Monday's NBA playoffs: Nuggets face elimination, Thunder could sweep, and Pistons in trouble?

DENVER (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets have developed an intense rivalry, meeting in the NBA playoffs three times in the last four years.

The Nuggets bounced the Wolves 4-1 in 2023 on their way to the franchise's first NBA championship but Minnesota won the rematch a year later, capped by a 20-point second-half comeback in Game 7 in Denver.

This year the Nuggets rolled into the playoffs on a 12-game winning streak and handled the Timberwolves in the opener of their Western Conference playoff series only to blow a 19-point lead in Game 2 before getting throttled twice in Minneapolis.

Even with their starting backcourt of Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) and Anthony Edwards (knee) getting hurt Saturday night, the Wolves raced past the Nuggets 112-96 behind Ayo Dosunmu's career-best 43 points, the most by a reserve in a playoff game in half a century.

Game 5 is in Denver and another flop could send the Nuggets into a stunning early exit and an offseason of change after an injury-marred first full season under coach David Adelman, who has had no answers for the Nuggets' sudden struggles.

The Minnesota-Denver game is the nightcap of a three-game slate Monday, one that also could see the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder get their third consecutive first-round sweep. The Thunder lead Phoenix 3-0, with Game 4 on the Suns’ home floor.

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, was a maestro in Game 3, scoring 42 points on 15-for-18 shooting.

“He doesn’t need a ton of direction from me,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said of Gilgeous-Alexander. “But I thought he was obviously outstanding. The efficiency was ridiculous. For him to score like that, on 15 of 18, is a really impressive game.”

And leading off the night is Game 4 in Orlando, where the eighth-seeded Magic will aim to take a 3-1 lead over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup.

“Being up 2-1 at home is a good thing, but again, you got to come out and do it again,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after Saturday’s Game 3 win. “And that’s why I’ll keep saying it’s the one game. ... We’ve got to learn from this game and what we could do better.”

The only fight the Nuggets have put up since their series-opening win came when Nikola Jokic took offense to Jaden McDaniels scoring an uncontested layup with 2.1 seconds left after the Nuggets had conceded their double-digit defeat Saturday night.

Jokic ran from one end of the court to the other to shove McDaniels, who labeled all of the Nuggets bad defenders after Game 2. Players from both teams converged around them to broaden the scuffle. Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, who was livid with Jokic, was ejected along with Denver’s center.

“He scored when we’d stopped playing,” Jokic explained. “You guys saw what happened.”

On Sunday, the NBA fined Jokic $50,000 for initiating the dustup and Minnesota's Julius Randle $35,000 for escalating the altercation.

Both will be eligible to play when the series resumes Monday night in Denver.

The Nuggets have long odds to bounce back and advance. In NBA history, only 13 of 298 teams facing a 3-1 deficit came back to win the series. The last team to do it? The Nuggets in 2020, against both the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers.

When/Where to watch: Game 5: 10:30 p.m. EDT (NBC Peacock)

Series: Wolves lead, 3-1

Betting line: Nuggets by 10 1/2

What to Know: DiVincenzo’s season is over with an Achilles tendon injury and Edwards is facing a long recovery from a bone bruise and hyperextended knee. ... The Nuggets were the highest-scoring team in the NBA this season and were held under 100 points just twice, back in January. But they managed just 96 points in both of their losses in Minneapolis.

When/Where to watch: Game 4, 8 p.m. EDT (NBC Peacock, NBC Sports)

Series: Magic leads, 2-1

Betting line: Pistons by 2 1/2

What to Know: Behind 25 points each from Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane, the Magic beat the Pistons Saturday. It’s the 13th time since 1984, when the NBA went to the 16-team format, that a No. 8 seed has taken a 2-1 lead in a first-round series over a No. 1 seed. Of the previous 12, five finished off the upset: Miami in 2023, Philadelphia in 2012, Memphis in 2011, Golden State in 2007 and New York in 1999.

When/Where to watch: Game 4, 9:30 p.m. EDT (NBC Peacock)

Series: Thunder lead, 3-0

Betting line: Thunder by 10 1/2

What to Know: Devin Booker should be ready to play in Game 4 when the Suns try to avoid a four-game sweep after leaving Game 3 briefly because of a left ankle injury he sustained after tripping over Lu Dort’s foot. The five-time All-Star returned a few minutes later and said he was fine. Booker said he thought Dort stuck out his foot a little on the play, but didn’t know if it was on purpose.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) sits on the court after sustaining an injury during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards grabs his knee after an injury during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu, left, celebrates with center Naz Reid, right, after making a 3-point basket during the second half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) works toward the basket as Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, right, defends during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 26, 2026--

Attorneys Carlton Ng and Maureen Wang have joined Dorsey & Whitney in Hong Kong, the international law firm announced today.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260426835630/en/

“Carlton and Maureen bring deep expertise in Hong Kong corporate markets,” said Janet Wong, Head of Dorsey’s Hong Kong office. “We are thrilled they have joined our office and bring their tremendous experience, further strengthening our strategic international capabilities.”

“Their addition enhances the depth of our Hong Kong equity capital markets practice and reinforces our ability to support clients on complex transactions,” said Rachel Han, Dorsey’s Hong Kong Office Capital Markets Partner and Co-head of Asia Capital Markets.

Carlton Ng joined Dorsey as Of Counsel in the Capital Markets and Corporate Compliance group. Carlton has substantial experience in Hong Kong equity capital markets transactions. He regularly represents issuers, sponsors, and underwriters in HK IPO, covering a wide range of corporate structures, including VIE arrangements and dual listings, as well as various listing regimes, including listings of specialist technology companies under Chapter 18C of the HKEX Listing Rules. He advises listed issuers on secondary equity transactions, including directional issuance, placing, and block trades. Carlton also represents international financial investors and financial institutions in their investments in new economy sectors, covering pre-IPO investment, cornerstone investment, and PIPE transactions governed by the Hong Kong Listing Rules.

He is regularly engaged to address complex or novel regulatory issues arising from listing applications, providing practical and solution-oriented advice to help issuers and sponsors achieve successful outcomes. Carlton also provides ongoing advice to HK-listed companies on corporate governance and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Dorsey, Carlton practiced in a leading London-headquartered multinational law firm and a leading international law firm with strong Asia-Pacific roots.

Carlton received his Juris Doctor and Postgraduate Certificate in Laws from City University of Hong Kong and his Master of Laws in Civil & Commercial Law from Tsinghua University. He is admitted in Hong Kong SAR and the State of New York, USA.

Maureen Wang joined Dorsey as an Associate in the Corporate group. She focuses on helping issuers and sponsors navigate complex Hong Kong and cross-border capital markets transactions with clarity and efficiency. She advises on initial public offerings on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, working closely with clients from early reorganization through regulatory review and successful launch. Maureen has experience across a range of sectors, including technology, new energy, manufacturing, and financial services. Maureen received her L.L.M. from City University of Hong Kong, her M.L.S. from Shanghai University, and her B.S. from East China Normal University. She is admitted in the State of California, USA, and has a PRC Legal Professional Qualification.

“I’m thrilled to join Dorsey’s strong international platform and its growing Capital Markets practice,” said Carlton Ng. “I look forward to contributing to the team and further strengthening the practice to serve our clients.”

About Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Clients have relied on Dorsey as a valued business partner since 1912. With locations across the United States and in Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, Dorsey provides results-oriented, grounded counsel for its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey represents a number of the world's most successful companies from a wide range of industries, including banking & financial institutions; development & infrastructure; energy & natural resources; food, beverage & agribusiness; healthcare & life sciences; and technology.

Attorney Maureen Wang joined Dorsey as an Associate in the Corporate group in Hong Kong.

Attorney Carlton Ng joined Dorsey as Of Counsel in the Capital Markets and Corporate Compliance group in Hong Kong.