NBA Playoffs 2024: Lakers on brink of elimination, Magic strike back vs. Cavaliers, Embiid scores 50

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts during the second half of Game 3 in an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

By The Associated Press

Denver got down double digits and beat the Los Angeles Lakers, again. Joel Embiid had a playoff-career-high 50 points and Philadelphia got back into its series with New York. And the Orlando Magic got a win that their fans waited 13 years to enjoy. Thursday was high-drama in the NBA: Embiid and the 76ers beat New York 125-114 to cut the Knicks’ lead in that series to 2-1, the Magic blew out Cleveland 121-83 to cut the Cavaliers’ lead in that series to 2-1, and the Nuggets got at least 20 points from four starters and topped the Lakers 112-105 for a 3-0 lead in that matchup.

Denver got down double digits and beat the Los Angeles Lakers, again. Joel Embiid had a playoff-career-high 50 points and Philadelphia got back into its series with New York. And the Orlando Magic got a win that their fans waited 13 years to enjoy.

Thursday was high-drama in the NBA: Embiid and the 76ers beat New York 125-114 to cut the Knicks’ lead in that series to 2-1, the Magic blew out Cleveland 121-83 to cut the Cavaliers’ lead in that series to 2-1, and the Nuggets got at least 20 points from four starters and topped the Lakers 112-105 for a 3-0 lead in that matchup.

Denver is now 7-0 in the playoffs over the Lakers in the last two seasons and has won 11 straight head-to-head meetings.

Friday brings three more games, starting with a very rare 5:30 p.m. local time start in Indiana for Game 3 of a knotted-up Pacers-Milwaukee series, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers going to Dallas — that series tied at a game apiece — and Minnesota seeking a 3-0 series lead when it visits Phoenix.

NATIONAL TV SCHEDULE

Friday

5:30 p.m. — Milwaukee at Indiana, ESPN

8 p.m. — L.A. Clippers at Dallas, ESPN

10:30 p.m. — Minnesota at Phoenix, ESPN

Saturday

1 p.m. — Cleveland at Orlando, TNT

3:30 p.m. — Oklahoma City at New Orleans, TNT

6 p.m. — Boston at Miami, TNT

8:30 p.m. — Denver at L.A. Lakers, ABC

Sunday

1 p.m. — New York at Philadelphia, ABC

3:30 p.m. — L.A. Clippers at Dallas, ABC

7 p.m. — Milwaukee at Indiana, TNT

9:30 p.m. — Minnesota at Phoenix, TNT

BETTING GUIDE

Boston has home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs and currently is the favorite to win the championship, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Celtics are listed at +140, ahead of defending champion Denver (+220) — which has closed the gap in recent days. Next up: Oklahoma City (+1200), Dallas (+1600), Minnesota (+1600), New York (+1700), the Los Angeles Clippers (+2000) and Milwaukee (+2200).

After that, it’s Philadelphia (+3500), Cleveland (+4500), then Indiana and Phoenix (+6600). From there, the odds get real long — Miami is +15000, the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando are +30000 and New Orleans is at +50000.

AWARD SEASON

The NBA awards started getting announced this week. On Tuesday, Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey won Most Improved Player over Chicago’s Coby White. On Wednesday, Minnesota’s Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year in a very close vote over Sacramento’s Malik Monk.

And on Thursday, Golden State’s Stephen Curry added to his copious collection of trophies by winning Clutch Player of the Year. He beat out Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for that award.

The next award announcement is Coach of the Year on Sunday, with Oklahoma City’s Mark Daigneault, Minnesota’s Chris Finch or Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley the three finalists.

The schedule for the other awards has yet to be revealed. There’s Rookie of the Year (San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren or Charlotte’s Brandon Miller), Defensive Player of the Year (Wembanyama, Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert or Miami’s Bam Adebayo) and Most Valuable Player (Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Dallas’ Luka Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander).

WHAT TO KNOW

• Joel Embiid revealed that he’s dealing with Bell’s palsy.

• Khris Middleton is now hurting, adding to the Bucks’ woes as they remain without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

• Preview for Friday’s games: Bucks-Pacers, Clippers-Mavericks, Timberwolves-Suns.

STAT OF THE DAY

Denver’s Aaron Gordon (29 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists), Nikola Jokic (24-15-9) and Michael Porter Jr. (20-10-3) became the first trio of teammates to all post at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in a playoff game since 1972 in the Nuggets’ win over the Lakers.

BONUS STATS OF THE DAY

• The Lakers have had double-digit leads in three consecutive games and gone 0-3 in those contests, the first time they’ve done that since March 23-27, 2016. Such a streak hasn’t happened to a LeBron James team since Cleveland dropped three straight after having leads of 10 or more from March 10-14, 2006.

• Orlando’s Paolo Banchero is now the fourth player in NBA playoff history, age 21 or younger, to have 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game. LeBron James did it three times, while Luka Doncic and Magic Johnson both did it once.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“You give credit where credit is due with Denver. Those guys make tough shot after tough shot after tough shot.” — LeBron James after the Lakers’ Game 3 loss to the defending champion Nuggets, the 11th consecutive win for Denver over L.A.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba