Basketball Intelligence For 4/13/22
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
THE PLAY-IN GAMES
- MIN 109, LAC 104:
From Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3246287/2022/04/13/anthony-edwards-shine-pat-bevs-revenge-and-a-timberwolves-play-in-win-for-the-ages/
From Law Murray, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3247186/2022/04/13/clippers-karl-anthony-towns/
From Andrew Greif, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2022-04-12/clippers-blow-late-10-point-lead-in-loss-to-timberwolves
From Chris HIne, Star Tribune: https://www.startribune.com/timberwolves-fight-back-beat-clippers-in-play-in-karl-anthony-towns-pat-beverley-anthony-edwards/600164503/
From Mirjam Swanson, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2022/04/12/timberwolves-outlast-clippers-in-tense-play-in-game/
From Jake Paynting, Howls And Growls:
From Michael Kaskey-Blomain, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/timberwolves-vs-clippers-score-takeaways-anthony-edwards-dangelo-russell-help-minnesota-clinch-no-7-seed/live/
From Melissa Rohlin, Fox Sports: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/timberwolves-display-grit-while-clippers-unravel-late-in-bizarre-game
From Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press: https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/12/anthony-edwards-dangelo-russell-deliver-as-timberwolves-beat-clippers-to-reach-playoffs/
- BKN 115, CLE 108:
From Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3246926/2022/04/13/nets-have-kevin-durant-and-no-one-else-does-its-enough-to-beat-cleveland-will-it-be-enough-to-beat-the-east/
From Kelsey Russo, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3247029/2022/04/13/darius-garland-development-cavaliers/
From Dan Devine, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2022/4/13/23023402/brooklyn-nets-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-nba-play-in
From Brad Botkin, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nets-vs-cavaliers-score-takeaways-kyrie-irving-kevin-durant-dominate-as-brooklyn-clinches-no-7-seed/live/
From Chris Fedor, cleveland.com: https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2022/04/cleveland-cavaliers-show-exactly-who-they-are-in-play-in-loss-to-brooklyn-nets-flaws-included.html
From Chris Milholen/Matt Brooks: https://www.netsdaily.com/2022/4/12/23022854/first-round-bound-nets-take-care-of-cavaliers-to-advance-to-first-round-115-108
From Sopan Deb, NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/sports/basketball/nets-cavaliers-nba-celtics.html
From Brian Lewis, NY Post: https://nypost.com/2022/04/12/kyrie-irving-kevin-durant-lead-nets-into-nba-playoffs/
From Kristian Winfield, Daily News: https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-kevin-durant-kyrie-irving-play-in-game-cavs-20220413-hdnebwglwnbahagm4pp4lsskoi-story.html
- ATL-CHA:
From Sarah Spencer, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-hornets-preview-our-destiny-is-in-our-hands/MW5OLZG3QJDBNCYKWS5N4N22FA/
- NOP-SAS:
From Oleh Kosel, The Bird Writes: https://www.thebirdwrites.com/2022/4/13/23021073/pelicans-spurs-play-in-tournament-preview-predictions-ingram-mccollum-murray-poetl-popovich-green
PLAYOFF SERIES PREVIEWS
- BKN-BOS:
From Gibson Pyper, Half Court Hoops:
From Kevin Pelton, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/33727003/nba-playoffs-2022-expect-brooklyn-nets-face-boston-celtics-first-round
- CHI-MIL:
From Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3247141/2022/04/13/bulls-bucks-playoff-series
From Eric Nehm, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3246813/2022/04/13/bucks-preparing-to-keep-demar-derozan-from-getting-easy-points-at-the-free-throw-line/
From Bradshaw Furlong, Behind The Buck Pass: https://behindthebuckpass.com/2022/04/13/milwaukee-bucks-playoff-opponent-spotlight-demar-derozan/
- DAL-UTA:
From Calvin Chappell, SLC Dunk: https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2022/4/12/23022101/five-keys-to-the-utah-jazz-vs-dallas-mavericks-series
- DEN-GSW:
From Ryan Blackburn, Denver Stiffs: https://www.denverstiffs.com/2022/4/12/23019975/which-denver-nuggets-players-are-in-the-circle-of-trust
From Connor Letourneau, SF Chronicle: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/Why-Steph-Curry-s-next-24-hours-could-determine-17076955.php
From TJ McBride, Mile High Sports: https://milehighsports.com/nuggets-know-they-have-to-lock-in-to-defeat-the-warriors-in-the-first-round-of-the-playoffs/
- PHI-TOR:
From Eric Koreen/Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3244212/2022/04/13/raptors-sixers-playoffs-embiid-siakam/
From Tom Moore, Courier Times: https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/story/sports/pro/2022/04/13/for-sixers-it-all-starts-with-stopping-ball-in-playoff-series-against-raptors-nba-playoffs-76ers/65349858007/
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
- BOS: Udoka Should Receive More Credit For The Celtics' Turnaround (from Bobby Manning, Celtics Blog): https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/4/12/23020877/ime-udokas-historic-celtics-turnaround-changed-boston-outlook-nba-playoffs-finals-tatum-brown-nets
- BOS: Keys For Celtics To Make A Deep Playoff Run (from Trevor Hass, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/4/13/23022284/boston-celtics-brooklyn-nets-nba-playoff-preview-five-keys-jayson-tatum-kevin-durant-jaylen-brown
- BOS: Asst Coach Will Hardy: From Williams College To The NBA (from Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe): https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/12/sports/how-celtics-assistant-will-hardys-unlikely-link-gregg-popovich-launched-him-williams-college-nba/
- DAL: Kidd & His 8 Assistants Have Overhauled Mavs' Culture (from Brad Townsend, Morning News): https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2022/04/13/a-we-culture-jason-kidds-unwavering-trust-allows-mavs-staff-to-shine-through-challenges/
- DEN: Jokic Is In Elite Defensive Company (from Michael Tesler, FiveThirtyEight): https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/nikola-jokic-bolstered-his-mvp-case-with-his-defense/