Playoff drama hit a fever pitch Monday night as the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks delivered jaw-dropping road upsets in their respective conference semifinal openers—overpowering the top-seeded Thunder and reigning champion Celtics in two of the most thrilling games of the postseason so far.

Nuggets Stun Thunder With Last-Second Heroics

Denver pulled off a stunning 14-point comeback to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-119, thanks to a clutch, game-winning three-pointer from Aaron Gordon with just 2.8 seconds left.

Oklahoma City had looked dominant early, riding the momentum of a first-round sweep and backed by MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who posted 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. Nikola Jokić matched the star power with a monster 42-point, 22-rebound performance for Denver.

But it was Gordon who stole the spotlight in the final seconds.

With OKC up by three after a dunk by Gilgeous-Alexander, a questionable foul strategy backfired. Gordon sank two free throws, and after Chet Holmgren missed a pair on the other end, Christian Braun secured the rebound, setting up Gordon’s deep dagger from beyond the arc.

It was Gordon’s second game-winner of the postseason—his earlier dunk in Game 4 against the Clippers also turned that series around.

“We didn’t want to miss the moment,” said Gordon. “We showed our grit, but we’re not satisfied.”

Game 2 of what’s shaping up to be a classic series is set for Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

Knicks Rally Past Celtics in OT After 20-Point Deficit

Earlier in Boston, the Knicks pulled off a comeback for the ages—erasing a 20-point deficit to defeat the Celtics 108-105 in overtime, stealing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Boston started strong despite limited playing time from its core group this season and seemed in control—until their three-point shooting fell apart in historic fashion.

The Celtics went ice cold from deep, setting playoff records for both most three-pointers attempted and missed in a game. Their 15-for-60 shooting (25%) opened the door for a Knicks comeback.

New York’s Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby seized the moment, combining for 39 points in the final 23 minutes. Brunson hit clutch shots, while Anunoby bullied his way into the paint. The Knicks outscored Boston 53-30 down the stretch to force overtime.

Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in key buckets in OT as the Knicks defense tightened up and sealed the shock win.

“We told each other to keep believing,” said Brunson. “There wasn’t going to be a 20-point shot. We had to grind.”

Game 2 tips off Wednesday in Boston as the Knicks look to keep the momentum rolling.

Source: CNN – Dramatic endings as Nuggets and Knicks shock Thunder and Celtics in conference semifinal openers

The post Nuggets and Knicks Pull Off Stunning Upsets in NBA Semifinal Openers appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

INGLEWOOD, Calif.  — In a thrilling Game 4, Aaron Gordon made NBA history with a buzzer-beating dunk that sealed the Denver Nuggets’ 101-99 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, tying the playoff series at 2-2.

As time expired, Nikola Jokic launched a turnaround three-pointer over Ivica Zubac, but it missed the mark. Enter Gordon, who soared in to slam home the rebound, delivering the game-winning dunk. The referees initially ruled the basket good, and after a quick review, it was confirmed that Gordon’s dunk had left his hands just before the buzzer sounded.

“It was a nice pass,” Gordon joked about Jokic’s airball. Jokic, for his part, had been less optimistic as he watched his shot miss. “This is going to be bad,” he admitted after seeing the ball sail past the rim.

The dramatic play marked the first game-winning, buzzer-beating dunk in NBA playoff history since the 1997-98 season, a rare feat that thrilled the Nuggets and left the Clippers reeling.

Referee Zach Zarba explained the review process, stating that the key focus was whether the ball had left Gordon’s hand before the red light went on. “It has to be out of his hand when that red light is on,” Zarba clarified.

For Denver, the victory was bittersweet. They had squandered a 22-point lead earlier in the game, but Gordon’s clutch dunk spared them from an agonizing loss. “I’m glad it’ll be a Nugget day, not a Clipper day,” said Denver’s interim coach David Adelman.

It was another gut-punch for the Clippers, who had already suffered a crushing overtime defeat in Game 1. “It’s still a series, best-of-three,” said Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, remaining hopeful despite the heartbreaking loss.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the final minutes. The Clippers grabbed their first lead of the game at 97-96 on an offensive rebound and basket by Bogdan Bogdanovic. But Jokic’s free throw and a quick basket put the Nuggets back ahead at 99-97, before Zubac’s basket tied it once more.

The physicality picked up late, with a skirmish near the end of the first half leading to six technical fouls, including one on Jokic. Then, in the fourth quarter, the Clippers mounted a strong comeback, outscoring the Nuggets 34-16 to narrow the gap. But Gordon’s game-winner erased their hopes.

Jokic, the reigning MVP, had another monster game, finishing with 36 points, 21 rebounds, and eight assists. Michael Porter Jr. and Christian Braun also contributed with 17 points each. Meanwhile, Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points, supported by Norman Powell’s 22 and Ivica Zubac’s 19 points and 12 rebounds.

The game saw tempers flare, with a mid-court melee in the closing seconds involving both teams. While the scuffle didn’t escalate to punches, it led to multiple technicals, including on Jokic, Gordon, and Braun for the Nuggets, and Harden, Powell, and Kris Dunn for the Clippers. The heated moment sparked chants of “Throw him out!” from the Clippers’ fans, but the Nuggets held their ground.

The game had started with a strong showing by Denver, who led by two at halftime before exploding in the third quarter, outscoring the Clippers 35-17 to take an 85-65 lead into the final frame.

The series now heads back to Denver for Game 5 on Monday, where both teams will battle it out in what promises to be another intense showdown. “This is going to be a dogfight every single game,” Powell warned, setting the stage for a tense finish to the series.

Injuries were a factor for the Clippers, as Russell Westbrook sat out with left foot inflammation, but they still had enough firepower to push the Nuggets to the brink.

As both teams prepare for Game 5, the series is anyone’s for the taking — and with history already written, the excitement is far from over.

Source: AP News – Aaron Gordon’s historic dunk at buzzer lifts Nuggets over Clippers 101-99 and ties series 2-2

The post Aaron Gordon’s Game-Winning Dunk Shocks Clippers, Ties Series 2-2 appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

LeBron James continued his stellar start to his 21st NBA season, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-123 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. With another masterful performance, James posted his third consecutive triple-double, scoring 35 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 14 assists.

Initially, James eased into the season, allowing teammates Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves to share the scoring load. However, as the season progressed, James showed his enduring skill, mastering the game with patience and precision. “He’s mastered the game,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, emphasizing James’ ability to control the flow of play and adapt to changing moments within games.

In Wednesday’s game, James carried the Lakers during critical stretches, especially as Davis faced foul trouble and Memphis erased a 15-point Lakers lead. The Grizzlies, missing their starting backcourt of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, nevertheless surged with Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the charge. Memphis outscored the Lakers 70-53 over the second and third quarters, exposing defensive lapses that had been largely absent in the Lakers’ recent games.

Despite Memphis’s rally, the Lakers remained competitive thanks to strong performances from Rui Hachimura and rookie Dalton Knecht, who delivered a career-high 19 points, hitting all five of his three-point attempts. Together, Knecht and Hachimura combined for 38 points on 13-of-15 shooting, helping to keep the Lakers in the game. “I trust my shot and work on it every single day. My teammates know that and always look for me,” Knecht said, acknowledging Redick’s confidence in him.

Davis returned to the floor in the fourth quarter with five fouls and made two crucial three-pointers, helping to seal the Lakers’ victory. With the win, the Lakers extended their undefeated home record to 6-0, their best home start since 2010. Their longest home win streak at the start of a season dates back to 1988-89, when they opened with 17 straight wins at home.

The Lakers’ next challenge will be in San Antonio as they begin group play in the NBA Cup on Friday. With James in prime form and a strong supporting cast, the Lakers will look to maintain their momentum in what’s shaping up to be a promising season.

Source

See Full Video Highlights

The post LeBron James’ Triple-Double Streak Lifts Lakers to Third Straight Victory appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Adam Silver, who last January agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in the NBA commissioner’s office through the end of the decade, begins his next term with … nothing to do. “There’s a lot to do,” insists Silver, chuckling. True, running a multibillion-dollar sports league with its tentacles everywhere around the globe is a full-time job. But Silver begins his 11th year as commissioner with the biggest agenda items already taken care of. Last year the league and the players union ratified a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement. In July, the NBA finalized a new broadcast rights deal, an 11-year, $77 billion windfall that will kick in next season. For the time being, it looks like clear sailing ahead.

Silver will happily acknowledge that, structurally, the NBA is in as good a place as it has been in ages. “Not just in my time as commissioner,” Silver says. “But in my [32] years at the league.” Parity, a decades-long dream of the NBA, has been achieved. Over the last six seasons, the league has crowned six different champions, with not so much as a back-to-back finalist. The CBA has choked off the ability of large-market teams to spend their way to success. “It goes more to how the team is built rather than to the outcome,” Silver says. “We want teams to be rewarded for drafting well and developing players well.”

So what are Silver’s priorities now? In a wide-ranging interview, he addresses the key items that remain on his agenda.

Item 1: NBA Expansion

With the CBA and the broadcast deals wrapped up, the possibility of the league adding teams for the first time in 20 years moves to the front burner. While it’s believed that the NBA will add two cities—with Seattle and Las Vegas as the front-runners—Silver cautions that any expansion talks are preliminary. While admitting two new teams could generate up to $10 billion in franchise fees, there are also concerns.

Silver’s take: “It’s one of the reasons why expansion isn’t as obvious as some people might think. There is a point of view that I often encounter that expansion is printing money. It’s not. First of all, you’re in essence selling equity in the league. To the extent you have new national television deals, you now have two new partners, so you’re dividing up the money by two additional ways. There’s also a dilution of talent. It’s one of the reasons we haven’t expanded anytime recently, because we’ve been working towards creating a more competitive league.”

Item 2: WNBA Expansion

The women’s game, Silver says, could expand more quickly. The league recently added a franchise in San Francisco to begin play next season, with Portland and Toronto joining in 2026, bringing the total to 15 teams. Interest in the WNBA, fueled in large part by the arrival of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, has exploded.

Silver’s take: “I know both [WNBA] commissioner [Cathy] Engelbert’s and my phones have been ringing off the hook over the last several months from parties interested in owning or investing in WNBA teams. When we launched the league 28 years ago, our goal was to have a WNBA team affiliated with every NBA franchise. We’ve clearly had some fits and starts along the way, and it may be that there are markets that the NBA is not in which make a lot of sense for the WNBA. At the same time, our goal would be to have a robust league roughly equivalent to the NBA. The fact that there’s all this interest doesn’t mean we should expand that quickly. We should be careful and deliberate in the way we do it.”

Item 3: Enhancing the Fan Experience

This, Silver says, “is at the top of my agenda.” The NBA is satisfied with its in-game experience. Arenas were at 98% capacity last season, and teams continue to innovate in areas such as food, accessibility and entertainment. “There’s not a lot of room to grow there,” Silver says. Where there is room is in the home viewing experience.

Silver’s take: “There’s enormous opportunity to grow, especially on a global basis. What that will require is using new technology that’s largely coming through streaming services to find better ways to engage fans. That comes through the personalization of those telecasts—things you can’t do certainly on broadcast television or on linear cable, but you can through streaming, where if people want to chat as part of a larger community during the game because they’re hard-core fans, they can. Or if they want to have discussions about individual players because they went to the same college, or they are interested in that player’s fashion choices. You name it, you can create communities around it.

“If fans want to buy products around the game, that’s available to them. If they want to play fantasy around what’s happening on the court, depending on the jurisdiction. If they want to bet, and now I’m talking about in-play betting. We’re just barely scratching the surface in terms of that interest.”

Item 4: Harnessing Technology

For years, the NBA has utilized artificial intelligence for everything from generating highlights to translating play-by-play into multiple languages.

Silver’s take: “Using technology, we can get sophisticated fan data to better understand where we gain viewers and where we lose them. For example, we’ve made some changes in the last few years because of concerns around [having] so many stoppages in the last few minutes for replay. One way around that is, and we’re investing a lot here, using technology that can make objective calls.

“There are a hundred fingers on the floor at all times, and creating technology that can instantaneously tell the officials whose finger the ball went off of or who stepped out of bounds will help with the pace of the game. [Look at] Hawk-Eye at the U.S. Open in tennis, It’s just, Ball’s out, hit the line, move on. We can do better in getting the call right, but also in creating a better pace to the game.”

Item 5: Protecting the Integrity of the Sport

Last April, the NBA faced an existential crisis. Jontay Porter, a backup forward with the Raptors, was caught, as the league later revealed, “disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” Silver quickly banned Porter for life, and it likely won’t be the last time the commissioner has to hand out a severe punishment to send a message about what will happen to players who manipulate results. The proliferation of legal sports gambling—which Silver, as far back as 2014, strongly advocated for—has created more opportunities for exploitation.

Silver’s take: “We spend a lot of time thinking about that. There’s no question, there are ways that we can improve monitoring, and we’ve talked directly to the betting companies about that. I’d say one of the issues we deal with now is in [the Porter] case, you have Canadian regulations, and then in the U.S. you now have roughly 35 states with legalized sports betting, with, in many cases, very different regulatory framework.

“Even before sports betting became legalized in all these states, I was in favor of federal jurisdiction. I still think that we would be better off with a consistent national framework. I’m realistic. That’s not at the top of anybody’s list in Congress right now, so I’m not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

“At the same time, I think that as we and the other leagues work together on some of these monitoring issues, AI is going to play a big part in this. I think that these monitoring systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated to [detect] aberrant behavior. In some cases, that isn’t necessarily tied directly to betting activity, but it sets off flags that suggest you may want to look at what’s happening in an individual situation because things are happening either statistically or from an operational standpoint that are not consistent with a data set that you’re seeing for other players.

“And we’re learning about the best ways to protect our players. It hasn’t been a secret. We’ve heard directly from coaches and players who felt harassed, whether it’s over point spreads or over/unders or prop bets. Just like we’ve dealt with other areas in problematic speech not relating to sports betting, it’s on us working with our teams to draw the appropriate lines. We want to do everything we can to make sure there’s a safe environment for them and our officials. We’re learning as we go, and no question there’s room for improvement.”

Source

The post Key priorities will be set for Adam Silver’s next term as NBA Commissioner. appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.