NBA 2020 Playoffs: Milwaukee take 3-1 series lead as the Magic close in on elimination; Other results

Milwaukee Bucks 121–106 Orlando Magic

The Milwaukee Bucks after knicking yet another win in Game 4 of the series are now one win away from advancing into the next round after handling the Orlando Magic 121-106 on Monday afternoon.

It’s third straight win for the Bucks in the series after they dropped Game 1 in a very surprising fashion. Though the Magic fought hard — they were down by just three points heading into the fourth quarter — ultimately they couldn’t keep up with the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando now faces elimination from postseason contention in Game 5, which is scheduled for Wednesday.

Related: NBA Playoffs 2020: Kobe Bryant Day honored with a dominant win for the Lakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0HDLsm3rdc

Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to lead the way for the Bucks as he has done all season with another 31 points, 15 rebounds, and eight assists as the Bucks take Game 4.

The reigning NBA MVP also got help from fellow All-Star Khris Middleton, who finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Nicola Vucevic again led the way for Orlando in yet another defeat with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, but ultimately his output wasn’t enough.

The Magic could extend the series in Game 5 as its their last chance to push for a comeback, but are without three key contributors in the series, as Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Issac, and Michael Carter-Williams are all sidelined with various ailments, and ultimately it seems as though they just don’t have enough firepower to keep pace with Milwaukee.

However, the experience that their young players are getting in this series is very valuable, regardless of the ultimate outcome.

Chris Paul drags OKC back to tie the series after winning over Houston in Game 4

The Oklahoma City Thunder are once again proving to be the NBA’s best late-game team in the playoffs as they did all season long. They looked down and out in the first two playoffs game which the Houston Rockets took by a total of 28 points, but thanks to some technical adjustments and better shooting luck, the Thunder have officially tied this series up at two games apiece after the Thunder took Game 4, 117-114.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZmdcVzVTks

Despite James Harden of the Rockets being at his best and notching up 32 points in Game 4 after 30+ in three of the four games so far, Oklahoma City’s three guards have been spectacular.

Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder scored 74 combined points in this game, and the switching Rockets struggled to contain them in the mid-range and at the basket.

The Thunder’s have now leveled the series with three games left. Whoever wins moves on to face, presumably, the No. 1 seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. If the Rockets continue to play as they did in the last two games, that team is going to be the Thunder.

Miami completes sweep of Indiana to advance to the second round of NBA playoffs

The Miami Heat made it to the second round of the 2020 NBA playoffs after holding off the Indiana Pacers for a 99-87 win in Game 4, completing a sweep of their first-round series.

They are poised to face the winner in the tie between the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic, which Milwaukee currently leads 3-1.

Game 4 between Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers seemed more like a repeat of other games in the series. The Heat jumped out to a double-digit lead and then did enough to close things out down the stretch.

This time around, their bench came to the party with a bang adding 41 points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3omesDucFic

Jimmy Butler left the game with a shoulder injury, missing a great portion of the first half. He, however, returned after the break but was clearly playing through some pain.

It is the end of the road for the Pacers, who have now lost in the first round of the Playoffs in each of the past five seasons.

They had a really solid season but were without Domantas Sabonis and Jeremy Lamb for the bubble, and Victor Oladipo had still not returned to his pre-injury form after returning earlier this season from a ruptured quad tendon.

They deserve credit for how they competed but just didn’t have enough to deal with a tough Heat squad.

Results after Game 4 in the Playoffs

Sunday night’s playoff scores

• Raptors 150-122 Nets – Raptors win 4-0
• Nuggets 127-129 Jazz – Jazz lead 3-1
• Clippers 133-135 Mavericks – Series tied 2-2
• Celtics 110-106 76ers – Celtics win 4-0

Monday night’s playoff scores

• Lakers 135-115 Trail Blazers – Los Angeles lead series 3-1
• Rockets 114-117 Thunder – Series tied 2-2
• Pacers 87-99 Heat – Miami wins series 4-0
• Bucks 121-106 Magic – Milwaukee lead series 3-1