Starting 5: Trio of thrilling games on Monday; Looking ahead to Tuesday's slate

He Cain. He saw. He posterized.

When Orlando needed a jolt, Jamal Cain shook the building – and the Magic’s defense clamped down to take a 3-1 lead over the No. 1 Pistons.

Keep reading for more from Orlando, big wins for OKC & Denver, tonight’s tripleheader on ESPN & Prime … and one of the closest Rookie of the Year results ever.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Magic Make Stand: Late defensive dominance, a clutch Bane bank and a 3-1 lead over the East’s 1 seed

West Wins: Thunder advance into West Semis, Nuggets stay alive behind Joker’s ace

Blazers at Spurs: Wemby’s historic Playoff start has San Antonio one win from West Semis

In The East: Pritchard powers Boston’s closeout bid, Knicks host Hawks in pivotal Game 5

Flagg Wins Kia ROY: A record rookie season earns Flagg top honors in a standout class

BUT FIRST … ⏰

The NBA Playoffs continue tonight, with the Celtics and Spurs (both up 3-1) looking to close their series on ESPN, while the Knicks host the Hawks (series tied 2-2) in a pivotal Game 5 on NBC & Peacock.

• 76ers at Celtics (7 ET, ESPN | Tap to Watch)
• Hawks at Knicks (8 ET, NBC/Peacock | Tap to Watch)
• Blazers at Spurs (9:30 ET, ESPN | Tap to Watch)

Flagg Wins Kia ROY: Mavs forward Cooper Flagg has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.

See the full NBA Awards results and upcoming announcement schedule here.

1. ORLANDO STYMIES DETROIT IN CRUNCH TIME FOR 3-1 SERIES LEAD

It was 85-85. 5:23 left in the 4th.

• The No. 1 seed Pistons were trying to even the series before returning home for Game 5
• The No. 8 seed Magic were chasing a rare 3-1 series lead over the conference’s top seed

What followed was an Orlando defensive masterclass.

Magic 94, Pistons 88: The Magic held Detroit to just three points the rest of the way, while Jamal Cain’s putback jam gave Orlando the lead, before Desmond Bane (22 pts, 5 reb, 5 3s) banked in a massive 3 with 1:16 left, securing a gutsy win to take a 3-1 series lead. | Recap

• Locking In: Down five, Detroit used an 8-3 spurt to tie the game at 85. Then Orlando flipped the switch
• Cain Time: After his mammoth poster early in the 4th, Cain rocked the rim again with his go-ahead putback – igniting Orlando on both ends
• Magic Jolt: The defense responded with nearly four flawless minutes, holding Detroit scoreless from 5:23 to 1:35, before Cade Cunningham (25 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) finally ended the drought with a free throw

• Bane Time: Twenty-one ticks later, Bane answered with the bank-in triple, putting Orlando up six and sending the crowd into a frenzy
• Door Slammed: The Magic followed with four more stops, while Jalen Suggs added two free throws to pad the lead
• One Win Away: Detroit was still without a field goal in the final 5:23 before Isaiah Stewart’s tip-in with three seconds left, but it was too late – the Magic were up 3-1

Closing Statement: No team had held the Pistons to three points or fewer in the final five minutes of a game all season. With Game 4 on the line, the Magic did just that.

• Late Lockdown: Orlando held Detroit to 1-of-10 shooting over the final 5:23, while forcing two takeaways, ultimately winning the turnover battle 20-10
• Rare Clamps: The three points Orlando allowed marked its best five-minute closing stretch in a Playoff game since 1997
• Rare Results: The Magic now join the 2023 Heat as the only No. 8 seeds in the last decade to take a 3-1 series lead over a No. 1 seed
• Game 5 Wednesday: Paolo Banchero added 18 points and 8 boards for Orlando, which will look to close the series Wednesday in Detroit (7 ET, Prime)

2. WEST WINS: THUNDER MOVE ON, NUGGETS FORCE GAME 6

With a trip to the Western Conference Semis in sight, the Thunder were not to be denied Monday night.

Thunder 131, Suns 122: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was cooking (31 pts, 8 ast), while Chet Holmgren anchored the inside (24 pts, 12 reb, 9-16 FG) as OKC jumped out to a 75-67 halftime lead and never looked back, sweeping Phoenix to reach its third straight West Semifinals. | Recap

• Shai Sizzling: SGA’s third straight game with 30+ pts and 8+ ast on over 50% shooting links him with LeBron James (4x) as the only players to record such a streak in the postseason
• Showtime Sweepness: The Thunder have now swept the First Round in three straight postseasons, becoming the first West team to do so since the Lakers from 1984-89
• Phoenix’s Core: Devin Booker (24 pts, 6 ast), Dillon Brooks (23 pts) and Jalen Green (23 pts) combined for 70 points, but they couldn’t keep pace with the defending champs
• Few Have: Since March 1, OKC has lost just three times. Up next: the winner of the Lakers-Rockets series (LAL lead 3-1)

While OKC advanced, Denver avoided elimination.

Nuggets 125, Wolves 113: Down 3-1, Nikola Jokić took full control with a monster triple-double (27 pts, 12 reb, 16 ast), sparking a decisive 3rd quarter run as Denver pulled past Julius Randle (27 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) and Minnesota to force Game 6. | Recap

• The Swing: After taking a 9-point halftime lead, Denver used a 37-24 3rd quarter to seize control, capped by a 15-8 closing burst to enter the 4th up 22
• The Conductor: Jokić came into Monday averaging 7.8 assists in the series. He had 10 by halftime as the Nuggets never trailed after the 10:13 mark in the 1st quarter
• The Summit: Jokić now has 221 career triple-doubles across the regular season and postseason, matching Russell Westbrook for the most all-time

All Hands: It’s Jokić’s third career triple-double when facing elimination, but he didn’t force Game 6 alone.

• Stepping Up: With Aaron Gordon (calf) out, Jamal Murray shined (24 pts, 7 ast, 4 stl), while Spencer Jones (20 pts, 4 3s) and Cameron Johnson (18 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast. 3 stl) combined for 38
• Money Murray: Murray, averaging 26.3 pts in elimination games, iced the game with a late dunk, staving off a Wolves run to restore a 15-point lead
• “We played like we were down 3-1,” said Murray. “Great team win. Great team effort, and we’re gonna need more of it.”
• Bonus Bucket: Even Rocky was feeling it, draining an over-the-head shot from half-court while standing on two (yes, two!) ladders
• Up Next: The Wolves – without Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) –  return home for Game 6 on Thursday (Time/TV, TBD)

3. OUT WEST: WEMBY’S SPURS LOOK TO ADVANCE, HOSTING BLAZERS

In early April, Victor Wembanyama could already feel what was coming.

• “We’re ready,” said Wemby of the postseason. “It’s becoming more real that we’re actually going to play in the Playoffs…
• “Elimination games … always reveal things.”

With the Spurs up 3-1 on the Blazers, the Playoffs have revealed exactly what San Antonio hoped: a young superstar built for the big stage.

Tonight on ESPN (9:30 ET), Wembanyama will look to lead the Spurs to their first West Semifinal since 2017 – while adding to a Playoff start unlike any other.

• Record Pace: Through three games, Wemby has piled up 67 points, 21 rebounds, 10 blocks and 6 3s – numbers unmatched by any player in their first three career postseason games since blocks were first tracked in 1973-74
• Opening Statement: That includes a Spurs-record 35 points in his postseason debut, before a concussion-forced exit in Game 2 (12 min)
• Monster Return: He followed with a 27-point, 12-rebound, 7-block return in Game 4 – a postseason stat line last reached by Shaquille O’Neal in 2004

Alien Presence: Without Wemby in Game 3, San Antonio needed 60 combined points from Stephon Castle (33) and Dylan Harper (27) to erase a 15-point deficit.

In Game 4, the Spurs stormed back again – this time flipping a 17-point halftime hole into a 21-point win, the largest 2nd-half swing in a Playoff game in the play-by-play era.

The rally was a reminder of the extra gear Wemby gives San Antonio – and it starts on defense.

• Paint Closed: In Games 2 & 3, the Blazers shot 59.3% from the restricted area. With Wemby back in Game 4, they shot 48.3% – an 11% drop
• Strength Neutralized: Wemby’s presence has also blunted one of Portland’s biggest advantages: offensive rebounding
• Glass Shifted: Portland ranked 2nd in the NBA in offensive boards this season with 14.1 per game. With Wemby playing in Games 1 & 4, that average has nearly been cut in half (7.5)
• The Result: In Wemby’s two full games this series, the Spurs have outscored the Blazers 100-80 in the paint, with Wembanyama posting a +16 plus-minus

The Blazers now have their backs against the wall, but they’ve proven they can play with the Spurs, building 15+ point halftime leads in each of the last two games.

Now, they need a complete performance to keep their season alive.

• “We had a great lead two games in a row,” said Deni Avdija. “We just need to be better at sustaining it … when we’re physical and playing our game, we’re great.”

4. IN THE EAST: C’S LOOK TO ADVANCE, PIVOTAL GAME 5 AT MSG

Late in the 1st quarter of Game 4 between the Celtics and Sixers, Joel Embiid hit a midrange jumper to trim Philly’s deficit to 31-18 with 6.5 seconds left.

Then Payton Pritchard got the ball and headed upcourt.

What happened over the next 6.5 seconds was pure Pritchard.

• “Pritchard time,” said NBC’s Mike Tirico on the call. “He’s so good at the end of quarters. Is he going to do it again? Is he going to do it again…? HEEEE DID IT AGAIN!”

Pritchard’s shot gave him 13 1st-quarter points, capping a 23-8 run that put the C’s up 16. He finished with 32 as Boston led the rest of the way to take a 3-1 series lead.

Tonight on ESPN (7 ET), the Celtics will look to close the series to reach their fifth straight East Semifinals. For Pritchard, it’s another chance to add to a Playoff rise years in the making.

• Against The Odds: A 6-foot-1 guard from Tualatin, Oregon, Pritchard has carved out a winning NBA role through the same competitive edge teammates have praised since his youth
• That includes Jayson Tatum, who played with Pritchard at a Team USA high school circuit a decade ago
• “I’ve known P since high school,” said Tatum. “He’s always been that competitive. Doesn’t back down from anybody, always takes on a challenge.”

That fire has taken Pritchard’s game to new heights.

After helping seal Boston’s 2024 title with an iconic half-court buzzer-beater in the series-clinching Game 5, Pritchard won Kia Sixth Man of the Year last season.

This year, he followed with career highs across the board, averaging 17 ppg while becoming one of Boston’s most important pieces.

• C’s Spark: Pritchard is Boston’s third-leading scorer this postseason (15.8 ppg) while hitting a team-high 3.3 threes per game at a 37.1% clip
• Reservation For One: His 32 points in Sunday’s win were a Playoff career-high and came with six 3s – the most by any Celtics reserve in a postseason game
• Winning Impact: It was Pritchard’s 12th career 30-piece. In those games, Boston is 12-0
• “It’s amazing,” said Jaylen Brown of Pritchard’s growth after Game 4. “When you see someone put in the work behind the scenes, moments like this feel all the better.”

Boston has seized control of the series, but Philly has shown it can answer on the road, stealing Game 2 at TD Garden.

Facing elimination tonight, the Sixers will need another response.

• “Our season is on the line,” said Tyrese Maxey. “We need to play desperate.”

At MSG, it’s a best-of-three between the Knicks and Hawks – tied 2-2 entering a massive Game 5 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock).

To get there, another X-factor has emerged in CJ McCollum, who played hero for the Hawks in Game 2 before drilling another winner in Game 3.

Now, after the Knicks’ Game 4 answer, the series shifts back to the Garden, where McCollum already played spoiler once – and where he’ll again be in the spotlight, writes NBA.com’s Shaun Powell:

“This role and this moment wasn’t originally designed for him or drawn up for him. This wasn’t supposed to be CJ McCollum’s time, not this season and certainly not with the Hawks or in these Playoffs…

“Now, look: McCollum is among the most impactful players in these Playoffs and certainly a sudden hero in Atlanta.” | Read More

While McCollum has delivered two defining moments, it was Karl-Anthony Towns who owned Game 4, posting a 20-point triple-double for New York to reset the series at 2-2.

Now the Knicks return home with momentum – and the stakes are sky-high: winners of Game 5 in a 2-2 series historically go on to win the series 81.5% of the time (194-44).

5. COOPER FLAGG NAMED KIA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

A rookie race to remember ended with Cooper Flagg joining special company – again.

The Mavs forward and No. 1 overall pick was named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year on Monday after a debut season that matched hype with production, and then some.

Flagg’s all-around game shined in Year 1, leading all rookies in scoring (21 ppg), while ranking 2nd in assists (4.5) and steals (1.2), 4th in rebounds (6.7) and fifth in blocks (0.9) per game across 70 outings.

At 19 years and 112 days old (as of April 12, the final day of the regular season), Flagg is the second-youngest Kia Rookie of the Year winner behind only LeBron James (19y, 106d) – adding more history to a record season.

• Do It All: Flagg finished the year as Dallas’ leader in total points (1,473), rebounds (466), assists (316) and steals (84)
• Rare Air: Only one other rookie has led his team in all four categories since steals were first tracked in 1973-74: Michael Jordan
• 50-Point Flash: On April 3, Flagg poured in 51 points against the Magic, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a 50-ball
• Bona Fide Buckets: He’s also the first rookie since Allen Iverson (1996-97) to post four 40-pieces

Photo Finish: Flagg edged out his former Duke teammate, Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, by 26 points for 1st place, marking the second-smallest top-2 margin under the current Kia ROY voting format (since 2002-03).

Philly’s VJ Edgecombe finished 3rd, rounding out a standout group of finalists.