Basketball Intelligence For 4/24/25
Today's Best NBA Reporting and Analysis
TEAM-SPECIFIC
BOS: Porzingis laughs off gash, helps Celts finish off Game 2
Baxter Holmes, ESPN
BOS: Jaylen Brown showcases ‘warrior mentality’ in Celtics’ Game 2 win
Jay King, The Athletic
BOS: Jaylen Brown leads Celtics to 2-0 lead over Magic, answers the call without Jayson Tatum
Ben Rohrbach, Yahoo Sports
CHA: ‘Good moments’ and ‘not-so-good moments’: Is it too early to judge Hornets’ Tidjane Salaün?
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer
CLE: How the Cavs’ Evan Mobley used a quiet playoff opener as fuel for his Game 2 dominance
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLE: With Cavs shooting as well as anyone, expect ‘Cavalanches’ in the forecast
Jason Lloyd, The Athletic
CLE: Donovan Mitchell embraces late-game test as necessary for Cavs’ playoff growth
Ethan Sands, cleveland.com
CLE: For the Cavs, it’s a win and a warning
Terry Pluto, cleveland.com
CLE: Game Night Observations: Donovan Mitchell's Superstar Quarter, A Cavalanche and Cleveland's Target
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot
CLE: Evan Mobley ‘met the moment’ in Cavs’ Game 2 win
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
DET: Cade Cunningham is getting to the line
David Thorpe, True Hoop
GSW: Warriors downplay Rockets’ physicality after Jimmy Butler’s hard fall, Game 2 loss
Anthony Slater, The Athletic
GSW: Butler's pelvic injury puts Warriors' NBA playoff dreams in peril
Monte Poole, NBC Sports
GSW: Kuminga ‘stayed ready’ for the Warriors. What will he do with his second chance?
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News
HOU: Udoka: Warriors series getting chippy works in Rockets' favor
Michael C. Wright, ESPN
HOU: Rockets even series by bruising Steph Curry and Warriors: ‘That’s who we are’
Kelly Iko, The Athletic
HOU: Jalen Green had a coming-of-age playoff performance
Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle
IND: It’s Deer Season in Indy
Joseph George, The Zone Master
IND: Tyrese Haliburton’s passion powers Pacers as they go up 2-0 on Bucks
Shakeia Taylor, The Athletic
LAC: No surprises so far in series that is too good for first round
Justin Russo
LAC: As Clippers-Nuggets series heads to Game 3, both teams know every moment matters
Law Murray, The Athletic
LAC: Sometimes Kawhi is the world’s best player
David Thorpe, True Hoop
What Kawhi did in Game 2 has to make the whole West nervous. In the first half he almost exclusively targeted Murray, bullying and shooting over him like Murray was his little brother.
That kind of dominance is not common in the NBA. By the third quarter, Kawhi seemed not to care at all who was guarding him. Aaron Gordon tried. Leonard hit 3s off the dribble, alone in space, and raced for a dunk (after a gorgeous long hit ahead pass from James Harden). There were attempts by Christian Braun or Russell Westbrook. When Denver tried a zone, Kawhi operated off the ball, found the seams, and turned the Nuggets’ ball pressure into five-on-four attacks.
Masterclass. Kawhi took 19 shots and only missed four, finishing with 39 points and a true shooting percentage of 92 percent. As explained on the F5, in advanced stats it was best performance of the playoffs so far.
The problem in defending a healthy Kawhi is the same as against Jokić or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He knows how to get to his favorite spots and shots against any defender or strategy. On paper these shots can look like wins for the defense, but he makes them.
LAC: Clippers want Norman Powell to stay aggressive for Game 3
Janis Carr, OC Register
LAL: Lakers rely on defensive dominance to bounce back against Timberwolves
Jovan Buha, The Athletic
LAL: LeBron James steps up as Lakers’ defensive stopper in Game 2
Mirjam Swanson, OC Rgeister
LAL: For the Lakers, there were signs Game 2 would be different
Melissa Rohlin, Fox Sports
LAL: Lakers’ defense confusing Anthony Edwards
Khobi Price, OC Register
The Lakers have been showing early help on Edwards’ isolations from the wings or the middle of the floor, clogging his driving lanes
LAL: Lakers solve one problem in Game 2 win over Timberwolves, but what about the other?
Dan Woike, LA Times
The rest of the team-specific stories as well as leaguewide & draft-related stories follow for paid subscribers