Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has torn patellar tendon in right knee after collision with player
PHOENIX (AP) — Minnesota coach Chris Finch has a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee after a collision with Timberwolves guard Mike Conley in the fourth quarter of the team’s playoff win over the Phoenix Suns. Finch was helped off the court and later left the arena on a cart. The Timberwolves confirmed the nature of Finch’s injury. Conley was trying to dribble down the sideline when he collided with Suns star Devin Booker and ran into Finch, who appeared to injure his right knee as Conley tried to brace their fall. Assistant coach Micah Nori directed the team for the final 1:41.
Timberwolves outlast Suns to finish sweep. Minnesota coach Chris Finch leaves with knee injury
PHOENIX (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 40 points, Karl-Anthony Towns added 28 and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away late to beat the Phoenix Suns 122-116 and sweep the first-round playoff series. Edwards scored 29 of his points in the second half. He finished 12 of 22 from the field, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range. The franchise’s first playoff series win in 20 years came after coach Chris Finch left the game late in the fourth after an inadvertent collision with Wolves guard Mike Conley. The team said he had a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee.
Brunson scores career playoff-high 47 points, leads Knicks over 76ers for 3-1 lead
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored a career playoff-high 47 points, added 10 assists and the New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-92 on Sunday to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. OG Anunoby added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and took on some of the defensive assignment against Joel Embiid in the fourth quarter as the Knicks moved within a victory of getting to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the second straight year. The No. 2-seeded Knicks can do that with a victory at home on Tuesday night. Embiid played the entire second half after the 76ers faltered badly when he sat in the first. But the All-Star center couldn’t muster a basket in the fourth quarter.
Paul George, James Harden help Clippers even series with Mavs at 2-2 after blowing 31-point lead
DALLAS (AP) — Paul George and James Harden each scored 33 points while playing key fourth-quarter roles to help the Los Angeles Clippers hold on after blowing a 31-point lead and beat the Dallas Mavericks 116-111. The first-round series is even at 2-2. The Clippers won again without Kawhi Leonard. The star forward missed the series opener with right knee inflammation before playing in the two Dallas victories. Game 5 is Wednesday in LA. Kyrie Irving scored 40 points with a layup for a fourth-quarter lead that was Dallas’ first since the first quarter. Luka Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10.
Pacers hit franchise playoff best 22 3-pointers to beat Bucks 126-113 and take 3-1 lead in series
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Myles Turner scored 29 points, Tyrese Haliburton added 24 and the Indiana Pacers made a franchise playoff record 22 3-pointers as they pulled away from the Milwaukee Bucks 126-113. Indiana leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 and can close out the Bucks with a Game 5 win Tuesday at Milwaukee. The Pacers are 7-2 this season against the Bucks. Turner also had nine rebounds and four assists against a Bucks squad that was missing two injured All-Stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 27 points and nine rebounds, and Khris Middleton added 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. But Milwaukee never led in the second half.
Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray’s status in jeopardy for Game 5 vs. Lakers because of calf injury
DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets on Sunday listed point guard Jamal Murray as questionable for Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a strained left calf. Murray was seen nursing the calf in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ loss in Los Angeles on Saturday night that snapped Denver’s 11-game winning streak over LeBron James and the Lakers. Murray missed 23 games during the regular season with a variety of leg ailments but the calf strain is a new problem that popped up in Game 4.
