NBA playoff takeaways: Knicks edge Pistons in chippy Game 3

The Oklahoma City Thunder overcame a 29-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 114-108 and complete the second-largest playoff comeback in NBA history since 1997.

The Thunder were down 27 points when Grizzlies star Ja Morant fell on his left hip late in the first half. Morant missed his two free-throw attempts and exited for the rest of the night. Oklahoma City extended its series lead to 3-0 with the win and could advance with a Game 4 victory in Memphis on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks had a statement-making night in Detroit, beating the Pistons 118-116 in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Karl-Anthony Towns led New York with 31 points, a stark difference from his Game 2 performance, when he scored only 10. In keeping with the tenor of the series, it was a chippy game throughout. The Pistons will look to even things up when they host Game 4 on Sunday.

The LA Clippers also extended their series lead to 2-1 over the Denver Nuggets with another dominant performance. Four of LA’s five starters posted 19-plus points each in the 117-83 win, and the Clippers hold the momentum going into Game 4 at Intuit Dome on Sunday.

Thunder 114, Grizzlies 108

(Oklahoma City leads series 3-0)

Thunder have historic second half

Not even a 29-point, first-half deficit could stop the Thunder from rolling in Game 3. After winning the first two contests by a combined 70 points and trailing for only 2:21 of game time, the Thunder didn’t take their first lead Thursday until 1:19 remained. They overcame a 26-point halftime lead, and with Morant’s status in question for Game 4, the Thunder are in a great position to close the series Saturday in a sweep.

Oklahoma City allowed 77 first-half points, one shy of matching its opponent’s high from the regular season. Its halftime deficit marked its largest of the season.

But after Morant exited, the Thunder trimmed their halftime deficit in half midway through the third quarter. From there, led by Chet Holmgren in the third and Alex Caruso down the stretch, the Thunder slowly and methodically chipped away.

The Grizzlies went 18-14 this season without Morant, proving they can survive without their star guard. — Darnell Mayberry, NBA staff writer

Down 29-points late in the 2nd quarter…

Watch every @okcthunder bucket as they STORM all the way back to take a 3-0 series lead! ⛈️⛈️ pic.twitter.com/hl3jASk2pU

— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025

Grizzlies’ big night comes crashing down

The Grizzlies appeared on their way to a magical night at FedExForum before Morant came crashing to the ground after going up for a transition layup. In that moment, he suffered a left hip contusion that ended his night and sparked a historic comeback for the top-seeded Thunder.

The Thunder stormed their way back and pulled off one of the most shocking comebacks of this year’s postseason. Without Morant’s playmaking on the floor, the Thunder’s suffocating perimeter defense stalled the Grizzlies offense and allowed OKC to creep back into the game.

In the end, Memphis was held to just 31 points in the second half en route to its third consecutive loss during this first-round series. Now, the Grizzlies find themselves one loss away from a first-round sweep with massive uncertainty surrounding Morant’s Game 4 status. — Will Guillory, NBA staff writer

Knicks 118, Pistons 116

(New York leads series 2-1)

KAT, Knicks offense find their rhythm

It goes without saying that every game in the playoffs is a must-win, but the Knicks really needed this Game 3 victory in Detroit, and they found a way to pull it out.

After a poor Game 2, New York bounced back to defeat the Pistons and take a 2-1 series lead. The Knicks narrowly avoided wasting a solid performance on offense and defense and falling a game behind in a lively, hostile atmosphere in Little Caesars Arena with one more game to play before going back to Madison Square Garden.

In the previous game, the Knicks struggled to get Towns involved. That wasn’t the case Thursday night. New York played fast, and Towns benefited in transition, hitting multiple 3s to help the Knicks gain control early. In the second quarter, New York’s defense at the point of attack behind OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges helped the Knicks get easy offense and maintain control.

TOWNS SPIN CYCLE 🌪️

He’s got 21 points already as the Knicks seek a 2-1 lead on TNT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bKyeGYi9YR

— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025

In the end, New York outlasted Detroit when things got tight, with the newly-crowned Clutch Player of the Year, Jalen Brunson, closing it out down the stretch with layups and free throws.

Playing fast helped the Knicks and unlocked Towns. New York will need more of that. Much of what got Towns going was in the flow of the offense. If the Knicks can continue that and put together significant stretches of stellar defense like they did in the second quarter, things should bode well for them the rest of the series. — James L. Edwards III, Knicks beat writer

Pistons not folding against Knicks

For a team that’s new to the playoffs, or new to the playoffs after a long absence, a postseason series often reveals how far it has to go and how much it needs to learn. Through three games against the more seasoned and favored Knicks, the Pistons have looked their counterparts in the eye and, except for their fourth-quarter collapse in Game 1, haven’t flinched.

They came back multiple times in Game 3 but came up short in the end, losing the home-court advantage they’d just taken from New York in Game 2. But they didn’t let the pressure of their first home playoff game in six years get to them.

The Knicks, with the benefit of what looked like a backcourt violation against Brunson not being called in the final seconds, held on, even after an “imminent possession” to the Pistons off a deliberately missed free throw by Brunson gave Detroit a last-second chance to tie the score or win it with 0.5 seconds left. They didn’t complete the miracle comeback. But the Pistons don’t look like a group that’s going to fold in this series.

I loved seeing bling throughout Little Caesars Arena, including in the lower bowl. Loved seeing Ben Wallace and Rip Hamilton and Chris Webber and Jalen Rose in attendance. And, Lord, it was wondrous to see New York-Detroit postseason chippiness again. — David Aldridge, NBA senior writer

Detroit’s starters couldn’t match New York’s

Though the Pistons’ bench outscored the Knicks’ 40-9 in the Game 3 loss, Detroit’s starters couldn’t match the punch brought by New York’s. Every time it seemed the Pistons were inching closer to eventually blowing the roof off Little Caesars Arena, the Knicks countered.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 24 points on 10-of-25 from the field, 11 assists, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Tim Hardaway Jr. made momentum-building shots all evening, adding 24 points of his own on 7-of-12 from 3-point range.

6 points in 1 possession for Tim Hardaway Jr.!

3 FTs and then this triple on TNT 👀 pic.twitter.com/76k85JStOc

— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2025

But on the other end, New York dominated offensively. Towns, Brunson (30 points), Anunoby (22) and Bridges (20) combined for 103 of the Knicks’ 118 points. And though the Pistons went back and forth with New York essentially down to the final buzzer, allowing four players to combine for over 100 points won’t cut it in the postseason.

Detroit will have to find a way to limit the Knicks’ best players to head back to Madison Square Garden with the series even at two games apiece. — Hunter Patterson, Pistons beat writer

Clippers 117, Nuggets 83

(LA leads series 2-1)

Nuggets offense vs. Clippers defense

The Clippers-Nuggets series has been the closest of the eight quarterfinal series. The sides have maxed out clutch time, with every possession in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime having a margin of no greater than 5 points for either team.

This makes sense considering how strong the Nuggets offense is and how good the Clippers defense is. Perhaps it makes sense when you look at the Clippers offense over the entire season, as LA ranked 15th.

The Clippers had the NBA’s best offense over their last 20 regular-season games, when they went 17-3, and the Nuggets have the worst defense in the postseason field. — Law Murray, Clippers beat writer

Where are the buckets from the Clippers?

Perhaps all they needed was a trip home. The advantage from the Clippers didn’t necessarily come from the paint. It wasn’t from the possession battle. Both factors were even at halftime. No, the Clippers came home and just hit their jump shots.

LA made nine 3s in the first quarter, ending the opening period on a 10-0 run. James Harden got the Clippers off to a strong start in a full-shift first quarter, using 3 3s. From there, the rout was on, with the Clippers beginning the second quarter on a 10-2 run. At halftime, both teams had 20 paint points. But while the Nuggets made only 5 of 18 3s, the Clippers made 12 of 22.

Harden loses it mid-air and somehow gets it back in stride 🤷‍♂️

DEN-LAC Game 3 on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/jAL0VY3hZZ

— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2025

LA then put Denver away with a breakout third quarter from Norman Powell, who hit the paint relentlessly for scores and had a timeout-inducing 3-pointer, too. Powell scored 12 of the Clippers’ 25 third-quarter points. Nicolas Batum came off the bench and ended the first and third quarters with 3s that ignited the arena.

This was the kind of result the Clippers needed. Harden didn’t score after 20 first-half points. Kawhi Leonard was somewhat mortal, missing as many shots in Game 3 as in the series’ first two games combined. Ivica Zubac didn’t have a double-double for the first time in nearly six weeks. None of it mattered because of early shot-making and others stepping up. — Murray

Nuggets need Jokić to take control

The Nuggets trail the Clippers 2-1 in this first-round series, but the series looks like it might be over. The Clippers have been the better team in all three games and were the better team Thursday. LA has been able to win in different ways. The Clippers have been able to mute the Nuggets offense and get good shots against Denver’s defense any time they have wanted.

So, what’s Denver’s recourse? It’s usually for Nikola Jokić to take control. But he’s having issues because LA has defended him at a high level. Jokic’s numbers looked good Thursday night: 23 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists on 9-of-14 shooting. But, as in Game 2, the Clippers kept him from dominating the game.

In this series, Denver will only win another game if Jokić is dominant. — Tony Jones, NBA staff writer

(Photo: Justin Ford / Getty Images)

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