DUNK STATION

GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER HAS 29 POINTS TO HELP THUNDER ROLL PAST MAVERICKS IN GAME 1 OF WEST SEMIFINALS! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was his usual self and Luka Doncic wasn't. Gilgeous-Alexander had 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists to help the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 117-95 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Gilgeous-Alexander made 8 of 19 field goals and 11 of 13 free throws before coming out of the game with 3:26 remaining and the Thunder leading 111-89. Doncic, an MVP finalist like Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 19 points on 6-for-19 shooting and had five turnovers. He bristled when asked about his shooting. “Who cares,” he said. “We lost. We just got to move onto the next one. We’ve got to be better.” Lu Dort got most of the work guarding Doncic, with rookie Cason Wallace getting some of the action and 7-foot-1 center Holmgren pestering him near the rim. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said Dort, one of the league's best perimeter defenders did his job. “He’s just a warrior,” Daigneault said. “Brings the juice every single night. Doncic is a really hard matchup and a great player that didn’t have his best pitch tonight. He’s going to play better than this. Lu made it hard on him. I thought our team made it hard on him.” Holmgren added 19 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Jalen Williams struggled with his shot for three quarters but scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth to help Oklahoma City remain unbeaten in the playoffs. Kyrie Irving scored 20 points and Daniel Gafford added 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks for the fifth-seeded Mavericks. Game 2 will be Thursday night in Oklahoma City. Daigneault is aware that the Mavericks stole home court from the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of their first-round series. Dallas went on to win that series 4-2. “I think we can expect them to play better than they did tonight," Daigneault said. “The last thing we’re going to do is underestimate this opponent.” The Thunder held the Mavericks to 39.3% shooting and won big, despite being outrebounded 52-39. Gilgeous-Alexander rested briefly at the start of the second quarter before subbing in at the 8:20 mark. He scored 11 points in the period to help the Thunder take a 62-53 lead at the break. He scored 19 points in the first half, while reserve Aaron Wiggins scored 12 of his 16 points before the break. Dallas opened the second half on a run, and a 3-pointer by Irving cut Oklahoma City's lead to 66-65 and forced the Thunder to call a timeout. Isaiah Joe and Dort hit 3-pointers when play resumed, then Dort ripped Doncic, leading to a dunk by Williams that put the Thunder up 74-67. Gilgeous-Alexander's 3-pointer with Doncic in his face put Oklahoma City up 80-69. Irving hit a 3-pointer as the third quarter expired, but the Thunder still led 89-79. Williams scored eight straight points for the Thunder in a run that put Oklahoma City ahead 102-87, and the Thunder controlled the game from there. The Thunder set an Oklahoma City playoff record with 29 assists. “I thought we got a good groove going after kind of a choppy start," Daigneault said. "Really intelligent attacks. We had a good blend of aggression and also taking what the defense gave us, keeping them on their heels, keeping the ball ahead of them. They’re really good when you slow down and you allow them to kind of scheme and calibrate.” The Mavericks will need to regroup. “They’re a great team,” Doncic said. “Great defensive team, great offensive team. So it’s not going to be easy at all. We’ve got to very good basketball and focused basketball for 48 minutes.” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

JALEN BRUNSON RETURNS FROM FOOT INJURY, SPARKS KNICKS PAST PACERS FOR 2-0 LEAD IN EAST SEMIFINALS. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Jalen Brunson left the locker room on an injured leg, walked onto the court and sent the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy, just as Willis Reed had exactly 54 years earlier. As the roars turned into “MVP! MVP!” chants, Brunson tried to block out the pain in his body and the noise all around him as he warmed up at halftime. “It was really cool to hear, but I just knew that I had to get my mind in the right place to figure out how I was going to attack the second half,” Brunson said. He shook off his right foot injury to score 24 of his 29 points in the final two quarters, leading the New York Knicks to a 130-121 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. On the anniversary of Reed's dramatic emergence from the locker room before Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals to lead the Knicks to their first title, Brunson had missed the entire second quarter while the Pacers surged ahead to a double-figure lead. Reed's teammates have said they didn't know if he would play that night. Brunson's had no doubt. “I mean, he’s a warrior. That’s all I got,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “There was no doubt in my mind that he’ll be back. All season long, no matter what is thrown at him, injury bug or whatever, he always bounces back. And we knew the severity of the game and everything, so we knew, everybody had confidence he was coming back." Brunson fell short of becoming the second player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in five straight playoff games, but he gave the Knicks everything they needed to move halfway to their first Eastern Conference finals appearance since 2000. “He’s a great leader, so I think the players all have respect for that, when a guy goes out and is willing to give whatever he has, and so that says a lot about him," Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. OG Anunoby added a career playoff-high 28 points before leaving with a left hamstring injury in the third quarter for the injury-riddled Knicks, who have already lost three key players to season-ending injuries. But they got Brunson back and received huge efforts again from his two Villanova teammates. DiVincenzo scored 28 points and Josh Hart had 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists for the No. 2-seeded Knicks. Tyrese Haliburton rebounded from a poor Game 1 with 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Pacers, who finished the game without coach Rick Carlisle after he got two technical fouls and was ejected. “Small-market teams deserve an equal shot,” Carlisle said during a postgame complaint about the officiating. “They deserve a fair shot no matter where they are playing.” The series moves to Indiana for Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday. Former Knicks forward Obi Toppin added 20 points in another strong effort by Indiana’s reserves, but the Pacers hurt themselves by shooting just 10 for 17 (59%) from the free throw line. Knicks fans profanely jeered Pacers Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, an enemy from the heated 1990s era of this playoff rivalry who was calling the game as part of TNT’s crew, during a delirious finish to what had been a nervous first half, when Brunson was missing for the entire second quarter. He had made a 3-pointer for a 24-13 lead in the first quarter, giving the Knicks 10 baskets in their first 14 shots in a blistering start. But after Toppin made one for the Pacers on the other end, Brunson began waving to the bench for a substitution as he ran down the court on offense. That was early in an 11-0 run by Indiana to tie it, and it was tied again at 36 after Toppin made three free throws with 0.3 seconds remaining. The Pacers then made 15 of 22 shots in the second quarter in Brunson’s absence, outscoring the Knicks 37-27 to take a 73-63 lead. Brunson would only say he felt some discomfort and that once he warmed up, he knew he was going back into the game. “I had a decision to make and I made a decision,” Brunson said. Indiana’s lead was 79-70 before the Knicks stormed ahead with a 14-0 run, with Brunson contributing a three-point play during it as New York went ahead 84-79. Anunoby was hurt soon after, appearing to injure his hamstring while trying to finish a fast-break layup, but Brunson guided the Knicks through the finish with 14 points in the fourth quarter. With All-Star Julius Randle gone to shoulder surgery and key reserves Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic lost in the playoffs, the Knicks have been relying on their starters to play major minutes - all 48 of them for Hart in both games of the series. So they can't afford to play without Brunson, who finished fifth in the voting for MVP that Nikola Jokic won Wednesday. He had joined Jerry West, Michael Jordan and Bernard King as the only players with at least four straight 40-point games in the playoffs, and came in as the leading scorer in the postseason with 36.6 points per game. Brunson ended up getting fairly close to that despite playing only 32 minutes, saying afterward that teammates were teasing him with Reed jokes. Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Knicks, forced to play 39 minutes after the Knicks announced Tuesday that Robinson would miss at least six weeks with a stress injury to his left ankle. The Knicks paid tribute to Reed's return, one of the most memorable moments in NBA and Madison Square Garden history, during the first quarter. His No. 19 jersey, hanging in the rafters, was spotlighted, and Hall of Fame teammate Walt Frazier came onto the court for an ovation. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

Today at STATION KICKS, the AIR JORDAN 5 OG “BLACK METALLIC” Returns🔥 For Spring 2025, Jordan Brand aims to honor the legacy of the “metallic” Air Jordan 5 by meticulously remastering them to closely resemble the original pair. Originally released in 1990, the Air Jordan 5 “Black Metallic” has become a timeless icon since then and by 2025, Jordan will be bringing them back, which has sparked fervor among sneakerheads. In this episode, learn everything about this iconic shoe! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Copyright, All rights reserved, STATION KICKS.2024 - #jumpman #sneakers #sneakernews #jordan #airjordan5 #sneaker #snkrs #nba #jordan #nbanews #nbakicks #nba #nbaplayoffs #michaeljordan #viral #video #swoosh - AIR JORDAN 5 OG “BLACK METALLIC” RETURNS SPRING 2025, AIR JORDAN 5 OG “BLACK METALLIC”, Jumpman, Swoosh, Athletic Shoe, Sneakers, Sneakers News, News, NBA News, Sneaker, Air Jordan 5, Travis Scott Jumpman Jack TR Sail and Dark Mocha Review and on Foot, Travis Scott JUMPMAN JACK Sail Dark Mocha REVIEW & On Feet, top 10 jordan 3, jordan 3 review, Jordan 2025, Jordan releases 2024, Jordan releases 2025, top 3 jordans of 2024, Top jordans 2023, top jordans 2025, adidas kick shoes, adidas trending shoes, adidas high top sneakers, Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack Trainer "Sail / Dark Mocha": Review & On-Feet, Sean Go, jordan 5 performance review, NIKE AIR FORCE 1 LOW X .SWOOSH "404 ERROR" 2024 REVIEW & ON FEET THESE ARE SO SLEEK SUPER LIMITED!, Best 5 Budget Basketball Shoes 2024 [don’t buy one before watching this] - Cheap Basketball Shoes, 5 Best Basketball Shoes For The 2024 NBA Playoffs, Foot Doctor Zach, Most Controversial Moments In NBA History, Nonstop, This Will NEVER Happen Again, Why Kareem And Wilt HATED Each Other, AIR JORDAN 5 OG “BLACK METALLIC” RETURNS SPRING 2025 | STATION KICKS, station kicks,

KNICKS ADVANCE TO SEMIS! KNICKS ADVANCE TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS, TOPPING 76ERS 118-115 IN GAME 6. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks PHILADELPHIA (AP) With a frenzied Philly crowd clamoring for defense, Josh Hart hesitated for just a second after Jalen Brunson passed him the ball from the left wing before Hart realized the 76ers weren't playing any D on him. Left alone at the top of the arc, Hart let it fly. “I was able to get my feet set and just shoot an open uncontested shot,” he said. Hart raised his arms and extended three fingers on each hand on his go-ahead 3-pointer with 24.4 seconds left that was finally enough to help send the New York Knicks past the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 in Game 6 on Thursday night and into the second round of the playoffs. Brunson had 41 points and 12 assists to lead the Knicks, who are set for an Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with Indiana. The Pacers beat Milwaukee in six games and advanced to the second round for the first time in 10 years. Game 1 is Monday night in New York. The Knicks are through to the second round in consecutive years for the first time since the postseasons from 1992-2000, and even then, nobody did what Brunson did in this series by scoring 40 points or more in each of the final three games. He became the first Knick to do that since Bernard King 40 years ago, and the first NBA player to score 40 or more to close out a series since Michael Jordan for Chicago against Cleveland in 1989. In a series defined by tight games, Hart hit the clutch shot that made it 114-111 and again had “Let’s go Knicks! Let’s go Knicks!” chants echoing throughout Philly’s home court. Joel Embiid scored a bucket but fouled out on the next possession. Donte DiVincenzo sealed New York's win with two free throws. “The fourth quarter was just one big play after the next,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. Naturally, the former Villanova Wildcats trio of Hart, DiVincenzo and Jalen Brunson saved the Knicks from a first-half collapse that was nearly enough to force a Game 7. DiVincenzo scored 23 points in 48 minutes and Hart had 16. Hart atoned for a missed free throw late in Game 5 that would have put the Knicks up by four. Nursing a three-point lead, Tyrese Maxey pulled up from 35 feet to tie it at 97 with 8.1 seconds left and the Sixers went on to win the game. “I felt that loss is on my shoulders,” Hart said. “I had a day-and-a-half to think about that. That’s really all I thought about.” The 76ers - who trailed by 22 in the first half before taking a 54-51 lead at the break - have another long off summer to think about one more wasted season of Embiid's prime. Embiid finished with 39 points and 13 rebounds. Buddy Hield had 20 points. After dropping 45 points in Game 5, Maxey was a non-factor in the first half and finished with 17. “This series probably could have went the exact opposite the way it did,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said. “But it didn’t." Despite Philadelphia’s best efforts to keep rowdy Knicks fans at home, Wells Fargo Center sounded more like Madison Square Garden in the waning moments. Knicks fans crowded near New York’s tunnel after the game and held their phones high to capture video of their favorite team headed to the locker room. “Was it hostile?” Thibodeau cracked, when asked about the atmosphere. This was a game were it seemed natural to want to skip ahead to the final minute. After all, there have been five playoff games since the 1996-97 season where a team trailed by five or more in the final 30 seconds of regulation and came back to win - and two were in this series. Game 2, the Knicks rallied to win 104-101. Game 5, the 76ers came back for a 112-106 overtime win. Exhilarating, exhausting, there was more can-you-top-this ahead. With Sixers fans having seized back the building, they were roaring at the late tip - shortly after 9 p.m. - only for the Knicks to come roaring out to a 33-11 lead. Just last season, the 76ers held a 3-2 series lead against Boston in the East semifinals, only to drop Game 6 at home, and then Game 7 in Boston. The Sixers lost Game 6 and the East semis in 2022 at home to Miami. Only in this Game 6, the Sixers showed some moxie. With Maxey unable to find a shot, Hield about saved the season. Acquired at the trade deadline, Hield lost his starting job after a late-season slump. He missed all four 3-point attempts in the first three games of the series and did not play in the last two. Hield found his shot in Game 6, hitting five 3s in the second quarter that sparked the Sixers on a 34-11 run. His fifth 3 helped send the Sixers into the half with a 54-51 lead. Maxey hit a 3 for a 10-point lead in the third before a pair of wild misses from beyond the arc sparked a Knicks rally. OG Anunoby closed the third quarter with a tying 3 for New York and he opened the fourth with one for an 86-83 lead. With the game tied 95-all, Brunson hit a step-back 3 and then another 3 that made it 101-95. Anunoby's dunk for an eight-point Knicks lead with 2:43 left looked like it might be decisive. But the Sixers had one more run in them. Like so many empty postseasons before them, it wasn't enough. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

PAOLO BANCHERO SCORES 27 POINTS, MAGIC OVERCOME MITCHELL'S 50 TO BEAT CAVS 103-96 AND FORCE GAME 7! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Paolo Banchero and the rapidly maturing Orlando Magic are growing up fast in the NBA playoffs. The 21-year-old All-Star forward scored 10 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter Friday night, helping one of the NBA's youngest teams overcome Donovan Mitchell's 50 points and hold off the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-96 to force a decisive Game 7 in their first-round playoff series. Three nights after scoring a career postseason-best 39 on 14-of-24 shooting in a one-point road loss that left the Magic on the brink of elimination, Banchero put his team on his back and carried them to their biggest win in years. Franz Wagner had 26 points and Jalen Suggs made six 3-pointers and finished with 22 for the Magic, who pulled away in the closing minutes, with Banchero hitting a 3-pointer that put Orlando ahead for good at 92-89. “We’ve definitely learned a lot through this series, seeing what works and what doesn’t work,” Banchero said. “Knowing what we have to do to win a game.” Mitchell was magnificent for Cleveland, scoring all of his team's 18 points in the fourth quarter. Darius Garland finished with 21, but ultimately the Cavs were unable to overcome poor 3-point shooting (7 of 28). Game 7 is Sunday in Cleveland, where the Cavs won Games 1, 2 and 5 and clearly play better than on the road, where they've dropped seven straight playoff games dating to a LeBron James-led Game 7 victory at Boston in the 2018 Eastern Conference finals. “I’m excited. It’s a do-or-die situation, so we’ll have to put together another special effort,” Banchero said, looking ahead to Sunday. The Cavs haven't won a postseason series since then. The Magic, in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, are seeking their first series win in 14 years. “Our guys will be ready for the moment,” Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’ve been really good at home and we don’t expect that to change.” Orlando improved from 22 wins in 2021-22, its first season under coach Jamahl Mosley, to 34 last year and 47 with a Southeast Division title this season. “Being on the road for Game 7, the ability to come together and continue to grow each game, I think that’s what this group is looking forward to,” Mosley added. “It’s not going to be easy, nor do we want it to be easy. The harder it is, the better we will be.” Orlando took Games 3 and 4 by a combined 61 points, yet came out Friday night with a slightly different look, inserting forward Jonathan Isaac into the starting lineup and shifting Wagner from forward to guard to put four 6-foot-10 players on the floor at the same time. With center Jarrett Allen out for the second consecutive game because of a bruised rib, the Cavs slid forward Evan Mobley to center and started Marcus Morris Sr. after the 34-year-old came off the bench to score 12 points and elevate Cleveland's level of physicality. The Cavs trailed 53-49 at the half and were fortunate the deficit wasn't larger, considering they had misfired on 13 of 14 3-point attempts. With an aggressive Mitchell and Garland seemingly driving to the basket at will, Cleveland converted 22 of 32 shots inside the arc and wound up shooting 50% overall (23 of 46) before the break to stay close. They finally heated up from long range in the third quarter, with Mitchell and Max Strus making 3-pointers during a 17-4 surge to begin the period. The Magic trailed by as many as nine before closing within 78-73 heading into the fourth quarter. Mitchell finished 22 of 36 from the field, including three of nine on 3-points attempts. He scored Cleveland's final 22 points, including all 18 in the fourth quarter. “We did a great job of staying together and we were all locked in, but ultimately we didn't end up with the victory, so we just have to go home and take care of business,” Mitchell said. “We didn't win the game. At the end of the day, I had 50 but we lost.” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

DONOVAN MITCHELL SCORES 39 POINTS AS CAVALIERS PUSH PAST MAGIC 106-94 IN GAME 7 TO GET BOSTON NEXT! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es CLEVELAND (AP) Donovan Mitchell scored 39 points, Caris LeVert added 15 and the Cleveland Cavaliers avoided a potentially franchise-shifting loss by rallying for a 106-94 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday in Game 7 to advance in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Cavs trailed by 18 in the first half and were in danger of being knocked out in the first round for the second year in a row - a scenario that may have led to firings. But Mitchell, who scored 50 in a Game 6 loss at Orlando and has been battling a left knee injury for months, put the Cavs on his back. He carried them past an up-and-coming-fast Orlando team whose playoff inexperience showed in the second half. Evan Mobley grabbed 16 rebounds and Darius Garland hit a critical 3-pointer in the fourth for Cleveland, which won its first playoff series without LeBron James since 1993. The Cavs will now begin the second round on the road against the top-seeded and well-rested Boston Celtics in Game 1 on Tuesday. In the closing minutes, Cleveland's towel-waving crowd chanted “We want Boston!” - a matchup that didn't look likely an hour earlier. Paolo Banchero scored 38 - just 14 after halftime - and added 16 rebounds to lead the Magic, who grew up in the series but couldn't figure out how to win in Cleveland as both teams held serve on their floors. Orlando's Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs went a combined 3 of 28 from the field. Down by 10 at halftime, Cleveland raised its defensive intensity in the third quarter and outscoring Orlando 33-15. The Magic went just 4 of 24 from the field in the period and seemed hesitant while waiting Banchero to do more. The Cavs were up 85-77 in the fourth when Garland, who showed frustration earlier in the half before getting a pep talk on the bench from Mitchell, drained a 3-pointer from the corner to put Cleveland up 11. After his shot dropped and Orlando called a timeout, a relieved Garland hugged Mitchell, who was acquired in a trade two years ago from Utah to hopefully get Cleveland closer to another championship. The Cavs took another step with him. Cleveland was again without starting center Jarrett Allen, who missed the final three games in the series with a painful rib injury sustained from an errant Magic elbow. Before he got hurt, Allen was Cleveland’s most consistent player against the Magic, getting 20 rebounds in Game 2 while giving the Cavs a defensive presence underneath to at least deter Orlando drives. Led by the 21-year-old Banchero, the Magic, who only won 22 games two years ago before they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, were 24 minutes from winning a series they trailed 2-0. But Orlando didn’t have enough - or Mitchell. Whenever the Cavs needed a big play, the All-Star guard made one. Whenever a teammate needed support, he was there. And in scoring 89 points in the final two games, Mitchell may have finally silenced critics who point to his inability to close in the playoffs. The Cavs trailed by 18 in the first half and seemed on the verge of an early summer. But with LeVert and Sam Merrill providing a spark, Cleveland was able to cut into Orlando’s lead. Cleveland missed its first nine 3-pointers and was in big trouble down 47-39. LeVert, who has been slowed by a knee injury, attacked the basket and scored on two drives and Merrill hit his second 3-pointer as the Cavs, who started 0 for 9 on 3s, made seven of their last nine shots to pull within 53-43 at halftime. The offensive woes that plagued Cleveland in the fourth quarter of Game 6 - when Mitchell scored all 18 points for the Cavs - carried over. There was too much standing around, bad shots and turnovers, and when the Magic reeled off 13 straight to open a 10-point lead, Cleveland’s crowd let the Cavs know it with more than a smattering of boos. But in the end, as Mitchell dribbled out the final seconds all was forgotten and Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

BRUNSON SCORES 43, RALLIES KNICKS TO 121-117 WIN OVER PACERS IN GAME 1 OF EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

EDWARDS, TOWNS LEAD WOLVES' 106-80 BLITZ OF MURRAY, JOKIC FOR 2-0 SERIES LEAD OVER CHAMPION NUGGETS! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

Khris Middleton & Bobby Portis GO OFF In Must-Win Game 5! MIDDLETON, PORTIS EACH SCORE 29 AS BUCKS STAY ALIVE WITH 115-92 VICTORY OVER PACERS IN GAME 5. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks MILWAUKEE (AP) Bobby Portis apologized to his teammates for his ejection from a Game 4 loss that put the Milwaukee Bucks on the brink of playoff elimination. Then he made amends by helping the Bucks keep their season alive. Portis and Khris Middleton each scored 29 points and the short-handed Bucks routed the Indiana Pacers 115-92 in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday night. The Pacers still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into Game 6 on Thursday in Indianapolis. “Thursday will be fun,” Portis said. “I can hear some ‘Bobby Sucks!’ chants. I'm ready, man. I'm fired up. I'm already ready for it.” Milwaukee won without injured stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard as the Fiserv Forum crowd chanted: “Bucks In Seven.” Antetokounmpo has missed this entire series and hasn’t played since straining his left calf on April 9. Lillard sat out a second straight game after injuring his Achilles tendon in the Bucks’ 121-118 Game 3 loss on Friday. Bucks coach Doc Rivers was asked after Game 5 about their potential availability for the rest of the series. “I don’t know how to answer that," Rivers said. "I know I hope. I think they’re very, very, very close.” The Bucks stayed alive thanks in part to a huge performance from Portis, who had been ejected just seven minutes into Game 4 after getting into a skirmish with Indiana's Andrew Nembhard. Portis said he watched the rest of that game while still in uniform, wondering about all the ways in which his presence on the floor might have made a difference. He came back Tuesday and produced the highest playoff point total of his career. He also pulled down 10 rebounds. “I maybe crossed the line, you feel me, and let my team down by getting ejected and not being available for my team,” Portis said. “I pride myself so much on being available.” Middleton had his third straight game with at least 25 points, and he also had 12 rebounds and five assists. The Bucks are trying to win a series after trailing 3-1 for the first time in franchise history. The Pacers are attempting to advance beyond the opening round for the first time since 2014. “We've just got to understand that they're a team that's on the brink of their season being done, and they're playing desperate, they're playing hard, as they should be,” Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton said. “At the end of the day, they outcompeted us tonight. They played harder. They played better. They kind of just dominated us in every facet of the game tonight.” Haliburton scored 16 points to lead the Pacers, who had their lowest scoring total of the season. Myles Turner added 13. Obi Toppin, Nembhard and Pascal Siakam had 12 each. Malik Beasley scored 18 points for Milwaukee. Pat Beverley had 13 points and 12 assists, and sparked a second-quarter run that put the Bucks ahead for good. Indiana started the night intent on closing this series early. Two nights after shooting 22 of 43 from 3-point range in Game 3, the Pacers went 7 of 12 from beyond the arc in the first 10 minutes and led 31-21 late in the first quarter. But the Bucks responded with an 18-2 run as Beverley continually irritated the Pacers - to the delight of the crowd. Shortly after a 3-pointer by Middleton put the Bucks ahead for good, Toppin was called for traveling in front of Milwaukee’s bench. As Beverley tried to grab the ball from him, Toppin shoved the Bucks guard and drew a technical foul. On the Bucks’ ensuing possession, Beverley hit a short jumper while getting fouled by Haliburton. Beverley did a particularly showy version of the “Too Small” taunting gesture before sinking his free throw to complete a three-point play that gave Milwaukee a 39-33 lead. “I thought Pat Beverley was fantastic,” Rivers said. “His scoring was good, but I thought his playmaking was unbelievable tonight.” Milwaukee led 53-48 at halftime and then scored the first nine points of the third quarter. Indiana got the margin down to nine midway through the third, but the Bucks outscored the Pacers 20-8 over the next 5½ minutes to put the game away. “We just didn't play with the consistent compete level we needed to," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “I'll take responsibility for that. I didn't have these guys ready the way they needed to be ready to play this game." Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

EVAN MOBLEY HAS HUGE BLOCK IN FINAL SECONDS AS CAVALIERS HOLD OFF BANCHERO, MAGIC 104-103 IN GAME 5! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks CLEVELAND (AP) Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points, Evan Mobley blocked Franz Wagner's layup in the final seconds and the Cleveland Cavaliers survived a scare from Orlando, holding off Paolo Banchero and the Magic 104-103 in Game 5 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference series. The Cavs, who were embarrassed by the Magic while dropping two games in Orlando last week, regrouped inside roaring Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. It took everything they had. After Mitchell missed a jumper with 15.7 seconds left, Wagner drove the left side for a potential game-tying layup but was denied at the rim with 6 seconds left by Mobley, who smacked the ball off the backboard. Mitchell was fouled and made two free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining to make 104-100. There wasn't enough time for the Magic, who got a 3-pointer in the final second from Banchero, giving him 39 points. Playing in just his fifth postseason game, the 21-year-old Banchero looked like a savvy veteran. He scored 16 points in the fourth and finished 14 of 24 from the field (4 of 7 on 3s) and added eight rebounds. Missing starting center Jarrett Allen with a bruised rib, Cleveland got a big lift from Max Strus, who scored 16 in his best game in the back-and-forth series. Mobley added 14 points and 13 rebounds and reserve Marcus Morris Sr. gave Cleveland toughness and 12 points. The Cavs, who spent the season trying put last year’s first-round flameout against New York behind them, can advance with a win in Game 6 on Friday in Orlando. The Magic need a win to salvage their breakthrough season and force a Game 7 in Cleveland on Sunday. Orlando went 29-12 in the regular season at home and are coming off decisive wins at Kia Center. Mitchell, who has been slowed by a left knee injury, scored 14 in the fourth - going 9 of 10 at the line. With Banchero leading the way, the Magic, who trailed 2-0 before twice winning big at home, stared down the Cavs and a hostile, towel-waving Cleveland crowd and were poised to pull off their first playoff road win since 2019 at Toronto. But Mitchell, Garland and Mobley wouldn’t be denied and the Cavs, who are 16-0 when leading 2-0 in a series, took care of business at home for the third time. The Cavaliers were short-handed as Allen, who has arguably been their best player in this back-and-forth series, sat out with what the team said was a bruised rib. Allen, who is averaging 17.0 points and 13.8 rebounds, took an elbow to the ribs in the second half of Game 4 on Saturday. He practiced Monday but was added to the injury report before being ruled out. With Allen out, coach J.B. Bickerstaff went with a smaller first five and started Isaac Okoro. Bickerstaff has been criticized for a lack of adjustments. But he also went deeper into his bench right away, bringing in guard Sam Merrill and both Tristan Thompson and Morris, who had only played garbage time in the Orlando blowouts. Garland played with more aggression and erupted for 17 points in the first quarter - more than he scored in any game in the series. He made two 3-pointers and Caris LeVert added another as the Cavs scored nine points in the final 1:04 to take a 10-point lead after one. But the Magic outscored the Cavs 24-15 in the second quarter to pull within one at half. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

TYRESE MAXEY SAVES SIXERS FROM ELIMINATION WITH HUGE FINISH IN OT WIN THAT CUTS KNICKS' LEAD TO 3-2! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks NEW YORK (AP) Tyrese Maxey made his Madison Square Garden memory, engineering a season-saving comeback with a rapid-fire flurry that evoked memories of Reggie Miller. Not that he was thinking about his own legacy as those 3-pointers fell through the net. “Going through my mind right there was just, find a way to survive,” Maxey said. The 76ers did. Now they're thinking about advancing. Maxey saved Philadelphia from elimination with seven points in the final 25 seconds of regulation, finished with 46 and led the 76ers to a 112-106 overtime victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round series. The Sixers trailed by six points with 28 seconds left in regulation before Maxey pulled out a comeback that had team trainer Kevin Johnson talking to him about Miller's eight points in nine seconds for Indiana in an out-of-nowhere comeback at Madison Square Garden in 1995. Asked to describe the feeling, Maxey settled on “mandatory.” “Like, we had to. Our season on the line,” he said. The All-Star guard converted a four-point play with 25 seconds remaining to cut it to two, and after Josh Hart's free throw, pulled up from 35 feet to tie it at 97 with 8.1 seconds left in front of a stunned crowd that was set to celebrate the Knicks' second straight trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Joel Embiid finished with 19 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Sixers, who will host Game 6 on Thursday night. Jalen Brunson scored 40 points for the Knicks, who were thinking about a possible Game 1 of the second round at MSG on Saturday night. Instead, it could be Game 7 of this series, which seemed all but over. “It was a tough way to lose because you get up six, eight and then we had a couple turnovers and we’ve got to just be better,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “Play tougher with the lead, use good judgement. Fourth quarter is different, understand the difference. So we can do better and we will.” It was the second desperate rally to avoid what seemed like certain defeat in what has been a razor-tight series between Atlantic Division rivals. The Knicks won Game 2 after trailing by five points with under 30 seconds remaining. Embiid, who has been ailing and missed shootaround with a headache, didn’t score like usual after coming into the game with an NBA-leading 35 points per game in the playoffs. But Maxey picked up the load, making seven 3-pointers while adding nine assists. “I think that considering that our No. 1 option was struggling, for him to say, ‘All right, I got to put this team on my back and go,’ I just kept encouraging him, like, to take his chances, take his shots, make plays,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. “And he certainly did it and got in a rhythm and made a whole bunch of them.” Maxey had the most points by a Sixers player in a win to stave off elimination, surpassing Hall of Famer Allen Iverson's 44 in a Game 7 win against Milwaukee in the 2001 Eastern Conference final. Maxey's last 3-pointer got the 76ers on the board in overtime after Brunson scored the first five points. That triggered a 9-0 run that Embiid capped with a three-point play with 1:40 remaining for a 106-102 lead, and after Brunson’s 3 tied it at 106, Kelly Oubre Jr. made the tiebreaking basket with 1:02 to go and Tobias Harris followed with two free throws. Harris had 19 points and Oubre scored 14. Hart had 18 points and OG Anunoby 17 for the Knicks, who won Game 4 at Philadelphia and didn't appear like they were heading back there. But the Sixers' rally to win by six meant the No. 7 seeds have outscored the Knicks by two total points in the series. Embiid was the target of the loud and long boos before the game even started, Knicks fans angry after his flagrant foul on Robinson in Game 3 in Philadelphia. They had plenty of chances to jeer him after Embiid also had nine turnovers in a sloppy performance. But thanks to Maxey, Embiid might be playing in front of that MSG crowd one more time. “It’s not hostile," Embiid said of the taunts that were frequently profane. “I mean, I love New York. New York is one of my favorite cities in the world. I have (had) a place here for the past five years. I just love New York. And then the fans, when you play against a team, they’re always going to pick that guy and they seem to have picked me, which is fun. I love it.” Embiid shuffled slowly through the locker room a little more than an hour before the game, resting his head in his hand while he briefly sat before going to warm up. He may have lacked energy, but the 23-year-old Maxey, the winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player award, seems to have a limitless amount. Robinson returned after missing Game 4 with a sprained left ankle, but the Knicks announced before the game that Bojan Bogdanovic would miss the rest of the playoffs and have surgery on the left foot he injured in Game 4. The Knicks, who have flourished when Embiid is resting in the series, started a 22-5 run while he was out in the second quarter and went up by 10 points in the period. They were ahead 70-69 going to the fourth. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

MAVS ROLL BEHIND DONCIC! LUKA DONCIC SCORES 35 POINTS, LEADS MAVERICKS TO 123-93 VICTORY AND 3-2 SERIES LEAD OVER CLIPPERS. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks LOS ANGELES (AP) Luka Doncic is playing on a sprained right knee that would probably sideline him in the regular season. The Dallas star also has been congested and ill for several days, fighting a bug that's forcing him to blow his nose during timeouts. Doncic simply refused to be slowed in Game 5 - not by multiple ailments, and certainly not by any Los Angeles Clippers during a blowout victory that put his Dallas Mavericks on the brink of the second round. Doncic scored 20 of his 35 points in the second half and added 10 assists and seven rebounds, propelling the Mavericks to a 123-93 victory Wednesday night and a 3-2 lead in the first-round series. Maxi Kleber hit five 3-pointers and Kyrie Irving added 14 points for the Mavericks, who clamped down on the Clippers defensively and handed Los Angeles the biggest margin of defeat in its playoff history. Dallas needs one more win to claim its first playoff series victory since 2022 and only its third since winning the NBA title in 2011. “I think it was a very big game,” Doncic said. “We win, and now we’ve got to win one out of two. We’ve got to go back to Dallas and play the same way.” Game 6 is Friday night in Dallas. If necessary, Game 7 will be back in Los Angeles on Sunday. Doncic's injured knee has limited him at times in the series, and the symptoms of his apparent illness are slowing him down as well. But he clearly got more comfortable and more dangerous as the night went on in downtown Los Angeles. He had 14 points in the third quarter while the Mavs stretched their lead to 25 and eventually took an 89-69 advantage into the fourth, where the Clippers never threatened to do an imitation of Dallas' rally from a 31-point deficit in Game 4. Doncic said his illness made things “tough,” and his knee is “not really good.” “But you talk about adrenaline in a playoff game,” he added. “Once you get started, you want to do everything you can to help your team win. I just wanted to keep going.” When these teams met in the first round three seasons ago, Dallas also won Game 5 on the road and traveled home with a chance to clinch. The Clippers won the next two to claim the series in seven games - but the star of that comeback was Kawhi Leonard, who hasn't been able to overcome his own nagging ailments in this series. Paul George and Ivica Zubac scored 15 points apiece for the Clippers, who played their second straight game and third of the series without Leonard. LA's leading scorer has right knee inflammation at the most critical point in the season, and his teammates were unable to win without him in Game 5 after doing it twice earlier in the series. Leonard's fellow stars couldn't step up in Game 5, although Dallas' defense deserved much of the credit. The Clippers hit went 9 for 35 on 3-point attempts in Game 5 after making 18 3s in Game 4. “I think it was just the carryover from Game 4, talking about it, watching it,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “Being able to play with pace on offense, but just doing a good job of taking the 3 out of the game.” George went 4 for 13 and missed four of his six 3-point attempts, failing to assert himself offensively except during a brief stretch of the third quarter. Harden had another perplexing playoff performance, going 2 for 12 and missing six of his seven 3s. Russell Westbrook also struggled off the bench, missing his first eight shots before finally scoring in the third quarter. George was calm after the thrashing, simply citing “uncharacteristic mistakes that we made.” “That wasn’t who we’ve been in this series, and that’s not who we are,” George added. “We’ve got to be better, especially in this situation. But we’ve been here before, going to Dallas being down 3-2, so we’ve just got to have a win-only mentality in Dallas.” Both teams pulled their starters midway through the fourth quarter, grabbing rest for the potential closeout in Dallas. “We just didn’t play well all around,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Defensively, offensively, we just didn’t play a good game. That’s OK. Turn the page." Although Doncic and Irving each missed their first three 3-point attempts in the first half of Game 5, Dallas got 12 first-half points from Kleber, the German shooter who famously hit a buzzer-beating 3 in this building to beat the Lakers just over a year ago. The loss left the Clippers facing the possibility that it was their last game as the home team at the downtown Los Angeles arena they share with the Lakers. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer's palatial Intuit Dome opens next season in Inglewood. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

DERRICK WHITE SCORES 38, CELTICS TOP HEAT 102-88 TO TAKE A 3-1 EAST PLAYOFF SERIES LEAD! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks MIAMI (AP) The good news for the Miami Heat is that the Boston Celtics might not be back in South Florida for a few months. And that’s also the bad news for the Heat. Boston now has full control of this Eastern Conference series, with Derrick White scoring a career-high 38 points on Monday night and leading the top-seeded Celtics past the eighth-seeded Heat 102-88 to take a 3-1 lead in their opening-round NBA playoff series. “I made a couple shots early,” said White, who was 15 of 26 from the field and 8 of 15 from 3-point range. “That always helps. Once you make a couple, the basket looks huge.” The Celtics won at Miami for the sixth straight time and improved to 14-3 in their last 17 games on the Heat's home floor. But it was a costly win, with Kristaps Porzingis going down in the first half with what the team said was a right calf injury. He left the arena in a walking boot, often used as a precaution. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he had not gotten a postgame update on Porzingis' condition. “I didn't see what happened,” Mazzulla said. Jayson Tatum added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who got 17 points from Jaylen Brown and 11 from Jrue Holiday. “We had to keep fighting,” Tatum said, “and play desperate in a way.” Bam Adebayo finished with 25 points, 17 rebounds and five assists for Miami, which had a sellout crowd - including Lionel Messi - but played again without injured starters Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck). The Heat managed only 84 points in Game 3 and struggled again on offense in Game 4. Tyler Herro scored 19 points and Caleb Martin had 18 for the eighth-seeded Heat. Miami lost rookie starter Jaime Jaquez Jr. in the second half with leg tightness; he will be evaluated Tuesday. “Offensively, we struggled again,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We had some decent looks early on, weren't able to knock those down, and Derrick White was very good tonight - obviously. ... He was just very efficient, very good.” The Celtics can advance to the second round on Wednesday when they host Game 5. The Boston-Miami winner will meet the Cleveland-Orlando winner in the East semifinals; that Cavaliers-Magic series won't end until at least Friday. “We're going into the lion's den,” Adebayo said. “Everybody knows what's at stake. It's 3-1.” But the Celtics now have an injury concern, with Porzingis lifting his jersey over his face in exasperation after getting hurt late in the first half. “Worried,” said Celtics center Al Horford, who started after halftime in Porzingis' place. “Just concerned. ... Definitely concerning for me. He's in good spirits, but we don't know what it's going to be. I'm just hoping that it's nothing serious and he can get back to us quick.” With 5:04 left, there was some more drama after Tatum tried to shoot a 3-pointer moments after a foul was called. Adebayo defended the dead-ball play, and Tatum rolled his left ankle after Adebayo stepped into his landing area. Referees called a flagrant-1 on Adebayo, and a technical on Horford for reacting. Tatum remained in the game. “I'm sure he's fine,” Mazzulla said. Adebayo didn't want to discuss the explanation he got as to why what he did merited a flagrant-foul designation. “We're just going to move on from that,” he said. The good news for Boston: History says this series is just about over. This is the 29th time a Boston team has taken a 3-1 lead in a best-of-seven series. The Celtics won all 28 of the previous series, including seven times in the NBA Finals and a first-round series against Miami in 2010 - the last games the Heat played before luring LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Florida and forming a superteam around Dwyane Wade. Miami just couldn't keep up in this one. White had 16 points in the first quarter, when the Celtics built a 34-24 lead. And no matter what the Heat did on defense, the offense couldn't make up any gaps. Consider: The Celtics had 34 points after 12 minutes, and it took the Heat almost 23 minutes - nearly the entire first half - to hit the 34-point mark. Miami had only 59 points through three quarters, matching a season low set in Game 1 of this series at Boston. “I know in my heart we have a game that's there,” Spoelstra said. “It's just a matter of the ball going in a few more times, and all of a sudden it ignites.” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

NUGGETS ELIMINATE LAKERS! MURRAY OVERCOMES CALF INJURY TO SCORE 32 AND HIT GAME-WINNER IN NUGGETS' 108-106 WIN OVER LAKERS. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks DENVER (AP) Jamal Murray overcame a strained left calf, management's suggestion he sit this one out and another haymaker from the Los Angeles Lakers to score 32 points and sink the game-winner with 3.6 seconds left Monday night. That sent LeBron James to his earliest playoff exit ever and the Denver Nuggets tottering into Round 2 with a 108-106 win in Game 5 that featured 16 lead changes and 10 ties and was only secured when Taurean Prince's halfcourt heave fell short as time expired. “Shout-out to the Lakers, they gave us a great series,” said Murray, who also hit franchise's first playoff buzzer-beater in Game 2. “Those are shots that you dream of as a little kid,” said Murray, who called this one just “a little better.” If not for his dogged determination - and defiance - Murray never would have had the chance to seal the series. “I came in a little earlier today to see if I was going to be able to go, and I felt like I could and they just didn't want me to risk it,” recounted Murray, who warmed up with an ice pack strapped to his injured calf. "They told me no. They told me no. "And I didn't say no. I didn't want to leave my teammates out there,” added Murray, who missed 23 games due to injury in 2023-24. “We've been battling all season. Everybody's hurt at some point, everybody's going through something and I just wouldn't be able to live with myself if I wasn't able to play this game. ”I'm just glad they listened to me - and listened to me listening to my body - and just trusting me with it." James' two free throws tied it at 106 with 26 seconds left and the Nuggets, just as they did in Game 2, eschewed the timeout and Murray took the ball on a high screen-and-roll to his left, shaking Austin Reaves as he crossed through the lane and swishing the 14-footer. “That kid’s a warrior, man," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "The bigger the moment, the kid just continues to shine.” Nikola Jokic, who committed an uncharacteristic seven turnovers, narrowly missed his 19th career playoff triple-double with 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists and Michael Porter Jr. scored 26. James had 30 points and 11 assists and Anthony Davis had 17 points and 15 rebounds but appeared bothered down the stretch after banging his left shoulder into MPJ in the second half. The Nuggets advanced to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round starting next weekend. That series starts in Denver, where the Nuggets are a Western Conference-best 36-8, including 3-0 in the playoffs. Not that it was been easy. The Nuggets trailed for about three-fourths of the minutes in this series, they scuffled through extended shooting slumps and they're a banged-up bunch that can definitely use the rest. “First of all, tip your hat to them,” James said. “Defending champions. They’re great team. Super-well coached and made the plays down the stretch to win the series. You give credit where credit is due, that’s for sure.” Davis matched Murray’s 16 first-half points and the Lakers led 53-50 at halftime. They pushed that advantage to nine points but the Nuggets closed on a 21-10 run to take an 81-79 lead into the fourth quarter that was tight until the buzzer. The Nuggets, who swept the Lakers in the Western Conference finals last summer on their way to winning the franchise's first NBA championship, beat the Lakers for the 12th time in their last 13 games. The only other time James was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs came in 2021 when the Phoenix Suns beat L.A. in six games. So, this was the shortest of James' 17 trips to the playoffs despite the Lakers taking the reigning champs to the brink in all five games. “I couldn’t be more proud of our crew despite everything that happened,” said Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who's sure to be on the hot seat. “Obviously, the series didn’t go in our favor, didn’t start the way we wanted it to, but to win that one at home, fight tooth and nail today to get this one, our guys showed a lot of guts and a lot of character." Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

Today at STATION KICKS... We present the Futuristic Nike Pegasus Premium, featuring the innovative Air technology. It integrates Nike's first visible Air Zoom unit, showing off the striking “Airscape” color combination. Designed to efficiently transfer energy to the athlete, the Nike Pegasus Premium “Airscape” will be available in Spring 2025! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Copyright, All rights reserved, STATION KICKS.2024 - #sneakers #nikesportswear #basketball #sneakernews #nikepegasus #nike #sports #news #sportsnews #snkrs #viral #sneaker #sneakerhead #sneakerheads #sneakercon #stationkicks #playoffmode - PLAYOFFMODE, Playoffs, Nike, Nike Pegasus, NIKE PEGASUS PREMIUM,NIKE PEGASUS PREMIUM RELEASES SPRING 2025, Sneaker, Sneakers Release, Anthony Edwards, NBA’s Top 10 Plays of the Night | April 27, 2024, Anthony Edwards' MONSTER PERFORMANCE 😤 The Timberwolves Advance! #PLAYOFFMODE | April 28, 2024, Jalen Brunson Makes Knicks HISTORY In Game 4! 🔥 #PLAYOFFMODE | April 28, 2024, Paul George & James Harden TAKEOVER In Game 4! 🔥 | April 28, 2024, Top 15 Latest Nike shoes for the month of May 2024, Best Hoop Shoes You've Never Heard Of 2024! DON'T SLEEP on these Basketball Shoes!, The Sole Drop, This Will NEVER Happen Again, Nonstop, Why Kareem And Wilt HATED Each Other, I Spent 1.6 MILLION VC Trying To Pull 100 OVR Yao Ming, Ralph Tiama, WAR On FAKE Sneakers Just Got Serious! New Yeezy! & More!, Travis Scott Jumpman Jack TR Sail and Dark Mocha Review and on Foot, ToNYD2WiLD, WearTesters, Air Jordan 1 High OG Artisanal Red + Giveaway, Sneakers Review, Sneakers, Sneaker, Sneakers News, Video, Viral, Nike, Nike pegasus, Sneaker Heads, STATION KICKS,

WOLVES SWEEP SUNS! TIMBERWOLVES OUTLAST SUNS TO FINISH SWEEP. MINNESOTA COACH CHRIS FINCH LEAVES WITH KNEE INJURY. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from our pages: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks PHOENIX (AP) Minnesota star Anthony Edwards noticed early in the third quarter that the Phoenix Suns switched up their defense, playing him one-on-one most of the time instead of using the double teams from the first half. The budding superstar took that as a challenge. “It was like - you've got to beat us,” Edwards said. “And I showed them.” Edwards scored 31 of his 40 points in the second half, Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 and the Timberwolves pulled away late to beat the Suns 122-116 on Sunday night and sweep the first-round playoff series. The franchise's first playoff series win in 20 years came after coach Chris Finch left the game late in the fourth after an inadvertent collision with Wolves guard Mike Conley. The team said he had a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. Edwards finished 13 of 23 from the field, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range. The 22-year-old threw down a powerful, one-handed jam to give Minnesota a 115-111 lead with 2:14 left. “We've watched him grow, evolve as a leader, as a player, as a man,” Wolves center Rudy Gobert said. “It's been fun.” Phoenix would never recover. The Wolves finished off the Suns despite Devin Booker’s 49 points on 13 of 21 shooting. He also made 20 of 21 free throws. Kevin Durant added 33, but the rest of the team struggled. Assistant coach Micah Nori took over for Finch for the final 1:41 and the Wolves closed with relative ease. “Everybody has their role, everybody has each other's back,” Nori said. “I know it sounds corny, but it's just next man up, even with the coaching staff.” Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels scored 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting and the Wolves had a 44-33 rebounding advantage. It was a tight fourth quarter and the Suns tied it at 107 on Royce O'Neale's 3-pointer with 4:30 remaining. Edwards and Jaden McDaniels hit back-to-back corner 3s to put the Wolves up 113-109 with 3:20 left. The Wolves now wait to see if they will face the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. “Their whole team created a lot of problems for us,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “The role players, the stars. Anthony Edwards is a special, special talent. And their bigs played really well.” Edwards hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the third and McDaniels followed with a powerful dunk, helping Minnesota turn a six-point deficit into a 68-66 lead. It was part of a big third for Edwards, who hit four 3-pointers and had 15 points. Booker responded, scoring 18 points during the quarter and the Suns took a 92-90 lead into the fourth. It was a tough game for three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, who scored just nine points on 4-of-13 shooting before fouling out. “They were executing late and we didn't,” Booker said. The Suns threw various looks at the Wolves in the first half, using five perimeter players at various times to try to pull big men Gobert and Towns away from the basket. Booker hit a fallaway jumper at the buzzer to give the Suns a 61-56 halftime lead. Durant led Phoenix with 20 points before the break, while Booker had 17. Towns had 15 for the Wolves. Suns guard Grayson Allen missed his second straight game because of a sprained ankle suffered in Game 1 that he aggravated in Game 2. He averaged 13.5 points per game and led the NBA in 3-point percentage during the regular season. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

CLIPPERS FOIL EPIC RALLY! PAUL GEORGE, JAMES HARDEN HELP CLIPPERS EVEN SERIES WITH MAVS AT 2-2 AFTER BLOWING 31-POINT LEAD. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es DALLAS (AP) Paul George and James Harden are two-for-two without Kawhi Leonard in the Los Angeles Clippers' first-round playoff series against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks. The healthy LA stars can afford to shrug over the blown 31-point lead in Game 4. George and Harden each scored 33 points while playing key fourth-quarter roles to help the Clippers hold off a huge rally fueled mostly by Irving for a 116-111 victory Sunday to even the first-round series at 2-2. “We knew they would make a run,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “But also, we didn’t think we’d come into this building and be up 31 points either. So I told our team, just get the win, however you've got to get it. In the playoffs, it don’t matter how you win.” Leonard was out with right knee inflammation again after missing the series opener, then playing in both Dallas victories. The Clippers aren't sure he'll make it back for the third Western Conference first-round meeting between these teams in the past five seasons. The teams have split a pair on each other’s home court. Game 5 is Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Irving scored 40 points for Dallas, including an acrobatic layup with 2:15 remaining for a 105-104 lead that was the first for the Mavericks since the middle of the first quarter. Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his fourth career playoff triple-double - all against the Clippers - while clearly struggling with right knee soreness that had him questionable until he warmed up before the game. “It’s hurting, obviously,” said Doncic, who was 1 of 9 from 3-point range and not as effective on defense, a strength for him in this series. “But it shouldn’t be an excuse. Just came out sloppy. We’ve got to be way better than that.” George scored 26 points in the first half, when the Clippers' lead reached 55-24 on a 3-pointer by Harden. The high-scoring stars combined to go 11 of 15 from long range as LA finished 18 of 29 overall. After Irving's go-ahead layup, George hit his first basket of the second half, a fadeaway 3 from the corner. Irving missed a layup, and Harden converted a three-point play for a 110-105 lead. The 10-time All-Star scored 15 points in the fourth, hitting five of his well-known floaters that were mostly absent in the first three games. This is part of why the Clippers added Harden in an early-season trade, giving them another option with a star such as Leonard sidelined. “I’m blessed to be able to change it up and be a facilitator or a scorer,” Harden said. “My mindset coming to this team was doing whatever it takes to win and get to the end goal. Whether that's scoring or facilitating, I think it goes possession by possession and game by game.” The Clippers tied a franchise playoff record for a quarter with eight 3s in the first, and George had three of them while scoring his playoff first-quarter high with 16 points to match the Mavericks and help build a 39-16 lead. Harden’s 3 for the 31-point lead midway through the second quarter came not long after Doncic was called for a technical foul coming down the court when his miss dropped Dallas to 0-11 from long range.. It was almost a replay of Game 1, when the Leonard-less Clippers led by 26 at halftime and 29 early in the third quarter. Minus the massive rally, although Dallas did whittle the deficit in the second half of the opener. “This is like Game 1,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “Early game, for whatever reason we just haven’t played well. We’ve gotten off to slow starts. That’s just something that we’ve got to talk about as a team. If there’s another afternoon game, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready to go from the jump and we can’t wait.” Irving hit the next two 3s for Dallas, and the rally was on. He scored 16 in the second quarter and kept it going in the third, finishing those two quarters with 26 after a scoreless first. Dallas trailed by four entering the fourth quarter. “We dug ourselves in a hole,” Irving said. “There's no time to complain about it or look to each other for any excuses. It was just time to get it going. Fell short, but this is a consistent thing in this series so far where Kawhi doesn't play and we're just dealing with a barrage of James Harden and Paul George getting off.” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

Meet the Air Jordan 3 "Flu Game", An icon in the world of NBA sneakers. Debuted in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals by Michael Jordan, this pair is set for a resurgence in 2025. New Episode of STATION KICKS, Watch it now: https://rumble.com/v4qvuy9-air-jordan-12-flu-game-returns-spring-2025-station-kicks.html STATION KICKS, 2024. All Rights Reserved

WOLVES PUT SUNS IN 3-0 HOLE! ANTHONY EDWARDS SCORES 36 POINTS, TIMBERWOLVES BEAT SUNS 126-109 FOR 3-0 SERIES LEAD. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es PHOENIX (AP) Anthony Edwards hit a jumper late in the fourth quarter and snarled as he ran down the court, pounding his chest with his fist for emphasis as Minnesota pulled away for another dominant playoff win. The Timberwolves are the undeniable alpha dogs through three games of this increasingly lopsided series. Edwards scored 36 points, Rudy Gobert added 19 points and 14 rebounds and the Timberwolves used a hot-shooting third quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 126-109 on Friday night and take a 3-0 lead in the first-round matchup. “We're just embracing the moment,” Gobert said. “We have only one goal in mind and we're trying to make sure we don't get distracted by the success or the ups and downs. We're just locked in.” Minnesota goes for the sweep in Game 4 on Sunday in Phoenix. The Wolves never trailed on Friday. “This is a team you need to dictate terms with,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “You don't want to get behind big on them because of the way they can shoot the ball. That's been part of our messaging, part of our emphasis, we have to get off to good starts.” It was the third straight game the Wolves used a big third to turn a tight game into a comfortable victory. Minnesota hit 7 of 11 3-pointers during the surge, including four from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, to take a 22-point lead into the fourth. Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points while Kevin Durant had 25 and Devin Booker 23. The rest of the team scored just 33 points. The 7-foot-1 Gobert said he's noticed the Suns being hesitant to drive in the lane when he's there. “That's what I do best,” Gobert said. “I try to be a presence, give confidence to my teammates, making sure I'm there for them. I'm trying to get some blocks, but they don't really try me. So at the end of the day, that's better than any block.” Minnesota had a six-point halftime lead and stretched its advantage to 69-58 early in the third after back-to-back 3-pointers from Mike Conley and Karl-Anthony Towns. Late in the third, Alexander-Walker hit his fourth 3-pointer of the quarter for a 95-73 lead. The Wolves were also dominant on the glass, finishing with a 50-28 rebounding advantage. Edwards shot 12 of 23 from the field and hit all 11 of his free throws while adding nine rebounds and five assists. “We got killed on the boards. This is a bigger, stronger team,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “We've got to compete and win the 50-50 balls. I thought our guys gave the effort, but it wasn't enough.” Six Minnesota players scored in double figures. Towns finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds while Alexander-Walker scored 16. The listless Suns could never cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth. Now they're one loss away from what would be a bitterly disappointing season after entering the year with championship aspirations. By the end of the third quarter, there were scattered boos coming from the home crowd. Booker said he couldn't blame them. “We put ourselves in a hole and we’ve got to dig ourselves out of it,” Booker said. “So that’s that.” Phoenix's Josh Okogie, who had eight points, was ejected late in the fourth after a hard foul on Gobert. The Timberwolves led 59-53 at the halftime break following a competitive first half. Edwards led the Wolves with 16 points while Durant had 14 for the Suns. Eric Gordon gave Phoenix a spark with 10 points in the first quarter, but it was short lived. The Suns played without starting guard Grayson Allen, who led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage this season. Allen's dealing with a sprained ankle from Game 1 that he aggravated in Game 2. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

LUKA DONCIC AND DEFENSIVE-MINDED MAVS TAKE A CHIPPY 101-90 WIN OVER CLIPPERS FOR 2-1 SERIES LEAD! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es DALLAS (AP) Luka Doncic called out to his coaches during a flurry of 3-pointers from James Harden. The Mavericks superstar and NBA scoring champion wanted to defend the star guard of the Los Angeles Clippers. It's suddenly defense first in Dallas. Doncic had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and the defensive-minded Mavericks had a chippy 101-90 victory over the Clippers on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series. The Mavs rode the same defense that gave them home-court advantage with a Game 2 victory in LA, and won in Dallas three years after losing all three first-round games on their floor in a seven-game loss to the Clippers. Game 4 is Sunday in Dallas. “I think we all see that when we’re on the defensive side, there’s a different look in everybody’s eyes,” said rookie center Dereck Lively II, who had all 13 of his points in the first half as the Mavs got their lob game going with 10 dunks before the break. “It’s like being aggressive and being the aggressor even though they have the ball.” Daniel Gafford, Lively's tag-team partner as a dunker and rim protector, had an emphatic block of a dunk attempt by Paul George early in the fourth quarter while Dallas was taking control for good in a game with five technical fouls, a flagrant foul and two ejections. Harden scored 21 points for the Clippers, but just seven after halftime, while fellow stars George and Kawhi Leonard had little impact. Norman Powell also had 21, and Ivica Zubac had 19 points and eight rebounds. But the Clippers had 19 turnovers and the Mavericks had seven blocks - three of them from Gafford and two from Lively. George dealt with foul trouble and finished with seven points, five rebounds, five assists - and five fouls. Leonard never looked comfortable in his second game back after missing nine games with right knee inflammation and had nine points and nine rebounds. “It just didn’t respond the way we wanted after the first game,” Leonard said about his surgically repaired knee. “But we’re going to get it right. Time will tell. We’re doing all the right things.” Kyrie Irving picked up his fourth foul early in the second half before scoring 19 of his 21 points in the final 13-plus minutes, including eight in the final 1:18 of the third quarter. Doncic's co-star was instrumental in Dallas rebuilding an 18-point lead that had been cut to six. An already testy game reached a boiling point midway through the fourth quarter when Russell Westbrook slung Doncic around after fouling him. Westbrook was called for a technical for that contact and for shoving P.J. Washington after Washington confronted him. Washington also was called for a tech during the sequence, and already had one from an earlier shoving match with Terance Mann. Westbrook, who in the first half got a flagrant 1 foul for excessive contact when fouling Josh Green on a breakaway, and Washington were ejected. Westbrook, who missed all seven shots and scored one point, drew the ire of the crowd one other time when he bowled over Doncic after Zubac was called for a foul as Doncic went up for a shot. Officials reviewed the play but ruled Westbrook's contact incidental. “We’ve got to channel our aggression in other ways,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “It’s getting chippy. I like the physicality. I like the tough possessions. I like all of that. But we’ve got to make sure we’re not getting the technical fouls, we’re not getting thrown out of the game, because everybody’s important.” Doncic, who briefly left the court after limping off while grabbing his right knee in the first quarter, was just 7 of 25 from the field and 3 of 14 from 3-point range. But Dallas held George and Westbrook to a combined 1 of 10 from deep, while Leonard didn't even have a 3 attempt among just seven shots in 25 minutes. “He’s trying to find his way back,” Lue said. “We’re just managing it. Just being smart, making sure we do it right by Kawhi and seeing how he feels and just kind of gauge it from there.” Harden scored 12 of his 14 first-half points with four 3-pointers in a three-minute span starting in the final second of the first quarter. He didn’t score again until the final minute of the third as the Clippers finished with 19 turnovers while also losing their composure. “We’re all competing for each inch to find a way to win,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. “This series is going to be more mental as it goes on just because of the physicality. I thought the guys did a great job of protecting one another.” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

PACERS PROTECT HOME COURT! HALIBURTON BREAKS TIE WITH 3-POINT PLAY, PACERS BEATS BUCKS 121-118 IN OT TO TAKE 2-1 SERIES LEAD. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Tyrese Haliburton struggled to find his shooting touch Friday night. So he looked for other ways to impact the game - a thunderous slam dunk off a rebound, finding open teammates and patiently waiting for a chance to make a statement. Then in the waning seconds of overtime, Haliburton wanted the ball. The All-Star guard completed a three-point play with 1.6 seconds left, capping his first postseason triple-double in his first home playoff game to give the Indiana Pacers a 121-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Indiana leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, with Game 4 on Sunday in Indianapolis. “You know I was going to shoot it, no matter what,” Haliburton said. “What I was going to get was really based off of feel. there. Khris (Middleton) pushed Pascal (Siakam) up to tell Patrick (Beverley) to go under and as soon as I saw Patrick kind of turn his head, I reacted and everything opened up across the middle and I finally made a shot. I couldn't buy a bucket tonight.” Yes, Haliburton was just 8 of 22 from the field and 1 of 12 on 3-pointers. But he did just about everything else right, finishing with 18 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds as two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo again sat out for Milwaukee because of a strained left calf. Myles Turner added 29 points and nine rebounds, both playoff career highs, to help give Indiana its first back-to-back postseason wins since taking three straight in the 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals. The Pacers also have their first lead in the playoffs since Game 3 of a first-round matchup against Cleveland in 2018. Indiana hasn't won a series since reaching the 2014 Eastern Conference finals. “It was a really fun game and overtime, what more could you ask for?” Haliburton said. “It was a really fun atmosphere.” Perhaps not so fun for a Bucks team that has gotten more bruised and battered by the game. Middleton finished with a playoff-career high 42 points and had 10 rebounds and five assists after missing practice Thursday because of a sprained right ankle. He forced overtime by making a 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds to go in regulation, banked in a 3 to tie the score with 6.7 seconds left in overtime and then missed a 3 at the buzzer that could have forced a second overtime. Damian Lillard added 28 points and eight assists, most coming after he hurt his left knee in the first quarter and then aggravating an Achilles tendon injury late in the fourth quarter. “We've just got to turn the page and get one win after another,” said Lillard, who is playing in his first postseason with the Bucks, who are 2-6 against Indiana this season. It was a wild finish in front of a festive crowed decked out in gold T-shirts for Indiana's first home playoff game since April 21, 2019 - and with many local favorites in attendance. The crowd included Indiana Fever newcomer Caitlin Clark, former Colts coach Tony Dungy, former Pacers forward Derrick McKey and current Colts players Anthony Richardson, Kenny Moore II and E.J. Speed . But these fans never expected to see the experienced Bucks methodically trim a 19-point first-half deficit to 90-83 after three quarters or to open the fourth on a 10-2 run to take a 95-92 lead on Bobby Portis Jr.'s putback early in the fourth. The teams then traded baskets, ties and leads over the final 7 1/2 minutes of regulation, with Siakam's putback with 19.1 seconds left giving the Pacers a 109-106 lead. But Siakam missed the ensuing free throw, Middleton answered with a midrange shot and the 3 to tie it. Siakam's long 3 to win it hit off the back of the rim at the buzzer. “I thought we picked up our energy, I thought we got more physical," Lillard said. “We just kind of got things under control, we got matched up, got into the gaps and thought once we started to do all of those things, the game started to turn. That's something we've got to focus on.” It was more of the same in overtime - until Haliburton broke free for the mid-range shot that drew a foul and led to the decisive three-point play. Siakam had 17 points and nine rebounds. Portis had 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Bucks. Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

MAGIC OFFENSE ROARS BACK! MAGIC HAND CAVALIERS WORST PLAYOFF LOSS IN FRANCHISE HISTORY, WIN 121-83 TO CUT THEIR DEFICIT TO 2-1 . Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es The Orlando Magic take Game 3 as they defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 121-83. Paolo Banchero posted a Playoff career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic in the victory. The Magic trail the Cavaliers, 2-1, in this best-of-seven series, with Game 4 taking place on Saturday, April 27 Paolo Banchero joined Tracy McGrady as the only Magic players to record a 30+ point game in the postseason at the age of 21 years or younger. Paolo Banchero becomes the 6th player in NBA history to tally 30 points and 10 rebounds in a playoff game at 21 years old or younger, joining: Lebron James (3x) Tim Duncan Alvan Adams Luka Doncic Magic Johnson Paolo Banchero becomes the 4th player in NBA history to tally 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a playoff game at age of 21 years or younger, joining: LeBron James (3x) Luka Doncic Magic Johnson Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

EMBIID WITH PLAYOFF-HIGH 50! JOEL EMBIID SCORES 50 POINTS TO LEAD 76ERS PAST KNICKS 125-114 TO CUT DEFICIT TO 2-1 . Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es PHILADELPHIA (AP) Joel Embiid is suffering from Bell's palsy and played Game 3 with a bulky knee brace to sturdy the 7-footer after dealing with injuries all season. The lingering effects of the time off from his most recent knee surgery s ucked him into a depression - and that was before Embiid was hit with a form of facial paralysis. Embiid pushed aside the pain - mental and physical - and embraced the pressure after he vowed the 76ers were “going to win this series” against the New York Knicks. Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-saving third quarter on Thursday night to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-114 win in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. After getting punished in New York, the Sixers pushed back. “They want to bring the physicality,” Embiid said. “We can be physical, too.” Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2. They at least have a shot now - the Knicks lead the series 2-1 and Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia. Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers. Embiid, who scored a franchise-best 70 points against San Antonio in January, became the first player in NBA history to score 50 points on fewer than 20 shots in a playoff game. Last season’s NBA MVP, Embiid finally turned the crowd -- which had a distinct New York flavor in South Philly --- into one rocking for the home team. The All-Star center played more like a sharpshooting guard in the third, when he saved the season. The Sixers pecked away at a three-point halftime deficit when Embiid got hot. He hit one 3 and then two more -- the last two with assists from Tyrese Maxey - that gave the Sixers an 82-72 lead. His fourth 3 pushed the lead to 98-85. Not bad for a career 34% 3-point shooter. Maxey added two 3s in the quarter and the 76ers went a whopping 9 of 12 from beyond the arc for 43 points. Embiid mostly kept his cool and was in the mix on both ends of the court all game. Embiid had 17 points, three fouls and he even grabbed Mitchell Robinson and dragged him to the court in a first half where they again weren't good enough to look like a team that could beat the Knicks. Embiid was whistled for a flagrant foul on the play. Robinson suffered a sprained left ankle and left the arena in a boot. “I didn't mean to hurt anybody,” Embiid said. “In those situations, I've got to protect myself.” Embiid said he first started suffering from the affliction about a “day or two” before the Sixers played the Miami Heat on April 17 in the play-in tournament. “My left side of my face, my mouth and my eye,” Embiid said. “It’s been tough. But I’m not a quitter. I’m going to keep fighting through anything.” The Knicks won the first two games in New York, highlighted by Donte DiVincenzo's go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds left in Game 2. Against the backdrop of two Villanova national championship banners they helped the program win, the trio of former Wildcats were largely stifled in Game 3. Jalen Brunson did lead the Knicks with 39 points and 13 assists. Josh Hart - whose spectacular 3-point shooting in New York was an unexpected bonus for the Knicks - scored 20 points but DiVincenzo had five. Hart said he was “all for tough playoff fouls” but Embiid's foul could have put Robinson out for a “serious amount of time.” The Knicks must have felt at home inside a Sixers' arena that sounded more like Madison Square Garden as chants of "Let's Go Knicks!' echoed throughout the arena for a chunk of the game. John Starks wildly cheered them on from his courtside. The Sixers countered with Allen Iverson, who along with Embiid and Billy Cunningham are the only players in franchise history to hit 50 points in a playoff game. But nostalgia didn't matter much between teams that played each other in a postseason series for the first time since 1989. This one could be shaping up as one to remember. Embiid was serenaded with “MVP! MVP!” chants as he stretched the lead from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. “Joel Embiid has been banned from the Empire State Building,” was posted on the skyscraper's social media account. Maxey finished with 25 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 15 points and showed no lingering effects following his reported involvement in a car crash after Game 2. Cam Payne hit three 3s and scored 11 points. “I think Cam Payne was the MVP of the game," 76ers guard Kyle Lowry said. Outside of a disputed call on Embiid's flagrant, Game 3 was played without any significant disputes with the officiating after the NBA said the referees missed several late calls in Game 2. Embiid's 21 free-throw attempts were more than New York attempted the entire game; the Knicks made 13 of 19. “I'll send my clips in like I do every game,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “They'll say marginal contact. Then they'll say marginal contact on Embiid and he'll be at the line 21 times. That's just the way it works.” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

GORDON, JOKIC LEAD THE NUGGETS TO THE BRINK OF A SWEEP WITH A 112-105 WIN OVER THE LAKERS IN GAME 3! Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es LOS ANGELES (AP) With one championship ring and a tenacious veteran core, the Denver Nuggets are a daunting matchup for any opponent in the NBA. They're clearly a particular nightmare for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, who are one game away from an early summer after Denver stretched its winning streak in this lopsided rivalry to a whopping 11 games. Aaron Gordon had a playoff career-high 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and the Nuggets moved to the brink of the second round with a 112-105 victory over the Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series Thursday night. Jamal Murray scored 22 points to help the defending NBA champion Nuggets win their seventh straight playoff meeting with James and the Lakers in dominating style. Denver has rallied from a double-digit deficit in all three games, and the Nuggets went out of their way after Game 3 to praise an opponent they've utterly dominated recently. “I think every game is tougher and tougher,” Jokic said. “They were up 20 in Denver, they were up 12 today in the first half, but I think it’s really hard to play against the same team over and over again. ... That’s a really tough team, and every game is really interesting and tough to win. Every game we’re playing catch-up, and they’re really talented. It’s really hard to close a team out.” Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season's Western Conference finals. “It’s fun to win games,” Porter said. “I don’t think anybody besides the media looks at the 11 (straight victories), because it’s hard. It’s not easy to beat this team. Last game, coming back from 20 points, we had to scratch and claw. So it’s not easy. But of course we like winning, and the more times we can win the better.” Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit. Anthony Davis had 33 points and 15 rebounds, and James added 26 points and nine assists for the Lakers, who haven't beaten the Nuggets since Dec. 16, 2022 - and have rarely looked capable of ending that streak. “You come out with the mindset, ‘Let’s get one, force a Game 5, and then we go from there,’” James said. “As long as you still have life, then you obviously have belief. I just think you play ’til the wheels fall off. That’s what it’s always about for me. That’s a mindset, and I know (Davis) feels the same way.” Austin Reaves scored 22 points for Los Angeles, which surged into the postseason with largely outstanding play since the holidays, capped by an impressive play-in win over New Orleans to snatch the seventh seed. The Lakers had won 12 of 15 heading into this series - but now they're one loss away from failing to win a playoff round for the third time in four years since their 2020 NBA title. “They have a championship confidence,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said about the Nuggets. “That starting group has been together for a long time. Their net rating is off the charts as a starting group. They had guys step up and make plays.” Davis and James were outstanding once again, but they can't do it alone. The Lakers missed 15 of their first 16 3-point attempts in Game 3, going nearly 34 minutes between 3-point buckets. D’Angelo Russell went scoreless in 24 minutes of play for the Lakers, who got only two assists out of their inconsistent third option on offense. Russell missed all seven of his shots, including six 3-point attempts. Meanwhile, Gordon had the highest-scoring playoff game of his 10 NBA seasons, highlighted by 10 points in the third quarter while Denver took control. Jokic also made nine of his 13 shots and barely missed his 17th career postseason triple-double. The second-seeded Nuggets began their title defense with two wins in Denver, pulling away late in Game 1 before snatching Game 2 with a furious comeback capped by Murray’s winning jumper at the buzzer. After blowing a 20-point lead in the second half of Game 2, the seventh-seeded Lakers were left feeling frustrated, outmanned - and occasionally confused, according to Davis, who said the Lakers sometimes don’t know what they’re doing when faced with Denver’s offensive versatility. None of those problems had been alleviated in Game 3, and now the Lakers are one loss away from the end of James' remarkable 21st NBA season. Los Angeles hadn't played a home game in 16 days, and it has won just once at home since March 24. “Just last season, I was up 3-0 and ended up in a Game 7,” said Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, who played for the Miami Heat last season when they nearly blew a 3-0 lead on Boston. “Crazier things have happened.” But the Nuggets went 16-4 in last season’s playoffs, and they appear capable of another steamroll through the postseason after comfortably handling the talented Lakers through three games. Russell's disappearing act was compounded by another quiet game from starter Rui Hachimura, who had only five points while taking four shots in 28 minutes. Denver turned a small halftime deficit into a 10-point lead with a 24-10 run to start the second half led by Gordon and Murray, who combined for 19 points in the third quarter. The Lakers never got closer than eight points down the stretch in the fourth quarter. While the Lakers' fans left the building in the final minutes, a small group in the Lakers' end chanted “Fire Darvin!” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024

THUNDER ROLL TO 2-0 LEAD! SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER'S 33 POINTS LEAD THUNDER PAST PELICANS 124-92 AS OKC TAKES A 2-0 LEAD. Stay up to date with all upcoming sneaker releases from STATION KICKS: https://www.youtube.com/@StationKicks Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Rumble: Join Now: https://rumble.com/c/c-2045485 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/station.kicks/?hl=es OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Just a few days ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder looked like a young team struggling through their first playoff game together. On Wednesday night, they looked like grizzled playoff veterans. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and the top-seeded Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-92 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series. Gilgeous-Alexander said the Thunder remained focused instead of worrying about outside issues such as other highly seeded teams struggling at home. “I think it just goes back to us prioritizing winning,” he said. “And all those things are distractions that get in the way of winning. And every night, all 15 of us go to bed and want to win the next game, want to win the next day. And we do everything we can to do so.” Chet Holmgren had 26 points and seven rebounds and Jalen Williams added 21 points for the Thunder, who shot 59% from the field and made 14 of 29 3-pointers. Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram added 18 each for the Pelicans. In Game 1, Valanciunas had 20 rebounds, including nine offensive, and the Pelicans outrebounded the Thunder 52-44. On Wednesday, Oklahoma City outrebounded New Orleans 37-35 and held the Pelicans to eight offensive boards. The Pelicans continued to struggle on offense without top scorer Zion Williamson, who remained out with a strained left hamstring. Ingram, New Orleans' No. 2 scorer in the regular season, got off just 10 shots in Game 2 as Oklahoma City's Lu Dort harassed him throughout the night. Ingram made just 5 of 17 field goals in Game 1. The Thunder also scored 22 points off New Orleans’ 18 turnovers. Game 3 is Saturday in New Orleans. “Now, the challenge is to continue to grow and learn and improve with the series because the Pelicans are going to improve," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "They’re a good team that’s going home and they’re well coached. They’re going to get better. You know so we have to continue to get better.” The pace picked up significantly from Sunday's game, which Oklahoma City won 94-92. The Thunder, who averaged 120.1 points in the regular season, were much more comfortable with it. “In the first game, I thought both teams were kind of calibrating," Daigneault said. "And, tonight we had much quicker recognition of the way that they were guarding us, where we wanted to attack, and we got to those things pretty well.” Valanciunas scored 11 points in the first three minutes, but Holmgren countered with 13 points in the first seven minutes. Gilgeous-Alexander picked up where Holmgren left off. He didn't score for the first nine minutes, then scored seven in the final three minutes of the quarter to help the Thunder take a 35-22 lead. Holmgren's 15 points were the most by a Thunder rookie in any quarter of a playoff game. “I thought they turned up the pressure offensively,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “They got some early 3's and that opened the floodgates up for them.” Oklahoma City led 63-50 at halftime. Holmgren scored 20 points and Gilgeous-Alexander added 16 before the break. The Thunder extended their lead to 92-74 at the end of the third, and Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren went to the bench for good with the Thunder leading 120-86 in the fourth. “Tough one for us,” Green said. “Give them credit, they took care of home court. It was a dominant win for them. So we’ll get home, we’ll regroup and get back after it.” Copyright, All rights reserved, DUNK STATION.2024