NBA Playoffs 2024: A 1st for the Timberwolves, while Mavs and Pacers move closer to Round 2

Minnesota hasn't made the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2004. Indiana hasn't gotten there since 2014. Dallas has gotten there once in the last 13 years.

All took big steps toward changing that on Friday.

The Timberwolves have a 3-0 lead on Phoenix after winning 126-109 behind 36 points from Anthony Edwards. Indiana survived a 42-point, flair-for-the-dramatic outbreak from Khris Middleton to beat Milwaukee 121-118 in overtime for a 2-1 series lead. And Dallas clamped down on defense to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 101-90, taking a 2-1 edge in that matchup.

NATIONAL TV SCHEDULE

Saturday

1 p.m. — Cleveland at Orlando, TNT

3:30 p.m. — Oklahoma City at New Orleans, TNT

6 p.m. — Boston at Miami, TNT

8:30 p.m. — Denver at L.A. Lakers, ABC

Sunday

1 p.m. — New York at Philadelphia, ABC

3:30 p.m. — L.A. Clippers at Dallas, ABC

7 p.m. — Milwaukee at Indiana, TNT

9:30 p.m. — Minnesota at Phoenix, TNT

Monday

7 or 7:30 p.m. — Boston at Miami, TNT

8:30 or 9:30 p.m. — Oklahoma City at New Orleans, NBA TV or TNT

10 p.m. — L.A. Lakers at Denver, TNT (if necessary)

(If Game 5 of Lakers-Nuggets is not necessary, the Celtics-Heat game is at 7 p.m. and the Thunder-Pelicans game will follow at 9:30 on TNT. If there is a Game 5 of Lakers-Nuggets, Celtics-Heat is at 7:30 and Thunder-Pelicans is at 8:30 on NBA TV.)

BETTING GUIDE

Boston has home-court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs and currently is the favorite to win the championship, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Celtics are listed at +140, ahead of defending champion Denver (+230). Next up: Minnesota (+1100), Oklahoma City (+1200), Dallas (+1300), New York (+1700), Philadelphia (+3000), the Los Angeles Clippers (+5000) and Cleveland (+6000).

After that, it's Indiana (+6600), Miami (+15000), Orlando (+30000), Phoenix (+30000), the Los Angeles Lakers (+40000) and New Orleans (+50000).

AWARD SEASON

The NBA awards started getting announced this week. On Tuesday, Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey won Most Improved Player over Chicago's Coby White. On Wednesday, Minnesota's Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year in a very close vote over Sacramento's Malik Monk.

And on Thursday, Golden State's Stephen Curry added to his copious collection of trophies by winning Clutch Player of the Year. He beat out Chicago's DeMar DeRozan and Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for that award.

The next award announcement is Coach of the Year on Sunday, with Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault, Minnesota's Chris Finch and Orlando's Jamahl Mosley the three finalists.

The schedule for the other awards has yet to be revealed. There's Rookie of the Year (San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama, Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren or Charlotte's Brandon Miller), Defensive Player of the Year (Wembanyama, Minnesota's Rudy Gobert or Miami's Bam Adebayo) and Most Valuable Player (Denver's Nikola Jokic, Dallas' Luka Doncic or Gilgeous-Alexander).

WHAT TO KNOW

— Caitlin Clark was at the Pacers-Bucks game.

— Kawhi Leonard on his knee: “We're going to get it right.”

— Preview for Saturday's games: Cavaliers-Magic, Thunder-Pelicans, Celtics-Heat and Nuggets-Lakers.

STAT OF THE DAY

Minnesota has won three consecutive playoff games for the first time in its history.

It's a new thing for the Timberwolves, but not for Minneapolis — the WNBA's Lynx have had six postseason winning streaks of three or more games (including a nine-game run), and the Minneapolis Lakers had six such streaks themselves (topped by two eight-game runs).

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It's crazy to think he's just 22 years old." — Minnesota's Rudy Gobert, on Anthony Edwards.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba