YESTERDAY’S GAMES
BOS 115, PHI 116
Couldn’t close it: 10 Takeaways from Celtics-76ers Game 4
Keith P Smith, Celtics Blog
How Celtics fell a second short against 76ers: Two crucial decisions cost them
Jared Weiss, The Athletic
Embiid backed Tatum down to the middle of the paint as Horford and Derrick White decided not to double. The Celtics were playing it conservatively, making sure they didn’t foul or give up a 3.
Then just as Embiid was starting to spin back toward the corner where James Harden was lurking, Jaylen Brown left Harden to surprise Embiid with the double. They almost had him, but Embiid leapt in the air to throw a side-arm pass that barely got to Harden, who buried the brilliant shot anyway.
“Just a bad read,” Brown said. “It’s a gamble at the wrong time. Big shot by James Harden, but that’s my fault. I take full accountability. Just a bad read.”
Boston Celtics lose overtime thriller to Philadelphia 76ers, 116-115
Daniel Poarch, Celtics Blog
A puzzling decision led to key Jaylen Brown gaffe in Celtics Game 4 loss
Brian Robb, MassLive
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Celtics squander victory, express optimism, but what exactly did they learn?
Steve Buckley, The Athletic
Trust between Joel Embiid, James Harden saved the 76ers' season
Brian Windhorst, ESPN
James Harden Finds His Old Groove and Gets the Sixers Back on Track
Scott Cacciola, The New York Times
James Harden bounce-back rescues 76ers in Game 4 to tie series
Tim Bontemps, ESPN
3 takeaways from another James Harden masterclass in Game 4 win
Paul Hudrick, Liberty Ballers
James Harden and Joel Embiid figured it out together when it mattered most for the 76ers
David Aldridge, The Athletic
DEN 124, PHX 129
Devin Booker, Kevin Durant lead Suns past Nuggets: How Phoenix captured a classic Game 4
Doug Haller/Tony Jones, The Athletic
Landry Shamet shines as Phoenix Suns cruise past Denver Nuggets in Game 4
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic
5 biggest reasons Suns managed to dig out of 0-2 hole and tie series vs. Nuggets
Trevor Booth, ClutchPoints
Game 4 belonged to Devin Booker, and so do these playoffs
John Hollinger, The Athletic
Booker’s shooting fireworks haven’t been limited to the last two games; they’ve been ongoing throughout the postseason, where he’s put up video-game stats: 31.1 points per 36 minutes, a 61-51-87 shooting line for a this-can’t-be-real 71.1 true shooting mark, and a league-best postseason 31.1 PER.
Suns-Nuggets: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant are carrying Phoenix at historic level, but how long can it continue?
Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
Devin Booker’s All-Time Scoring Run Is Keeping The Phoenix Suns Alive
Shane Young, Forbes
5 takeaways from Suns' offensive explosion in Game 4
Michael C. Wright, NBA.com
Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Suns survive Nikola Jokic’s 53-point masterpiece, level series at 2-2
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post [UPDATED]
'He's ridiculous': Kevin Durant marvels at Nuggets star Nikola Jokic's 54-point effort in Suns' Game 4 win as Denver hopes two-time MVP can avoid ban for shoving Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia
Alex Raskin, Daily Mail
Are Nuggets in trouble after losing two straight to Suns? Not yet, but they need some fixes
Tony Jones, The Athletic
Nuggets notebook: Denver Nuggets must get Michael Porter Jr. more involved to outlast hot-shooting Phoenix Suns
Paul Klee, Denver Gazette
Nikola Jokic and Suns owner tussle. A suspension is in order. Mat Ishbia should be sat in a corner until he learns how to behave at playoff game.
Mark Kiszla, Denver Post
OTHER PLAYOFF SERIES
MIA-NYK
Knicks need Julius Randle to right his ship, and fast!
Barbara Barker, Newsday
Working As Intended: The HEAT Are Beating The Knicks At The Identity Game, Tom Thibodeau Sends Two At Jimmy Butler And Max Strus Goes Long
Couper Moorhead, NBA.com
Kyle Lowry’s ‘Hall of Fame’ mindset off Heat bench reversing Knicks’ advantage
Brian Lewis, New York Post
Bam Adebayo’s Game 3 dominance flew under the radar, says Heat coach
Brian Lewis, New York Post
Adebayo guarded the Knicks’ downhill perimeter players, and had his way with the centers. Hartenstein and starter Mitchell Robinson combined for just two points and eight boards, with Robinson logging just 14:13. And once he got pulled for a small-ball lineup, Adebayo was just as effective slowing Julius Randle to 4 of 15 shooting.
LAL-GSW
Three Adjustments the Warriors Need to Make to Survive
Michael Pina, The Ringer
Against Lakers, Warriors’ rotations have often left GPII on the bench
C.J. Holmes, San Francisco Chronicle
Lonnie Walker IV, the Lakers’ ‘X-factor,’ will keep staying ready for his playoff moments
Law Murray, The Athletic
LEAGUEWIDE STORIES
NBA Rookie Report Cards: Picks Seven Through Ten
Arya Chawla, FanNation
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
CHA: 2023 NBA Draft Roundtable: Volume One
Jon Yeager/Schuyler Callihan/James Plowright
CLE: The Cavaliers made a mistake in how they handled Kevin Love’s situation
Mateo Mayorga, King James Gospel
SAC: Kings offseason preview: What Sacramento faces in the NBA Draft, free agency, trades and more
Jason Anderson, The Sacramento Bee
UTA: Grading the Jazz: Collin Sexton showed some real improvement despite his limited season
Sarah Todd, Deseret News
NBA DRAFT
Bobi Klintman: 2023 NBA Draft Scouting Report
Adam Spinella, The Box and One
NBA draft lottery prospects countdown: Jarace Walker, F, Houston
Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle
A Star Among Us: Cam Whitmore's Star Potential
Stephen Gillaspie, No Ceilings