Starting 5, May 11: Wolves, Celtics pick up Game 3 wins on the road

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

Wolves Duo Wows: Ant & Julius power Minnesota to gritty road win, series lead

Fourth-Quarter Fury: Minnesota stays historically dominant in the final frame this postseason

Boston Bounces Back: Defending champs put on a shooting clinic in NYC, trim deficit to 2-1

Thunder-Nuggets: Kia MVP Finalists run it back in crucial Game 4

Cavs-Pacers: Can Spida, Cavs do it again on the road?

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Last night’s scores & what to watch today…

Sunday’s ABC doubleheader features a pair of pivotal Game 4s, as OKC looks to even its series against Denver at 3:30 ET, while Cleveland aims to knot things at 2 games apiece with Indiana at 8:30 ET.

1. EDWARDS, RANDLE OUTDUEL BUTLER, KUMINGA IN THRILLER

Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle have only been running mates for one season.

But on Saturday night, they once again displayed the chemistry of a duo that’s been playing together for years, earning their 14th consecutive win in games where they’ve both scored 20+ points.

“I appreciate having him,” said Edwards about his teammate as they sat together at the postgame podium.

Timberwolves 102, Warriors 97: Minnesota needed every bit of greatness from Edwards (36 PTS, 5 3PM) and Randle (24 PTS, 10 REB, 12 AST, 3 STL) to overcome big nights from Jimmy Butler III (33 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST) and Jonathan Kuminga (30 PTS, 6 REB, 2 BLK) and seize a 2-1 series edge. | Recap

• Ant-Man’s Heroics: After a sluggish start, Minnesota’s young superstar wouldn’t stay quiet for long, pouring in 28 second-half points, including the latest addition  to his long list of showstopping poster slams | Best Ant Playoff Posters
• “I just didn’t lose confidence,” said Edwards heading to the locker room after his slow start-turned-dominant performance. “You got to have confidence at an all-time high, and I never lack that.”
• Made For The Moment: Saturday marked Ant’s 9th career Playoff game with 35+ points, tying Rick Barry (9) and trailing only Luka Dončić (12) for the most such games at age 23 or younger
• Ant 🤝 KG 🤝 Randle: Game 3 was also Edwards’ 18th Playoff win with the Wolves, passing Kevin Garnett for the most in franchise history. Meanwhile, Randle notched a franchise milestone of his own, joining the Big Ticket (3x) as the only players in team history to record a Playoff triple-double

Dueling Duos: Golden State ran an impressive two-man counter to Edwards and Randle in Game 3, led by a 15-season vet and a 22-year-old up-and-comer.

• Butler Sets Tone: Jimmy Buckets came out humming in Game 3, to the tune of 18 first-half points and a 2-point halftime lead
• Playoff Jimmy: He finished with 33 points, a Playoff-best as a Warrior and his first 30+ point Playoff game since Game 1 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals (he scored 38 in this year’s SoFi Play-In vs. Memphis)

Kuminga’s Career Night: Golden State’s fourth-year forward did his best Robin impression to Butler’s Batman, dropping a Playoff career-high 30 points to go along with some stellar two-way highlights

• Seizing The Opportunity: Despite logging just 18 total minutes vs. Houston in the series prior, Kuminga has proven key this round in the absence of Steph Curry, combining for 48 points over Games 2 and 3 off the bench
• “He was brilliant,” said Head Coach Steve Kerr on Kuminga’s performance. “JK played one of the best games of his life. I’ve been impressed with the way he’s handled things the past couple of weeks.”

What’s Next: A pivotal Game 4 on Monday night in The Bay awaits (10 ET, ESPN). Can the Wolves take a commanding 3-1 lead, or will the Warriors even the series before it shifts back to Minnesota?

2. TIMBERWOLVES KEEP FEASTING IN THE FOURTH

Another night, another late-game Wolves takeover.

After trailing 82-77 with eight to play in the fourth, Minnesota rattled off a blistering 20-7 run to regain control, flipping a 5-point deficit into an 8-point lead in a matter of minutes.

• Defense Does It Again: The Wolves held the Warriors to 7-for-20 shooting in the final frame and forced four late turnovers, including a key pair in the final five minutes
• No Triple Digits: They also kept the Dubs under 100 points for the third straight game this series, the sixth occasion they’ve done it in eight games this postseason
• Cloud 9: The Wolves won the fourth 33-24, out-scoring their opponent by at least  nine points in the final frame for the fourth time these Playoffs, the most in the league

The statistical feats don’t stop there – Minnesota owns a Playoff-best 89.1 defensive rating in 4th quarters and an eye-popping 36.6 net rating.

• Historic Pace: Opponents are averaging just 19.5 PPG in the final frame vs. Minnesota this postseason, on track to be the 5th lowest fourth-quarter Playoff mark in play-by-play era history

Swarming team defense alone wouldn’t be a winning formula for Minnesota without offensive brilliance from its two star players in crunch time.

• Steady Hand: Randle had five of his 12 assists in the fourth, responsible for 13 points
• “We started playing through Julius,” Head Coach Chris Finch said after Game 3
• Ant’s Scoring Surge: While Randle handled the playmaking, Edwards took care of the bucket-getting, dropping a game-high 13 points in the final period
• “One thing I never lack is confidence, so if i got that I’ll be alright,” said the 23 year old star at the postgame podium

3. CELTICS CRUISE AT MSG, TAKE GAME 3

Staring down a possible 3-0 hole on the road.

Heading into a historic arena with some of the loudest fans in sports.

And the Celtics reminded everyone why they’re the defending champs.

Celtics 115, Knicks 93: Payton Pritchard (23 PTS, 5 3PM), Jayson Tatum (22 PTS, 9 REB, 7 AST, 5 3PM), Jaylen Brown (19 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST) and Derrick White (17 PTS, 5 REB, 3 3PM) led a committee effort for the green and white, who never trailed in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden while trimming New York’s series lead to 2-1. | Recap

• Boston Three Party: After shooting 25 of 100 from beyond the arc through two contests this series, the Celtics found their range in a big way on Saturday afternoon, drilling 20 triples on 40 attempts — their most 3PM in a game this playoffs
• Recipe For Success: The C’s improved to 24-3 on the season when they make 20+ 3-pointers in a game
• Sixth Man Spark: Payton Pritchard showed the basketball world yet again why he was named this season’s Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year, erupting for a team-high — and playoff career-high — 23 points off the bench

Wire-to-Wire: The Celtics came out scorching and never looked back, jumping out to a 16-point first-quarter advantage and leading by as many as 31 in the third.

• “Throw the first punch,” said a mic’d-up Jaylen Brown during pregame warmups
• His squad did just that, starting the day 6-for-7 from deep en route to 36 first-quarter points, Boston’s most in an opening frame this postseason
• First-Half Fireworks: The C’s stayed hot into the second period, finishing the half 12-for-19 (63.2%) from 3 and totaling 71 first-half points, their most at the break these Playoffs
• Defensive Dynamos: Boston didn’t just win with elite shot-making — its stifling defense held New York to 40% shooting from the field, notching a league-best 23rd win this season when allowing fewer than 100 points
• ‘That Guy’: After averaging just 18 PPG on 28.6% FG in Games 1 and 2, Jayson Tatum put things in perspective and responded in a big way in Game 3
• Road Warriors: Following a regular season in which they went a franchise-record 33-8 on the road, the Celtics are now 2-1 away from TD Garden this postseason

Brown: “You gotta beat us four times, that’s what it comes down to.”

What’s Next: The Celtics can level the series at 2-2 in Monday’s Game 4 at MSG (7:30 ET, ESPN), where they’ve now won 5 straight games dating back to February 2023.

4. NUGGETS EYEING 3-1 LEAD, OKC OUT TO TIE IT UP 

A limited list of teams have been able to solve the Thunder this season. An elite, widespread effort was often demanded of those that did.

Players across the Nuggets’ lineup rose to the occasion on Friday.

Having snagged the 2-1 series lead via an overtime thriller, Denver again welcomes Oklahoma City for Game 4 today (3:30 ET, ABC) at Ball Arena. Four of the host’s starters racked up 20+ points to secure a crucial swing game in their West Semifinals matchup.

“It’s this culture of just trying to find a way,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman. “You have to have that, you have to cultivate that game-by-game because it’s going to change.”

• Helping The Hero: Nikola Jokić (20 points, 16 rebounds) shot 8-for-25 en route to his 2nd-lowest FG% of these Playoffs. But Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. lifted him up with 70 points combined
• Title-Tested: That trio won a championship together in 2023. Guided by such experience, Denver has now won four of six games this postseason decided by single digits

Gordon continues to make a winning impact. The team went 33-18 with him on the court and just 17-14 in his absence.

It was the 11th-year forward who slammed home the game-winning dunk in Game 4 against the Clippers. Then his 3-pointer in Game 1 dealt the Thunder their first loss of these Playoffs.

• Green Means Go-rdon: Friday, his 3 sent the game to overtime, and his mid range jumper in the additional frame sealed the deal.
• Rarified Air: When Jokic, Murray, MPJ and Gordon score 20+ points in the same game, Denver’s 3-0. Only Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Grayson Allen (4 games, 2-2 record) have more games as a quartet with 20+ points apiece since Gordon joined the Nuggets in 2021

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander nearly matched his Playoff low with 18 points on 7-for-22 shooting opposite Jokić in another clash of Kia NBA MVP finalists.

• The SGA Effect: The Thunder are 3-1 this postseason when he scores 30+ and went 42-7 during the regular season in that regard.

“One thing it takes to be a great team is that you get taken to the limit in the Playoffs,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “You’ve got to rise to the challenges you’re confronted with. This team’s made a habit of doing that repeatedly.”

5. SPIDA, CAVS OUT FOR 2ND STRAIGHT WIN ON ROAD

With its historic season in jeopardy, Cleveland needed Donovan Mitchell to be the very postseason performer he’s known as. 

Mitchell promptly delivered something better than anything his coach had seen before.

“He was masterful. I don’t use that word hardly ever,” said Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “Probably, for me, his best performance of the year.”

Getting 43 points from Mitchell two days after a postseason-best 48, the team is now within striking distance of a tied series, but still trails the Pacers 2-1. The Cavs enter tonight’s Game 4 (8 ET, TNT) at full strength after getting back three players on Friday.

• Born Ready: Back when he was still finding his footing, Mitchell set a then-career-best with 38 points on April 27, 2018, scoring the most as a first-year player in the Playoffs since Chuck Person in 1987.
• Terrific Ten: He hasn’t missed the postseason since. With his latest performance, the 8th-year guard became the 10th player in NBA Playoff history to tally 40 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in consecutive games.
• He Is Inevitable: Mitchell has averaged 28.5 ppg across 61 contests, ranking 5th all-time above for players with at least 60 games experience.

Cleveland got its groove back with the return of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter after all three missed Game 2 with injuries.

• Playmakers: Garland and Mobley combined for 36 points Friday. Their team was 31-9 in the regular season when Garland scored 20+, and an even-better 30-4 when Mobley produced that many.
• Mad Max: After sinking five 3s in Game 2, Max Strus went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc in Game 3 to add some sharpshooting to Cleveland’s arsenal. He’s totalled 20 or more points in consecutive appearances for the first time in these Playoffs.

The Pacers will likely need Tyrese Haliburton (4 points, 5 assists in Game 3) to be more active in the scoring and passing game moving forward.

• Share The Rock: Haliburton owns an NBA-best 10.0 apg this postseason, but only accumulated nine across the past two contests. Indiana was 20-20 in the regular season when he dished out less than 10 dimes
• “We’ve got to fight harder. We didn’t fight hard enough,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “They did. They out-fought us.”