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Christian Braun Christian Braun contributes 18 points in Game 2
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 7:38 PM
Christian Braun accounted for 18 points (5-of-9 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), three rebounds, five assists, two steals and one three-pointer in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves.
Analysis: After scoring 12 points in Denver's Game 1 victory on Saturday, Braun was more productive in Game 2. However, one of the main talking points from Monday's defeat will be his missed free throw with the Nuggets trailing by two with 19 seconds remaining. Braun would hit the second to pull Denver to within one, but having to foul allowed Minnesota to extend his lead to three. Also, he's one of the players the Nuggets will need to step up defensively, as they struggled on that end of the floor for most of the regular season and for parts of Game 2. |
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Nikola Jokic Nikola Joki? records 24/15/8 line, one block
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 7:37 PM
Nikola Joki? finished Monday's Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves with 24 points (8-of-20 FGs, 7-of-7 FTs), 15 rebounds, eight assists, one block and one three-pointer.
Analysis: Joki? finished Game 2 two assists shy of a triple-double, but Minnesota's Rudy Gobert once again did a solid job of defending the three-time league MVP. For the second consecutive game, Joki? committed five turnovers, and he shot 40 percent from the field. While Joki? did get his numbers, the Nuggets' margin for error is slim given their defensive issues, especially with Peyton Watson still out due to injury. Denver will look to retake the series lead when they visit Minnesota for Game 3 on Thursday. |
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Jamal Murray Jamal Murray leads Nuggets with 30 points vs. MIN
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 7:37 PM
Jamal Murray tallied 30 points (11-of-25 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, seven assists, one steal and six three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Timberwolves.
Analysis: Murray had it rolling early in Game 2, capping a 23-point first half with a half-court shot as time expired to end the second quarter. However, the Timberwolves buckled down defensively, limiting the Nuggets' guard to seven second-half points. Murray's miss of a challenged mid-range jumper led to a Donte DiVincenzo dunk that extended Minnesota's lead to five with just under four seconds remaining, ending the game. Murray scored 30 points in both games in Denver, but Game 2 felt far different because of the subpar second half. |
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Donte DiVincenzo Donte DiVincenzo hits four triples, scores 16
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 7:36 PM
Donte DiVincenzo amassed 16 points (6-of-9 FGs, 0-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and four three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 win over the Nuggets.
Analysis: DiVincenzo's dunk in the final seconds sealed Minnesota's 119-114 victory, and he knocked down a few timely three-pointers to help even the series. Through two games, the Timberwolves' guard has shot 8-of-14 from beyond the arc, and that's after shooting a combined 11-of-30 from deep in the final four games of the regular season. If DiVincenzo can shoot the ball as well as he did in Games 1 and 2, that would go a long way toward helping the Timberwolves advance. Game 3 is on Thursday. |
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Julius Randle Julius Randle scores 18 first-half points vs. DEN
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 7:36 PM
Julius Randle recorded 24 points (7-of-14 FGs, 8-of-10 FTs), nine rebounds, six assists and two three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 win over the Nuggets.
Analysis: While quiet during the second half of Game 2, Randle's performance in the first half helped the Timberwolves erase a double-digit deficit. He scored 18 points before halftime, combining with Anthony Edwards to score 38 of the Timberwolves' 64 points. Randle finished with solid percentages and was one rebound shy of a double-double, performing much better than he did in Saturday's Game 1 defeat. The Timberwolves host Game 3 on Thursday night. |
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Anthony Edwards Anthony Edwards scores team-high 30 points
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 7:35 PM
Anthony Edwards accounted for 30 points (10-of-25 FGs, 7-of-9 FTs), 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks and three three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 win over the Nuggets.
Analysis: Edwards is still getting his stamina up to par after missing a large portion of the final month of the regular season. And playing at altitude may not have helped in Saturday's series opener, but he was better in Game 2. Edwards scored 20 points in the first half and finished with a 30-point double-double as part of a complete stat line. As a result, Minnesota heads home with the series tied at one game apiece. Game 3 is on Thursday night. |
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OG Anunoby OG Anunoby posts 14 points, complete stat line
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:08 PM
OG Anunoby produced 14 points (4-of-9 FGs, 4-of-8 FTs), eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block and two three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Hawks.
Analysis: Anunoby had a tough night at the foul line, and every point makes a difference in a game the Knicks lost by one point. There was an injury scare during the second half, but it appeared to be nothing more than Karl-Anthony Towns stepping on Anunoby's left foot. After spraining his left ankle during Game 1, he played 38 minutes on Monday. He should play similar minutes in Thursday's Game 3, with the series tied at one game apiece. |
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Josh Hart Josh Hart records 15/13/6/1 line in Game 2 loss
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:07 PM
Josh Hart accounted for 15 points (5-of-11 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), 13 rebounds, six assists, one steal and one three-pointer in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Hawks.
Analysis: Hart has recorded double-doubles in each of the Knicks' first two games of this postseason, while also doing an admirable job of defending Atlanta star forward Jalen Johnson. In Game 2, the Knicks forward's stat line was missing only a blocked shot, and he shot nearly 50 percent from the field. Hart and the Knicks will look to regain the momentum when the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Thursday. |
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Karl-Anthony Towns Karl-Anthony Towns tallies 18 points, eight boards
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:07 PM
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 18 points (8-of-12 FGs), eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Hawks.
Analysis: Despite shooting nearly 67 percent from the field, Towns only attempted 12 shots in Game 2. That's one less than his total in Game 1, but that 25-point effort was supplemented by a 10-of-10 night at the foul line. Towns did not attempt a free throw on Monday, and the Knicks need to do a better job of ensuring that he's getting his touches. Atlanta does not have the size to deal with Towns, especially with Jock Landale (ankle) unavailable, but that doesn't matter if the Knicks don't look to exploit the advantage. |
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Jalen Brunson Jalen Brunson scores 29 points in Game 2 defeat
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:06 PM
Jalen Brunson finished Monday's Game 2 loss to the Hawks with 29 points (10-of-26 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), two rebounds, seven assists and four three-pointers.
Analysis: Brunson may have scored 29 points, but the Hawks made him work for every one. The Knicks' guard needed 26 field-goal attempts, and he shot 6-of-16 from inside the arc. No other Knick attempted more than 12 shots, something that cannot happen if New York is to play deep into the postseason. Now with the series tied at one game apiece, the scene shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Thursday. |
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Onyeka Okongwu Onyeka Okongwu (knee) plays 30 minutes in Game 2
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:06 PM
Onyeka Okongwu (knee) finished Monday's Game 2 win over the Knicks with 15 points (6-of-9 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), eight rebounds, one assist and two three-pointers.
Analysis: A game-time call for Game 2 due to right knee inflammation, Okongwu was able to play 30 minutes without any issues. And he held his own against New York's Karl-Anthony Towns, grabbing as many rebounds while scoring three fewer points. For the Hawks to win this series, they'll need Okongwu to hold serve more often than not against KAT, which he is certainly capable of doing. Game 3 is on Thursday in Atlanta. |
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Jalen Johnson Jalen Johnson records 17 points, eight rebounds
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:05 PM
Jalen Johnson amassed 17 points (6-of-12 FGs, 5-of-5 FTs), eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in Monday's Game 2 win over the Knicks.
Analysis: New York's Josh Hart has been solid defensively against Johnson in the first two games of this series, but the Hawks' forward shot the ball better than he did in Game 1. After shooting 8-of-19 from the field in Game 1, Johnson made 50 percent of his attempts in Game 2. Add in the rebounds, and this was a solid effort on a night when the Hawks received key contributions from multiple players. It would be unsurprising if Johnson had a big night in Game 3 on Thursday after Atlanta grabbed the momentum with its comeback in Game 2. |
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Jonathan Kuminga Jonathan Kuminga records 19 points, full line
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:05 PM
Jonathan Kuminga accounted for 19 points (7-of-12 FGs, 4-of-6 FTs), our rebounds, one assist, two steals, one block and one three-pointer in Monday's Game 2 win over the Knicks.
Analysis: Kuminga's play in Game 2 was one of the underlying reasons why the Hawks came back to even the series. The Hawks' forward shot 6-of-8 from inside the arc, and his defensive ability allowed Atlanta to keep Dyson Daniels (6/4/2/2/1) on the bench in crunch time. As a result, there was no one on the court the Knicks could hide Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns on defensively, which factored into CJ McCollum taking over late. Kuminga played 35 minutes on Monday, and that may also be the case for Game 3 on Thursday. |
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CJ McCollum CJ McCollum scores 32, walks down the Knicks
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 5:02 PM
CJ McCollum tallied 32 points (12-of-22 FGs, 5-of-7 FTs), three rebounds, six assists, two steals, one block and three three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 win over the Knicks.
Analysis: McCollum and the Hawks appeared headed for a 0-2 deficit, but an elite fourth quarter on both ends of the floor shifted the series momentum to Atlanta. While he did miss two free throws with 5.6 seconds remaining that would have extended the Hawks' lead to three, McCollum was outstanding throughout Game 2. Productive enough to keep the visitors within striking distance during the third quarter, McCollum was the main reason why the Hawks walked down the Knicks in the fourth. Game 3 is on Thursday in Atlanta. |
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Brandon Ingram Brandon Ingram struggles in Game 2 defeat
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 3:43 PM
Josh Lewenberg
Brandon Ingram notched seven points (3-of-15 FGs), four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one three-pointer in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Cavaliers.
Analysis: The good news for Ingram in Game 2 is that he got more shots than he did in Saturday's series opener. The bad was that he struggled mightily, shooting 20 percent from the field. Even a marginally better version of Ingram would have been enough to give the Raptors a chance to steal Game 2, much less the All-Star version the team received for most of the regular season. It goes without saying that Ingram must be better if Toronto is to have a chance of winning this series. Game 3 is on Thursday in Toronto. |
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Scottie Barnes Scottie Barnes leads Raptors with 26 points
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 3:42 PM
Scottie Barnes recorded 26 points (11-of-19 FGs, 3-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and one three-pointer in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Cavaliers.
Analysis: While Barnes scored 21 points in Game 1, he was also responsible for five of the Raptors' 17 turnovers. He committed four more turnovers in Game 2 but shot the ball better, making over 50 percent of his attempts from the field. If the Raptors are to win this series, they may need more from Barnes defensively, as starting center Jakob Poeltl has struggled and did not play at all in the second half of Monday's defeat. Barnes is certainly a capable defender, but Evan Mobley is a challenging matchup. |
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RJ Barrett RJ Barrett records 22 points, nine rebounds
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 3:42 PM
RJ Barrett amassed 22 points (10-of-13 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), nine rebounds and five assists in Monday's Game 2 loss to the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Give Barrett credit, as he has been one of the bright spots for the Raptors in this series. After tallying 24 points in Game 1, he put up an efficient 22 on Monday along with solid rebound and assist numbers. With no Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) and Brandon Ingram struggling, Barrett's play has not been enough to get Toronto on the board in this series. They'll look to change that in Game 3 on Thursday. |
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Evan Mobley Evan Mobley finishes Game 2 win with 25 points
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 3:41 PM
Evan Mobley recorded 25 points (11-of-13 FGs, 2-of-3 FTs), eight rebounds, two assists, one block and one three-pointer in Monday's Game 2 win over the Raptors.
Analysis: While solid in Saturday's series-opener, Mobley was considerably better in Game 2. He only missed two shot attempts from the field, and the tandem of him and Jarrett Allen (10/3/1/2/3) effectively played Raptors' starting center Jakob Poeltl off the floor. Cleveland won the first two games by 13 and 10 points, and neither appeared to be that close. Mobley and the Cavaliers will look to take a 3-0 series lead on Thursday in Toronto. |
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Donovan Mitchell Donovan Mitchell scores game-high 30 points
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 3:41 PM
Donovan Mitchell tallied 30 points (13-of-23 FGs, 0-of-1 FTs), seven rebounds, five assists, one steal and four three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 win over the Raptors.
Analysis: After scoring 32 points in Game 1, Mitchell put up another efficient 30-point stat line in Game 2. Only LeBron James has more 30-point playoff games as a Cavalier than Spida, who shot 9-of-13 from inside the arc and committed just one turnover on Monday. Cleveland will look to extend its lead when the series shifts to Toronto for Game 3 on Thursday. |
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James Harden James Harden posts 28 points, five steals
Mon, Apr 20, 2026, 3:40 PM
James Harden accounted for 28 points (9-of-14 FGs, 7-of-10 FTs), five rebounds, four assists, five steals, one block and three three-pointers in Monday's Game 2 win over the Raptors.
Analysis: Cleveland's three best players were highly effective in Game 2, with Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley combining for 83 of their 115 points. In addition to his efficient scoring, Harden recorded five steals, two shy of his playoff career-high. He has been outstanding in the first two games of this series, and the Cavaliers will need more of the same from Harden in Game 3 on Thursday in Toronto. |
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