NBA Playoffs: Wolves and Knicks take commanding 3-1 leads

The landscape of the NBA playoffs shifted significantly on Monday night as both the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks secured vital Game 4 wins to take commanding 3-1 leads in their respective Conference Semifinals. The victories leave their opponents facing elimination as the series head towards potential conclusions.

(1) Golden State Warriors-Minnesota Timberwolves (3): 110-117

In San Francisco, the Minnesota Timberwolves pushed the Golden State Warriors to the brink with a 117-110 victory. The Warriors continued to play without their talisman, Steph Curry, who sustained a hamstring injury in Game 1 and remains sidelined. His absence continues to impact Golden State, whose offense has struggled throughout the series, finishing below 100 points in the first three games and barely scraping past that mark even with mop-up time in Game 4. While the Warriors held a halftime lead, the Timberwolves flipped the script dramatically in the third quarter, turning a two-point deficit into a 20-point advantage with a dominant 39-17 run.

Minnesota's offense finally found its groove against a Warriors defense that coach Steve Kerr had recently praised but which now begins to falter. Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle were the driving forces for the Timberwolves, combining for 61 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Randle was particularly crucial early, scoring 19 of his team-high 31 points in the first half to keep the Wolves afloat, showcasing a breakout postseason performance while fully healthy. Edwards then erupted in the second half, scoring 16 of his 30 points in the third quarter to wrestle control.

The Timberwolves, one victory away from their second straight Western Conference Finals appearance, now head home for a chance to close out the series in Game 5 on Wednesday, presumably without Curry, whose limited minutes in Game 1 were the team's offensive high point in the series. For the Warriors, facing a win-or-go-home scenario on one day of rest, the inevitable end of their season feels increasingly close.

(3) New York Knicks-Boston Celtics (1): 121-113

Meanwhile, at Madison Square Garden in New York, the Knicks secured their own vital 121-113 comeback victory over the Boston Celtics, also taking a 3-1 series lead. For the Knicks, this marked another comeback victory, having trailed by 14 points in the third quarter before storming back. This was a different kind of win than the first two, where Celtics 'letdowns' contributed; this was a pure Knicks comeback, featuring arguably the best basketball they've played all postseason.

The victory was tempered, however, by a potentially significant injury to Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who exited late in the fourth quarter after a non-contact lower-leg injury and was later shown in a wheelchair, with an MRI scheduled for Tuesday. Even before Tatum's injury, the Celtics were struggling defensively in the second half, allowing the Knicks' offense to roll. The Knicks' offense, described as an offensive master class in the final 24 minutes, was led by Jalen Brunson, who took control in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 points in the second half and hitting crucial late baskets to secure the win.

Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby also had strong offensive nights, with Towns contributing tough defense by switching onto Tatum. The Knicks shot an efficient 54.3% from the field, their best of the series. While the Celtics got strong offensive performances from Tatum (42 points before injury), Derrick White (23), and Jaylen Brown (20), their defense evaporated in the second half, unable to contain the Knicks.

The loss is painful for Boston, and it could be devastating depending on Tatum's injury prognosis. The Knicks, now one win away from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 25 years, head to Boston for Game 5 on Thursday with a chance to close out the series, potentially facing a Celtics team without their star.