Two teams advanced to the second round, one team saved their season and another shot the lights out. Here are four stars from a very busy night of NBA playoff basketball.
Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson | 22 points, seven rebounds, two blocks
When the Detroit Pistons had their backs against the wall down 3-1 in their first-round series, 22-year-old Ausar Thompson came through with 22 points. He shot 8-for-10 from the field, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots in a strong defensive effort from the whole Pistons team.
Plus he dunked. A lot.
Ausar getting pic.twitter.com/pdqGSoY5lp
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 30, 2025
Cade lob to Ausar to open the second half pic.twitter.com/fAlrbdHwt3
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 30, 2025
Ausar is dunking EVERYTHING
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 30, 2025
7️⃣ dunks (and counting) so far pic.twitter.com/WqsSIlYXQ8
On a night where the Pistons went 8-for-29 from three-point range, the easy points they got from Thompson were crucial in their 106-103 win over the New York Knicks.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum | 35 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds
Jayson Tatum didn't shoot like a player coming back from an injured shooting hand in the Boston Celtics' 120-89 win over the Orlando Magic. He was 4-for-5 on three-pointers, 11-for-11 on free throws and 10-for-16 overall on his way to 35 points.
TATUM COMES UP BIG TO CLINCH THE SERIES
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
☘️ 35 PTS
☘️ 10 AST
☘️ 8 REB
☘️ 4-5 3PM@celtics will face winner of Pistons/Knicks. pic.twitter.com/DiJtwBvyZT
Not only did Tatum lead all players in scoring Tuesday night, he led the Celtics in assists and rebounds and spearheaded a Celtics defense that held Orlando to only 13 points in the third quarter. Maybe all he needed was a few days off before returning to MVP form.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo | 30 points, 20 rebounds, 13 assists
The Milwaukee Bucks lost another first-round series when the Indiana Pacers beat them, 119-118, in overtime, but it's hard to imagine what more Antetokounmpo could have done on Tuesday night. He put up a triple-double with 20 rebounds, found teammates for 13 assists and added two blocks and two steals.
Giannis for three! pic.twitter.com/8TBBDIJNwM
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 29, 2025
For the series, Antetokounmpo averaged 33 points, 15.4 rebounds and six assists, while shooting over 60% and committing just 2.4 fouls per game. It's a shame he's out of the playoffs already, though he didn't need to take out his frustrations on Bennedict Mathurin and Tyrese Haliburton's father.
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray | 43 points, seven assists, three steals
Tied 2-2 in their first-round series with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Denver Nuggets desperately needed points from someone other than Nikola Jokic. Tuesday night, Jamal Murray came through with the kind of shooting night he's become famous for in the playoffs.
MAKE IT 43 POINTS ‼️
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
Murray's Game 5 TAKEOVER has Denver on the verge of taking a 3-2 series lead! https://t.co/MEGgxZq1np pic.twitter.com/xWnhA1iJ8B
Murray scored 43 points with eight three-pointers, shooting 17-for-26 overall. That means Murray cracked 40 points with the benefit of only a single free throw. Counting points scored on his assists, Murray was involved in 59 of Denver's 131 points in their 131-115 win over the Clippers, giving it a 3-2 series lead.
GORDON UP TOP FROM MURRAY pic.twitter.com/b1lwAHt6BD
— NBA (@NBA) April 30, 2025
Jokic had a quiet (for him) triple-double, with 13 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Murray's big night — and Russell Westbrook's 21 bench points — meant that for one night, the Nuggets didn't need their big man to do it all.
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