Little-known forward Jamal Cain posterized Jalen Duren last night, serving as an easy metaphor for the first-round series between the No. 8 Orlando Magic and No. 1 Detroit Pistons. Orlando beat Detroit last night to take a 3-1 lead in the series and push the Pistons to the brink of elimination.
In other NBA news, the league announced the Rookie of the Year in one of the closer award races of the season. It’s a hoop-focused newsletter today, and we’ll continue to keep you informed throughout the NBA playoffs, here and on the NBC News website.
NBA Playoffs
The Detroit Pistons won 60 games this season and were the top team in the Eastern Conference essentially the entire season. Now, after losing to the Orlando Magic, 94-88, last night, they’re on the verge of exiting the playoffs in the first round.
The Pistons’ fall from grace starts with their disappearing offense. During the regular season, Detroit finished 10th in offensive rating, averaging 117.3 points per 100 possessions. Against the Magic in the first round? The Pistons have the worst offense of any playoff team, mustering only 100.3 points per 100.
Detroit’s stars have struggled. Cade Cunningham is shooting under 43% from the field and has a whopping 27 turnovers through four games. Meanwhile, Jalen Duren’s scoring average has dipped from 19.35 in the regular season to 9.8 against Orlando.
In the second half of Monday’s game, the Pistons scored only 36 points as a team. (The Magic only scored 40, but it was enough to win.)
“Back’s against the wall. Whatcha gonna do? You’re gonna fight,” Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart said after yesterday’s loss. “You have to fight until the end, so let’s get back to the crib, protect the crib and take it one game at a time. The series is not over.”
The No. 3 Denver Nuggets were also facing elimination, but they defeated the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday, 125-113. Now the series goes to a sixth game, with Minnesota leading 3-2. Outside of a very brief scare in the fourth quarter, it was a breezy victory for the Nuggets, who were playing a Timberwolves team missing its starting guards Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo.
Rookie of the Year
All season, two friends and former Duke teammates seemed to go back and forth with each other, jockeying for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award — No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks and No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets.
Last night, the league announced that Flagg had won, barely edging out Knueppel by 26 voting points. Of the 100 voters, Flagg received 56 first-place votes and Knueppel got the other 44.
It was the second-closest vote of the last two decades. Back in 2022, Scottie Barnes beat out Evan Mobley for the award by 15 points.
This season, Flagg mostly lived up to expectations as the top pick. He averaged 21 points per game to lead all rookies and he became the first teenager to score 50 points in a game. He also led the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists and steals — and was the first rookie to lead his team in all those categories since Michael Jordan.
Meanwhile, Knueppel led the entire league in made 3-pointers, as he shot 42.5% from deep. He averaged 18.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and was a key part of the Hornets’ resurgence as they made the NBA play-in tournament.
Like everyone else, Flagg was watching Knueppel throughout the season, monitoring the race.
“I see the games every night. I can check the box scores. I see it on Instagram, whatever,” Flagg said on Peacock. “But also, I was watching Kon just because that’s one of my brothers.
“We have such a good connection, and we’re going to be there for each other the rest of our lives. I was watching him as a fan as well. But there’s obviously that competition at the same time.”
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What We're Reading
Former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty to $10 million sports betting and poker scams.
NBC Sports’ Tim Layden writes about the magic of “Derby Day,” aka the Kentucky Derby, coming Saturday, an event he has covered 21 times in the past 23 years.
Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby is entering a treatment program for gambling addiction.
The Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson after losing 11 of their last 12 games.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark is publishing a children’s book.
Paige Bueckers addressed her relationship with teammate and new draft pick Azzi Fudd.
Ty Simpson revealed that he secretly met with Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, before the team shocked everyone by drafting Simpson in the first round.
LIV Golf is postponing its New Orleans stop, sources told ESPN.
Allyson Felix is eyeing a comeback for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
What We're Watching
On NBC/Peacock tonight, a huge game in the Eastern Conference: Game 5 between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks, in a series tied 2-2. Knicks star Jalen Brunson has done his part this series, averaging 25.5 points and 5.3 assists per game. If his co-stars come to play, New York might be hard to beat.
Both No. 2 seeds also have a chance to close out their respective series. We’re curious to see Victor Wembanyama, too, after he scored 27 points and made 7 blocks after returning from a concussion.
All times are Eastern:
- 7 p.m.: No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, on ESPN
- 8 p.m.: No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Atlanta Hawks, on NBC/Peacock
- 9:30 p.m.: No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Portland Trail Blazers, on ESPN
That’s it for now! We’ll be back tomorrow.
