The Raptors won Game 4 over the Cavaliers despite missing 26 of 30 three-point attempts and shooting just 32.0% from the field. That’s a feat no team in playoff history has ever accomplished, writes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.
It was an anomalous victory, which makes sense, because it was led by Toronto’s anomalous star, Scottie Barnes. Barnes shot 6-for-15 from the field and 0-for-3 from three, yet he scored or assisted on 35 of the team’s 93 points and was everywhere defensively.
Barnes had an excellent season for the Raptors, getting his second All-Star nod while averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, and coming in fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Despite his strong showing, he was not widely predicted to be the best player in the series. Yet through four games, he’s been exactly that, writes Michael Grange from Sportsnet.
“He’s just a winning player, man,” said teammate RJ Barrett, who has also had a strong series. “He scores, he moves the ball, he rebounds, he defends, he does everything out there. He has a killer mentality, but I think the biggest thing right now is he is playing with force, he’s really making the defence have to guard him.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Payton Pritchard scored a playoff career-high 32 points in the Celtics‘ big Game 4 win over the Sixers. He credits the work he’s put in studying how the great players in the league maximize their advantages and skill sets. “I feel like obviously there’s genetic freaks,” Pritchard said. “I’m not one of them. But, like, LeBron (James) is a perfect example, too. He takes great care of his body daily. He makes little sacrifices. He’s talked about his sleep habits, his eating and all that. But even guys like Al Horford and Jrue Holiday, they’re able to play so long because of the habits they created.” Pritchard doesn’t drink, limits his bread and sweets, and changed his sleep routine, all in the search for peak performance.
- Brad Stevens had his work cut out for him last summer after losing nearly his entire frontcourt along with Holiday. While the players and coaching staff deserve immense credit for turning what was thought to be a gap year into a 56-win season, the job Stevens did in identifying talent like Neemias Queta to bring into coach Joe Mazzulla‘s system is deserving of an Executive of the Year award, Chris Forsberg writes for NBC Sports Boston. The award will be officially announced on Tuesday at 12:00 pm Central time.
- Despite getting big man Joel Embiid back for Game 4 on Sunday, the Sixers were blown out 128-96 by Boston. Star guard Tyrese Maxey was uncharacteristically quiet in the first half, scoring seven points on just three shots. He chastised himself for his lack of aggression after the game, Brian Robb writes for MassLive. “That absolutely can’t happen,” Maxey said. “That’s just unacceptable by me. It wasn’t meant to happen that way. We can’t win basketball games with that happening, and I take full responsibility on that one.” Maxey finished with 22 points on 14 shots after attempting at least 20 field goals in each of the first three games.
Scotty is the real thing man. Does it all and plays both ways. Great player still getting better.
Cavs better wake up. Raptors get get confident they could win two games.
Should be an epic game 5
Here’s a fun fact I found on Yahoo sports. In my travels.
“ Here’s a fun fact for you: The Atlanta Hawks’ starting five, which had the second-best plus-minus of any five-man unit in the NBA during the regular season, entered the work week with the worst plus-minus of any five-man unit in the 2026 NBA playoffs.”
Those of you who know me. Know that I am not a big fan of this stat (+ -).But when you talk about starters. Who play together for 24 mins plus. It does say something, right. I found this interesting.
Let’s go Knicks.
This is a good article for all the Kuminga haters.
I guess I’ll never understand why we give up and trash 22 yr olds.
link to sports.yahoo.com
The 5 starters individual +/-, in order of minutes/gm:
NAW 37.5, -9.3 (he’s shooting 22.7% from 2 pt range)
Johnson 37.0, -7.5 (he’s shooting 28.6% from three)
CJ 34.0, -5.8
Okongwu 33.0, -6.8 (he’s shooting 62.5% overall and 50% from three)
Daniels 31.3, -5.8 (worst shooter at 38.5% overall 14.3% from three
The Knicks are doing a pretty good job on defense, and would be up 3-1 except for the 17-27 ft line choke in game 2
Knicks ended top 10 in defense at end of season. That was an improvement over last season. And it will help in playoffs. Knicks D is the difference in this series. I just want today’s gm. Brunson and Bridges are due. We will see if Bridges folds under the scrutiny he’s getting for last two gms.
Kuminga is not good for team chemistry, makes bonehead plays too often and generally tries to score first even when easier options to pass are there. Changing teams has not magically changed his game style. If I am the Warriors, I am glad to see the fiasco ended.
Hawks having a great year no matter what happens in the playoffs
Gm5 —— Hammer Time …. Go thru Towns. Play team D and you will be rewarded. Bridges needs to show up today. 🙏
Knicks looked good from the opening tip. It looks like they have figured out the Hawks.
And the Celtics failed to close out the 76ers with an awful 4th Q shooting of 3-22 AT HOME. So the 2nd rd will likely be a classic!
Yeah looks like Knicks have got the message. This was a complete game. Thats what I liked most.
Bridges still MIA. 3/6 FG just not going to get it. It’s like he’s lost his confidence on offense. Knicks need everyone to make a serious run.