Lakers Notes: Game 3 Comeback, Smart, Reaves, Bronny
The Lakers hold a 3-0 lead in their series with Houston after pulling off one of the most remarkable comebacks in their long playoff history, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Trailing by six points with less than 30 seconds remaining, L.A. rallied to tie the game before claiming a 112-108 win in overtime.
Marcus Smart made a game-changing play by picking off a pass from Jabari Smith Jr. in the backcourt with 27.8 seconds left. He immediately shot an errant three-pointer, but sank all three free throws after being fouled by Jae’Sean Tate.
“It was a smart play,” said Smart, who had five steals in the game. “My vet savvy. Been in the league for 12 years. I picked up some tricks.”
On the next possession, LeBron James knocked the ball away from Reed Sheppard, then drilled a three-pointer after Rui Hachimura passed it back to him.
The Lakers became the second team in the past 30 years to win a playoff game after trailing by six or more points in the final 30 seconds of regulation, McMenamin notes. They are remarkably on the verge of sweeping a series with Luka Doncic (left hamstring) and Austin Reaves (left oblique) sidelined by injuries.
“The last week of the season, the last thing you would want or even want to imagine or think about is, s—, two of your best players going down with injuries and not being ready for the postseason,” James said. “So it was a shift for all of us, it’s challenging for all of us … and we’re figuring it out together on the fly.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- In its Last Two Minutes Report, the NBA determined that Smart stepped over the line before the ball hit the rim on his final free throw and should have been whistled for a lane violation, McMenamin adds in a separate story.
- Reaves is listed as questionable for Sunday’s Game 4, per Khobi Price of The California Post (Twitter link). Reaves was also questionable for Game 3 and wound up not playing.
- Bronny James admitted being nervous when he made his playoff debut in Game 1, but he’s getting more comfortable as the series wears on,
Donte DiVincenzo Suffers Torn Right Achilles
9:41 pm: DiVincenzo’s injury has been confirmed as a torn right Achilles, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The recovery process typically takes about a year, so DiVincenzo may be forced to miss all of next season. He’s under contract for $12,535,000 in 2026/27 and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
9:27 pm: The Wolves have also ruled out star guard Anthony Edwards for the rest of the game with a left knee injury after a collision with Denver’s Cameron Johnson late in the second quarter (Twitter video link from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype). Scotto adds that DiVincenzo left the arena in a wheelchair.
8:33 pm: Donte DiVincenzo has been declared out for the rest of Game 4 after suffering a lower right leg injury early in the first quarter, the Timberwolves announced (via Twitter).
DiVincenzo collapsed to the court after attempting a three-pointer a little more than a minute into the contest (Twitter video link from ESPN). He grabbed at the leg and signaled to the team’s bench for assistance.
There was no contact on DiVincenzo’s injury, which raises concerns about possible Achilles damage. However, no diagnosis has been made by the team.
DiVincenzo is averaging 14.3 PPG in the first three games of the series and has been particularly effective in Minnesota’s two victories. He had 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the Game 2 win at Denver while shooting 6-of-9 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He followed that up with 15 points, four rebounds, seven assists and four steals in Game 3.
Ayo Dosunmu and Bones Hyland both figure to see expanded roles if DiVincenzo is unable to return during the series, and Terrence Shannon Jr. may be inserted into the rotation as well.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Oubre, Rebounding, Game 3 Loss
Joel Embiid remains doubtful for the Sixers‘ Game 4 against Boston on Sunday, Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes in a subscriber-only story. Embiid hasn’t been able to play since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on April 9, but his status was upgraded to doubtful ahead of Game 3. Coach Nick Nurse told reporters that Embiid was able to go through an individual on-court workout on Saturday.
“He’s working as hard as he can to get back,” Nurse said. “We’re just going to have to see how it goes here today and tomorrow morning, and maybe we’ll know more towards the end of shootaround.”
Embiid participated in a light practice on Thursday, raising hopes that he’ll be able to return at some point in the series. Nurse admitted that “he’s just not ready” before Friday’s Game 3, and Sunday’s contest now carries a lot of importance with Philadelphia trailing 2-1 in the series.
“It [would be] a different ballgame having Joel back in the series,” said Adem Bona, who has replaced Embiid as the starting center. “It’s a huge advantage for us, so I’m just excited to see him back on the floor again.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- The Sixers may also be missing Kelly Oubre Jr., who is listed as questionable for Game 4 with right adductor soreness, Mizell adds. Oubre played 40 minutes on Friday, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds.
- Embiid’s absence on the boards was costly Friday night as the Celtics collected 15 offensive rebounds and finished with 22 second-chance points, notes Adam Aaronson of The Philly Voice. The most important play of the night was an offensive rebound as Derrick White collected a Nikola Vucevic miss with about 40 seconds remaining and fired the ball to Jayson Tatum for a three-pointer that put the game out of reach. “The second chance points is what got us today,” veteran center Andre Drummond said. “I think other than that, we played a very well-rounded game. It was a very intense game, a fun game for us to play in. We get those second chance points off the board, I think we win the game.”
- The Sixers let an opportunity slip away in Game 3 that might cost them a chance to win the series, states Tony Jones of The Athletic. Philadelphia played well enough in some aspects — forcing 17 turnovers and outscoring Boston 42-26 in the paint — but wasn’t able to secure the victory. “It’s funny, the last game, they made a run and we came back and we made every single play and we won the game,” Tyrese Maxey said. “Tonight, we made the run at them, and they made every single play and they won the game. It’s little stuff like that that decides games. Our attention to detail has to be great, because the margins in these games are really small. These are single-possession games and every possession really matters.”
Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon Cleared To Play In Game 4
The Nuggets will have Aaron Gordon back in the lineup for Saturday’s Game 4 as they try to even their series with Minnesota, the team announced (via Twitter).
Gordon had been listed as questionable after sitting out Game 3 with left calf tightness. He was able to participate in a walkthrough at Friday’s practice, and the decision was eventually made to permit him to play.
“We’ll try to use him the way we would’ve used him anyway,” coach David Adelman said (Twitter link from Bennett Durando of The Denver Post). “I think that’s how you have to attack this: If he’s available, he’s available. But with the idea that the communication throughout the game is important.”
Gordon was a major contributor as Denver won the series opener, finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes while shooting 5-of-10 from the field. He had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes in the Game 2 loss.
Gordon provides another big body to help match up with Minnesota’s front line, and his versatility on offense and defense has been an important part of the Nuggets’ success. His presence in Game 4 is especially important as backup forward Peyton Watson remains sidelined with a strained right hamstring.
Gordon battled injuries throughout the season and was only available for 36 games. He averaged 16.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 27.9 minutes per night while shooting 49.7% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range.
Hawks Notes: McCollum, Kuminga, Midseason Trades, Alexander-Walker
Hawks general manager Onsi Salah was a long-time admirer of CJ McCollum and was happy to acquire him in the January deal that sent Trae Young to Washington, but Salah admits to Howard Beck of The Ringer that he had no idea McCollum would emerge as a playoff force. The veteran guard is the main reason that Atlanta holds a 2-1 lead over New York, averaging 27 PPG in the series and hitting a game-winning jumper late in Game 3.
“I’m not surprised with his confidence and his ability to do what he’s doing,” Saleh said. “I just didn’t expect the efficiency — like, everything has been so good, and he’s just taken over the series, and in such a dramatic way. It eases the pressure on some of our guys. It helps us understand how to win playoff games, which is a skill. He understands tempo and pace and mismatches and who to go at, who not to go at, clock situations, all that stuff he’s been phenomenal with.”
Beck notes that it didn’t feel like a major trade when it happened, as the Hawks were trying to find a new home for Young so they could retool around their young core. Young’s salary and injury status limited the interest around the league, so getting McCollum and Corey Kispert in return seemed like a deal of convenience.
But McCollum sparked a second half surge as Atlanta went 27-15 after the trade and posted the seventh-best point differential in the league. The new starting lineup of McCollum, Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu had the NBA’s second-highest net rating at 21.4 (minimum of 600 possessions).
“It was funny when the narratives came out at the time,” Saleh said. “Because people just thought we’re just salary dumping, which wasn’t the case at all. We wanted CJ. We wanted Corey. These are two guys that fit. … It’s worked out even better than I would have expected.”
There’s more from Atlanta:
- McCollum believes Jonathan Kuminga has benefitted from the February trade that sent him from Golden State to Atlanta, per Nick Avila of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kuminga’s statistics with the two teams were similar during the regular season, but his playing time has increased to 31 minutes per night since the playoffs began. “He was in a not so great situation and now he’s found a happy home over here,” McCollum said after Game 3.
- The Hawks were expecting Young and Kristaps Porzingis to lift them out of play-in territory when they acquired the big man from Boston last summer, but the season didn’t turn around until they were both traded away, notes John Hollinger of The Athletic. Young and Porzingis only played three games and 51 total minutes together in Atlanta, but their replacements have made the Hawks a dangerous playoff opponent.
- In a session with reporters prior to Saturday’s Game 4, coach Quinn Snyder said Alexander-Walker is a deserving winner of Most Improved Player honors, tweets Brad Rowland of Locked on Hawks. “He’s just thrown himself in consistently to the work,” Snyder said. “… We’re lucky to have him.”
Wembanyama Still In Concussion Protocol, Status Uncertain For Game 4
The Spurs survived Game 3 at Portland without Victor Wembanyama, and he may not be ready to return on Sunday, Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News writes in a subscriber-only piece. Meeting with reporters this afternoon, coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama remains in the league’s concussion protocol and his status is uncertain.
“We are still working through the process and continuing to work with the NBA,” Johnson said.
Wembanyama was a late scratch Friday night, as it wasn’t determined that he would be held out until about 90 minutes before tipoff. Orsborne notes that he went through most of his normal pre-game routine, including running sprints on the court, before a final decision was made.
“I’ve seen Victor now for three years and when he’s not on the court, he’s always champing at the bit to get out on the court,” Johnson said. “I don’t think that will ever change. And I know he’s doing everything he can to continue to do what he’s in front of to get back on the court.”
Wembanyama has been in the protocol since Tuesday, when he suffered a concussion after hitting his head on the court during a hard fall in the second quarter of Game 2. Portland was able to even the series by winning that night, but San Antonio responded by pulling away late in Game 3 to retake home court advantage.
League rules require Wembanyama to reach several benchmarks while being symptom-free before he can be cleared to play.
Spurs Notes: Harper, Castle, Bryant, Johnson, Kornet
With Victor Wembanyama out due to a concussion, the Spurs needed their other young players to step up against the Trail Blazers, and in Game 3 on Friday, and that’s exactly what happened.
Dylan Harper came off the bench to score 27 points, and he credited Spurs legend Manu Ginobili for helping him be ready for the moment, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. Harper became the youngest player ever to score 25 or more points off the bench in a playoff game. And with his 10 rebounds, he also became the youngest guard in league history with a playoff double-double, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
“It was a moment I’ve been waiting for since I was a little kid,” Harper said. “This is the biggest stage of basketball you could ever get to.”
Stephon Castle also played a major role in the victory, scoring a game-high 33 points along with five assists. He and Harper became the first 21-and-under duo to each have 25 or more points in a playoff game since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in 2010.
We have more notes from the Spurs:
- While Harper and Castle stole the show, rookie Carter Bryant was crucial to the victory as well, according to McDonald. “Obviously Dylan’s box score is loud,” coach Mitch Johnson said. “But I think Carter’s game was probably just as loud.” Functioning as a small-ball center, Bryant was passing up shots and hurting the team’s offense until he hit a step-back three in the third quarter. He then proceeded to shut down Blazers star Deni Avdija for the next 10 minutes, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “As much as I work on my game, for the other team, it’s demoralizing when I hit a shot like that,” Bryant said. “Just understanding what the game of basketball is. Like, they’re living with me shooting that shot. Clock is winding down, (I) look up, there’s three seconds on the shot clock. Shoot it. Let the ball fly. (I) work too hard not to trust it.”
- As Weiss notes, Spurs rookies Bryant and Harper have a long-standing friendship that dates back to their AAU days. “I told him once he hit that step-back three: I’m like, ‘Yo, this is time for you to turn it up a notch. You’ve been waiting for this,'” Harper said. ‘”Me and you always wanted to play with each other, even in college. Now, we got the opportunity to flip this game.'”
- Recently crowned Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson has struggled with his offense in the series, having not hit double-digit scoring in any of the three games. He’s confident it’s just a matter of time until he gets back to playing his game, Tom Orsborn writes for the San Antonio-Express News. “Every game is different when it comes to the playoffs, and I’m just feeling out the game and trying to find my rhythm, trying to find my groove and my niche and just continue to play hard,” Johnson said. “As long as we’re winning, that’s the most important thing. I’ll find my rhythm (offensively) as we go throughout. I’ll continue to take the same shots and I’ll make the shots.”
- Luke Kornet has been a reliable option every time the Spurs have needed him to fill in for Wembanyama, and Friday was no exception. Kornet matched or set career playoff highs in points (14), rebounds (10), assists (two), and minutes played (30) while adding a pair of blocks and knocking down his first three-pointer in two years, per Orsborn. “It’s fun to shoot one. Fun to make it. Fun to get the win,” Kornet said. No one on the team was surprised that the big man was able to provide such a spark when called upon. “I feel like he’s been consistent for us all year,” said Johnson. “Whenever we’ve been shorthanded or Vic hasn’t been able to play, he stepped up and filled that role, field that void. He’s been tremendous for us.”
Knicks Notes: Brunson, Brown, Defense, Game 4, Robinson
Part of the pitch head coach Mike Brown made when he was hired by the Knicks last summer was instituting an offensive scheme that would allow star Jalen Brunson to get easier looks and be less ball-dominant. Through three playoff games, that has not been the case, and Brunson’s effectiveness on offense has suffered because of it, Jared Schwartz writes for the New York Post.
Part of that is due to a roster construction flaw that was always present but has been particularly noticeable in this series: the Knicks lack a second ball-handler who can get into the defense and create opportunities for teammates. Josh Hart is better at attacking an already-tilted defense, while players like OG Anunoby, Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Mikal Bridges are limited by a shaky handle and a lack of explosiveness with the ball. Karl-Anthony Towns is a good passer from a standstill but struggles to make reads on the move.
The Hawks also have a group of strong perimeter defenders, led by Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who have hounded Brunson and made life difficult for him.
“We all have to be aggressive, not just to shoot the ball, but be aggressive to touch the paint [on drives],” Brown said. “And if you don’t have anything in the paint, you gotta spray it. We haven’t gone anywhere near our sprays that we’ve wanted to in these first three games.”
We have more from the Knicks:
- After two-and-a-half games of struggling to contain Hawks guard CJ McCollum, the Knicks seemed to find an answer by putting Hart on him in the second half of Game 3. Hart corralled the smaller McCollum, holding him to just 2-of-5 shooting, Schwartz writes. However, when they most needed to get a stop on the final play of the game, Brown went away from the strategy. Instead, he had the smaller McBride guard McCollum one-on-one with 16 seconds to go while up one point, while Hart defended the inbounds passer. McCollum was able to get free for a comfortable look that ultimately proved to be the game-winner. “I’m not happy with my contest,” McBride said. “He made the shot. I feel like if I maybe had bumped him earlier, but trying to get a feel for how the game was being called. I don’t want to put him at the free-throw line in a sense like that.”
- The Knicks are only down 2-1 in the series, but they’re viewing Game 4 as a must-win, Steve Popper writes for Newsday. “We’re playing for our lives,” McBride said. “I mean, it is a seven-game series and it’s the first to four, but it’s ticking away. We don’t want to leave it up to chance. We don’t want to say we wish we could have or we wish we would have done this different. We want to take every opportunity, every chance we can, and take advantage of it, be together as a team and figure it out.”
- Mitchell Robinson has been uncharacteristically absent for a team that relied on the backup big man to provide much of their identity and defensive backbone throughout the year. On Friday, Robinson’s trainer, Marcell Scott, took to Instagram to express frustration with Brown’s approach to the series, Schwartz writes in another New York Post story. “Knicks Coach Mike Brown is SCARED to get mad!!!” Scott wrote on his post. “He’s to [sic] nice of a guy to coach the New York Knicks!!! He would rather play OG at the 5, instead of [Towns] and Mitch at the 4 and 5. Nice guys finish last Coach!” Scott has been vocal about Robinson’s role on the team in the past, Schwartz notes, including a post in December urging Brown to get Robinson more involved in the offense. Brown has said throughout the series that he’s struggled to find the right matchups to unleash the defensive-minded big man, especially in lineups that include Towns.
Pacific Notes: Kerr, Williams, Goodwin, James
Steve Kerr is thankful that he’s gotten the opportunity to coach future Hall-of-Famer Stephen Curry for the past 12 seasons, as Nick Friedell writes for The Athletic, and that relationship will be a significant factor Kerr takes into consideration as he weighs his decision on his coaching future.
“I don’t want to walk away from Steph,” Kerr said after the Warriors’ season ended. “I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph, but all the stuff has to be aligned and right.”
Kerr said that much of the success he experienced while building the team’s culture over the years came from the fact that he and Curry share the same values, not just in basketball but in life.
The 60-year-old coach will not rush his decision, nor will the team push him on it, according to Anthony Slater at ESPN. Instead, Kerr will take a week or two to gauge what he’s looking for over the next few years.
“It’s April,” a team source told Slater. “We don’t need to rush.”
We have more from around the Pacific Division:
- Mark Williams is out for the Suns‘ Game 3 against the Thunder on Saturday, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic notes (via Twitter). Williams has missed the start of the series due to a stress reaction in his left foot that has kept him sidelined since April 10 and also forced him to miss 15 games in March. Oso Ighodaro started Game 2 in his place, though rookie big man Khaman Maluach closed the game, playing the entire fourth quarter.
- After grinding his way from depth piece to a valuable part of the rotation, the Suns need Jordan Goodwin‘s energy more than ever, Doug Haller writes for The Athletic. Goodwin made just 10 starts for Phoenix during the regular season, but six of those starts came in the final month, and he also started Game 1 before his calf injury sidelined him after just five minutes. Goodwin is a game-time decision for Saturday, Rankin writes (via Twitter), as is Grayson Allen.
- LeBron James added yet another magical playoff moment to his impressive collection in the Lakers‘ Game 3 victory over the Rockets on Friday, The Athletic’s Dan Woike writes. James capped off a 30-second, six-point comeback by hitting a three-pointer in front of the Rockets’ bench. His attempted game-winner moments later rimmed out, but he and the Lakers sealed the victory in overtime. “In the moment right now, I don’t really think about it,” teammate Rui Hachimura said of playing alongside James. “But I think in the future, I’ll start thinking about how crazy this whole thing was. Almost like in a dream, you know.”
Rockets Notes: Late Collapse, Udoka, Durant, Sengun
The Rockets squandered a six-point regulation lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in Game 3 of their series with the Lakers on Friday night. Houston then lost in overtime to fall behind 3-0 in the first-round matchup. Head coach Ime Udoka let loose on his team afterward.
“Horrendous mistakes,” he said, per Kristie Rieken of The Associated Press. “I don’t know if you want to say youth or scared of the moment or whatever the case.”
With Kevin Durant, Fred VanVleet, and Steven Adams injured and inactive, the Rockets were relying on several players without a ton of playoff experience. However, Udoka didn’t view that as an excuse after his team committed two turnovers and fouled a three-point shooter down the stretch.
“Grow up,” he said. “You’re not that young anymore.”
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- Durant sat out for the second time in the series. The official reason for his latest absence was a left ankle sprain suffered in Game 2. “Obviously, it’s different when he’s not on the floor. He’s a tremendous scorer. He can draw so much attention to himself when he’s out there,” guard Reed Sheppard said, per Will Guillory of The Athletic. “It sucks not having him out there. But at the end of the day, it’s our job to go out there and fight and compete and win. That’s what we’ve got to do in the next four (games).” Durant’s status for Game 4 is undetermined. “Up in the air,” Udoka said. “I think we made some progress in the last few days, but we’ll see how that [goes] with only one day in between.”
- Alperen Sengun‘s monster performance – 33 points and 16 rebounds – was wasted in Game 3. “It wasn’t enough,” he said, per Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle. “I guess I could do more with some defensive possessions, some missed shots still. I still did a good job, but it wasn’t enough, so I’ve got to come back better Sunday.”
- Durant would like to be a part-owner of an NBA or NBA Europe franchise after he retires, according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape. “Sole owner? No. But you can definitely be a part of a group,” Durant said. “I wouldn’t say a player could have full control. (LeBron James), maybe. It has to be one of those types of players. Steph (Curry), ’Bron, myself. It takes players that have been in the league for a while, that have relationships, that are building businesses off the floor. You got to have a lot of capital to buy an NBA team. I’m not banking on it, but I’d love for it to happen.”