Nightly Pulse: NBA news & highlights from April 27

🏀Sunday playoff hoops🏀

Today’s slate features a quartet of pivotal Game 4 matchups.

Stars arrive✨

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Cade Cunningham arrived earlier this morning at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.

Each is certain to be essential to their respective team’s success this afternoon when the action tips off at 1 ET on ABC.

BRUNSON, KAT IN THE BUILDING 🗽

🆚 Knicks-Pistons (NYK leads 2-1)
⏰ 1:00pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/n63uqLvszv

— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2025

Cade Cunningham arrives for a crucial Game 4 in Detroit!

Knicks (2-1)/ Pistons | 1pm/et, ABC pic.twitter.com/YZkt7BXvgp

— NBA (@NBA) April 27, 2025

Looking closer at today’s games🔎

Today features an afternoon double-header on ABC tipping off at 1 PM ET, followed by a back-to-back nightcap on TNT.

🗽New York vs. Detroit🛠️

After stealing homecourt advantage from the Knicks in a Game 2 win at Madison Square Garden, the Pistons gave it back with a Game 3 loss at home. Like every team trailing 2-1 in their respective series’ today, Detroit faces a virtual must-win situation. No team wants to face a 3-1 deficit en route to a Game 5 on the road, which the Pistons will be working to avoid this afternoon. 

The key for the Pistons will likely be keeping Jalen Brunson in check in the fourth quarter. The star point guard is averaging 12.7 points per game during the final frame in the series, where each game has been decided. Karl-Anthony Towns has also been a significant factor, shooting a combined 20-32 in their victories, but taking just 11 shots in their loss. To counteract Towns, expect the Pistons to get back to attacking the basket early and often, making Towns work on the defensive end.

🌴Los Angeles vs. Minnesota🌲

The second game to tip off during today’s four-game slate will feature a star-studded clash between the Lakers and Timberwolves. Despite being the lower seed in the matchup, Minnesota has earned a 2-1 advantage in the series, and with Game 4 in their building have a prime opportunity to take a commanding lead. 

For the Lakers to even things up, they will likely need standout performances from their dangerous duo of LeBron James and Luka Dončić. Both have performed excellently on average when trailing in a series in their careers, with James averaging 29.6 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 8.2 APG, 1.9 STL, and 1.0 BLK in 65 career Playoff games with his team trailing in the series – all above his career averages. While Dončić has put up 32.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.9 APG, and 1.9 STL in 18 playoff games with his team behind.

🍀Boston vs. Orlando🎢

Orlando defeated Boston 95-93 on Friday to avoid a dreaded 3-0 series deficit. The win has them in position to knot the series up 2-2 with a win at home this evening. Boston has missed a key piece in each of the last two games, with Jayson Tatum (wrist) missing Game 2, and Jrue Holiday (hamstring) missing Game 3. This will be the case again in Game 4, as Holiday has already been ruled out for today’s contest, while Jaylen Brown (knee) joins him on the injury report, and is considered questionable to take the floor tonight. 

For Orlando to even things up, they’ll need to rely on their stifling defense, especially on the perimeter, and keep the Celtics’ three-point shooting in check. It’ll also benefit them to control the rebounding advantage as they did for the first time in Game 3. Of course, they’ll also need elite performances once again from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who combined for 61 points Friday.

🏎️💨Indiana vs. Milwaukee🍺

Like the Magic, the Bucks avoided a 3-0 deficit with a 117-101 win over the Pacers on Friday. Key to the victory was the switch from Taurean Prince to Gary Trent Jr. in the starting lineup. Trent Jr. took full advantage of the opportunity, providing a substantial effort, scoring 37 points on 11-for-16 shooting. 

To pull off another victory over Indiana, Milwaukee will likely need a notable performance from someone outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s averaged 35.7 points and 14.0 rebounds through the first three matchups. That player could be Damian Lillard, who will be suiting up for the third time in his return from a blood clot. Lillard has struggled in his two appearances, shooting just 24% from the field, including 18.8% from three. If he can find his shooting stroke here, the Pacers could be in trouble.