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The 2023-24 NBA season carried lofty aspirations for both the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers, yet these championship hopefuls now find themselves on the precipice of an unceremonious first-round departure. Tuesday’s slate of Game 5 encounters could seal their fates, as the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers, respectively, stand poised to administer the knockout blows that would represent a catastrophic underachievement for teams with such title ambitions.
While the Boston Celtics’ juggernaut campaign may have rendered any aspirations of toppling them moot, the premature exits of these contenders would still resonate as a resounding disappointment. The Bucks, led by the indomitable Giannis Antetokounmpo, bolstered their ranks with the acquisition of Damian Lillard, yet find themselves trailing the tenacious Pacers 3-1 in the series. Antetokounmpo’s absence due to a calf injury has been compounded by Lillard’s Achilles woes, leaving Milwaukee’s championship ambitions hanging by a thread as they return home facing elimination.
76ers at Knicks (New York leads 3-1)
Meanwhile, in the City of Brotherly Love, the 76ers and their talismanic big man, Joel Embiid, have been unable to withstand the onslaught of Jalen Brunson and the Knicks. Despite Embiid’s heroic efforts, including a franchise-record 70-point outburst against San Antonio earlier in the campaign, an untimely knee injury derailed Philadelphia’s momentum, forcing them into the play-in tournament and a daunting first-round matchup against the battle-tested Knicks.
New York has seized control of the series behind Brunson’s scorching play, with the guard authoring a 47-point masterpiece in Game 4 that set a new franchise playoff record. Embiid, sounding a defiant tone, insists the 76ers remain unfazed by the 3-1 deficit, stating, “We’re the 7 seed, down 3-1. A lot of guys are hurt. I don’t know why we would feel the pressure, so we should just go out there, play our best basketball and one at a time. Win one, come back home, win another one, and then Game 7 over there. So I’m looking forward to it. No pressure.”
Yet the odds are stacked against Philadelphia as they visit the raucous Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks’ faithful created an inhospitable environment in Game 4. New York will also be buoyed by the potential returns of Bojan Bogdanovic and Mitchell Robinson from their respective injuries, further fortifying their quest to advance to the second round for the second consecutive season.
Magic at Cavaliers (Series tied 2-2)
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic find themselves locked in a heated 2-2 stalemate, the only series where elimination is not imminent on Tuesday. However, the narrative surrounding Donovan Mitchell’s struggles continues to cast a pall over Cleveland’s prospects.
The All-Star guard’s scoreless second half in Game 4, coupled with a mere four shot attempts, has raised concerns about his health and form after a late-season knee injury. Yet, Mitchell remains steadfast in his self-belief, asserting, “We’re very confident. We had two games that didn’t go our way. At the end of the day, they handled home court. We have things we can improve on, obviously, but it’s our job to do the same.”
For the Cavaliers to seize control of the series, Mitchell will need to rediscover his scoring touch, but he’ll also require more support from a bench unit that was outscored 44-15 in Game 4. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff may be forced to explore deeper rotations, potentially turning to sharpshooter Sam Merrill for an offensive spark or veterans Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris Sr. to provide an attitude adjustment.
The Magic, meanwhile, have confounded expectations with their decisive victories in Games 3 and 4, overcoming their offensive limitations with tenacious defense and timely shooting from beyond the arc. If they can maintain that level of execution on the road, they could be well-positioned to pull off an upset against a Cleveland team that appears vulnerable.
Pacers at Bucks (Indiana leads 3-1)
In Milwaukee, the Bucks find themselves in a similar predicament to their Eastern Conference counterparts in Philadelphia. Despite entering the postseason with championship-or-bust aspirations after the acquisition of Lillard, they now stare down the barrel of a shocking first-round exit at the hands of the plucky Pacers.
Khris Middleton, the Bucks’ battle-hardened veteran, exudes unwavering confidence in the face of adversity, asserting, “We have to play as hard as we can. We have to execute our game plan. We have to keep guys in check. Even though we’ve been down before, we’re down two guys now, we’ve still got all the confidence in the world that we can get back here.”
Yet the odds are daunting, as Milwaukee has never won a playoff series in which they trailed 3-1. Their hopes rest on Middleton’s shoulders, as well as those of Bobby Portis, who was ejected just seven minutes into Game 4 after the Bucks had desperately needed a monumental effort from him to compensate for the absences of Antetokounmpo and Lillard.
The Pacers, meanwhile, have been buoyed by their sizzling outside shooting, setting a franchise playoff record with 22 three-pointers in Game 4. Myles Turner has been a catalyst, draining 14 of 25 attempts from deep over the last three games, including a blistering 7-of-9 performance on Sunday. If Turner and his teammates can maintain that level of marksmanship, they could well be on their way to the second round for the first time since 2014 – although their chances would be bolstered by the return of All-Star Tyrese Haliburton, who is questionable with lower back spasms.
As the playoffs reach this pivotal juncture, the fates of these teams hang in the balance. Will the Bucks and 76ers mount improbable comebacks befitting their talent and pedigree, or will their championship dreams dissolve into the ether of another failed season? In the immortal words of Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, “The game’s going to be the game.” Only time will tell how these captivating narratives unfold, but one thing is certain: the drama and intensity of the NBA postseason continue to captivate basketball fans worldwide.
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