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That famous playoff saying, “A series doesn’t begin until each team has won on the other’s floor” needs a corollary. What sage observation can similarly be applied to a best-of-seven confrontation in which one team has lost two in a row and is on the verge of falling into the pit of 3-1 victimhood?

“A series is all but over when …?” It wouldn’t exactly trip off the tongue, but there’s no denying the veracity. In NBA history, 298 teams have fallen into a 3-1 hole – 285 of them (95.6%) never climbed out.

Of those that did, climbing out sometimes took a toll. The 2020 Denver Nuggets twice faced and survived 3-1 deficits against the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers, only to fall in five games in the Western Conference Finals to the Lakers, all in the Orlando “bubble” postseason.

The 2026 Nuggets would rather not put their resilience to the test in Game 4 of their first-round series against Minnesota tonight (8:30 ET, ABC). But it might not be their call, given how the Timberwolves have dealt with them the past two meetings.

Here are three things to watch for with the cranky/feisty rivals back in Target Center.

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1. Jokić dialing in at one end

When a team’s best player doesn’t excel in a playoff series, a certain calm eventually can settle in, a shoulder shrug from the “Well, what can you expect?” school that explains and eases everything. The tough part is getting to that eventually.

The Nuggets and their fans aren’t there yet with Nikola Jokić, their three-time Kia MVP and unquestioned leader. Frankly, they hope they don’t get there and that Jokić turns things around in Game 4.

What we’ve seen through three games has been some of Jokić’s biggest struggles at both ends in his personal playoff history. Defense has never been prominent in his quiver of marvelous skills, and Minnesota paint- and rim-attackers have been on a mission to remind the world. Knowing that the Denver big man has dual responsibilities there – avoiding foul trouble first, thwarting the scorer second – the Wolves have put him to the test, which he and any helpers mostly have failed.

Consider: The Nuggets have been outscored so far in the series by 11 points. But Minnesota has dominated in paint points, 174-116, making 61.3% (87 of 142) shots from so close.

Look, the Nuggets have enough of a chore dealing with their star’s breather minutes. They don’t need to add “while yanked for foul trouble” to their to-do list. Besides, they have won plenty with the big guy being an average defender.

Picking up Jokić’s slack on offense, though, is a task largely foreign to Denver. His reign as arguably the NBA’s best talent dates back to the start of this decade. So his relative struggle right now probably is best corrected by Jokić himself.

Top priority: Hit the shots Minnesota wants to give him. A 40% shooter from the arc the past two seasons, Jokić is 5-of-24 on 3-pointers in this series (that includes 2-for-10 in Game 3). He was only 5-of-16 on 2-pointers, too. And Jokić’s passing acumen suffered – with fewer assists (three) than turnovers (four) – because he wasn’t putting enough stress on the Wolves’ defense to open up teammates.

“If I make all the shots, then the defense is going to react,” Jokić said. “So I think that’s why I couldn’t get anybody involved. … I think I needed to do a bit better job scoring.”

Seems unfair to ask a player who does so much so well to do more. But the NBA postseason is all about “more.”

2. Nuggets’ role players in spotlight

Denver has another star, guard Jamal Murray, coming off his best season. He’ll be asked for more, too – mostly, playing more efficiently after shooting 35.9% through three games and 25.3% on 3-pointers to get his 25.3 ppg.

Then there are the others. Consider this: No Denver starter in Game 3 besides Jokić and Murray even managed one field goal in the first half, by the end of which their team trailed 61-39. That’s a terminal scoring imbalance.

Christian Braun finished the night with two points on free throws, period. Cam Johnson, the questionable replacement for Michael Porter Jr. from recent seasons, was 2-of-6 for six points. Spencer Jones, subbing for injured Aaron Gordon, also scored six.

And they contributed to their own meager output, according to coach David Adelman, by not doing enough other things on offense – cutting, screening – to create openings.

3. Wolves keep buying Edwards time

Sometimes the cameras catch Anthony Edwards limping. Sometimes the Wolves’ normally dynamic scorer isn’t. Frankly, it doesn’t really matter how much his sore right knee bothers him because a fleet of teammates has stepped into the breach on his behalf.

The latest was Ayo Dosunmu, the February acquisition from Chicago. He revved up Minnesota’s pace and led off the bench in Game 3 with 25 points (all 10 buckets in the paint) and nine assists. At other times, ace defender Jaden McDaniels has covered at both ends – he was in attack mode on Thursday vs. Murray while adding 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Donte DoiVincenzo is the Wolves’ whirling-and-diving dervish who provides hustle plays on top of, in Game 3, his 15 points. And center Rudy Gobert has made some voters for Kia Defensive Player of the Year look silly by leaving him off their three-spot award ballot, based on his work vs. Jokić in this series.

The good news for Minnesota is that Edwards wasn’t even on the injury list as Game 4 neared. The better his knee feels, the better he’ll probably shoot (just 39% overall and 25% on threes in the series). And the more dangerous Edwards will become, with Denver looking so newly vulnerable.

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

Down 6 in the final 30 seconds of Game 3, the Lakers had to do something only done once over the past 30 years to win.

Enter: The King.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 25, 2026

Comeback King: LeBron & Marcus Smart stage 30-second rally for improbable OT win

Boston Back Up: Celtics shoot to late lead as Tatum & Brown will a 2-1 series edge

Spurs Respond: Without Wemby, Castle & Harper pull off 15-point comeback for 2-1 lead

No. 1 Seeds: Thunder, Pistons dialing up their elite defenses as series shift to the road

Six-Seed Symmetry: Alexander-Walker wins MIP award in Atlanta while Ayo Dosunmu steps in for Wolves

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

Saturday’s four-game Playoff slate…

The NBA Playoffs continue today with a four-game slate, featuring both top seeds in Game 3s and a crucial Game 4 nightcap from Minnesota.

• NBC & Peacock Tripleheader: East No. 1 Detroit and No. 8 Orlando look to break a 1-1 tie in the opener (1 ET | Peacock & NBCSN)
• West No. 1 OKC heads to Phoenix, with the Thunder up 2-0 on the No. 8 Suns (3:30 ET | NBC & Peacock).
• Then, No. 3 New York tries to even the series at 2-2 on the road vs No. 6 Atlanta (6 ET | NBC & Peacock)
• ABC Saturday Primetime: In the West, No. 3 Denver aims to avoid a 3-1 deficit vs. No. 6 Minnesota on the road in Game 4 (8:30 ET | Tap To Watch)

NAW Named Most Improved: Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, earning the George Mikan Trophy.

See the week’s full NBA Awards results below:

• Monday: Kia Defensive Player of the Year | Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
• Tuesday: Kia Clutch Player of the Year | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
• Wednesday: Kia Sixth Man of the Year | Keldon Johnson (SAS)
• Thursday: Sportsmanship Award | Derrick White (BOS)
• Friday: Kia Most Improved Player | Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL)

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1. LEBRON, SMART RALLY LAKERS FOR GAME 3 OT WIN

Six points to make up.

Thirty seconds to make it happen.

Despite trailing for less than six minutes of action Friday night, the Lakers faced their largest deficit of Game 3 with a half-minute left.

They became just the second Playoff team since 1996-97 to wrestle a win out of that situation.

Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT): LeBron James (29 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl) and Marcus Smart (21 pts, 10 ast, 5 stl) teamed up to erase the 6-point gap — including a new instant-classic Bron steal & game-tying 3 — getting L.A. to overtime, where Smart’s 8 points claimed a stunning victory for a 3-0 series lead.

Alperen Sengun (33 pts, 16 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl) led four Rockets starters scoring over 15 points after Kevin Durant (ankle sprain) was a late scratch. Houston now looks to avoid elimination at home Sunday in Game 4. | Recap

• Rocket Burst: Having trailed throughout the 2nd and 3rd quarters and down 7 early in the 4th, Houston used a 23-10 run over 9 minutes to get their last-minute 6-point lead
• Sengun Show: Alpi scored Houston’s last 8 points in that run, capping it with a steal off a LeBron pass for a breakaway dunk. He netted 12 of his 33 points in the 4th
• Savvy, Smart: After the Lakers couldn’t answer, Smart intercepted Houston’s outlet pass and quickly drew a shooting foul behind the arc, converting each for a 3-point game
• As Houston brought the ball up, LeBron lunged for a back-tip steal then tapped L.A.’s hurried outlet heave to Luke Kennard (14 pts, 6 ast), who got it back to James
• Let It Fly: Initially wide open at the arc, LeBron faked to send Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. flying by before calmly splashing the game-tying triple, 101-101 with 15.1 on the clock
• “Just trying to seize the opportunity in the position that we’re in,” James said of his 151st clutch Playoff bucket, which leads all players since tracking began in 1996-97

After getting a stop on Sengun to set up a final Lakers chance, James’ turnaround 3 for the win went halfway in then out, setting up an overtime that was all Smart and L.A.

• “I know he’s battle-tested,” James said of Smart. “I’ve competed against him for so long in the Eastern Conference, so it’s great to have him on our side.”
• Lakers’ Classic: Smart’s Game 3 puts him with Magic Johnson (3x) as the only Lakers with 20+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a Playoff game since 1973-74
• The 2024 Sixers are the only other team to overcome a 6+ point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation to win a Playoff game

LeBron’s 2nd-quarter lob to Bronny James was the first father-son assist in NBA Playoffs history.

“I’ve seen his steps for so long, he was gathering,” LeBron said. “And I was like, ‘Just go get it.’…He gave us great minutes… That was a special moment, obviously.”

Los Angeles can win the series in Game 4 from Houston Sunday (9:30 ET, NBC & Peacock).

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2. TATUM, BROWN WILL LATE CELTICS WIN FOR 2-1 LEAD

After dropping Game 2 at home, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown came to Philly on a mission.

Thanks to some clutch heroics to hold off a hard-charging Sixers squad, the Jays left Game 3 with a 2-1 lead, moving up the Celtics’ all-time Playoff scoring list while they were at it,

Celtics 108, Sixers 100: Boston got twin 25-point attacks from Jayson Tatum (7 ast, 5 3s) and Jaylen Brown (7 ast, 3 blk) to overcome Tyrese Maxey’s (6 ast, 5 3s) 31 points and five other Sixers in double figures, taking the series lead again and resetting home court advantage. | Recap

• Jays’ Time: Late in a tight contest of seven ties, eight lead changes and no leads larger than 10, Tatum and Brown locked in to combine for 19 of Boston’s 29 4th-quarter points
• Brown dropped eight straight points to maintain a four-point lead at 96-92, but Paul George (18 pts, 5 ast) found Andre Drummond (12 pts) for back-to-back dunks to get within one
• JT Threes: That triggered Tatum, who hit 5-of-9 3s on the night, drilling two triples in the final two minutes, including the dagger that made it 106-100
• “I’ve been here before,” Tatum said. “Just the mindset of: Do whatever it takes to win… It can look different every single night…

“Just give the game what it needs. As long as you win, that’s all that matters.”

• C’s 3K Club: Tatum became the fourth Celtic ever to reach 3,000+ career Playoff points, joining Larry Bird (3,897), John Havlicek (3,776) and Kevin McHale (3,182)
• On that same Celtics all-time Playoff scoring list, Brown passed Bill Russell (2,673) and Robert Parish (2,683) to take 7th place

With Boston back in control, Game 4 tips in Philly on Sunday (7 ET, NBC & Peacock).

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3. YOUNG SPURS DUO FINDS A WAY WITHOUT WEMBY

With Victor Wembanyama still out for Game 3, San Antonio’s next two lottery picks took over.

Spurs 120, Blazers 108: Stephon Castle (33 pts, 5 ast) led all scorers and rookie Dylan Harper added career-highs in scoring (27 pts), rebounding (10) and 3-point shooting (4 3s) to ignite San Antonio’s 15-point comeback for a 2-1 series lead. | Recap

• Go Time: Portland’s 15-point lead came in the 3rd quarter, before a 21-5 Spurs run gave the road team a one-point edge to start the 4th
• Texas Takeover: San Antonio took control from there, building its own 15-point lead and winning the 2nd half 61-43
• Statement Shooting: Harper scored 12 of his 27 points in that 3rd, on the way to a 22-point 2nd half that included perfect 3-for-3 shooting from long distance
• “Just wanna keep on fighting,” Harper said of his surge. “We kinda had no energy in the 3rd quarter, so I wanted to come in, just make a spark any way I can.”

Castle (21y, 174d) and Harper (20y, 53d) are now the youngest duo in NBA history to each score at least 25 points in a postseason game.

KD and Russell Westbrook are the only other NBA duo age 21 or under to each score 25+ in the same postseason game, back in 2010.

• “He puts the work in and he wants to be great,” Castle said of Harper. “He’s accepted a role this year even with how talented he is, so he’s super special. I’m happy he’s with us.”
• Together With Timmy: Harper’s 27 points are the most scored by a Spurs rookie in a postseason game since Tim Duncan in 1998
• Bryant’s Bench Mark: He also became the 2nd-youngest player behind Kobe to score 20 or more points off the bench in a postseason game since tracking began in 1970-71

Jrue Holiday (29 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 5 3s) and the Blazers will try to tie the series back up at home in Game 4 Sunday (3:30 ET, ESPN).

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4. TOP SEED’S ELITE DEFENSES RISING UP AS SERIES HIT THE ROAD

Top two seeds.

Top two defenses.

Two Game 2s W’s.

Detroit’s gritty group got back to what it does best to even its series Wednesday, while OKC’s defensive maestro Chet Holmgren shined for a 2-0 edge.

• Sub-90 Club: Detroit and OKC have each held their opponent under 90 points in one of their two First Round games so far. No other defense has achieved this in the 29 other Playoff and Play-In games this postseason

Now, as both series hit the road, these No. 1s look to stay connected to their winning ways through their defense-first mentalities.

Pistons at Magic, Game 3 (1 ET, Peacock & NBCSN): Detroit’s defensive flex in Game 2 forced the Magic to shoot a season-low 32.5% from the field. The test will be if the East leaders can keep Orlando’s shooting down on its home floor today.

• The 83 points Detroit held Orlando to in Game 2 was also a season-low for the Magic, and a league-high seventh time the Pistons kept their opponent under 90 this season
• Early Erasers: Detroit piled up seven blocked shots in just the 1st quarter on Wednesday, going on to swat 11 total and force 17 turnovers
• “They like it when it gets messy and it gets ugly,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of his Pistons. “That’s where they thrive… We like to push people’s buttons and see how they respond.”

Pistons players up and down the roster embody that relentless, underdog style of play.

None more than two-way conversion Daniss Jenkins and non-lottery pick Marcus Sasser, whose own paths from childhood friends to Pistons teammates are as improbable as Detroit’s worst-to-first journey, NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt writes:

• “My end goal never changed… And I never wavered on the game,” Jenkins said. “I didn’t give up. I never stopped.”
• Offensive Surge: All-Star teammate Cade Cunningham has been similarly unstoppable in the two games against the Magic, leading all Playoff scorers with 33.0 ppg
• “He’s obviously a tall guard, has a lot of skill, obviously is trying to get to the paint,” Franz Wagner said of the challenge Cunningham presents to a Magic defense also looking to return to form

The only defense that outranked Detroit’s this season was OKC’s, and Chet Holmgren (4 blk) showed again in Game 2 why he’s the anchor for that top group of stoppers.

Thunder at Suns, Game 3 (3:30 ET, Peacock & NBC): Holmgren and OKC own two of the five instances Phoenix has been held under 90 points this season, including Game 1’s 84-point tally.

• Holmgren posted the season’s top individual defensive rating, at 102.3, holding opponents to a league-best 47.7% shooting at the rim (min. 250 DFGA)
• “From the moment [Chet] stepped foot on the court with the basketball team, we’ve been No. 1 in the West,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said earlier this year. “That’s no coincidence… He anchors the best defense in the league.”
• On/Off Edge: OKC was 5.6 points better defensively this season when Chet was on the floor, compared to when he was off
• Add Offense: He increases that differential with his scoring too, adding 17.5 ppg on 54.5/41.7 shooting splits so far in this First Round

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5. SIX-SEED SYMMETRY: NAW IMPROVES IN ATL, AYO STEPS IN FOR WOLVES

Jonathan Kuminga’s defensive stand and steal to seal the Game 3 W.

CJ McCollum’s game-changing clutch shots for wins in Games 2 & 3.

Atlanta’s pair of mid-season pick-ups changed the trajectory of its First Round series with New York.

And as Game 4 tonight at home brings the chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the No. 3 Knicks (6 ET, Peacock & NBC), it’s a Hawks offseason addition now shining through.

• Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s win makes Atlanta the first team in NBA history with back-to-back Most Improved Player Awards, after Dyson Daniels won last year
• All In The Family: Alexander-Walker’s win adds to his family’s growing hardware collection, as the cousin of reigning MVP and current Kia Clutch Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• In his first season in Atlanta, Minnesota’s former 6th-man started 71 games, more than doubling his career-high with 20.8 ppg while shooting a career-best 46%
• Play Free, Be Yourself: “That’s what Nickeil’s come in and done this year, and our offense has taken a huge jump,” Daniels said after NAW’s win. “I think Atlanta has a really good development pathway.”

Alexander-Walker is the first player to add 10+ ppg in scoring and average at least 20.0 ppg for the full season since his teammate, First Round series star and former Most Improved Player (2016) CJ McCollum, 10 years ago.

• “To have an opportunity is one thing. To take advantage of it is another, and I think he’s done that,” McCollum said of NAW. “I think it’s a testament to him as a person and a player.”
• McCollum himself is “among the most impactful players in these NBA playoffs,” according to Shaun Powell’s latest profile on NBA.com

McCollum, Alexander-Walker and the clutch Hawks look to go up 3-1 tonight, after back-to-back one-point victories – something we’ve only seen six times in NBA Playoffs history.

It’s the same situation for the West’s 6-seed, after Minnesota earned a statement Game 3 win at home with a Playoff career-high 25 points from Ayo Dosunmu.

• “I’m giving it my all,” Dosunmu said. “It just puts a sense of urgency on my back and a chip on my shoulder, knowing that you can’t take this for granted.”
• That sense of urgency comes from a three-season Playoff drought, and Jeff Zillgitt writes it’s driving Dosunmu to reach new heights
• Sixth-Man Solution: The trade deadline addition has been filling the spot left by Alexander-Walker, as one of five Wolves averaging double-digit scoring (16.0 ppg) in this series

Dosunmu and Minnesota can go up 3-1 on the No. 3 Nuggets in Game 4 tonight (8:30 ET, ABC).

Down 6 in the final 30 seconds of Game 3, the Lakers had to do something only done once over the past 30 years to win.

Enter: The King.

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 25, 2026

Comeback King: LeBron & Marcus Smart stage 30-second rally for improbable OT win

Boston Back Up: Celtics shoot to late lead as Tatum & Brown will a 2-1 series edge

Spurs Respond: Without Wemby, Castle & Harper pull off 15-point comeback for 2-1 lead

No. 1 Seeds: Thunder, Pistons dialing up their elite defenses as series shift to the road

Six-Seed Symmetry: Alexander-Walker wins MIP award in Atlanta while Ayo Dosunmu steps in for Wolves

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BUT FIRST … ⏰

Saturday’s four-game Playoff slate…

The NBA Playoffs continue today with a four-game slate, featuring both top seeds in Game 3s and a crucial Game 4 nightcap from Minnesota.

• NBC & Peacock Tripleheader: East No. 1 Detroit and No. 8 Orlando look to break a 1-1 tie in the opener (1 ET | Peacock & NBCSN)
• West No. 1 OKC heads to Phoenix, with the Thunder up 2-0 on the No. 8 Suns (3:30 ET | NBC & Peacock).
• Then, No. 3 New York tries to even the series at 2-2 on the road vs No. 6 Atlanta (6 ET | NBC & Peacock)
• ABC Saturday Primetime: In the West, No. 3 Denver aims to avoid a 3-1 deficit vs. No. 6 Minnesota on the road in Game 4 (8:30 ET | Tap To Watch)

NAW Named Most Improved: Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, earning the George Mikan Trophy.

See the week’s full NBA Awards results below:

• Monday: Kia Defensive Player of the Year | Victor Wembanyama (SAS)
• Tuesday: Kia Clutch Player of the Year | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)
• Wednesday: Kia Sixth Man of the Year | Keldon Johnson (SAS)
• Thursday: Sportsmanship Award | Derrick White (BOS)
• Friday: Kia Most Improved Player | Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL)

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1. LEBRON, SMART RALLY LAKERS FOR GAME 3 OT WIN

Six points to make up.

Thirty seconds to make it happen.

Despite trailing for less than six minutes of action Friday night, the Lakers faced their largest deficit of Game 3 with a half-minute left.

They became just the second Playoff team since 1996-97 to wrestle a win out of that situation.

Lakers 112, Rockets 108 (OT): LeBron James (29 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl) and Marcus Smart (21 pts, 10 ast, 5 stl) teamed up to erase the 6-point gap — including a new instant-classic Bron steal & game-tying 3 — getting L.A. to overtime, where Smart’s 8 points claimed a stunning victory for a 3-0 series lead.

Alperen Sengun (33 pts, 16 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl) led four Rockets starters scoring over 15 points after Kevin Durant (ankle sprain) was a late scratch. Houston now looks to avoid elimination at home Sunday in Game 4. | Recap

• Rocket Burst: Having trailed throughout the 2nd and 3rd quarters and down 7 early in the 4th, Houston used a 23-10 run over 9 minutes to get their last-minute 6-point lead
• Sengun Show: Alpi scored Houston’s last 8 points in that run, capping it with a steal off a LeBron pass for a breakaway dunk. He netted 12 of his 33 points in the 4th
• Savvy, Smart: After the Lakers couldn’t answer, Smart intercepted Houston’s outlet pass and quickly drew a shooting foul behind the arc, converting each for a 3-point game
• As Houston brought the ball up, LeBron lunged for a back-tip steal then tapped L.A.’s hurried outlet heave to Luke Kennard (14 pts, 6 ast), who got it back to James
• Let It Fly: Initially wide open at the arc, LeBron faked to send Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. flying by before calmly splashing the game-tying triple, 101-101 with 15.1 on the clock
• “Just trying to seize the opportunity in the position that we’re in,” James said of his 151st clutch Playoff bucket, which leads all players since tracking began in 1996-97

After getting a stop on Sengun to set up a final Lakers chance, James’ turnaround 3 for the win went halfway in then out, setting up an overtime that was all Smart and L.A.

• “I know he’s battle-tested,” James said of Smart. “I’ve competed against him for so long in the Eastern Conference, so it’s great to have him on our side.”
• Lakers’ Classic: Smart’s Game 3 puts him with Magic Johnson (3x) as the only Lakers with 20+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a Playoff game since 1973-74
• The 2024 Sixers are the only other team to overcome a 6+ point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation to win a Playoff game

LeBron’s 2nd-quarter lob to Bronny James was the first father-son assist in NBA Playoffs history.

“I’ve seen his steps for so long, he was gathering,” LeBron said. “And I was like, ‘Just go get it.’…He gave us great minutes… That was a special moment, obviously.”

Los Angeles can win the series in Game 4 from Houston Sunday (9:30 ET, NBC & Peacock).

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2. TATUM, BROWN WILL LATE CELTICS WIN FOR 2-1 LEAD

After dropping Game 2 at home, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown came to Philly on a mission.

Thanks to some clutch heroics to hold off a hard-charging Sixers squad, the Jays left Game 3 with a 2-1 lead, moving up the Celtics’ all-time Playoff scoring list while they were at it,

Celtics 108, Sixers 100: Boston got twin 25-point attacks from Jayson Tatum (7 ast, 5 3s) and Jaylen Brown (7 ast, 3 blk) to overcome Tyrese Maxey’s (6 ast, 5 3s) 31 points and five other Sixers in double figures, taking the series lead again and resetting home court advantage. | Recap

• Jays’ Time: Late in a tight contest of seven ties, eight lead changes and no leads larger than 10, Tatum and Brown locked in to combine for 19 of Boston’s 29 4th-quarter points
• Brown dropped eight straight points to maintain a four-point lead at 96-92, but Paul George (18 pts, 5 ast) found Andre Drummond (12 pts) for back-to-back dunks to get within one
• JT Threes: That triggered Tatum, who hit 5-of-9 3s on the night, drilling two triples in the final two minutes, including the dagger that made it 106-100
• “I’ve been here before,” Tatum said. “Just the mindset of: Do whatever it takes to win… It can look different every single night…

“Just give the game what it needs. As long as you win, that’s all that matters.”

• C’s 3K Club: Tatum became the fourth Celtic ever to reach 3,000+ career Playoff points, joining Larry Bird (3,897), John Havlicek (3,776) and Kevin McHale (3,182)
• On that same Celtics all-time Playoff scoring list, Brown passed Bill Russell (2,673) and Robert Parish (2,683) to take 7th place

With Boston back in control, Game 4 tips in Philly on Sunday (7 ET, NBC & Peacock).

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3. YOUNG SPURS DUO FINDS A WAY WITHOUT WEMBY

With Victor Wembanyama still out for Game 3, San Antonio’s next two lottery picks took over.

Spurs 120, Blazers 108: Stephon Castle (33 pts, 5 ast) led all scorers and rookie Dylan Harper added career-highs in scoring (27 pts), rebounding (10) and 3-point shooting (4 3s) to ignite San Antonio’s 15-point comeback for a 2-1 series lead. | Recap

• Go Time: Portland’s 15-point lead came in the 3rd quarter, before a 21-5 Spurs run gave the road team a one-point edge to start the 4th
• Texas Takeover: San Antonio took control from there, building its own 15-point lead and winning the 2nd half 61-43
• Statement Shooting: Harper scored 12 of his 27 points in that 3rd, on the way to a 22-point 2nd half that included perfect 3-for-3 shooting from long distance
• “Just wanna keep on fighting,” Harper said of his surge. “We kinda had no energy in the 3rd quarter, so I wanted to come in, just make a spark any way I can.”

Castle (21y, 174d) and Harper (20y, 53d) are now the youngest duo in NBA history to each score at least 25 points in a postseason game.

KD and Russell Westbrook are the only other NBA duo age 21 or under to each score 25+ in the same postseason game, back in 2010.

• “He puts the work in and he wants to be great,” Castle said of Harper. “He’s accepted a role this year even with how talented he is, so he’s super special. I’m happy he’s with us.”
• Together With Timmy: Harper’s 27 points are the most scored by a Spurs rookie in a postseason game since Tim Duncan in 1998
• Bryant’s Bench Mark: He also became the 2nd-youngest player behind Kobe to score 20 or more points off the bench in a postseason game since tracking began in 1970-71

Jrue Holiday (29 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast, 5 3s) and the Blazers will try to tie the series back up at home in Game 4 Sunday (3:30 ET, ESPN).

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4. TOP SEED’S ELITE DEFENSES RISING UP AS SERIES HIT THE ROAD

Top two seeds.

Top two defenses.

Two Game 2s W’s.

Detroit’s gritty group got back to what it does best to even its series Wednesday, while OKC’s defensive maestro Chet Holmgren shined for a 2-0 edge.

• Sub-90 Club: Detroit and OKC have each held their opponent under 90 points in one of their two First Round games so far. No other defense has achieved this in the 29 other Playoff and Play-In games this postseason

Now, as both series hit the road, these No. 1s look to stay connected to their winning ways through their defense-first mentalities.

Pistons at Magic, Game 3 (1 ET, Peacock & NBCSN): Detroit’s defensive flex in Game 2 forced the Magic to shoot a season-low 32.5% from the field. The test will be if the East leaders can keep Orlando’s shooting down on its home floor today.

• The 83 points Detroit held Orlando to in Game 2 was also a season-low for the Magic, and a league-high seventh time the Pistons kept their opponent under 90 this season
• Early Erasers: Detroit piled up seven blocked shots in just the 1st quarter on Wednesday, going on to swat 11 total and force 17 turnovers
• “They like it when it gets messy and it gets ugly,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of his Pistons. “That’s where they thrive… We like to push people’s buttons and see how they respond.”

Pistons players up and down the roster embody that relentless, underdog style of play.

None more than two-way conversion Daniss Jenkins and non-lottery pick Marcus Sasser, whose own paths from childhood friends to Pistons teammates are as improbable as Detroit’s worst-to-first journey, NBA.com’s Jeff Zillgitt writes:

• “My end goal never changed… And I never wavered on the game,” Jenkins said. “I didn’t give up. I never stopped.”
• Offensive Surge: All-Star teammate Cade Cunningham has been similarly unstoppable in the two games against the Magic, leading all Playoff scorers with 33.0 ppg
• “He’s obviously a tall guard, has a lot of skill, obviously is trying to get to the paint,” Franz Wagner said of the challenge Cunningham presents to a Magic defense also looking to return to form

The only defense that outranked Detroit’s this season was OKC’s, and Chet Holmgren (4 blk) showed again in Game 2 why he’s the anchor for that top group of stoppers.

Thunder at Suns, Game 3 (3:30 ET, Peacock & NBC): Holmgren and OKC own two of the five instances Phoenix has been held under 90 points this season, including Game 1’s 84-point tally.

• Holmgren posted the season’s top individual defensive rating, at 102.3, holding opponents to a league-best 47.7% shooting at the rim (min. 250 DFGA)
• “From the moment [Chet] stepped foot on the court with the basketball team, we’ve been No. 1 in the West,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said earlier this year. “That’s no coincidence… He anchors the best defense in the league.”
• On/Off Edge: OKC was 5.6 points better defensively this season when Chet was on the floor, compared to when he was off
• Add Offense: He increases that differential with his scoring too, adding 17.5 ppg on 54.5/41.7 shooting splits so far in this First Round

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5. SIX-SEED SYMMETRY: NAW IMPROVES IN ATL, AYO STEPS IN FOR WOLVES

Jonathan Kuminga’s defensive stand and steal to seal the Game 3 W.

CJ McCollum’s game-changing clutch shots for wins in Games 2 & 3.

Atlanta’s pair of mid-season pick-ups changed the trajectory of its First Round series with New York.

And as Game 4 tonight at home brings the chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the No. 3 Knicks (6 ET, Peacock & NBC), it’s a Hawks offseason addition now shining through.

• Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s win makes Atlanta the first team in NBA history with back-to-back Most Improved Player Awards, after Dyson Daniels won last year
• All In The Family: Alexander-Walker’s win adds to his family’s growing hardware collection, as the cousin of reigning MVP and current Kia Clutch Player of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• In his first season in Atlanta, Minnesota’s former 6th-man started 71 games, more than doubling his career-high with 20.8 ppg while shooting a career-best 46%
• Play Free, Be Yourself: “That’s what Nickeil’s come in and done this year, and our offense has taken a huge jump,” Daniels said after NAW’s win. “I think Atlanta has a really good development pathway.”

Alexander-Walker is the first player to add 10+ ppg in scoring and average at least 20.0 ppg for the full season since his teammate, First Round series star and former Most Improved Player (2016) CJ McCollum, 10 years ago.

• “To have an opportunity is one thing. To take advantage of it is another, and I think he’s done that,” McCollum said of NAW. “I think it’s a testament to him as a person and a player.”
• McCollum himself is “among the most impactful players in these NBA playoffs,” according to Shaun Powell’s latest profile on NBA.com

McCollum, Alexander-Walker and the clutch Hawks look to go up 3-1 tonight, after back-to-back one-point victories – something we’ve only seen six times in NBA Playoffs history.

It’s the same situation for the West’s 6-seed, after Minnesota earned a statement Game 3 win at home with a Playoff career-high 25 points from Ayo Dosunmu.

• “I’m giving it my all,” Dosunmu said. “It just puts a sense of urgency on my back and a chip on my shoulder, knowing that you can’t take this for granted.”
• That sense of urgency comes from a three-season Playoff drought, and Jeff Zillgitt writes it’s driving Dosunmu to reach new heights
• Sixth-Man Solution: The trade deadline addition has been filling the spot left by Alexander-Walker, as one of five Wolves averaging double-digit scoring (16.0 ppg) in this series

Dosunmu and Minnesota can go up 3-1 on the No. 3 Nuggets in Game 4 tonight (8:30 ET, ABC).

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Sympathy for the opponent in the NBA playoffs? Hardly. That’s just the nature of the game.

No team is going to feel too badly for the San Antonio Spurs who played Game 3 without third-year star Victor Wembanyama, sidelined by a concussion sustained in Game 2.

And the Spurs don’t have time to feel sorry for themselves. Not now. Not with so much at stake.

So, they went out and just played. Played through rough stretches, through Jrue Holiday’s great game for the Portland Trail Blazers and through a Portland home crowd anticipating a victory.

With Wembanyama watching the game from the bench in a vibrant multi-colored shirt-jac, the Spurs surprised Portland and took a 2-1 series lead with a 120-108 victory in Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference playoff matchup.

Here are four takeaways from Game 4 is Sunday in Portland (3:30 ET, ESPN).

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1. Dylan Harper lifts Spurs

San Antonio rookie Dylan Harper, the No. 2 draft pick last June, was phenomenal, scoring 22 of his 27 points in the second half – 12 in the third quarter and 10 in the fourth.

He scored inside and out – 4-for-5 on 3-pointers, 5-for-7 in the paint and his driving one-handed dunk was part of a 27-15 Spurs run to end the game.

Harper’s second-half scoring helped San Antonio eliminate a 15-point third-quarter deficit. Portland led 82-67 with 5:09 left in the third quarter, and nearly 12 minutes of game time later, the Spurs were up 108-96.

The 20-year-old Harper is the second-youngest player to score 20 or more points off the bench in a playoff game – only behind an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant.

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2. Castle puts mark on victory

Look at some of the stellar performances by the league’s young players in the playoffs. Spurs guard Stephon Castle, the 2025 Kia Rookie of the Year, scored a game-high 33 points on 18 shots. He was 10-for-11 on free throws and had 11 points in the fourth quarter during San Antonio’s takeover.

Castle has showed improvement in each playoff game – 17 points on 4-for-13 shooting in Game 1, 18 points on 7-for-20 shooting in Game 2 and when the Spurs needed players to compensate for Wembanyama’s absence, he delivered a 30-plus point performance.

Starting backcourt partner De’Aaron Fox was steady with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds. Also, rookie Carter Bryant’s stat line won’t tell the story of his impact, but his three points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks were vital – he was a plus-17 in 23 minutes.

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3. Holiday, Henderson produce again for Blazers

The guard play in this series has been impressive. Portland’s Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson combined for 50 points and 10-for-19 on 3s – 29 points for Holiday and 21 for Henderson.

Holiday, who won titles with Milwaukee and Boston, also had six rebounds, five assists and four steals.

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4. Wembanyama ruled out for Game 3

Spurs All-Star and 2025-26 Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama missed Game 3 as he recovers from a concussion. Wembanyama, who is also one of three finalists for this season’s Kia MVP, is in the league’s concussion protocol and was not cleared to play.

“Obviously, there’s a lot that goes into that, but he’s doing well and progressing,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.

Wembanyama sustained the concussion in a hard fall in the second quarter of Portland’s Game 2 victory. He hit his head and face on the court and left the game.

Johnson declined to speculate about Wembanyama’s availability for Game 4, citing a process that requires meeting incremental steps of exertion, no signs of a concussion and clearance from a doctor and the league’s director of the concussion policy.

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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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This role and this moment wasn’t originally designed for him or drawn up for him. This wasn’t supposed to be CJ McCollum’s time, not this season and certainly not with the Atlanta Hawks or in these playoffs.

The Hawks groomed Trae Young for this. They drafted him, endured his weaknesses and celebrated his strengths and built the team around those until a few months ago when the franchise and the franchise player reached a fork in the road.

And so, who would replace him and eventually have the ball in his hands with playoff games on the line? How about a 34-year-old who spent his entire career — a solid one, though not star-filled — as a secondary option and now is in the homestretch of his basketball life?

Well: Why not CJ McCollum?

When the Hawks traded Young to the Washington Wizards at the deadline and didn’t receive a massive haul in return — certainly not the five first-round picks and a swap the New York Knicks shipped to Brooklyn for Mikal Bridges — it was largely viewed for what it was, a move to avoid paying Young a potential maximum extension.

The Hawks were unwilling to do that, which was a show of no-faith. Which was their right. But in exchange, the Hawks didn’t exactly cash in. They received McCollum (along with Corey Kispert), who was immediately asked to come off the bench. Yes, a role player for a franchise player.

A capstone for the renovation

Now, look: McCollum is among the most impactful players in these NBA playoffs and certainly a sudden hero in Atlanta, where a pair of massive shots in the final minutes of a pair of first-round Hawks victories have the Hawks up 2-1 on the Knicks.

So, to recap: McCollum just slid into Young’s role and is performing as good as Young would … or maybe even better. And at a fraction of the financial commitment.

This is why Onsi Saleh, the Hawks new general manager, is off to a tremendous start since taking over last spring. Not only did he have the guts to trade Young, who was a popular player in Atlanta, but he also swung another mid-season deal, for Jonathan Kuminga. And neither is Saleh’s most meaningful deal at least from a promise standpoint.

He traded down in last June’s draft and scooped a 2026 unprotected No. 1 pick from the New Orleans Pelicans, who will be in the lottery; that could land Atlanta a top-four or five selection in a stacked draft.

But while nominating Saleh for Executive of the Year, it’s proper to salute one of the moves and the guy who helped make this possible, and that’s McCollum.

“I know I’m closer to the end than the beginning,” McCollum admitted. “For me, it’s about maximizing each day, maximizing the talent. The team has a huge faith in me and my talent. I think they appreciate my approach.”

Quickly building a foundation in Atlanta

McCollum has endeared himself to everyone around him — fans, coaching staff, management, teammates – in a short amount of time, just two months. That speaks to his skills to connect; after all, McCollum is a former president of the player’s union and it was his responsibility to bond with role players and superstars and the suits in the NBA office.

So from that standpoint, he was built for the one fringe benefit that he offers the Hawks — leadership.

“You see the things on the court, the way he can make a big shot and make a play for someone else,” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder. “The things most people don’t see have had a big impact on our team. When he first got here I asked him to come off the bench ‘cause I thought it was important to the other players and their role. I asked CJ to accept a different role than what he had.

“That was a foundational moment that has allowed him to lead. That’s the biggest thing for us, that he’s a leader. He has not been a point guard but a `lead’ guard and his voice has been important for our team.”

McCollum has also used his voice as a bullhorn twice — in Game 2 when he let Madison Square Garden know about the Hawks and him following his tremendous fourth quarter and finish, and then a handful of times Thursday in State Farm Arena to roust the energy from the crowd.

“It’s good to see,” said Hawks swingman Dyson Daniels, who was previously teammates with McCollum in New Orleans. “And he’s having fun out there. He knows what it takes to win.”

How he got here

McCollum’s prime was spent in Portland, next to Damian Lillard, Robin next to Batman, although opponents always had a healthy amount of respect for McCollum. His ability to drop mid-range shots made him old school — a refreshing weapon in a league that emphasizes the 3. McCollum always managed to find the sweet spot on the floor, where the defense was absent, which allowed him plenty of open looks.

He has been traded twice since then, to the Pelicans and then Wizards; both situations were spent with teams in transition. In Washington, McCollum was viewed as prime trade material because he was on the final year of his contract and still had the goods to help a contender.

And here is, with a Hawks team that if nothing else has struck concern in New York.

McCollum has assumed the lead singer role somewhat out of necessity. Jalen Johnson was an All-Star this season, is a strong candidate for All-NBA and at 24 the present and future face of the franchise who made Young expendable. But he hasn’t played to that level through three playoff games partly because this atmosphere is new to him.

Same for Nickeil Alexander-Walker, a 20-point scorer during the regular season connecting on just 31.7% of his attempts in this series.

Therefore, the “role” originally given to McCollum when he arrived has since changed drastically.

“I’m comfortable with failure and I’m comfortable with success,” he said. “I’ve played for a long time. I could’ve missed those shots and I’d approach the game the same way. That’s the sign of someone who’s steady and a sign of someone who does things the right way. I know what it’s like to struggle, to want to be in those situations. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve never lacked confidence in those situations.”

What comes next

McCollum is dangerous to the Knicks because he has no reason to fear anything. He doesn’t feel pressure. He has made his money. He has already earned respect. He’s secure with who he is and doesn’t sweat about who he isn’t.

That type of player will take the big shot and is willing to live with the result, one way or another.

And the results have been a massive gain, if not a surprising one, for the Hawks.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can e-mail him at spowell@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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We’re still waiting for this series to live up to its billing: Two big, physical and talented teams more evenly matched than their 1 vs. 8 seeding would suggest. They wound up in this showdown because Detroit enjoyed a laudably consistent season, while Orlando had anything but.

Through two games, there have been some similarities. Scoring has been tight and down – Detroit a combined 199, Orlando 195. Neither team has looked title-worthy from the 3-point line (27.6% accuracy by the Pistons, 27.3% by the Magic).

But neither team is happy with the 1-1 deadlock heading into Game 3 at Orlando’s Kia Center (1 ET, Peacock/NBC). The Pistons consider the opener Sunday a sub-par performance in which rust from a week’s layoff hurt them against a rolling opponent.

That opponent, meanwhile, looked terrific in Game 1 and competent enough for 24 minutes of a grimy Game 2. Then the bottom dropped out for the Magic in the second half, putting the foes on decidedly different paths for the next meeting.

Here are three things to watch for in Game 3 on Saturday:

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1. Residue from 30-3?

If there were such a thing as post-traumatic run syndrome, Orlando’s players, coaches and fans might actually be suffering from it. That’s how profound the Magic’s collapse was in the third quarter Wednesday.

Imagine driving cross-country, only to get side-swiped by an 18-wheeler, spun into oncoming traffic, plunged into a ravine and coming to rest next to den of wolverines somewhere in Missouri. Odds are, that memory would stick with you for a while.

Orlando’s version was the eight-minute stretch in Game 2 in which it got outscored 30-3, falling behind by 27 points and unable to threaten from there. The Pistons, responding to a confrontational harangue from coach J.B. Bickerstaff, played and sounded from there as if it was motivating enough to carry them to carry them to the conference finals.

“He really got on us in the locker room,” said forward Tobias Harris. “There’s no more ‘My bads.’ They’re out there hustling, getting offensive boards on us and there’s too many of them. For us as a group, we know that’s not our standard, so he was on us. But we obviously felt it as a group, we needed to be better for each other.”

The Magic consoled themselves by focusing on the split they got of the opening games at Little Caesars Arena and on the scenery shift to their building. But they might have had two, and they have to wonder if they’ve awakened the superior team.

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2. Slow Cunningham or suffer consequences

Detroit’s offensive engine is their point guard, looking through two performances like a future MVP finalist. It isn’t a matter of “how Cade Cunningham goes, so go the Pistons” but rather, can Cunningham get a lot out of his teammates while he’s providing a lot on his own?

In Game 1, the fourth-year playmaker scored 39 points but couldn’t unlock enough of his teammates. That went better in Game 2, with all five Detroit starters scoring in double figures while Cunningham scored 27 to go along with 11 assists.

Center Isaiah Stewart spoke afterward of the guard’s impact once he’s rolling:

“For us, it uplifts us, makes us go with him. For the other team, it’s just a problem for them that they have to figure out. [The Pistons] changed their coverages and stuff, which helped free us up and allowed us to make plays.”

It wasn’t that long ago, just a month, that he, they and we wondered if everyone would be cheated of this. That’s when Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung – not a familiar basketball injury – in an on-court collision at Washington. He missed 11 games, returning in time to qualify (with an appeal) under the 65-game rule for awards and honors, and to do a whole lot of what he’s currently doing.

“I’m just grateful to be here, grateful to be back, feeling the way I feel right now, whenever my team needs me,” Cunningham said. “So all glory to God, for sure. I just want to continue to go and represent.”

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3. Rays of sunshine for the Magic?

Orlando wasn’t exactly dominant at the Kia Center this season, winning seven more games there (26-16) than they did on the road. Its shooting numbers were slightly worse, too.

But going home frequently has a broader benefit in the playoffs. The truism is that role players typically play better in more comfortable, less pressurized surroundings. And the Magic have a few – Anthony Black, Tristan da Silva, Jevon Carter if called upon – who could raise their games a notch.

Maybe center Wendell Carter Jr. will get back on track. He arguably was Orlando’s best performer in Game 1 (17 points, seven rebounds, five assists, 8-9 FGs) but spent Game 2 in foul trouble, making just one of his six shots. He finished with three points and a minus-29. With Detroit’s bigs perking up, the Magic can’t afford for Carter to perk down.

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.  

• 2025-26 NBA Awards: Complete coverage
• Kia DPOY Award: All-Time Winners

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ATLANTA (AP) — Nickeil Alexander-Walker was voted the NBA’s 2026 Most Improved Player on Friday, beating out finalists Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren to become the second Hawks player to win the award in two years.

It was, by far, the best statistical season of Alexander-Walker’s career after Dyson Daniels won the trophy last season.

“Going into the summer I was kind of nervous because I was getting a lot of love from the Hawks organization,” Alexander-Walker said.

Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker has been named the 2025-26 Kia NBA Most Improved Player, earning the George Mikan Trophy. pic.twitter.com/CoTV2DKyT4

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 24, 2026

He scored a career-best 20.8 points per game, more than doubling his average from his first six pro seasons. He shot a career-best 46% and also averaged more assists (3.7), rebounds (3.4) and steals (1.3) than ever before.

Part of the rise in numbers was in part to a rise in minutes; he logged 2,603 this season, 530 more than his previous career best. That said, he earned those minutes — the 251 3-pointers, 277 free throws made, 40% clip from 3-point range and 90% clip from the foul line all were his best.

In the first year of a four-year, $62 million contract with the Hawks, Alexander-Walker started the season as a sixth man and moved into Atlanta’s starting lineup early with Trae Young dealing with a knee injury. His status as a full-time starter was solidified after a January trade sent Young to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.

Alexander-Walker’s win adds to the award haul for his family; his cousin is Oklahoma City star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP and a finalist for MVP honors again this season.

Daniels said it’s more proof that the Hawks are elite in player development.

“I think Atlanta has a really good development pathway,” Daniels said Friday. “Guys come in here, get their work in, and (Hawks coach Quin Snyder is) really good at giving guys opportunities to play free and be themselves. That’s what Nickeil’s come in and done this year, and our offense has taken a huge jump.”

This was the fifth award to be announced by the NBA since the end of the regular season. The others:

— San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama became the youngest Defensive Player of the Year, and the first to win the award in a unanimous vote.

— Gilgeous-Alexander nearly became the first unanimous winner of the Clutch Player of the Year award. He got 96 of a possible 100 first-place votes.

— San Antonio’s Keldon Johnson topped Miami’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. for Sixth Man of the Year, getting 63 first-place votes.

— Boston’s Derrick White won the Sportsmanship Award, edging out Indiana’s TJ McConnell. That award, unlike most others, is selected solely by active NBA players.

Other award announcements still to come include MVP (either Gilgeous-Alexander, Wembanyama or Denver’s Nikola Jokic), Coach of the Year (either Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff, San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson or Boston’s Joe Mazzulla), and Rookie of the Year (either Philadelphia’s VJ Edgecombe, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg or Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel).