Spurs Finally Break Through After 9 Years, Knicks and 76ers Both Stay Alive in Playoff Bloodbath

The NBA playoffs are getting vicious, and we got a reminder tonight that some teams are built to last deep into April while others are watching their seasons slip away. San Antonio punched their ticket to the semifinals for the first time since 2017, New York fought back from the brink with a dominant performance, and Philadelphia is still breathing thanks to a fourth quarter that looked like desperation meeting excellence.

Spurs Offensive Firepower Too Much for Portland

San Antonio showed off exactly why they're headed to the next round, taking down the Trail Blazers 114-95 in Game 5. The Spurs put their offensive versatility on full display, and it was enough to close out the series. For a team that hadn't won a playoff series since 2017, this is massive. They're heading to the semifinals and nobody's stopping them from making noise.

Brunson Carries Knicks Back From the Dead

New York was down 3-1 just four days ago. Now they're tied at 3-2 and looking completely different. Jalen Brunson dropped 39 points on an absurd 15-23 shooting night, leading the Knicks to their most dominant performance of the series: a 126-97 demolition of Atlanta. This is the kind of run that makes you believe. The Hawks are in serious trouble.

Embiid Won't Let Philadelphia Die

Joel Embiid scored 33 points and orchestrated a devastating 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to keep the 76ers alive against Boston. Final score: 113-97. Philly was playing desperate basketball in that fourth quarter, and it worked. They forced a Game 6 and kept their season breathing. Embiid finished with 4 rebounds and 8 assists alongside those 33 points. That's playoff basketball at its finest.

Out West, Oklahoma City is rolling into the semifinals after a sweep of Phoenix, led by 31 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder looked like the best team in the West doing it.

This is what the postseason does: it exposes you, it gives you hope, and sometimes it keeps you alive for one more game. Game 6 is coming, and the intensity isn't slowing down.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.