The War of Attrition
04/24/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
76ers Sweep, Star Injuries Pile Up, LeBron-Brooks Feud Flares & Warriors-Kings is Series to Watch
The NBA Playoffs are at the peak of non-stop nightly action, and the weekend review leaves us little space to digest all that took place. Two superstars are down and out. Two Western Conference series are must-see TV. Only one team swept Round 1 with the 76ers blazing past the Nets to advance into Round 2. The Nuggets nearly swept the Timberwolves before Minnesota’s OT win last night.
Where They Stand: Most of the East looks lopsided with the Knicks and Celtics cruising to 3-1 leads and the 8-seed Heat on the brink of shocking the 1-seed Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo (lower back). The injuries don’t stop there. The Clippers are missing Kawhi Leonard (knee) and fading fast against the overpowered Suns. The most compelling two series still remaining are out west where the Lakers are proving experience over youth against the Grizzlies in a fiery game of trash talk, and the Warriors-Kings series has produced one epic finish after another in Northern California.
From Dillon Brooks smacking LeBron below the belt to Steph Curry’s ‘never-say-die’ Warriors locking down the Bay, here’s the rewind from the weekend that was.
1st-Round Series Highlights
Eastern Conference
Gm 4: 76ers def. Nets (96-88) | PHI Wins Series (4-0)
Gm 3: Heat def. Bucks (121-99) | MIA Leads Series (2-1)
Gm 4: Knicks def. Cavs (102-93) | NYK Leads Series (3-1)
Gm 4: Celtics def. Hawks (129-121) | BOS Leads Series (3-1)
Western Conference
Gm 4: T-Wolves def. Nuggets (114-108, OT) | DEN Leads Series (3-1)
Gm 4: Suns def. Clippers (1112-100) | PHX Leads Series (3-1)
Gm 3: Lakers def. Grizzlies (111-101) | LAL Leads Series (2-1)
Gm 4: Warriors def. Kings (126-125) | Series Tied (2-2)
Weekend Top Performers
J. Morant (MEM): 45 points, 9 rebounds, 13 assists
N. Jokic (DEN): 43 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists
D. Fox (SAC): 38 points, 9 rebounds
R. Westbrook (LAC): 37 points, 6 rebounds
T. Young (ATL): 35 points, 15 assists
A. Edwards (MIN): 34 points, 6 rebounds
S. Curry (GSW): 32 points
K. Durant (PHX): 31 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists
A. Davis (LAL): 31 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks
J. Tatum (BOS): 31 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Tonight’s Schedule
Gm 5: Bucks at Heat (7:30 pm ET) | MIA Leads (3-1)
Gm 4: Grizzlies at Lakers (10:00 pm ET) | LAL Leads (2-1)
2022-23 NBA Season Awards
As the playoffs tipped off last week, the NBA has unveiled the award-winners with one announcement each day. Here are the latest announcements with the upcoming awards schedule.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
Coach of the Year: Mike Brown (Kings)
Sixth Man of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon (Celtics)
Clutch Player of the Year: De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
Most Improved Player: Tonight (7:00 pm ET, TNT)
Rookie of the Year: Tomorrow (7:00 pm ET, TNT)
MVP Finalists: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid & Giannis Antetokounmpo
Additional Storylines
AP: Kings’ Mike Brown Becomes 1st Unanimous Coach of the Year Winner
B/R: Heat’s Victor Oladipo Out for Season With Torn Patellar Tendon Injury
USA Today: What Happens Next in Dillon Brooks-LeBron James Feud After Groin Shot?
Photo: Wally Skalij / Getty Images