Headline: April 9 Showdown: Luka & AD Return to Dallas as Bucks Achieve Historic Comeback

Giannis concluded the alley-oop to finish off an impressive 34-3 scoring surge, allowing the Bucks to achieve the largest fourth-quarter comeback in their franchise’s history.

**5 HEADLINES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀 April 9, 2025**

**This Evening’s Preview:** All the details and stakes surrounding tonight’s 10 matchups.

**ESPN Doubleheader:** Luka and the Lakers take on AD and the Mavericks, while the Kings host Jokić and the Nuggets.

**The Recap:** OKC bounces back from their Sunday defeat to the Lakers, and the Bucks orchestrate a record-breaking comeback.

**West Race Tightens:** The teams ranked 3rd through 7th are separated by just one game, with 8th place trailing closely behind.

**Cavs Secure Top Seeds:** Eastern Conference positions solidified, with Cleveland ranked No. 1 and Boston at No. 2.

**BUT FIRST … ⏰ Check out last night’s results & what to tune into today…**

Tonight’s ESPN doubleheader kicks off in Dallas at 7:30 ET, featuring Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis facing off against their former teams. Later, Zach LaVine and the Kings will welcome Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets at 10 ET.

1. **WHAT WE KNOW & TONIGHT’S POSTSEASON IMPLICATIONS IN 1 MINUTE**

Tuesday’s games began to clarify the playoff picture with the top teams in both the East and West firmed up and one Western Play-In contender confirmed—yet there’s still plenty to be settled over the next five days.

Here’s a recap of what we understand leading into tonight’s action:

**Stakes Overview for Games with Playoff Consequences:**

2. **ESPN: LUKA & AD GO BACK TO DALLAS; KINGS HOST NUGGETS**

With just five days left in the regular season, both the Lakers and Mavericks aim to solidify their playoff positions.

Adding to the excitement, this marks Luka Dončić’s return to Dallas and Anthony Davis’ first matchup against his old team since the significant trade in February.

Nuggets vs. Kings (10 ET, ESPN): The Kings are back at home after winning the last three games of a six-game road trip, kicking off the home stretch with the Nuggets, who are eager to recover from a four-game losing streak amid a coaching shift.

3. **OKC REDEEMS ITSELF AGAINST L.A.; BUCKS AMAZE WITH 24-POINT RECOVERY**

Thunder 136, Lakers 120: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (42 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 three-pointers) notched his league-leading 13th 40-point game of the season, helping OKC reclaim victory from their Sunday defeat against the Lakers. | Recap

Bucks 110, Timberwolves 103: Fueled by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s third consecutive triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) and a staggering 40-13 fourth quarter—including a 34-3 run that turned a 24-point deficit into a 7-point advantage—the Bucks achieved their largest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history, marking their fifth consecutive win. | Recap

4. **THE WESTERN PLAYOFF HUNT GOT EVEN CLOSER**

How the Western Conference positions from 3rd to 8th evolved Tuesday:

Clippers 122, Spurs 117: Ivica Zubac’s fourth 20/20 game of the season (24 points, 20 rebounds), along with James Harden’s near triple-double (21 points, 9 rebounds, 12 assists) and Norm Powell’s 25 points, carried the Clippers to their fifth consecutive win and 12th in their last 15 matchups. | Recap

Warriors 133, Suns 95: Steph Curry (25 points, 6 assists) and Brandin Podziemski (22 points, 4 three-pointers) led seven Warriors players in double figures as Golden State rolled to their 47th win of the season—their highest since their 2022 championship run—while handing the Suns their seventh straight defeat. | Recap

Grizzlies 124, Hornets 100: Ja Morant (28 points, 8 assists) spearheaded six Grizzlies in double figures, including a dominant performance from Zach Edey, who recorded a double-double (17 points, 19 rebounds), as Memphis secured a wire-to-wire victory against Charlotte. | Recap

5. **CAVALIERS AND CELTICS CLAIM TOP SEEDS IN THE EAST**

Cavs 135, Bulls 113: Darius Garland (28 points, 6 three-pointers) and Evan Mobley (21 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists) combined for 49 points as Cleveland locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference with three regular-season games remaining. | Recap

In a thrilling finish, despite trailing by seven with 4:58 to go, the Knicks rallied with a 14-4 run, taking a three-point lead thanks to a layup by Josh Hart with 11.9 seconds left. However, Jayson Tatum drilled a stepback three to tie the game and force overtime, where the Celtics clinched the win.

Celtics 119, Knicks 117 (OT): Kristaps Porziņģis (34 points, 8 three-pointers) and Tatum (32 points, 7 rebounds) combined for 66 points, propelling Boston to victory, their 12th in the last 13 contests and a franchise-record 33rd road win. | Recap

Magic 119, Hawks 112: With the playoffs on the horizon, Paolo Banchero (33 points, 10 rebounds) and the Magic are peaking at the perfect time, registering their third consecutive win and seventh in their last nine. | Recap

Pacers 104, Wizards 98: Led by a combined 46 points from Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers overcame two double-digit deficits—trailing by 16 in the first quarter and 12 in the third—to triumph over Alex Sarr (20 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks) and the Wizards. | Recap

Nets 119, Pelicans 114: Trendon Watford (22 points, 5 assists) spearheaded a balanced scoring effort from seven Nets who hit double figures, as they took down the Pelicans, who were led by Antonio Reeves and Karlo Matković with 17 points each. | Recap