April 24, 2026 | Edition #213
👋 {{readername | Hey NBA Fans}}
Alongside three playoff games last night, interest in Damian Lillard has grown, potentially influencing the Spurs-Blazers series. Elsewhere, Devin Booker’s comments on officiating led to an expected penalty and an additional league decision, while Giannis-related developments continue.
Let’s tip things off…
Today’s Headline 🏀
Must-Reads ⛹️♂️
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Is Victor Wembanyama Playing Tonight? Spurs vs Blazers Game 3 Preview, Injury Report, Where to Watch and More
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EssentiallyDunk Originals 🔏
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Exclusive: Jerry West's Son Dishes On Father's Documentary, Opens Up on Relationship With Lakers
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Alley-oop 🤝🏻
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Fan Zone 📣
Last Poll Result: Slightly more than 65% of you are sure that the NBA referees are biased towards OKC as the debate over the league’s integrity lingers.
Play of the Day ▶️
Rim-wrecker Onyeka Okongwu was back with another slam dunk after he flew into the paint to do the job off Dyson Daniels’ corner three-point attempt.
NBA Playoffs ⚔️
The Hawks have taken a 2-1 lead after winning what was a competitive Game 3. Jalen Brunson was always going to be crucial to the Knicks’ success, but Atlanta rendered him ineffective with two minutes left in the final frame. Even though Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 24, CJ McCollum’s fadeaway jumper with 12.5 seconds left was the difference-maker.
Toronto finally broke a 12-game playoff losing streak against the Cavaliers. Scottie Barnes set career playoff highs with 33 points and 11 assists, and RJ Barrett added 33 points to beat James Harden, who scored 18 points, while Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Max Strus all had 15.
Nikola Jokic struggled again, shooting an ugly 7 of 26 from the field, thanks to Rudy Gobert. Even though the three-time MVP did notch a double-double, it came too late. They also missed Aaron Gordon due to a calf injury. On the other hand, Jaden McDaniels had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Ayo Dosunmu added 25 points and nine assists off the bench.
Thank you for reading the latest edition of Essentially Dunk. As always, we appreciate your honest feedback. So please tell us…