Knicks-Hawks tied 2-2; Magic lead 2-1
- The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks split the first four games of their East first-round series, with New York’s 114-98 Game 4 win evening it. - Orlando took a 2-1 lead on top-seeded Detroit by winning Game 3, 113-105, behind 25 points each from Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. - Tuesday brings Knicks-Hawks Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, while Magic-Pistons resumes Monday night in Orlando. (nba.com)
The Knicks and Hawks are back to even, and the Magic are one win from putting the East’s No. 1 seed in a deeper hole. (nba.com) (espn.com) New York tied its first-round series 2-2 with a 114-98 win in Game 4 on Saturday, April 25, after dropping Games 2 and 3 by a combined two points. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) Karl-Anthony Towns posted a triple-double in that Game 4 win, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as New York held a double-digit lead for the final 20 minutes. (nba.com) The series now shifts back to Madison Square Garden for Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28, at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock. Game 6 is set for Thursday, April 30, in Atlanta. (nba.com) Orlando, the East’s No. 8 seed, took a 2-1 lead over Detroit with a 113-105 Game 3 win on Saturday, April 25. Detroit entered the playoffs as the East’s top seed. (nba.com) (espn.com) Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane scored 25 points apiece for Orlando in Game 3, while Banchero added 12 rebounds, nine assists and three steals. Cade Cunningham had 27 points, five rebounds and nine assists in the loss. (nba.com) Game 4 of Pistons-Magic is Monday, April 27, at 8 p.m. Eastern in Orlando. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, in Detroit. (nba.com) Elsewhere in the bracket, Boston leads Philadelphia 3-1, Toronto and Cleveland are tied 2-2, Oklahoma City leads Phoenix 3-0, San Antonio leads Portland 3-1, Minnesota leads Denver 3-1, and the Lakers lead Houston 3-1. (nba.com 1) (nba.com 2) That leaves Knicks-Hawks and Cavaliers-Raptors as the only East series tied entering the week, while Orlando has the clearest upset path after already stealing two of the first three from Detroit. (nba.com) (espn.com) The next two nights will decide whether New York takes back control at home and whether Orlando can push the conference’s top seed to the brink. (nba.com)
