NYK • Guard • #1
With the Knicks trailing the Pistons by eight at the end of the third quarter, the home team needed a spark in Saturday’s series opener. Enter Payne, who hit two three-pointers and shot 4-of-5 from the field in the fourth. His production was part of a 21-0 Knicks run that swung the game’s momentum, compensating for fellow reserve Miles McBride’s (one rebound, four assists, and one steal) failure to score in his 15 minutes on the court. Payne can be erratic, but days like Saturday serve as a reminder of the value he can bring to the table. Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night.
1 day ago
April 20, 2025 1:01 AM
NYK • Center-Forward • #32
1 day ago
Towns was impactful on both ends of the floor in his first playoff game in a Knicks uniform. In addition to shooting well over 50 percent from the field, he recorded a complete stat line and did not commit a turnover. To say he looked far more comfortable on Saturday than he did in New York’s April 10 loss to the Pistons would be an understatement. The Knicks will need Towns to consistently reach (or exceed) the level he played at on Saturday to go deep into the playoffs. Game 2 is on Monday night.
NYK • Guard • #11
1 day ago
For the first half of Saturday’s season opener, Detroit wing Ausar Thompson and guard Dennis Schroder did an excellent job of defending Brunson. The Knicks’ point guard shot 3-of-14 from the field in the first half, and appeared to tweak his right ankle during the third quarter. However, a footwear change may have done the trick, as Brunson shot 9-of-13 from the field to finish the Game 1 victory. Additionally, he committed only one turnover, a sign that the early shooting struggles did not affect Brunson’s work as a playmaker. The Knicks will look to take a 2-0 series lead on Monday.
NYK • Forward-Guard • #8
1 day ago
Anunoby came out hot to start Saturday’s series opener, scoring 19 first-half points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. While his offensive production tailed off after the break, that was not the case for the Knicks’ wing’s defense. Given the task of defending Cade Cunningham, Anunoby made the point guard’s life difficult for most of the evening. And he was outstanding during New York’s 21-0 fourth quarter run, forcing multiple turnovers to get the Knicks out in transition. New York hosts Game 2 on Monday night.
HOU • Guard • #5
about 2 hours ago
Sunday’s series opener was brutal for the Rockets’ starting guards. VanVleet and Jalen Green (7/8/2 in 31 minutes) combined to shoot 7-of-34 from the field overall and 2-of-17 from beyond the arc. Neither was an efficient shooter during the regular season, with VanVleet making 37.8 percent of his attempts and Green slightly better at 42.3 percent. That said, neither reached those levels in Game 1, which was a significant reason why Houston lost. VanVleet and Green will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday.
GSW • Guard • #2
about 2 hours ago
Only three Warriors reached double figures in Sunday’s 95-85 victory, with Podziemski joining Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Making his first postseason appearance, the second-year guard offered solid value in rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers in Game 1. Podziemski isn’t part of Golden State’s “big three,” with Draymond Green owning that seat next to Curry and Butler. But his contributions are essential, especially in a series that may be low-scoring due to the defensive ability of both teams. The Warriors will look to extend their series lead to 2-0 on Wednesday.
GSW • Guard • #30
about 2 hours ago
Curry missed his first three shots on Sunday, possibly prompting some to recall the April 6 meeting in which the Rockets held him to just three points. That game was an outlier for the elite shooter, and he would make 12 of his final 16 shots in Sunday’s series opener. During his postseason career, Curry has scored 30 points or more on 59 occasions. With Jimmy Butler now in the fold, he’ll likely have the room to produce more efforts of Sunday’s caliber in this series. Game 2 is on Wednesday.
