to close the door.
How We Got Here: Sunday saw key Game 4 wins from the Raptors and C’s – both winners of two straight – highlighted by a thriller in Toronto.
- Raps Respond: After going down 2-0, Toronto evened the series with back-to-back home wins, capped by a 17-5 closing run to take Game 4
- Up Next: Cleveland hosts Game 5 on Wednesday (7:30 ET, ESPN)
- C’s Control: After splitting Games 1 & 2 in Boston, the Celtics took both in Philly, punctuated by a Game 4 win behind a franchise Playoff-record 24 triples
- Game 5 Tuesday: Facing elimination, Philly looks to respond tomorrow night in Boston – where it took Game 2 (7 ET, ESPN)
8-Seed Magic: After splitting the first two in Detroit, the Magic took Saturday’s Game 3 at home, becoming just the third No. 8 seed in the last decade to grab a 2-1 series lead over a No. 1 seed.
- Core Clicking: Paolo Banchero led the way with a near triple-double (25 pts, 12 reb, 9 ast), while Desmond Bane (25 pts) and Franz Wagner (17 pts) combined for 42
- Game 4 Tonight: Detroit will look to even the series tonight (8 ET, NBC/Peacock), while Orlando seeks a 3-1 lead
Hawks-Knicks Thrills: New York’s 1-0 series lead flipped into a 2-1 deficit after back-to-back one-point losses – with Hawks vet CJ McCollum at the center of both heartbreakers.
But the Knicks answered Saturday behind Karl-Anthony Towns, leveling the series at 2-2 to set up a massive Game 5.
- Big Spot, Big KAT: Facing a potential 3-1 deficit on the road, Towns went off for a monster triple-double (20 pts, 10 reb, 10 ast), securing a key 114-98 win
- Crucial Tuesday Tilt: Now comes a pivotal Game 5 at MSG (8 ET, NBC/Peacock), where the two teams split Games 1 & 2
- Exactly How Pivotal? In a best-of-seven series tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has taken the series 81.5% of the time (194-44)
3. WEMBY ERUPTS, SPURS STORM BACK TO TAKE 3-1 LEAD
They were down 17 at halftime. They won by 21.
How’d the Spurs do it? With a Wembanyama takeover, a historic 2nd-half swing and a reminder that they’re far more than a one-man show.
Spurs 114, Blazers 93: After exiting Game 2 with a concussion, Wemby returned in full force, posting 27 points, 12 boards, 7 blocks and 4 steals to ignite a 73-point 2nd half, as the Spurs raced past Deni Avdija (26 pts, 7 reb) and the Blazers to take a 3-1 series lead. | Recap
- Wemby 🤝 Shaq: Wembanyama is the first player to record 25+ pts, 10+ reb and 7+ blk in a Playoff game since Shaquille O’Neal in 2004
- Spurs Epicenter: Since blocks were first tracked in 1973-74, only two other Spurs have posted such a stat line in the postseason: Tim Duncan (2003) and David Robinson (1991 & ‘93)
- Dream Dominance: Add 4 steals, and only one player has matched it since 1973-74: Hakeem Olajuwon (2x)
- And A Reminder: It was Wemby’s first career road Playoff game
Spurs Ball(ing): Down 58-41 at the break, Wemby posted 18 points and 5 blocks in the 2nd half without missing a shot (5-5 FG, 8-8 FT) as the Spurs outscored the Blazers by 38 in the final two quarters.
It’s the first time that a team has trailed by 15+ points at halftime of a Playoff game and then won by 20 or more.
While Wemby lit the fuse, San Antonio’s depth turned the spark into an inferno – showcasing what makes the Spurs so dangerous.
- Fox Fire: De’Aaron Fox (game-high 28 pts, 6 reb, 7 ast) matched Wemby with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the 2nd half, as the duo outscored Portland on their own (36-35)
- Castle Cooking: Stephon Castle (16 pts, 8 ast) – after making history with Dylan Harper to earn a Game 3 win – orchestrated with 6 dimes in the 2nd half, including this go-ahead oop to Wemby
- Vassell Voltage: Devin Vassell (11 pts, 6 reb) helped spark the rally with 9 points in the 3rd, before San Antonio outscored Portland 40-19 in the 4th to ice it
- “I love when others benefit from unselfish efforts,” said Wemby on the win. “That’s the culture here – it’s the way we play.”
- What’s Next: San Antonio returns home Tuesday with a chance to close the series in Game 5 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
4. ROCKETS RESPOND: HOUSTON FORCES GAME 5 WITH HUGE WIN
With their season on the line after dropping a Friday thriller, the Rockets responded with resilience.
Rockets 115, Lakers 96: With Kevin Durant (ankle) out for a second straight game, Houston used a complete team effort to win. All five starters scored 16+, while the defense clamped down for its first win of the series, cutting the Rockets’ deficit to 3-1. | Recap
- Full Tank: Amen Thompson (23 pts, 7 ast), Tari Eason (20 pts, 8 reb, 5 stl) and Alperen Sengun (19 pts, 6 reb) led the way as Houston’s starters combined for 95 points
- Reed Hot: Reed Sheppard added 17 on four 3s, including a pair of treys to spark a 34-18 3rd quarter, as Houston entered the 4th up 20 and rolled the rest of the way
- “We were all in,” said Thompson on the win. “Alpi gave us a motivational speech this morning, and we took that and ran with it. Now, we gotta do it next game in L.A.”
Identity Dub: Ten different Rockets scored, but it was their defense that drove them to victory.
Facing elimination on their home floor, Houston turned up the pressure from the opening tip – responding with one of its best defensive efforts of the season.
- No Air: The Rockets held the Lakers to just 5-of-22 (22.7%) from deep, Los Angeles’ fewest made 3s in a game since December 2024
- Wreaking Havoc: Houston also forced the Lakers into 23 turnovers, one shy of their season-high, resulting in 30 points the other way
- Takeaway Time: That included 17 steals for Houston – its most in a Playoff game in 45 years – while limiting LeBron James to 10 points, 9 assists and 8 turnovers
- “Our aggressiveness was on display from the start,” said Rockets coach Ime Udoka postgame. “That’s what made the difference.”
- What’s Next: Houston will look to cut its deficit to 3-2 on Wednesday as the series shifts back to L.A. for Game 5 (10 ET, ESPN)
5. EAST DUBS: RAPTORS EVEN SERIES, CELTICS SEIZE CONTROL
Make that 2-2 between Toronto and Cleveland.
Raptors 93, Cavaliers 89: After Donovan Mitchell (20 pts, 6 reb) sparked a 15-2 Cavs run to take the lead midway through the 4th, the Raps responded with a 17-5 closing burst, with Scottie Barnes (23 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast, 3 blk) scoring six points in the final 35 seconds to earn a wild win. | Recap
- Defense Delivers: Mitchell scored 12 in the 4th to spark the Cavs, but Toronto held Cleveland to just 2-of-10 shooting in the final 4:55 to stymie the run
- Stars Finish: Barnes, Brandon Ingram (23 pts, 6 reb) and RJ Barrett (18 pts, 8 reb) took over on the other end, scoring 16 of Toronto’s final 17 points to take the lead for good with 47 ticks left
- Six Grit: That included a string of clutch free throws from Barnes and four straight stops in the final two minutes, earning a series-tying win despite trailing for at least five minutes in every quarter
- “We want it so bad,” said Barnes on the win. “We’re fighting … we’re taking it one possession at a time, and that’s what allowed us to get through it.”
- Rook Steps Up: Collin Murray-Boyles (15 pts, 10 reb) came up clutch on both ends, joining Barnes and Jamario Moon as the only Raptor rookies to post a double-double in a Playoff game
- Up Next: Cleveland hosts Wednesday’s pivotal Game 5 (7:30 ET, ESPN), with Toronto aiming to earn the series’ first road win
The C’s are one win shy of the East Semis.
Celtics 128, 76ers 96: Jayson Tatum did it all (30 pts, 7 reb, 11 ast, 5 3s), while Payton Pritchard caught fire off the bench (32 pts, 5 ast, 6 3s), as the C’s drilled a franchise Playoff record 24 3s to take a 3-1 series lead, overcoming Joel Embiid’s big return (26 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast). | Recap
- Fire-Starter: Pritchard poured in 18 points on four 3s in the 1st half, sparking a 25-6 run to give the Celtics an 18-point lead entering the break
- Door-Slammer: Then Tatum took control, posting 25 points and 7 dimes in the 2nd half as Boston outscored Philly 72-48 to seal the deal – finishing the night 24-of-53 from deep (45.3%)
- Bench Burst: Pritchard’s 32 points are a Playoff career-high, trailing only Kevin McHale (34 in 1991) for the most by any Celtic reserve in a postseason game
- Buzzer & Banter: The highlight? A patented Pritchard buzzer-beater to end the 1st quarter, plus some friendly jawing with Reggie Miller
- JT Rolling: It’s Tatum’s second straight 25+ point game on over 50% shooting, both of which have resulted in wins
- Game 5 Tuesday: Embiid and Tyrese Maxey (22 pts, 6 ast) led Philly, which will look to respond in tomorrow’s Game 5 to avoid elimination (7 ET, ESPN)
