Good morning, it’s comeback night in the NBA
Both Sunday games featured wild comebacks. That plus Donald Sterling’s first big interview in today’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
THIS SERIES! OKC jumped out to a 22-point lead in the first ... but over the course of the game, L.A. came back, eventually winning 101-99 after a monster fourth. The recap explains how that happened. The Thunder got might uncreative down the stretch, so once again Scott Brooks is getting some derision.
Serge Ibaka blocked a lot of shots, but not this one from DeAndre Jordan. He also jabbed Blake Griffin in what most NBA announcers would call “the midsection”; it’d be a surprise if Ibaka weren’t suspended for Game 5, given that the league knocked Zach Randolph out of a Game 7.
SAME STORY, DIFFERENT VERSE: The Wizards also had a strong lead on the Pacers in the late game. And sure enough, Indiana came roaring back as Paul George scored 28 of his 39 in the second half and the Pacers won 95-92 to go up 3-1 in their series.
The Wizards had a prayer with six seconds left, trailing by three with the ball. But Trevor Ariza inbounded the ball to no one, it went out of bounds and that was all. Indiana can clinch at home on Tuesday.
TONIGHT: One series could end Monday.
Heat at Nets, 8 p.m. ET, TNT | Miami leads 2-1
Spurs at Blazers, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT | San Antonio leads 3-0
SEEMS LEGIT: Donald Sterling sat down with Anderson Cooper for his first big post-scandal interview. It will air Monday. CNN has released some quotes, including: “I’m a good member who made a mistake and I’m apologizing and I’m asking for forgiveness. Am I entitled to one mistake, am I after 35 years?” One mistake! What a maroon.
Sterling, who settled the largest federal housing discrimination case in United States history six years ago, also apparently tells Cooper that Magic Johnson is a poor role model for the children of the Los Angeles. I can’t wait to hear his rationale.
Meanwhile, the NBA publicly dismissed Shelly Sterling’s claims to the franchise. Of course, Sterling’s lawyer immediately said “Nuh uh” so on we go ...
HELLO BROOKLYN: Paul Flannery reports from Brooklyn, where the Nets and the fans are finally communing under the spotlight.
THE JUGGERNAUT RISES: As Dane Carbaugh writes, the Spurs now look like the postseason juggernaut they were last season.
ABSENCES: Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins -- probably the top three picks of the 2014 NBA Draft -- will all skip this week’s Draft Combine, per Woj.
SO MUCH FOR THAT: Charles Barkley says he’s not going to apologize for his jokes about San Antonio women and, in fact, continues to make jokes at their expense. Again, how you feel about this depends on your view of Chuck as a comedian vs. an analyst.
THE LONGEST MINUTE: Does it matter that the final minute of NBA playoff games takes forever?
Happy Monday. See you next time.
