Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from April 29

🏀Tuesday playoff hoops🏀

Starting 5️⃣’s are live

With the Bucks facing elimination, they’ve decided to go down a different path with their starting lineup tonight.

With Lillard (Achilles) out, not only is Kevin Porter Jr. joining the starting group, but so are Bobby Portis Jr. and A.J. Green, who will get the nods over Brook Lopez and Kyle Kuzma.

Meanwhile, there will be no changes for the Pacers who will be working to lock in a second-round date with the Cavaliers with a win tonight.

New group for Game 5. pic.twitter.com/29luAbXwIN

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 29, 2025

first 5 of Game 5. pic.twitter.com/TOXGydNTTG

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 29, 2025

Eliminations looming❓🤔

The Bucks, Pistons, and Magic all are on the brink of elimination.

Each team is down 3-1 in their respective series, and tonight, they must win on the road to stay alive. A difficult task lies ahead for those squads, as the Pacers, Knicks, and Celtics’ home crowds will be rocking in anticipation of celebrating their team’s advancement to the second round. 

1. Milwaukee will have to play without Damian Lillard, who suffered a torn Achilles in Game 4 after just six minutes of action. The injury was a brutal blow to Lillard and the franchise, appearing to send the team reeling for the remainder of the matchup. The Pacers ran away with a 26-point, 129-103 victory, the largest margin in the series thus far. 
2. For the Pistons, they’ve at least already proven they can steal one on the road, taking Game 2 in Madison Square Garden. Aside from a 21-0 fourth-quarter run in Game 1 that saw the Knicks pull away from the Pistons, each of these games has been a physical back-and-forth battle that has gone down to the wire. Will Cade Cunningham and the Pistons rise to the occasion and steal another one in the Big Apple, or will Brunson and Co. punch their ticket to the Semi-Finals?
3. Like the Bucks, the Magic were able to take Game 3 as the series shifted to Orlando and were down just four points entering the final frame of Game 4 with a chance to tie it up 2-2. However, they weren’t able to get over the hump before falling 107-98, and now are facing elimination. Orlando will once again be looking to lean on their stifling defense and the dynamic duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. 

⚠️Pivotal matchup in the West📢

The Clippers and Nuggets are the only series still playing in the first round that isn’t currently at 3-1. After losing handily in Game 3, Denver responded equally, gaining a 22-point advantage early in the fourth quarter of Game 4. However, the Clippers almost pulled off the miracle comeback, before an Aaron Gordon buzzer-beating dunk sealed a Nuggets victory. Denver will have homecourt advantage for tonight’s pivotal Game 5 matchup where the loser will be put in the position to have to win two straight to advance.