Hoop Talk

3 years ago: NBA Western Conference Finals Game 4, Nikola Jokić recorded a 30-point triple-double as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113–111 to complete a 4–0 series sweep. 🃏

🔹 30 PTS
🔹 14 REB
🔹 13 AST
🔹 3 BLK
🔹 11/24 FG (45.8%)
🔹 3/6 3PT (50.0%)
🔹 5/6 FT (83.3%)

Despite trailing for most of the game, Denver stayed alive through Jokić’s monster triple-double, closing the Lakers out in clutch fashion and finishing the sweep. The Nuggets went on to win the championship that season, with Jokić earning Finals MVP honors. 🏆

38 YEARS AGO: One of the greatest Game 7 duels in NBA playoff history unfolded in the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks.

Dominique Wilkins erupted for 47 points on a blistering 19-of-33 shooting, including 14 points in the fourth quarter. 😤

But Larry Bird answered with one of the most legendary closing stretches ever, pouring in 20 fourth-quarter points to finish with 34 and lead Boston to a dramatic 118-116 Game 7 win at Boston Garden. ☘️

“We were running down the court, Kevin Willis reached across me and said, ‘Don’t let that son of a gun score anymore, man.’ … Bird’s eyes got this big. I knew it was going to be on then.” 👀

— Dominique Wilkins

17 YEARS AGO TODAY

Hedo Türkoğlu looked like he had won Game 2 for the Orlando Magic after drilling a clutch jumper to give Orlando a 95-93 lead with just 1.0 second remaining.

But then came LeBron James. 👑

Out of the timeout, Mo Williams inbounded the ball to LeBron near the top of the key. Fading away with Türkoğlu contesting, LeBron launched a deep three at the buzzer and buried it to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a miraculous 96-95 victory and tie the series 1-1.

“LeBron for three for the win… YES! LeBron James at the buzzer!” — Marv Albert 🎙️

THROWBACK HOOP: 2017–18 Minnesota Timberwolves

Jeff Teague | Jimmy Butler | Andrew Wiggins | Taj Gibson | Karl-Anthony Towns

Key Bench:

Jamal Crawford | Derrick Rose | Tyus Jones | Nemanja Bjelica | Gorgui Dieng | Aaron Brooks

Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau

Record: 47–35 (No. 8 seed in West)

🔸Lost West 1st Round (1–4) vs Rockets

Regular Season Stat Leaders (Per Game)

Points – Jimmy Butler (22.2)
Rebounds – Karl-Anthony Towns (12.3)
Assists – Jeff Teague (7.0)
Steals – Jimmy Butler (2.0)
Blocks – Karl-Anthony Towns (1.4)

Playoff Stat Leaders

Points – Jimmy Butler (15.8 )
Rebounds – Karl-Anthony Towns (13.4)
Assists – Jeff Teague (5.8 )
Steals – Jamal Crawford (1.0)
Blocks – Karl-Anthony Towns (1.0)

Awards

Jimmy Butler – NBA All-Star, All-NBA Third Team, All-Defense Second team

Karl-Anthony Towns – NBA All-Star, All-NBA Third Team

FROM VILLANOVA TO MADISON SQUARE GARDEN 🗽

The Villanova boys are leading the New York Knicks on a historic playoff run.

Jalen Brunson has been the engine behind New York’s offense throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. He erupted for a game high 38 points in the Knicks’ stunning comeback win after erasing a 22 point fourth quarter deficit against Cleveland, including 16 points in the final quarter alone.

Josh Hart punished Cleveland’s defensive game plan in Game 2. The Cavaliers repeatedly left him open to send extra help at Brunson, and Hart responded with a playoff career high 26 points and five threes, while Brunson also dished a playoff career high 14 assists.

Mikal Bridges continues to be New York’s ultimate X factor with elite efficiency, timely scoring, and lockdown defense on the other end.

Through 2 games vs. Cleveland:

🔹Brunson:
28.7 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 10.0 APG | 1.5 SPG | 47.8 FG%

🔹Hart:
19.5 PPG | 5.5 RPG | 5.5 APG | 1.5 SPG | 46.9 FG%

🔹Bridges:
18.5 PPG | 4.0 RPG | 2.0 APG | 1.5 SPG | 69.6 FG%

The Knicks have now won 9 straight playoff games, a franchise record, and are just two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

After years of heartbreak and disappointment in New York, Brunson, Hart, and Bridges have helped bring winning basketball back to Madison Square Garden.

From winning together at Villanova to leading the Knicks on the biggest stage, the Villanova boys are rewriting Knicks basketball. 🧡💙

Jason Terry revealed that the Mavericks had no way to contain Dwyane Wade during the 2011 NBA Finals:👀

“D-Wade was a monster at that time in his career. There was no defensive gameplan you could do to stop him. We tried. Did not work. So we wanted to focus our energy on LeBron and kind of eliminate what Chris Bosh could do.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

(via Bleacher Report)

9th Straight Playoff Win! Knicks Take 2-0 Series Lead

Josh Hart exploded for a playoff career-high 26 points as the Knicks pulled away in the second half to defeat the Cavaliers, 109–93, extending their streak to nine straight playoff wins.

Jalen Brunson added a playoff career-high 14 assists along with 19 points, steering New York’s offense as they move just two wins away from the NBA Finals 👀

🔹Hart: 26 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST
🔹Brunson: 19 PTS, 3 REB, 14 AST
🔹Towns: 18 PTS, 13 REB

🔸Mitchell: 26 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST
🔸Harden: 18 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL
🔸Mobley: 14 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, 2 BLK

Cavs back down 0–2 again. After already coming back from this same deficit in their previous series, can they do it again or will the Knicks close the door?

“Livin’ on a Prayer” blasting through MSG while Jon Bon Jovi watches courtside during Knicks-Cavs ECF Game 2 🎸🔥

THROWBACK HOOP: 2016–17 Milwaukee Bucks

Malcolm Brogdon | Tony Snell | Khris Middleton | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Thon Maker

Key Bench:

Matthew Dellavedova | Michael Beasley | Jason Terry | Greg Monroe | Mirza Teletovic | John Henson | Spencer Hawes | Jabari Parker

Head Coach: Jason Kidd

Record: 42–40 (No. 6 seed in East)

🔸Lost East 1st Round (2–4) vs Raptors

Regular Season Stat Leaders (Per Game)

Points – Giannis Antetokounmpo (22.9)
Rebounds – Giannis Antetokounmpo (8.8 )
Assists – Giannis Antetokounmpo (5.4)
Steals – Giannis Antetokounmpo (1.6)
Blocks – Giannis Antetokounmpo (1.9)

Playoff Stat Leaders

Points – Giannis Antetokounmpo (24.8 )
Rebounds – Giannis Antetokounmpo (9.5)
Assists – Khris Middleton (5.3)
Steals – Giannis Antetokounmpo (2.2)
Blocks – Thon Maker (1.8 )

Awards

Giannis Antetokounmpo – Most Improved Player, NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Team, All-Defense Second Team

Malcolm Brogdon - Rookie of the Year

Dillon Brooks proudly reveals his UNETHICAL HOOPS board game 🤣

Featuring cartoon Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 👀

LeBron James has set a timeline for his decision on his NBA future:

“Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent, and I can control my own destiny, if being here with this franchise for the foreseeable future or it’s going somewhere else,”

“But I haven’t really even gotten to that point. I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind.”

“I think at some point, up in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency gets going. As July’s rolling maybe into August, we start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like, if it’s continuing to play the game that I love which I know I can still give so much to the game, and play at a high level or if it’s not.”

(via Mind the Game)