The 2024 NBA playoffs stormed back into action Sunday with eight teams competing in Game 4s. The Mavericks tied the largest comeback in NBA playoffs history when they erased the Clippers' 31-point advantage and briefly held the lead late in the fourth quarter. But that was as close as they would get. Paul George sizzled in the first half and finished with 33 points, James Harden added 33 and Los Angeles pulled out a 116-11 win to tie the series 2-2.
In the opener on Sunday, Jalen Brunson got the playoff party started and scored 47 points to set a franchise playoff record as the Knicks held on for a 97-92 win in Philadelphia to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Sixers.
With a 126-113 win over the Bucks, the Pacers have pushed Milwaukee to the brink of elimination with a commanding 3-1 series lead. Things got spicy early when Bobby Portis found himself ejected after a scrap with Andrew Nembhard.
In Sunday's finale, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves completed the sweep against Kevin Durant and the Suns. It is Minnesota's first playoff series victory in 20 years. Despite head coach Chris Finch's abrupt exit due to injury, the Timberwolves held on to win 122-116.
Here is a recap of the final scores from Sunday's action, along with a few takeaways from the night:
NBA playoffs scores: Sunday, April 28
- Game 4: Knicks 97, 76ers 92 (NY leads 3-1) -- Recap
- Game 4: Clippers 116, Mavericks 111 (Series tied 2-2) -- Recap
- Game 4: Pacers 126, Bucks 113 (IND leads 3-1) -- Recap
- Game 4: Timberwolves 122, Suns 116 (MIN wins series 4-0) -- Recap
Takeaways from Sunday night
Brunson's burner
As if Jalen Brunson could become any more of a legend in Knicks world, he went out and set a franchise record with 47 points in New York's Game 4 win on Sunday, putting his team one victory away from a conference semifinal appearance. The All-Star point guard went 18-for-34 from the field, 9-for-11 from the free throw line and scored 24 points in the second half to lead the Knicks to victory.
After struggling to start the series, Brunson has clearly found his rhythm, and the 76ers will have to rethink their approach if they're going to avoid elimination on Tuesday night.
Harden comes up clutch
In a game that was all Clippers early, the Mavericks fought all the way back from 31 points down to take the lead late in Game 4 on Sunday. That's when James Harden decided to take control, scoring 13 points in the final five minutes, almost entirely off of floaters in the lane.
Harden's had plenty of postseason moments to forget over the course of his Hall of Fame career, so clutch performances like this stand out. Kawhi Leonard might not return in this series, so the Clippers are going to need much more production from Harden and Paul George if they're going to survive in a tied series heading back to Los Angeles.
Short-handed Bucks fall ... short
The Bucks were already fighting an uphill battle in Sunday's Game 4 with both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard out with injuries. Things got more complicated in the second quarter, when Bobby Portis was ejected following an altercation with Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard.
Milwaukee fought hard to keep things close, but they eventually ran out of gas, despite 27 points and nine rebounds from Brook Lopez and 25 points and 10 rebounds from Khris Middleton. The Pacers now sit one win away from advancing to the second round, with the status of Milwaukee's top two players still up in the air.
Edwards powers Wolves sweep
The Phoenix Suns have officially been sent packing. The Timberwolves became the first team to punch their ticket to the conference semifinals with an impressive win on Sunday in Phoenix. Anthony Edwards was the story of the game, pouring in 40 points, 31 of which came in the second half, while making spectacular plays on both ends along the way.
It was the first playoff series win for the Timberwolves in 20 years, and they now advance to play the winner of the Denver Nuggets-Los Angeles Lakers series. Meanwhile, the Suns are going to have a lot of questions this offseason with a top-heavy roster that clearly wasn't good enough to compete for a title.