April 21, 2026 | Edition #209
👋 {{readername | Hey NBA Fans}}
Last night’s matchup delivered a thriller between the Timberwolves and Nuggets. But the spotlight was on a heated exchange between two of the game’s fiercest competitors. What really sparked the tension between Nikola Jokic and Anthony Edwards? We also take a look at reports on Steve Kerr’s potential replacement, and more in this edition.
Let’s tip things off…
Today’s Headline 🏀
A late-game exchange between Ant-Man and the Joker capped off an entertaining night in the playoffs.
Must-Reads ⛹️♂️
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EssentiallyDunk Originals 🔏
Alley-oop 🤝🏻
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Fan Zone 📣
Last Poll Result: There’s been a tie in voting, with 37% of you picking Deni Avdija and Jalen Duren for the Most Improved Player Award.
Play of the Day ▶️
Jokic bulldozing his way past a crowded paint to slam a late basket in the fourth quarter, shortening a four-point deficit, makes today’s play of the day.
NBA Playoffs ⚔️
Cleveland was dangerous last night after three of its players crossed 25 points. Donovan Mitchell led the scoring with 30, alongside James Harden’s 28-point contribution. On the other hand, Scottie Barnes led Toronto with a playoff career-high 26 points, but a season-high 22 turnovers turned out to be their Achilles heel.
MSG really hasn’t taken a liking to CJ McCollum. The Hawk caused problems for them again, spearheading a late surge before almost bottling it. Even though he missed two free throws with 5.6 seconds left, his 32 points alongside Kuminga’s 19 off the bench were more than enough. Brunson had 29, but couldn’t hold a 12-point lead after three quarters.
After outscoring the Timberwolves 39-25 in the first quarter, the Nuggets watched Minnesota flip that exact score in the second quarter. Anthony Edwards added 24 points last night, and the franchise ace looked much sharper compared to Game 1. Jamal Murray scored 30 for Denver, but his team shot a combined 2 for 12 in the fourth quarter, proving detrimental.
Thank you for reading the latest edition of Essentially Dunk. As always, we appreciate your honest feedback. So please tell us…