It was the dunk heard around the world, with Orlando’s Jamal Cain throwing down one of the best finishes you’ll see this postseason, helping the Magic take down the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
The result leaves Detroit on the brink of elimination, but Nikola Jokic’ Nuggets have avoided that fate… for now.
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Read on for a full NBA playoffs wrap!
NUGGETS SURVIVE ELIMINATION
The Denver Nuggets have kept their season alive, beating Minnesota 125-113 to cut the series deficit to 3-2.
Nikola Jokic led the way with a dominant triple-double, finishing with 27 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds as Denver avoided a first-round exit.
With Anthony Edwards sidelined for the Timberwolves, the Nuggets took control early and never let go. They led by 13 at half-time and pulled away further after the break with a strong second-half showing.
Jokic’s performance marked his 19th playoff triple-double since 2020, putting him alongside the likes of LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic in that span.
Spencer Jones provided a surprise boost, stepping up with 20 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting while Jokic rested.
Christian Braun picked up a technical foul after throwing down a dunk on Jaden McDaniels and pointing at him, though with the result already decided, the Nuggets had little reason to worry.
It was a complete performance from Denver under coach David Adelman. Now, the focus shifts to Game 6 in Minnesota, where the Nuggets will look to level the series.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER COMPLETE SERIES SWEEP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder swept into the second round of the NBA playoffs on Monday with a 131-122 victory at Phoenix.
The top-seeded Thunder captured the Western Conference best-of-seven series 4-0, completing a third consecutive sweep in the opening round.
“We just came in ready,” said Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Love to play basketball, a group full of great kids that have fun together.
“We do it for each other. None of us are selfish. We all want the next man to succeed and when you have those three things and put them together you get success.”
Oklahoma City will meet either the Los Angeles Lakers or Houston Rockets in a second-round series. The Lakers lead that matchup 3-1.
“Ultimately, we’ve got to get better in the days between our next opponent,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
The Thunder became the first team to reach the second round of the playoffs.
TOP SEED DETROIT FACING ELIMINATION
It’s a major shift in the series, with one of the championship favourites now facing a must-win Game 5 in Detroit to keep their season alive.
Desmond Bane led the way for Orlando with 22 points, knocking down five threes and delivering the decisive blow with a clutch triple that pushed the Magic ahead 92-86 with 1:16 remaining.
Orlando’s defence sealed it from there, holding Detroit without a field goal in the final five minutes. Isaiah Stewart added a late bucket at the buzzer, but it was too late to change the outcome.
Franz Wagner finished with 19 points for the Magic before exiting with a sore right calf, while Paolo Banchero contributed 18 points and eight rebounds.
Jamal Cain also delivered a highlight moment, throwing down a powerful fourth-quarter dunk over Jalen Duren that sent social media into overdrive and is already being talked about as one of the standout playoff dunks in recent memory from the 2022 undrafted 27-year-old.
The Magic now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1 and can wrap things up in Detroit on Thursday.
For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham led the scoring with 25 points and Tobias Harris added 20, but turnovers proved costly. Detroit coughed up the ball 20 times, double Orlando’s total.
Despite finishing the regular season 60–22 and topping the Eastern Conference, the Pistons now face the real prospect of a shock early exit. Orlando, who went 45–37 to finish eighth, are within reach of their first second-round appearance since 2010.
The opening stages saw momentum swing both ways. Orlando jumped out to a 19-7 lead before missing 13 straight shots, allowing Detroit to close the first quarter on a 20-7 run for a 27-26 advantage. The Magic responded with a 17-6 run to end the second quarter and take a 54-52 lead at the break, before edging clear late.