What NBA games are on today, Thursday, April 28?
There are three games scheduled for Thursday night with still four places in the semi-finals on the line on as the 2021-22 NBA playoff season advances.
With wins against the Chicago Bulls and the Denver Nuggets respectively, the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors became the latest teams to advance to the second round. Four semi-final places (three in the West and one in the East) are still on the line as a win tonight for Phoenix, Philadelphia and Dallas would cement their place in the next stage.
76ers @ Raptors (3-2): 7:00 pm (ET) start
Anxious times for 76ers fans well aware that never before a team has lost a play-off series having led 3-0 and the Philly faithful will want to avoid the embarrassment of being the first side to buck this trend as Game 6 takes us back to Toronto.
76ers’ problems are compounded by Joel Embiid playing through the pain barrier suffering from a torn ligament in his thumb since Game 3 and a disappointing play-off showing to date from James Harden who is failing to secure the points as they face a solid defensive Raptors in what will be a packed Scotiabank Arena.
Toronto, champions in 2019 face Philly’s Doc Rivers who lifted the title in 2008 with Boston, but even without Fred VanVleet (strained hip) who is listed as doubtful for Game 6 for the Raptors, one can’t help but sense a key momentum shift in the series.
Suns @ Pelicans (3-2): 7:30 pm (ET) start
For the first time all season, the Phoenix Suns have shown signs of vulnerability as they head to New Orleans and secure the win that would secure a place in the semi-finals. Monty Williams’ men have suffered with the absence of Devin Booker who was forced out of Game 1 with a hamstring injury and word on the street is that the shooting guard may make a return should the series go to a seventh game.
Both Mikeal Bridges and Chris Paul were the key men for Phoenix in Game 5, when the veteran tied his career playoff low with four points in Game 4, to score 22 in Game 5 with 11 assists. Bridges took some pressure off Paul by adding five rebounds, a career-high four blocks and two steals.
For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram remains a doubt after a fall in Game 5 and the 24-year-old has been of of the star players for New Orleans hitting 16 of his 30 points in the third quarter in last Sunday’s win for the Pelicans at the Smoothie King Arena.
Mavericks @ Jazz (3-2): 10:00 pm (ET) start
The return of Slovenian star Luka Doncic has been instrumental in a change in Dallas Mavericks’ fortunes as they look like firm favourites to advance against the Jazz. A dazzling Doncic display on Monday swept the Utah Jazz 102-77 away to give Dallas a 3-2 lead in this first-round NBA playoff series.
The Mavericks will get their first chance to clinch this Western Conference playoff series tonight at the Jazz’s home court and once again the Utah defense will have their work cut out after Doncic, who missed the first three games of the series due to injury, overwhelmed Utah’s defense with 33 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists.
Jazz star, Donovan Mitchell disappointed scoring 9 points, with 4/15 from the field and was forced to leave the court with a left leg injury four minutes before the end with his team losing by 28 points. The 25-year-old offers some positive news for Jazz fans stating that he his fit and will play on Thursday in what could be Utah’s last game of the season.