In the words of TNT, the Phoenix Suns are goin’ fishin’. Even though Devin Booker was one point shy from a 50 burger on Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves won Game 4 of their first-round matchup with the Suns and swept a team that was one of the favorites to win it all when the season began.
For what it is worth, it was close. The two teams battled back and forth for most of the game, but Anthony Edwards took over, scoring 31 of his 40 points in the second half, to give Minnesota the 122-116 win.
Devin Booker posted 49 points, but even that was not enough. It marked Book’s 8th career 40-plus point playoff game and the first since the early rounds of the 2021 season. He and Kevin Durant combined for 82 points while the rest of the Suns scored just 34. No other Sun hit double figures.
You might have friends who play fantasy football like the Phoenix Suns constructed their roster. In an auction draft, they go with the studs and duds philosophy, spending all of their money on top-end guys and filling out the rest of their roster with $1 players. That strategy did not work for the Suns this year and they’ll likely have no choice but to run it back again next season.
Meanwhile, a scrappy and talented T-wolves team looked impressive. Karl-Anthony Towns had his best game since returning from a knee injury, scoring 28 points and grabbing 10 boards in the closeout game. He and his teammates will now have a bit of a break as they away the winner of the Nuggets-Lakers series.
Maxey scores 23, but the 76ers fall to the New York Knicks in Game 4
Similar to Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey put up a great effort despite his team’s loss. The former ‘Cat had 23 points in Game 5, but the night belonged to Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, who took down the Sixers 97-92 to take a 3-1 series lead.
After the game, Maxey said, “We’ve been really close, but we know we can win three games in a row.”
That’s what they’ll have to do to beat the Knicks, who are without Julius Randle, still sidelined with a shoulder injury likely for the remainder of the playoffs. His Knicks will vie to eliminate Maxey and the 76ers on Tuesday as the series returns to the Big Apple.
PJ Washington and the Mavericks fall to the Clippers in Game 4
On Friday, PJ Washington mean-mugged his way to a playoff win and early exit, however, he was sad-mugging on Sunday as the Dallas Mavericks dropped Game 4 to the LA Clippers which tied the series 2-2.
Washington scored 10 points and had a solid defensive game posting two blocks and a steal. Down 20, the Mavericks made an incredible comeback in the second half, but the Clippers did not fold entirely, scoring just enough to keep the Mavs at bay and picking up the crucial 116-111 win.
In the other NBA playoff game, the Indiana Pacers took down the Milwaukee Bucks 126-113 on Sunday as well. Isaiah Jackson played some garbage time but the other rostered ‘Cats did not dress.
