On Tuesday, the NBA playoffs have two pivotal game fives and it’s going to be must see TV, with both series tied at two games apiece. In the East, the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks’ series shifts to Madison Square Garden.
In the West, it’s the Minnesota Timberwolves against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. That series shifts back to Colorado after Denver won both in Minneapolis. Here are eight things to watch for in the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday.
Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks: Old-fashioned basketball
This series has been a throwback for many fans of 1990s basketball specifically. The last time these two teams met in the NBA Playoffs was in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. The 2024 version of this matchup has been just as good.
Both the Knicks and Pacers have displayed a certain amount of physical play and toughness that is reminiscent of the days of Reggie Miller vs Patrick Ewing. This time, however, there’s a new duo of superstars leading the way.
Short-handed New York Knicks
Led by point guard Jalen Brunson, this Knicks team does not go down without a fight. He and his former college teammates, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, willed New York to two thrilling wins at MSG in games one and two. Brunson scored 43 in Game 1 and 29 points in Game 2. Hart and DiVincenzo had 24 and 25 points, respectively.
Game 2 was a miracle act from Brunson. He suffered a foot injury in the first half, only scoring five points and with New York trailing by 10 at halftime. It did not look likely he would come back to play. But this is the playoffs.
Brunson put on a show in the second half, scoring 24 points and putting a jolt of energy into the team and the fanbase. It was breathtaking to watch. Coincidentally, it was on the 43-year anniversary of Willis Reed’s return during Game 2 of the 1973 Finals when he suffered a separated shoulder. New York held serve, winning both at home.
If the Knicks are going to win Game 5, they have to overcome the long list of injuries and just give everything they have. OG Anunoby has a hamstring injury. Julius Randle is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Bojan Bogdanovic had surgeries on his wrist and foot two weeks ago and Mitchell Robinson suffered an ankle injury in Game 2. He’s out 6-8 weeks.
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Indiana Pacers riding high after two home wins
Game 3 was the turning point of the entire series. Both teams gave and took their best punches, but the Pacers got the last laugh. Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton put on a show, scoring 35 points on 14-of-26 from the field. Power forward Paskal Siakam also scored 26 in the win. However, it was an unlikely hero to save the day.
With the game tied at 106, Andrew Nembhard made a name for himself with this unbelievable three pointer with 16 seconds left that essentially won the game. The Pacers would end up winning 111-106. Nembhard had struggled all night only scoring five total points on 2-of-8 from the field. But like the old saying goes, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Game 4 was one-sided from start to finish. Indiana blew the doors off the Knicks on Sunday afternoon, 121-89. Whatever the Pacers threw up was going in. They shot 57% from the field and were up by as many as 43 at one point. The Pacers have all the momentum. Question is: who wins Game 5?
Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks Game 5 prediction
For this game, it is wise to take the Pacers given all the injuries for the Knicks. Health is one of the biggest keys to a team winning and advancing in a playoff series and Indiana should take care of business.
Game 5 of this series is on TNT at 8:00 Eastern Time.
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Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves: No home-court advantage
In this Nuggets-Timberwolves series, the road team has won every single game. The Timberwolves won Game 1 by the score of 106-99 behind 43 points from Anthony Edwards. The star guard was on fire all night. More importantly, Minnesota’s defense held Nuggets guard Jamal Murray to 17 points on 6-of-14 from the field. Not to mention, Nikola Jokic had seven turnovers.
Game 2 of this series was a defensive clinic from the Timberwolves. They blew out the Nuggets 106-80. The 80 points was the lowest point total of the season for the Nuggets. Once again, Jamal Murray was a non-factor only scoring eight points. Denver had no answer whatsoever. Minnesota forced 19 turnovers and held the Nuggets to just 35% shooting from the field.
In frustration, he threw his heating pad and towel onto the court when he sat on the bench and it was not a good look for him. Murray was fined $100,000 by the NBA but not suspended. The Nuggets had their pride and swagger completely taken from them the first two games. But like all great champions, they respond.
Related: 4 keys to the Minnesota Timberwolves winning Game 5
Denver Nuggets counterpunch provides intrigue
Game 3 of this series was much like Game 4 of the Knicks-Pacers series: a blowout from the beginning. After the heat pad incident, Jamal Murray was the one to set the tone and he torched the Timberwolves — scoring 24 points on 11-of-21 from the field. In fact, all five Denver starters scored in double figures. More importantly, the Nuggets’ defense was on par with what they had been accustomed to.
They held Anthony Edwards to 19 points and forced five turnovers from the guard. The Timberwolves as a team had 16 total turnovers. The game was never close as the Nuggets won comfortably, 117-90. Minnesota was held to 43.7% shooting, including 30% from three-point range. Game 4? A better game from Minnesota, but not enough.
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Aaron Gordon’s Game 4 performance
Despite 44 points from Edwards in a huge bounce-back performance, the Nuggets got two big scoring performances themselves: 35 points from Nikola Jokic and 27 points from Aaron Gordon in a 115-107 win. Gordon was 11-of-12 from the field and could not be stopped.
He proved to be the difference for Denver as they took home-court advantage back tying the series 2-2. Even though Gordon is not a major offensive threat consistently, he’s known on occasion to have a breakout game during the NBA Playoffs that turns the tide in the Nuggets favor.
This game will be known as “The Aaron Gordon Game.”
Related: Kendrick Perkins goes off on Minnesota Timberwolves star Rudy Gobert
Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets Game 5 prediction
The Nuggets have all the momentum now going back to Denver and are playing like the defending champions. Expect them to show up in front of their home crowd and take a 3-2 lead and have the Timberwolves one game away from elimination.
If Minnesota wants to pull off another road win, it needs supplemental pieces like Karl-Anthony Towns and Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid to step up. In games three and four, Towns scored a combined total of 27 points. Reid scored a combined total of 18 points. That is nowhere near good enough to keep up with the offensive juggernaut that is the Denver Nuggets. Will Minnesota rise to the occasion in Game 5?
Game five is on TNT at 10:30 Eastern Time. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.