NBA Playoffs: Jokic, Booker posting stats never seen before

Nobody everfinished an NBA playoff game with at least 30 points, 17 reboundsand 17 assists.

That is,until Nikola Jokicdidit on Friday.

Nobody everfinished an NBA playoff game with 53 points and 11 assists,either.

That is,until Nikola Jokicdidit on Sunday.

And theDenver Nuggets went 0-2 in those games anyway, those stat lines —and some incredible numbers from Devin Booker, too — mostlyovershadowed by Jokic getting into a bit of a thorny situationduring Game 4witha fan who just happened to be Mat Ishbia,the new owner ofthe Phoenix Suns.

TheSuns-Nuggets Western Conference semifinal series is tied at 2-2, inlarge part because Booker cannot miss. He shot 20 for 25 in Game 3,14 for 18 in Game 4 — the first player in NBA playoff history toshoot that well in back-to-back games while taking that manyshots.

Bookerleads the playoffs with a 36.8-point scoring average, and he’s onpace to be the first player to shoot 60% from the field, 50% from3-point range and 85% from the foul line (while taking at least 50field goal attempts) during a postseason.

WHAT'SNEXT?

Monday’s schedulehas Miami at home and seeking a 3-1 leadon New York in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, followedby the Los Angeles Lakers trying to go up 3-1 on defending championGolden State in their West semifinal matchup.

On Tuesday,it’ll be Game 5 of Suns-Nuggets and Philadelphia-Boston — thoseseries both tied at 2-2.

Theevery-other-day mode of scheduling continues later in the week, soWednesday has Game 5′s of Knicks-Heat and Lakers-Warriors, andThursday will be Game 6 for Suns-Nuggets and 76ers-Celtics.

HOW TOWATCH

— TheMonday, Tuesday and Wednesday doubleheaders are all on TNT.

—Thursday’s doubleheader is on ESPN.

— Teambroadcasters will no longer air games. Everything after the firstround is exclusive to national windows and not available for localtelecasts.

— The NBAFinals on ABC begin June 1.

CELTICS-SIXERS CLASSIC

The firstone-point game of the East playoffs was Sunday, when Philadelphiablew a 15-point lead late in the third, rallied from five pointsdown late in regulationandtopped Boston 116-115 in overtime— after James Hardengave the 76ers the lead, and Marcus Smart’s gamewinner for theCeltics came just a smidge too late.

It was theseventh one-point playoff game in Celtics vs. Sixers history;Philadelphia has won four of those seven, though one of thosevictories came in 1954 when the franchise was in Syracuse.

WEMBYWATCH

The NBAdraft lottery is May 16, when everyone will learn which team getsthe chance to draft Victor Wembanyama next month.

The French teen played in front of a crowd of 15,000onSunday, leading his Metropolitans 92 team to a win with 25 points,10 rebounds and four assists.

AWARDWINNERS

TheAll-Rookie Team gets announced Monday afternoon and theAll-Defensive Team gets announced Tuesday afternoon.

TNT willunveil the All-NBA Team on Wednesday night, and on Thursday atnoon, the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year will be revealed.

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was announced as this season’sMVP,and here’s a list of the other major award-winnersthis season:

—Memphis’Jaren Jackson Jr. won Defensive Player of the Year.

—De’AaronFox of Sacramento won the inaugural Clutch Player award.

—Sacramento’sMike Brown became the first unanimous Coach of the Year.

—Boston’sMalcolm Brogdon won Sixth Man of the Year.

—Utah’sLauri Markkanen was the easy winner of Most ImprovedPlayer.

—Orlando’sPaolo Banchero was a near-unanimous Rookie of the Year.

QUOTABLE

“I don’tusually get open shots, so this is a new thing with having KD’sgravity on the floor.” — Phoenix’s Devin Booker, on how he’sbenefitting from having Kevin Durant with him on the Suns.