Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hoops Tonight
Episode: Hoops Tonight - Game 4 Reactions: Lakers/Wolves, Knicks/Pistons, Celtics/Magic, Pacers/Bucks
Release Date: April 28, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Introduction
In this episode of Hoops Tonight, the host delves into Game 4 reactions from four pivotal NBA playoff matchups: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic, and Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks. The discussion provides in-depth analysis, personal insights, and predictions on the trajectory of each series.
1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Key Highlights:
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Wolves' Victory and Series Control: The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a win in Game 4, significantly shifting the momentum of the series in their favor. The host expressed both personal disappointment and admiration for the Wolves' performance.
“Anthony Edwards just continues to take a special place in my basketball heart… has made me love him even more as a player.” [12:45]
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Anthony Edwards vs. Luka Doncic: Edwards outperformed Luka Doncic, particularly in clutch moments. The host emphasized Edwards' dominance, stating, “Anthony Edwards has made twice as many fourth-quarter field goals as Luka Doncic in this series.” [19:30]
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Lakers' Strategic Gamble: Coach JJ Redick's decision to play key players extended into the second half resulted in fatigue, which the Wolves capitalized on.
“JJ's decision to play everybody all 24 minutes in the second half was high risk, but it also had high reward.” [25:15]
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Critical Mistakes: The Lakers faced several execution errors under pressure, including turnovers and poor defensive assignments.
“LeBron flashes… lost Nas with a mental mistake.” [27:50]
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Future Predictions: The host remains hopeful yet realistic about the Lakers' chances, predicting the Wolves to likely close out the series in Game 6.
“I think the Wolves are going to win this series in Game 6 back in Minnesota.” [35:10]
2. New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons
Key Highlights:
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Knicks' Clutch Execution: The Knicks exhibited superior execution in the final stretches of Game 4, overcoming the Pistons' early leads.
“The Knicks scored 26 points over the final eight minutes to steal Game 4.” [21:53]
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Jalen Brunson's Performance: Brunson was pivotal, effectively neutralizing Dennis Schroeder and driving key plays that led to the Knicks' victory.
“He [Brunson] had easy layups and was super keyed in on.” [22:21]
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Pistons' Execution Errors: Detroit struggled with turnovers and poor decision-making in critical moments, leading to easy points for the Knicks.
“Assar Thompson threw the ball out of bounds… that's an execution error.” [23:50]
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Player Shoutouts: The host praised Knicks' defenders OG Anunoby and Mikhail Bridges for their outstanding performances against Pistons' Cade Cunningham.
“OG Anunoby and Mikhail Bridges defended about a half a dozen one-on-ones against Cade Cunningham.” [24:30]
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Future Predictions: Confident in the Knicks' experience and execution, the host anticipates New York closing out the series in five games.
“Looking like the Knicks are going to close this series out in five on Tuesday.” [27:00]
3. Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic
Key Highlights:
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Celtics' Dominance: Boston secured a 3-1 lead in the series, showcasing veteran poise and strategic execution against a younger Magic team.
“Tatum was fantastic down the stretch of this game.” [30:15]
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Jayson Tatum's Performance: Tatum's ability to manage the game and execute under pressure was a significant factor in the Celtics' success.
“Tatum's growth as a half-court decision maker… just his overall level of comfort executing in the half court.” [32:45]
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Magic's Mistakes: The Magic made crucial errors in late-game situations, unable to match the Celtics' deliberate playstyle.
“The Magic have been in every game… it's all about late game execution.” [34:10]
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Veteran Presence: The host highlighted the importance of experience, noting how Celtics' seasoned players maintained composure in high-pressure moments.
“Tatum felt the urgency, executed accordingly, and got the job done.” [35:55]
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Future Predictions: With their lead, the Celtics are well-positioned to close out the series, emphasizing the advantage of their veteran core.
“They are up 3-1, and they're in good shape to close out this series.” [37:20]
4. Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Key Highlights:
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Bucks' Injury Impact: Damian Lillard suffered an injury, significantly affecting the Bucks' performance and strategic options.
“I'm really excited to dig into that series.… Damian's injury… reminds me of what happened in the Lakers-Suns series.” [39:15]
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Pacers' Team Performance: The Pacers displayed exceptional teamwork with seven players in double figures and an impressive 75% assist percentage in the final minutes.
“They shot damn near 45% from three and had 36 assists with 48 made field goals.” [40:02]
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Comparative Analysis: The host compared the Pacers to the Cavaliers, highlighting how the Pacers' matchup against Milwaukee could shape the series' outcome.
“The Pacers are just a better version of the Cavs… they are kind of similar archetypes but the Pacers are just a little better at everything.” [40:24]
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Trade Speculations: Discussed the potential for Giannis Antetokounmpo to be traded post-season, given the Bucks' current challenges.
“The chances of Giannis getting traded are astronomically higher than they were before the injury.” [40:24]
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Future Predictions: The host anticipates an exciting series between the Pacers and Bucks, emphasizing the strategic matchups and Pacers' momentum.
“Watching them versus the Cavs is going to be a ton of fun.” [40:24]
Conclusion
The episode of Hoops Tonight provided comprehensive analyses of four NBA playoff matchups, highlighting key performances, strategic decisions, and future predictions. The host balanced personal insights with objective assessments, offering listeners a thorough understanding of each series' dynamics as they progress toward their conclusions.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
- “Anthony Edwards has made twice as many fourth-quarter field goals as Luka Doncic in this series.” — [19:30]
- “The Knicks scored 26 points over the final eight minutes to steal Game 4.” — [21:53]
- “Tatum's growth as a half-court decision maker… just his overall level of comfort executing in the half court.” — [32:45]
- “They shot damn near 45% from three and had 36 assists with 48 made field goals.” — [40:02]
This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights presented in the episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for those who did not listen to the full podcast.