Check out the news that highlighted the day in the NBA — including Kyle Korver’s reflection on racism in the league and white privilege, D’Angelo Russell taking the Nets to the Playoffs, the Houston Rockets setting a new three-point record, Smart and Tatum’s injuries, and more.
Jazz’s Korver reflects on racism, white privilege | ESPN
Utah Jazz forward Kyle Korver published his newest piece on The Player’s Tribune and talks about racism in the NBA, white privilege and the latest confrontations with hostile fans. In the article titled “Privileged,” Korver shared his own experiences but also talks about his teammate’s arrest in 2015 and Russell Westbrook’s incident with a fan in Salt Lake City.
“There’s an elephant in the room that I’ve been thinking about a lot over these last few weeks,” Korver wrote. “It’s the fact that, demographically, if we’re being honest: I have more in common with the fans in the crowd at your average NBA game than I have with the players on the court.”
I've been trying to write this for a while. https://t.co/Qkt8aoVtdE
— Kyle Korver (@KyleKorver) April 8, 2019
Rockets top own NBA mark with 27 3-pointers | ESPN
The Houston Rockets dismantled the Phoenix Suns in the latest win and even though the game was pretty much decided at halftime, the Rockets made it interesting in the final minutes as they broke their own NBA record for three-pointers made per game as they hit 27. Eric Gordon led the Rockets by tying a career-high with eight triples, James Harden added five, PJ Tucker had four, while Danuel House ended the game with three.
👀 each of the @HoustonRockets NBA record 27 made three-pointers in their 6th straight win! #Rockets pic.twitter.com/8Y7wMYttOJ
— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2019
Source: Celtics’ Smart suffers strained oblique | ESPN
The Boston Celtics will face the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference and they will have home-court advantage but Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum suffered injuries and will face a race against time heading into Game 1. According to a source close to Adrian Wojnarowski, Smart sustained a left oblique strain, while Tatum, on the other hand, is dealing with a shin contusion.
Strained oblique for Boston’s Marcus Smart, league source tells ESPN. They’ll see how it responds in next 24-48 hours.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 8, 2019
D-Lo powers Nets to first playoff berth since ’15 | ESPN
The Brooklyn Nets made it to the playoffs for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign after defeating the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks on the road in the last two games, and coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t hide his pride.
“I’m just glad the way we did it,” Atkinson said. “Here against a tough Indiana team, on the road, on a back-to-back, which we struggled with in the past. Just a wonderful way to qualify for the playoffs. Felt like last two games was another level of focus. Another level of being locked in. They wanted it so bad. An extra energy out there.”
D’Angelo Russell emerged as the team’s leader in his first All-Star season and the reasons for the Nets’ success are clever personnel moves and the development of young players such as the former Los Angeles Lakers point guard.
Magic rally vs. Celtics to end postseason drought | ESPN
The Orlando Magic secured a playoff spot for the first time since 2012 after defeating the Boston Celtics at TD Garden and they had every reason to celebrate.
“It’s an amazing feeling. Nobody knows what I’ve been through in the last six years here, just through all the losing, the struggling, the doubting,” Vucevic said. “It’s been very difficult for me at times. It paid off in a great way, man, just to come in here in this building and beat a great Celtics team and to make it.”
The past seven years were quite troublesome for the Magic, who endured some really tough seasons and recorded 50+ losses in five, while they changed four coaches without a bigger success in the NBA draft lottery.
"It means so much."
Nikola Vucevic and Evan Fournier react as the @OrlandoMagic clinch their first postseason appearance since 2012!#GameTime pic.twitter.com/OQHoKDwfbn
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 8, 2019
