{"id":1900782,"date":"2026-04-24T15:06:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1900782"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:06:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T12:06:52","slug":"the-bounce-is-it-time-for-the-knicks-and-nuggets-to-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1900782","title":{"rendered":"The Bounce: Is it time for the Knicks and Nuggets to panic?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Bounce Newslette<\/b>r<\/strong>\u00a0\":basketball:\"<\/span>\u00a0| This is The Athletic\u2019s<\/em> daily NBA newsletter.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a> to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.<\/p>\n

Every year, there is some point at which we hear about the top draft prospect maybe wanting to stay in school. And now with NIL money, people think it\u2019s even more possible. Well, once again, that top prospect decided to declare for the NBA Draft. This time, it\u2019s AJ Dybantsa saying goodbye to BYU\u00a0and hello to the NBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Walking the Walk<\/h3>\n

McDaniels is not all talk<\/strong><\/p>\n

The lead-up to Game 3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Denver Nuggets series was more dramatic than the game itself. After the Wolves came back in Game 2 to take home-court advantage, defensive virtuoso Jaden McDaniels called out the Nuggets players as bad defenders. This may have flown more under the radar if he hadn\u2019t included Aaron Gordon. And perhaps the Nuggets would\u2019ve had more firepower to push back if Gordon actually played in Game 3, but a calf injury kept him out.<\/p>\n

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The result was the Wolves dominating the Nuggets from start to finish Thursday.\u00a0Minnesota won 113-96<\/a>, and it didn\u2019t even feel that close for most of the night. From the start, the Wolves were locked in defensively in a way we usually see McDaniels exhibit. He and Rudy Gobert are their defensive leaders, and they had the task of slowing down two bona fide playoff performers in Nikola Joki\u0107 and Jamal Murray.<\/p>\n

Gobert did a stellar job down the stretch of Game 2, drawing a lot of praise on an internet that is usually waiting to skewer him and highlight every embarrassing moment. That carried over into Game 3, as Gobert helped hold Joki\u0107 to 1-of-8 shooting in the first quarter and 2-of-9 shooting in the third. Joki\u0107 finished with 27 points but was 7-of-26 from the field. He also had 15 rebounds and four assists.<\/p>\n

McDaniels had a much bigger target on his back, and any slip-up defensively was going to draw\u00a0the Nelson Muntz point-and-laugh<\/a>. And Murray is the type of player to make you pay for such disrespect. Unless McDaniels is on you. He disparaged Murray and his teammates\u2019 ability to guard, and then he showed them what defense looks like.<\/p>\n

The best example was with around nine minutes left in the game and the Wolves up 20.\u00a0Watch here<\/a> as McDaniels hounds Murray dribbling the ball for the full 24 seconds of the shot clock, sticking with him, pushing him back and forcing him into a contested 3. Not only that, but he punctuated the game by proving his theory about the Nuggets\u2019 defenders. With around four minutes left and a 15-point lead, he drove down the lane and dunked near Joki\u0107, who had no resistance for him.<\/p>\n

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He did his patented dunk with the right hand off the right foot, which he stated after the game was because his bounce comes from his right leg. It was the perfect capper to a 20-point night in which McDaniels dared the Nuggets to make him eat his words. And then Joe Ingles channeled his inner Nelson Muntz as a reaction.<\/p>\n

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The quick cameo by Bones Hyland was great, too.\u00a0We don\u2019t know the severity of Gordon\u2019s calf injury, but the Nuggets appear to be in big trouble.<\/strong>\u00a0They were title contenders to begin the year, but then had to deal with a lot of injuries. After looking like they were trending toward health and great basketball, they once again find themselves a little flummoxed by the Wolves.<\/p>\n

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Minnesota ended Denver\u2019s hopes of a championship (as defending champs) in the second round of the 2024 playoffs. The Wolves won Game 6 to stay alive and Game 7 in Denver to steal the series. Since then, they\u2019ve upped the ante on disliking the Nuggets and now vocalize it. Denver has yet to prove Minnesota should doubt its feeling superior. Even after McDaniels voiced it and Denver needed to steal home court back, the Nuggets came up short. They\u2019d better find that proof on Saturday in Game 4, or the talk from the Wolves will get louder.<\/p>\n

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{“endpoint”:”https:\/\/api-prd-nyt.theathletic.com\/graphql”}<\/p>\n

Playoff Panic Meter (PPM): \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<\/strong>for Denver<\/p>\n

The Last 24<\/h3>\n

\ud83d\udc7d Back already?<\/strong>\u00a0Wemby (concussion) is flying to Portland for Games 3 and 4.\u00a0He\u2019s listed as questionable.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83e\udea3 \u00a0Playoff basketball?<\/strong>\u00a0Scoring is way down through the early playoff games.\u00a0John Hollinger has three reasons why.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83e\ude7a Ruh roh.<\/strong>\u00a0Jalen Williams has a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.\u00a0He\u2019ll be re-evaluated weekly.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcb0 Well spent?<\/strong>\u00a0Devin Booker was fined $35,000 for criticizing officials.\u00a0We\u2019ll see if it works for Game 3 calls.\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udd0a NBA Daily.<\/strong>\u00a0Watch and listen to a recap of last night\u2019s games.\u00a0Including how the Knicks blew it.\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Stream the NBA on Fubo (<\/em>try it for free!<\/a>)<\/em>\u00a0and catch out-of-market games on\u00a0<\/em>League Pass<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Last Night & Tonight<\/h3>\n

Once again, Knicks can\u2019t execute<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, what to know about last night:<\/p>\n

Hawks 109, Knicks 108: Hawks lead series 2-1. Three key points for this game:\u00a0<\/strong>Read the takeaways from\u00a0The Athletic<\/em><\/a>. Here are mine.<\/p>\n

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  1. Welcome back, Jalen Johnson. The Hawks\u2019 All-Star was dormant for most of the first two games. He delivered in Game 3 with 24 points, 10 boards and eight dimes.<\/li>\n
  2. More fourth-quarter issues. The Knicks shot just 40 percent from the field and had six turnovers in the fourth. Two late-clock 3s by OG Anunoby nearly saved them.<\/li>\n
  3. Final play disparity. On the Hawks\u2019 final play, they were able to easily get the ball to CJ McCollum for a sweet-spot midrange jumper. The Knicks struggled to get the ball to Jalen Brunson, and Atlanta took away any chance at a shot attempt by swarming.\u00a0Mo Dakhil broke down the final play and the Knicks\u2019 issues perfectly<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Who played huge in this game?<\/strong>\u00a0Jonathan Kuminga. Once again, he brought it off the bench. He had 10 quick points in the first quarter and six big ones in the fourth on his way to 21 points.<\/p>\n

    Who came up short for the Knicks?<\/strong>\u00a0Mikal Bridges. Four turnovers, one rebound, three shot attempts and zero points in 21 minutes. And he got torched on defense. What happened?<\/p>\n

    How concerned should the Knicks be?<\/strong>\u00a0Extremely. The Knicks have really struggled the last five quarters and given the Hawks a ton of confidence.\u00a0Game 4 is a must-win<\/strong>.\u00a0PPM: \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<\/strong>\u00a0for New York<\/p>\n

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    Raptors 126, Cavs 104: Cavs lead series 2-1. Three key points for this game:\u00a0<\/strong>Read the takeaways from\u00a0The Athletic<\/em><\/a>. Here are mine.<\/p>\n

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    1. The Raptors broke this wide open. This was a one-point game with 8:52 left in the fourth. The Raptors finished the game on a 35-14 run.<\/li>\n
    2. Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett dominated. They each had 33 points on a combined 23-of-36 shooting. Barnes also had 11 assists and helped set the tone on defense.<\/li>\n
    3. The Raptors\u2019 bench was stellar. Jamal Shead had five steals. Collin Murray-Boyles had 22 points. Jamison Battle had all 14 of his points in the fourth.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Who played huge in this game?<\/strong>\u00a0Barrett. He was a monster to close things out. He put up 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, along with three assists. He created 24 points in the fourth. Cleveland scored 23.<\/p>\n

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      Who came up short for the Cavs?<\/strong>\u00a0The starting backcourt. Donovan Mitchell had just 15 points on 16 shots with three turnovers. James Harden had 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting and eight turnovers. They ruined an opportunity to effectively end this series.<\/p>\n

      How concerned should the Cavs be?<\/strong>\u00a0Not very \u2026 yet<\/a>. Toronto needs to prove it can score consistently. The Raptors struggled all year with it. But the Cavs can\u2019t let them build momentum.\u00a0PPM: \ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8<\/strong> for Cleveland | \ud83d\udea8<\/strong>\ud83d\udea8<\/strong>\ud83d\udea8<\/strong>\u00a0for Toronto.<\/p>\n

      Since we\u2019re here, let\u2019s do a quick preview of Friday\u2019s Game 3s. All times Eastern.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

      Celtics at 76ers, Game 3, 7 p.m. (Prime Video) | Series tied 1-1<\/strong><\/p>\n