Celtics Sweep Nets With Game 4 Win (116-112), Become 1st Team to Advance to NBA Quarterfinals
Moving on! The Boston Celtics are the first team to advance out of the first round of the NBA Playoffs after putting the nail in the coffin of the Nets’ season. Monday’s Game 4 win (116-112) marked the sweep in a series where every game was decided by seven points or less. Jayson Tatum (29 points) led the Celtics’ charge as Boston continues to sit on the throne as the hottest team in the NBA. They’ve won 20 of their last 25 dating back to February. Kevin Durant’s 39 points weren’t enough to avoid the brooms, and the Celtics now await the winner of the Bucks-Bulls series.
Watch: Celtics Sweep Nets With Game 4 Win (116-112)
Other NBA Highlights
Gm 5: Raptors def. 76ers (103-86)
Things are getting interesting in the East. The Raptors — after falling behind 3-0 to open the series — reeled off another win Monday in Philadelphia. Toronto blitzed the 76ers in the second quarter and held Joel Embiid to just 20 points. James Harden (15 points) has remained mediocre throughout the series. Pascal Siakam (23 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists) was the star of Game 5, and Toronto heads back to Jurassic Park with the firepower to make it a seven-game series. No team in NBA history has won a series after trailing 3-0. PHI Leads Series 3-2
Gm 5: Mavericks def. Jazz (102-77)
The Dallas Mavericks have gotten a much-needed boost from the return of their star player. Luka Doncic (33 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists) and Jalen Brunson (24 points) packed a 1-2 punch for Dallas that demoralized Utah on Monday. The Jazz shot just 10 percent from 3-point range — including a combined 0-for-15 between starters Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic — and only two Jazz players scored in double figures. The series swings back to Utah, but the Mavs look like a new team with Luka back in action. DAL Leads Series (3-2)
Tonight’s Schedule
Gm 5: Hawks at Heat (7:00 pm ET)
Gm 5: Timberwolves at Grizzlies (7:30 pm ET)
Gm 5: Pelicans at Suns (10:00 pm ET)
Updated NBA Playoff Bracket
NBA Awards: Ja Morant Wins Most Improved
The NBA Awards announcements continued on Monday with the league naming Grizzlies’ star Ja Morant as the Most Improved Player. Morant average a career-high 27.4 points per game alongside 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds en route to his first all-star nod in his third season. The No. 2 pick in 2019 was also on the short list for MVP during much of the year. He led the Grizzlies to a 56-26 record — tied for the best mark in franchise history.
Additional Storylines
SI: NBA Twitter Mocks Old Nets Takes After Celtics Complete Sweep
USA Today: NBA Playoff Overreactions: Can Pelicans Upset Top-Seeded Suns?
NBA.com: What We’ve Learned About All 16 Playoff Teams During the Postseason
