The Shai-keover

In which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander personally snatches a playoff game out of Luka Doncic's hands.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

They Did Not Expect Him; Ilya Repin; 1884-88

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Scores

Celtics 109, Cavaliers 102 (BOS leads 3-1) — Donovan Mitchell was a scratch for the game with a calf injury. Cleveland still kept contact all game long. I think that says more about the Cavaliers than the Celtics, who were perfectly cromulent on offense. On the other end, Darius Garland was making some tough shots, Max Strus got free and cooked from deep and we experienced a good Evan Mobley game.

Boston still won. Boston is very good.

Garland and Mobley playing well with Mitchell and Jarrett Allen out after a season filled with stretches of superior play for the stars at half strength in every which direction … that’s going to stick in decision-makers’ minds. But it should also stick in their minds that Cleveland simply isn’t good enough with a Garland-Mobley attack or a Mitchell-Mobley or Mitchell-Allen or Garland-Allen attack. If the Cavaliers do trade Mitchell or Garland and one of the bigs (likely Allen) this summer and want to win playoff series, they need to add another star talent to the mix.

Thunder 100, Mavericks 96 (Series tied 2-2) — If you didn’t believe in the Thunder’s ability to win high-leverage playoff games before, this is your conversion moment. OKC’s active hands, physical challenges and rebounding (!) locked down the Dallas offense for a couple of stretches in the second half. That allowed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to take over. He made tough jumper after tough jumper to snag OKC the lead on the road and hold it.