The four best teams in the Eastern Conference paired off on Wednesday night and produced two fun battles. In Boston, the Celtics edged the Cavaliers 103-99 in a rager after Deron Williams missed a critical shot. The game had 24 lead changes and 18 ties!
We got a little NBA playoff preview, and it was awesome
Good morning. We have that and more in Thursday’s NBA newsletter.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Up in Toronto, the Wizards withstood a comeback march from the Raptors to win 105-96. Newcomer Bojan Bogdanovic dropped 27 on Toronto and John Wall nailed Marcin Gortat in the face with a pass. Productive night for the Zards all around.
We also had the Rockets beating up the Clippers in the West, the Pelicans getting their first win of the DeMarcus Cousins era (with DeMarcus Cousins suspended, natch), the Nets ending their 16-game losing streak in Sacramento, and a Kawhi Leonard game-winner.
This, indeed, is March.
Get posts like this in your inbox every morning
Sign up for our daily NBA newsletter
Scores Galore ...
NYK 101, ORL 90
WAS 105, TOR 96
DAL 95, ATL 100
PHI 98, MIA 125
DEN 110, MIL 98
DET 86, NOP 109
CLE 99, BOS 103
IND 99, SAS 100
MIN 107, UTA 80
HOU 122, LAC 103
BKN 109, SAC 100
... And Plenty More
Good news! Kevin Durant isn’t broken, only bruised. He has a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is expected to be back for the playoffs. Before that news was announced and when it looked more serious, I wrote about the opportunity of chaos and the permanent role fortune (good and otherwise) plays in success.
The Sixers ruled Joel Embiid out for the season on Wednesday with a meniscus tear. He’s eligible for an extension this summer. Will the Sixers offer one, or wait a year for restricted free agency? Also, we should note that three years in, Greg Oden had played way more games than Embiid has.
Let’s hang around Sixerland for a moment. I’m not totally sure what Jahlil Okafor is doing on defense here, but I know for sure that it is not good.
Sam Amick on the new era for both the Kings and DeMarcus Cousins.
College basketball’s Championship Week is arguably as much fun as March Madness. Mike Rutherford gives you everything you need to know about the conference tournaments, even if you haven’t watched a second of college ball this year.
On this week’s Drive & Kick podcast, Flanns and Gonz discuss how Kyle Lowry’s injury will affect the East and more.
A note to historians: Nikola Jokic is spicy as hell.
A comedy in three acts: Ty Lawson asks for Taco Tuesday recommendations on social media, Ty Lawson enjoys Taco Tuesday at a local establishment, Ty Lawson is ruled questionable for the next day’s game due to gastroenteritis. There is an uplifting epilogue, though: he played after all!
A one-act tragedy: Stuff the Magic Dragon got stuck on its head during Orlando’s game and had to bounce off the court upside down.
Bill Oram on whether Rob Pelinka can fix the Lakers after shepherding Kobe’s career.
Big Jason King feature on Markelle Fultz, who will be a top-three pick and is the current favorite to go No. 1.
Ricky O’Donnell on Bryce Alford’s very necessary season of redemption at UCLA.
See More:
