Edwards' 3s in the 3rd send Celtics to perfect preseason

From Larry Bird to Ray Allen, the Boston Celtics have suited up some of the best perimeter shooters in NBA history.

None of them ever had a hotter hand from behind the arc in a quarter than rookie Carsen Edwards on Tuesday night.

Edwards made eight 3-pointers and scored 26 points in the third period, leading the Celtics to a 118-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers to complete an unbeaten preseason.

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) shoots as Detroit Pistons' Tony Snell, left, and Luke Kennard defend during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 106-86. (AP PhotoMatt Rourke)

The Philadelphia 76ers also are 4-0, though their success isn't surprising because they're expected to be one of the best teams in the league.

Edwards' performance was a surprise, because there have been few like it in any game, no matter whether it counted in standings.

The second-round pick from Purdue was 8 for 11 behind the arc in the third quarter, all in just under nine minutes.

Detroit Pistons' Luke Kennard (5) shoots as Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris defends during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 106-86. (AP PhotoMatt Rourke)

Bird has raved about some of Klay Thompson's shooting performances, and the Golden State All-Star is the only player who ever made more 3s in one quarter. He hit nine during his 37-point third quarter — also a record — against Sacramento on Jan. 23, 2015.

Edwards finished 9 of 15 from 3-point range and scored 30 points.

CELTICS 118, CAVALIERS 95

Philadelphia 76ers' Zhaire Smith (8) shoots as Detroit Pistons' Bruce Brown defends during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 106-86. (AP PhotoMatt Rourke)

Tremont Waters added 24 points, matching Edwards from the field at 10-of-16 shooting, and seven assists while Boston rested most of its regulars.

Collin Sexton led the Cleveland (1-3) starters with 20 points. Darius Garland, the No. 5 overall pick in June, added 16.

76ERS 106, PISTONS 86

Philadelphia 76ers' Norvel Pelle (14) blocks the shot of Detroit Pistons' Christian Wood during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 106-86. (AP PhotoMatt Rourke)

Joel Embiid scored 20 of Philadelphia's 51 first-half points and finished with 24 points and eight rebounds as the 76ers and Pistons played short-handed.

Ben Simmons (back), James Ennis (calf) and Al Horford (rest) did not play for Philadelphia (4-0). Blake Griffin (hamstring), Andre Drummond (rest) and Markieff Morris (bronchitis) all sat out for Detroit (2-2).

Tobias Harris added 10 points, all in the first half, for Philadelphia, and rookie Matisse Thybulle had seven points, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Norvel Pelle added five blocks.

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland (10) goes up for a shot against Boston Celtics' Vincent Poirier (77) and Grant Williams (12) during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, in Cleveland. The Celtics won 118-95. (AP PhotoRon Schwane)

Christian Wood scored 19 points for Detroit and Tony Snell added 17. The teams combined to make just 12 of 50 from 3-point range.

TIMBERWOLVES 119, PACERS 111

Karl-Anthony Towns had 33 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks to lead Minnesota.

Robert Covington added 10 points and 19 boards, and each Minnesota (2-2) starter scored at least nine points.

Domantas Sabonis had 11 points and 13 rebounds in the first half for Indiana (3-1). No other starter for the Pacers reached double-digit scoring.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)