Game 3 of the three games of the 2024 NBA Playoffs was played on Friday as well. Thursday nights bring a lot of action, and Friday was no exception.
Pacers vs. Bucks started the night with Indiana and Pascal Siakam taking a 2-1 advantage against the Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Bucks in overtime. Elsewhere in the West Division, the Mavericks defeated the Clippers for the second straight time, moving to 2 wins and 1 loss. In the nightcap, the Timberwolves took a commanding lead in the series against the Suns in Phoenix, 3-0.
After an uneventful night in the NBA, here are three takeaways from Friday.
A postseason game?
The Knicks' Game 2 comeback against the 76ers may still reign supreme in the clubhouse, but Friday night saw the Pacers and Bucks secure entry into the best game of the postseason. Khris Middleton made an outrageous 3-pointer with less than two seconds left in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, then banked another one from the top of the key with less than seven seconds left in overtime. The score was tied again. .
But in the end, it was Tyrese Haliburton who played the hero, pulling out all the stops from the backcourt for a quick and mean crossover, followed by a one-one floater for the game-winner.
These are just some of the highlights. In case you missed it or want to relive it, Jack Maloney ranked the five craziest moments of the game.
Anger erupts in Dallas
The Mavericks took control from the start of the second quarter in Game 3 against the Clippers, but there were plenty of extracurricular activities before the final whistle. It all started with a flagrant foul by Russell Westbrook, who hit Mavs forward Josh Green in the head while attempting a dunk.
Mavs forward P.J. Washington then crossed paths with Clippers winger Terrence Mann, earning both players technical fouls. After the game, Washington said he was “angry” that Mann kept looking at the Clippers bench. So, of course, Washington folded his arms, stood up, glared at the Clippers bench from midcourt, and ended the altercation.
Finally, all the undercard cards culminated in the main event. In the fourth quarter, Westbrook gave Luka Doncic a hard foul that resulted in both Westbrook and Washington being shoved multiple times, ultimately leading to his ejection.
We'll have to wait and see if there will be any further punishment from the league, but either way, the Clippers will head into Sunday's Game 4 with a 2-1 record.
sans is over
No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series, and there is no evidence that the Suns can win their first championship. On Friday night, they were soundly defeated in a must-win home game, completely unable to stop the Timberwolves, who finished 17th in the league in offensive efficiency this season.
The biggest question is what will happen to this Phoenix “super team” that was built to compete for the title, but instead is on the verge of a landslide victory in the first round. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal are all signed through at least the 2025-26 season, and their salaries give the front office little flexibility to upgrade an already unstable roster. Are they considering new trade demands from Durant? Will Beal waive his no-trade clause after a disappointing season? We'll have to wait to find out, but the impending demise of the Suns makes this summer even more interesting.
NBA Playoffs Scores: Friday, April 26th
- Pacers 121, Bucks 118 OT (IND leads 2-1) — Box score
- Mavericks 101, Clippers 90 (DAL leads 2-1) — Box score
- Timberwolves 126, Suns 109 (MIN leads 3-0) — Box score
CBS Sports provided live updates, analysis and highlights throughout Friday's schedule. Please follow below.
