NBA Playoffs

Snoop Dogg Loved Luka Doncic Trash Talking A Heckler Behind Snoop’s Seats In Minnesota

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luka-snoop-top
TNT

Luka Doncic is one of the NBA’s best players when it comes to ripping an opposing team’s heart out on a big stage. There have been some pretty prominent examples in the past of Doncic finding a level that no one else in the league can reach when the Dallas Mavericks really need it — just ask the Phoenix Suns, as Doncic famously once walked into their building and ended their season in a Game 7 with an absolutely stunning performance.

While it’s not happening in a Game 7, Doncic painted his latest masterpiece on Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The game took place in Target Center, and a win would mean that Dallas would move on to the NBA Finals. As such, Doncic had 25 at halftime, the Mavs went into the locker room with a 29 point lead, and everyone in the building was just totally deflated. In fact, Doncic got to use the second half of the game getting into it with fans, namely this one guy who appeared to call him a crybaby.

Well, Doncic finished a layup through traffic and drew a foul, and right after, he turned to the guy and had something to say. Sitting in front of the heckler was none other than Snoop Dogg, who thought Luka tearing into some dude was absolutely hilarious.

Doncic wasn’t going at Snoop here, but boy, it would’ve been something if he did.

50 Cent Found A Way To Blame Ja Rule For The New York Knicks’ Playoff Loss To The Indiana Pacers

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50 cent
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On Sunday (May 19), the New York Knicks were eliminated in round two of the NBA Playoffs in a blowout game 7 by the Indiana Pacers. While their loss could be attributed to any number of factors, including a litany of injuries to core players like Julius Randall, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic, one New York native has an alternative theory involving one of his own great rivals.

Nuclear-grade troll 50 Cent posted a photo on his social media feeds of Ja Rule holding and kissing the Larry O’Brien trophy, adding the caption, “If you’re wondering why the Knicks couldn’t get the W, here you have it. SMH who let this fool touch the trophy?”

I’m sure whenever Ja Rule took the pic, he was just enjoying a rare opportunity as a basketball fan, but had no idea he was feeding his longtime foe the perfect opportunity to resurrect their rivalry while making a timely joke about the Knicks’ basketball misfortunes. But we all know 50, who can’t resist the chance to poke fun at other peoples’ miscues, would have something to say about the Knicks’ loss.

The Knicks’ Playoff run is definitely over for 2024, but fans have good reasons to be optimistic about the future. Taking the potential conference champs to seven games with a roster like a disaster triage tent is encouraging, and should the group manage to remain healthy all the way through next season, they’ve got a real shot at championship contention.

Jalen Brunson Gets Brutally Honest On Knicks’ Season After Breaking Hand In Game 7

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Jalen Brunson couldn’t find many positive takeaways from the New York Knicks’ season after the team lost to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Sunday afternoon. He got brutally honest with members of the media in a press conference while discussing his performance as well as the hand injury that sidelined him for the second half of the game.

As for whether this season was a success, he said blatantly: “No… Did we win the championship? Did we get close? So, no. That’s my mindset. That’s just how it is.” Brunson fractured his hand while defending Tyrese Haliburton at the rim in the third quarter. “I thought I just jammed it, to be honest with you,” he admitted, before revealing that he could tell “something was wrong.”

Read More: Fat Joe Fires Back At Chris Broussard After Catching A Stray Over Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson Matches Up With T.J. McConnell During Game 7

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MAY 17: T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers guards against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks in the third quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

As for his season as a whole, Brunson was highly critical of his play. “I would say there’s pros and cons to how I played,” he said. “The pros, obviously, are I played well individually at some points in the playoffs. The cons are that I didn’t play well enough to help my team move forward. You can say I got hurt in Game 7, I wasn’t playing well in Game 7. We had a 2-0 and a 3-2 lead, it’s just hard to look at things individually when you don’t help your team.”

Jalen Brunson Reflects On The Knicks’ Season

Check out a clip from Bunson’s press conference above. The Pacers and Celtics will face off in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night. Be on the lookout for further updates on the NBA Playoffs on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Joe Budden Is Tired Of Tyrese Haliburton Being Compared To Jalen Brunson

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SOURCE SPORTS: Anthony Edwards Powers Wolves to Force Game 7 Against Nuggets

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Anthony Edwards Powers Wolves to Force Game 7 Against Nuggets

The first three minutes of Game 6 appeared to follow a familiar script, with Denver jumping to a 9-2 lead, forcing Minnesota to call a timeout to regroup. However, the next 45 minutes unfolded as one of the most extraordinary win-or-go-home performances in NBA Playoff history, with the Timberwolves dismantling the Nuggets 115-70.

Minnesota responded to Denver’s early lead with a 20-0 run over the next five-plus minutes, extending the surge to 29-5 to close the first quarter. The Wolves added a 24-0 run in the fourth quarter, becoming the first team to achieve two separate 20-0 runs in a Playoff game during the play-by-play era (since 1997-98).

The Wolves led by as many as 50 points and secured the eighth-largest postseason win in NBA history (+45) and the second-largest Game 6 win ever, behind only Chicago’s +54 in 2015. Their 45-point victory is the second-largest in a win-or-go-home scenario, surpassed only by the Minneapolis Lakers’ 58-point win over the St. Louis Hawks in 1956.

Anthony Edwards fueled the victory with 27 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and four three-pointers. Minnesota’s defense, reminiscent of their early series performance, smothered Denver and allowed the Wolves to force a decisive Game 7 in the Mile High City.

In Edwards’ 34 minutes on the court, the Wolves outscored the Nuggets by 43 points—the largest plus/minus of the 2024 Playoffs and the seventh-largest in the play-by-play era.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Celtics Advance to Eastern Conference Finals After Defeating Cavaliers in Game 5

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Celtics Advance to Eastern Conference Finals After Defeating Cavaliers in Game 5

With an opportunity to close out the series on their home floor, Jayson Tatum (25 points, ten rebounds, nine assists) and the Celtics delivered the final blow to the shorthanded Cavaliers, securing a 113-98 victory in Game 5. This win books Boston a return trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.

This marks Boston’s third straight Conference Finals appearance, sixth in the last eight years, and 23rd in franchise history—the second most of any franchise since the NBA realigned with conferences and multiple divisions in 1971, trailing only the Lakers (24).

The Celtics have now reached three consecutive East Finals for the first time since making five in a row from 1984-88. Al Horford, who entered Game 5 with a total of 26 points scored through the first four games, had a standout performance, finishing with 22 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and six three-pointers. This was his highest-scoring playoff game since Game 1 of the 2022 Finals.

Horford joined LeBron James as the only player in NBA history to record 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and 5+ three-pointers in a playoff game at age 35 or older. Derrick White (18 points, five rebounds, six assists, two blocks) and Jaylen Brown (11 points, seven assists) combined 29 points to complement the big games from Tatum and Horford.

Despite missing key players due to injury, including Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert, the Cavaliers kept battling. They were within three points twice in the fourth quarter before Boston ultimately pulled away. Evan Mobley led all scorers with a playoff career-high 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.

The Celtics now await the winner of the Knicks-Pacers series, with Game 6 on Friday (8:30 ET, ESPN) and a potential Game 7 on Sunday.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Jalen Brunson’s 44 Points Propel Knicks to 121-91 Victory Over Pacers, Taking 3-2 Series Lead

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Jalen Brunson 44 Points Propel Knicks to 121-91 Victory Over Pacers

Jalen Brunson scored 44 points and added seven assists to lead the New York Knicks to a decisive 121-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers, breaking the 2-2 series tie and bringing the Knicks within one game of their first Conference Finals appearance since 2000.

Brunson became the fourth player in NBA history to record at least five games with 40+ points and 5+ assists in a single postseason, joining legends Jerry West, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. Brunson scored or assisted 62 of New York’s points, marking the fourth time he has been responsible for 60+ points in these playoffs—the most by any Knick since the play-by-play era began in 1997-98.

Brunson was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and 18 in the second, helping the Knicks build a 15-point lead. His 28 first-half points are the most in a half by a Knick in the play-by-play era.

After the Pacers’ dominant 32-point win in Game 4, the Knicks responded with their fourth-largest playoff victory in franchise history, finishing with a 30-point margin.

Isaiah Hartenstein was a force on the boards, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds, tying Charles Oakley’s record from May 1994. Hartenstein finished with 7 points and 17 rebounds, while Josh Hart recorded his fourth double-double of the series with 18 and 11 rebounds.

Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points, but Tyrese Haliburton was limited to 13 points and five assists.

The series heads back to Indiana for Game 6 on Friday, where the Knicks will look to close out the series, and the Pacers will fight to stay alive.

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SOURCE SPORTS: OKC Claws Back to Tie Series with Dallas

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OKC Claws Back to Tie Series with Dallas

The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off a remarkable comeback to even their series with the Dallas Mavericks at 2-2, securing a 100-96 victory.

Trailing eight points with just over eight minutes left, the Thunder went on a decisive 17-6 run to take a three-point lead with 3:24 remaining.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was instrumental in the Thunder’s rally, scoring 22 of his game-high 34 points in the second half. SGA also contributed eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks in 42 minutes. His back-to-back tough baseline jumpers during the run were pivotal, while Jalen Williams added crucial plays, including a driving dunk and a fastbreak layup off a steal to extend OKC’s lead.

The Thunder’s victory marks their 18th win this season after trailing by double digits, the most of any team. This resilience pushed the series back to Oklahoma City, tied at 2-2.

Despite Luka Doncic’s second triple-double of the postseason (18 points, 12 rebounds, ten assists), the Mavericks were unable to hold their lead. P.J. Washington delivered a strong performance with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and five three-pointers, marking his third consecutive game with 20+ points. However, Kyrie Irving struggled, scoring only nine points with nine assists, falling below 10 points for just the second time as a Maverick, both occurrences within the last three games.

The series now shifts back to OKC for Game 5, where both teams will battle to gain an advantage in this tightly contested matchup.

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SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron James Sits Courtside to Watch Cavs-Celtics Playoffs Game

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LeBron James Sits Courtside to Watch Cavs-Celtics Playoffs Game

LeBron James turned heads as he approached the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. James was sitting courtisde for the Cleveland Cavaliers to take on the Boston Celtics in game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

James was joined by his wife, Savannah, and agent Rich Paul. James could opt to be a free agent this summer, the same season his son, Bronny James, can be drafted.

James left the game during the closing moments of the 109-102 Celtics win.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Nuggets Hold Off Wolves to Tie Series 2-2

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Nuggets Hold Off Wolves to Tie Series 2-2

In a thrilling Game 4 showdown, the Denver Nuggets rallied to even the series against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 115-107 victory.

Despite trailing by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, the Wolves fought back, led by Anthony Edwards’ impressive performance. However, a late surge from the Nuggets, including a remarkable 55-foot shot from Jamal Murray, secured a commanding lead at halftime.

Nikola Jokic and Murray combined for 54 points and 15 assists, while Aaron Gordon stole the spotlight with an outstanding performance. Gordon scored 27 points on an impressive 11-of-12 field shooting, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Gordon’s stellar display earned him a spot in the record books as only the third player to achieve 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and shoot over 90% from the field in a playoff game.

Despite Edwards’ impressive 44-point outing for the Wolves, the Nuggets maintained their lead and secured the crucial victory.

With the series tied at 2-2, the action now shifts back to Denver for a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday, promising another intense battle between the two teams.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Doncic and Washington Lead Mavs to Victory Over Thunder, Even Series

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Doncic and Washington Lead Mavs to Victory Over Thunder, Even Series

Luka Doncic and P.J. Washington showcased their scoring prowess, combining for 58 points and a dozen 3-pointers as the Dallas Mavericks secured a 119-110 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, evening the series 1-1.

From the onset, the Mavs maintained control of the game, never trailing in the first half. However, a brief surge from OKC saw them take the lead for just over two minutes in the third quarter. Dallas swiftly regained momentum, with Tim Hardaway Jr. igniting a crucial 10-0 run midway through the third period, ultimately securing the victory. Hardaway Jr. contributed 13 of his 17 points in the second half, with his pivotal scoring burst proving instrumental in the Mavs’ success.

Despite a stellar performance from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recorded a game-high 33 points along with 12 rebounds and 8 assists, the Thunder fell short. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were the only other OKC players to reach double-digit scoring, with 20 and 11 points, respectively.

As the series moves to Dallas for the next two games, the Mavs will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 ET, airing on ABC, followed by Game 4 on Monday at 9:30 ET, broadcasted on TNT.

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