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James Williams (Ref) is having a out of control playoffs

James Williams ejected Ayton for his arm slipping on Sengun’s back. Ejected Holiday for boxing out. And ejected Thiero for standing around. He called 4 lane violations this game. And missed a very obvious nut shot kick. This is the same “James” that Devin Booker called out.

[Highlight] A “WE WANT BOSTON!” chant just broke out in Philadelphia

Wembanyama on him being “unhappy” with how concussion protocol played out: “I won’t get into the details. I don’t want it to become a distraction. Ask me again after the season. But all the doctors, especially on the Spurs, they were great.”

[Highlight] Tempers flare as Castle puts the ball in Avdija’s chest after an and-one

Victor Wembanyama as he returns from concussion and the Spurs complete a 17-point comeback against the Blazers: 27 PTS, 11 REB, 7 BLK, 4 STL, 3 AST on ⁹⁄₁₇ FG, ¹⁄₄ 3P, ⁸⁄₈ FT, +28 in 34min

The Process: They’ve seen every variation of the Celtics roster, and lost to every version.

ESPN using the OKC logo for the Toronto Raptors

[Charania] 76ers star Joel Embiid will return tonight in Game 4 against the Celtics over two weeks after surgery for appendicitis.

[The Athletic] When Wembanyama was not given clearance by the director of the league’s concussion program, in compliance with the NBA concussion policy, he requested an examination by an independent neurologist… but the NBA determined Wembanyama was not ready to return for Game 3.

[Charania] Houston’s Kevin Durant is expected to miss Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Durant has a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, which would sideline him 2 to 3 weeks in season. He’s had around-the-clock treatment to play but has not been cleared by doctors.

[Post Game Thread] The Boston Celtics (3-1) defeat the Philadelphia 76ers (1-3), 128-96. Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 32/5/4!

[Post Game Thread] The San Antonio Spurs (3-1) completethe 17-point comeback and defeat the Portland Trail Blazers (1-3) to take a commanding series lead, 114-93.

[Charania] Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has sustained a bone bruise and hyperextension in his left knee and is expected to miss multiple weeks, sources tell ESPN. Results showed Edwards avoided any ligament damage, but he will now miss time.

[Charania] San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama has cleared concussion protocol and will play in Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers (3:30 pm ET on ESPN)

[Post Game Thread] The Toronto Raptors (1-2) defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers (2-1), 93-89 to tie the series 2-2

[Highlight] The Boston Celtics bench absolutely erupts in the 1st quarter, outscoring the entire Sixers team and ending with a buzzer-beating shot by Payton Pritchard.

[Highlight] Wemby gets his 7th block of the night on Avdija and gets fouled on the other end by Avdija as he checks out for the night.

[Highlight] Sengun takes an elbow to the noggin from Deandre Ayton, who is ejected after review

Jayson Tatum checks out in the win @Philadelphia: 30/7/11 on ⁸⁄₁₆ FG

[Post Game Thread] The Houston Rockets (1-3) defeat the Los Angeles Lakers (3-1), 115-96, to avoid the 1st round sweep.

The Toronto Raptors are the first team to shoot below 32 percent and win a playoff game since the Boston Celtics in 1969

Scoot Henderson with a disastrous game 4 performance: 0/0/2 on 0/7 shooting in 27 minutes, -22

In the absence of the Lakers duo star guards, Luke Kennard has stepped up to average 21.3 points on 71% TS while shooting 52.9% from behind the arc against the Rockets so far

David McMenamin says Kevin Durant’s teammates have no clue what’s going on about his injury, raising questions about whether KD is rehabbing away from the team and whether his teammates have been checking on him

The Spurs outscored the Blazers 73-35 in the second half

[Highlight] The San Antonio Spurs defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 114-93 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. The Spurs become the first team in NBA playoff history to trail by 15+ points at halftime and win the game by 15+ points.

[Highlight] Kevin Durant laughing and having fun on the bench as the rockets blow out the Lakers

[Highlight] The Celtics fans chant again “WE WANT BOSTON” in Philadelphia, and again during a free throw by Jayson Tatum.

Cavs - Raptors was an amazingly reffed game

Sources close to Charania say Nikola Jokić was able to locate his underwear in the locker room after earlier reports this morning claimed it had been stolen.

Collin Murray-Boyles in the win: 15/10/3 on ⁵⁄₁₁ FG with 2 steals

[Highlight] Jayson Tatum shakes his head after drilling his 3rd 4th quarter three. In the second half alone, he had 25 points on ⁷⁄₉ from the field and ⁵⁄₆ from three.

De’Aaron Fox comes up big as he leads the Spurs to a commanding 3-1 lead against the Blazers: 28 PTS, 7 AST, 6 REB, 2 BLK, 1 STL on ¹¹⁄₁₇ FG, ⁴⁄₇ 3P, ²⁄₄ FT, +21 in 39min

[Highlight] The Boston Celtics defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 128-96 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. Boston sets a franchise playoff record with 24 3-pointers tonight (²⁴⁄₅₃).

Ayton: “I was just trying to brace the contact with Sengun and, you know, we both sweaty guys. I just slipped off his shoulder and my elbow hit him right there above his shoulders. It look crazy on camera, but I’m not no guy who who’s a dirty player or plays like that… my first ejection.”

Payton “Pee-Pee” Pritchard with new playoff career high off the bench as Boston secured the road victory: 35 MIN | 32 PTS | 12-21 FG | 6-12 3PT

[Highlight] Wemby postgame,on clearing the concussion protocol: “The Spurs have done an amazing job. I’m very unhappy about the way the protocol has been handled by other parties… The injury was weird though, it was funny.”

[Highlight] Payton Pritchard is going absolutely nuclear to blow open the game as he hits another step back 3. He already has 16 points on 6-9 shooting, 4-6 from 3

Crazy Stat: The Spurs are the first team in history to win by 15+ pts after trailing by 15+ pts at halftime

Victor Wembanyama appeared poised to criticize the league before his microphone was cut. Right after he said: “The way the situation was handled was very disappointing.’”

[Charania] The NBA investigation is underway into the Denver Nuggets-Minnesota Timberwolves scuffle Saturday night, including interviews with involved players and officials and review of the footage, sources tell ESPN. Rulings are expected before Game 5 on Monday night in Denver.

[Highlight] Collin Murray-Boyles plays disciplined defense and forces the Mitchell miss and foul hunting attempt

[Highlight] The Sixers desperately try to deny Payton Pritchard of another buzzer beater but VJ Edgecombe fouls him with 0.9s left. He would make both free throws to give him 32 points through 3 quarters.

[Charania] NBA discipline for Denver-Minnesota scuffle: Nikola Jokic fined \(50,000 Julius Randle fined \)35,000

Embiid explains he went to the hospital because he couldn’t poop

[Highlight] Jamal Shead hustles hard and forces the 8 second call.

[Highlight] Bronny James crosses Dorian Finney-Smith and scores the layup