hiEastern Conference:

1st Round: 
#1 Miami Heat, 4 vs. #8 Atlanta Hawks, 1; Heat win series 4-1
#4 Philadelphia 76ers, 4 vs. #5 Toronto Raptors, 2; 76ers win series 4-2
#2 Boston Celtics, 4 vs. #7 Brooklyn Nets, 0; Celtics sweep series 4-0
#3 Milwaukee Bucks, 4 vs. #6 Chicago Bulls, 1; Bucks win series 4-1

2nd Round:
#1 Miami Heat, 4 vs. #4 Philadelphia 76ers, 2; Heat win series 4-2
#2 Boston Celtics, 4 vs. #3 Milwaukee Bucks, 3; Celtics win series 4-3

Conference Finals:
#1 Miami Heat, 2 vs. #2 Boston Celtics, 1; Heat lead 2-1

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Western Conference:

1st Round:
#1 Phoenix Suns, 4 vs. #8 New Orleans Pelicans, 2; Suns win series 4-2
#4 Dallas Mavericks, 4 vs. #5 Utah Jazz, 2; Mavericks win series 4-2
#2 Memphis Grizzlies, 4 vs. #7 Minnesota Timberwolves, 2; Grizzlies win series 4-2
#3 Golden State Warriors, 4 vs. #6 Denver Nuggets, 1; Warriors win series 4-1

2nd Round:
#1 Phoenix Suns, 3 vs. #4 Dallas Mavericks, 4; Mavericks win series 4-3
#2 Memphis Grizzlies, 2 vs. #3 Golden State Warriors, 3; Warriors win series 4-2

Conference Finals:
#3. Golden State Warriors, 3 vs. #4 Dallas Mavericks, 0; Warriors lead 3-0

It's that time again. The NBA Playoffs: 2022 Edition!

Will the Giannis and the Milwaukee Bucks make it back-to-back? Will the CP3, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns avenge last year and finally bring home their first title in franchise history? Will Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors go back to the top of the mountain? Will Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and the Brooklyn Nets achieve the goal they set out to do when they joined forces? Or will someone ELSE rise to claim the ultimate prize?

When was the last time both #1 seeds lost Game 1?

The Portland Trailblazers come away with a huge upset over the Lakers.
LeBron and A.D. both missing free throws, followed by Dame hitting that dagger from damn near half court sealed their fate tonight.

If the Nets would have won today it would have been the biggest upset so far they are the least likely lower seeded team to win at least one game. Looks like the Jazz versus Nuggets series could go seven games.

The Nets caught the Raptors sleeping tonight. Toronto probably thought it'd be a cake walk after Game 1. Well, that ain't the case.

Agreed on the Jazz and Nuggets; I also think the Pacers/Heat and Lakers/Trail Blazers could go the distance.

Carmelo Anthony will lead the Blazers to the championship while putting the other 29 teams who refused to pick him up to shame starting with his boy and the lakers!

He will take vengeance on two out of three of his former teams between the Rockets/Thunder and Nuggets. What you didn't know was that he's not really such a horrible defender; he was storing up power to unleash it on these playoffs!

Day 3 of the Playoffs are in the books.

The Celtics stomped on the 76ers yet again to take a 2-0 series lead in their best of seven.
The Raptors just manage to squeak by the Nets who put up a much bigger fight than they did in game 1, but it's not enough as the Raptors also take a 2-0 series lead.
After losing Game 1 in OT despite a 57-point effort from Donovan Mitchell, the Utah Jazz respond emphatically; Demolishing the Denver Nuggets to tie the series at 1 game apiece.
The Dallas Mavericks responded to their Game 1 loss on Monday to split the series 1 game apiece with the LA Clippers.

Tomorrow's games:
Heat/Pacers - Game 2
Thunder/Rockets - Game 2
Magic/Bucks - Game 2
Trail Blazers/Lakers - Game 2

Nice win by the Mavs they almost won the first game too. The Mavs bench played solid in both games and outplayed the Clippers bench easily so far.

When an opposing player knocks down a shot from near half-court to take the lead, especially after your two best players both missed a pair of free throws, that'll take the wind right out of your sails. I don't care who you are, that's a spirit breaker. Melo and Trent's big shots were set up by Dame's shot and Whiteside's defense. That shot was the turning point. It completely shifted the momentum of the game in Portland's favor. So yes, it was the dagger.

As for the free throws. They're called 'free' throws for a reason. Those are gimme points that the defense is just giving to you. You have to knock them down, especially in crunch time in the playoffs. Absolutely inexcusable. That would have put the Lakers up 4 if A.D. and LeBron had knocked them down and that could've changed the momentum in the Lakers favor. 

So, opting out in order to protect his family, including his six-year old son who has a history of respiratory illnesses (Meaning: He's at risk) makes Avery Bradley a flake? Good to know. He made a decision to put his family first, basketball second, and he shouldn't be faulted for it. If anything, he should be praised.