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The Lakers are facing an uphill battle in their playoff matchup against the Denver Nuggets after losing the first two games. Despite the Lakers’ strong performance in the first half of Game 2, Denver rallied back in the second half to secure a 101-99 victory. Lakers star D’Angelo Russell expressed frustration with the officiating, questioning the effectiveness of the replay system. Russell and LeBron James criticized the NBA’s use of replay in recent games, following controversial calls that have impacted the outcome of matchups. Russell is confident in his team’s ability to bounce back in the series, but the Lakers need to capitalize on their home-court advantage and avoid a sweep to stay alive in the playoffs.
The NBA and Denver police are investigating an incident involving a man alleged to be the brother of Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic, who was seen striking a fan following the team’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. The incident was captured on video and widely shared on social media. The league has confirmed an investigation while the Denver police are seeking to identify the victim and witnesses.
NBC Philadelphia broadcasters Alaa Abdelnaby and Kate Scott prematurely declared a Sixers victory in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Knicks, only for New York to rally for a stunning 104-101 win. The Knicks went on an 8-0 run in the final 27 seconds, capped by a game-winning 3-pointer from Donte DiVincenzo, after Abdelnaby and Scott had commented on the Sixers’ success in securing a road win. The Sixers broadcasters made no mention of their previous comments after the Knicks stole the game away. Postgame analysis was muted, with a frustrated Nick Nurse and a disappointed but optimistic Joel Embiid expressing confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back.
Ryen Russillo opens the show with a review of the thrilling NBA playoff games from Monday night. Then, Todd McShay and Daniel Jeremiah join Russillo to discuss the top quarterbacks in the upcoming draft and identify potential candidates for teams to trade up to select. The hosts also play a quick round of ‘On the Clock.’ In the second half of the show, Russillo talks to Steve Ceruti and Kyle Crichton about the challenges facing the Alliance, and offers life advice to a listener who is struggling to balance their passion for Phish with their relationship. Full video clips, livestreams, and more are available on the Ryen Russillo Podcast YouTube channel.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns face off in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday, April 23, with the Wolves holding a 1-0 lead. The game tips off at 4:30 p.m. PT/7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, and you can stream it live on Sling TV (free trial) or AT&T TV Now (promotional offers).
Despite a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic, the Cleveland Cavaliers remain focused on improvement as they head to Orlando for Game 3.
Led by Donovan Mitchell, who expressed dissatisfaction despite a strong first quarter, the Cavs have showcased their defensive prowess, holding the Magic to 84.5 points per game and maintaining a rebounding advantage.
However, the Cavs have struggled offensively, ranking 11th in offensive rating and committing numerous turnovers, including nine from Darius Garland and seven from Mitchell.
Despite their current lead, the Cavs recognize the challenge posed by the Magic’s home-court advantage and are determined to maintain their intensity and physicality.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is set for Thursday at Kia Center, with the Cavs aiming for a 3-0 lead and their first playoff series win without LeBron James since 2018.
The first round of the NBA playoffs has brought intense competition and a controversial incident that has drawn scrutiny. In one game, commentator Brian Scalabrine alleged that a head coach ordered his players to intentionally injure an opposing star player. The allegations stem from a play where the opposing player fell hard after being jumped on for a rebound. Scalabrine believes the play was deliberate and questioned the ethics of such behavior in a playoff series.
Despite the Clippers’ impressive 18-game stretch after the All-Star break, history suggests that regular season momentum may not translate to playoff success. Over the past 10 playoffs, teams with a higher net rating before the break have a significantly better win-loss record than those with a higher rating after the break.
Vaughn Dalzell provides insights into the upcoming NBA first-round matchups. He explains why the Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, and Oklahoma City Thunder have value and why home-court advantage could favor these teams.
