Category: Basketball

Golden State Warriors (37-45, 10th in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (45-37, seventh in the Western Conference)

Phoenix; Friday, 10 p.m. EDT

LINE: Suns -3.5; over/under is 219.5

PLAY-IN GAME: The Suns and Warriors square off to decide the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

BOTTOM LINE: The Phoenix Suns host the Golden State Warriors for the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament. The winner earns the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

The Suns are 10-7 against division opponents. Phoenix averages 112.6 points while outscoring opponents by 1.5 points per game.

The Warriors are 7-9 against Pacific Division teams. Golden State is eighth in the Western Conference giving up only 115.2 points while holding opponents to 48.0% shooting.

The Suns score 112.6 points per game, 2.6 fewer points than the 115.2 the Warriors give up. The Warriors average 15.7 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.5 more made shots on average than the 12.2 per game the Suns give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Devin Booker is shooting 45.6% and averaging 26.1 points for the Suns. Royce O'Neale is averaging 2.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Brandin Podziemski is scoring 13.8 points per game with 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Warriors. Gui Santos is averaging 12.1 points and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 51.2% over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 115.1 points, 44.2 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.1 points per game.

Warriors: 3-7, averaging 111.4 points, 40.3 rebounds, 27.5 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.3 points.

INJURIES: Suns: Mark Williams: day to day (foot), Grayson Allen: day to day (hamstring).

Warriors: Quinten Post: out (foot), Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Moses Moody: out for season (knee), Kristaps Porzingis: unknown (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Charlotte Hornets (44-38, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Hornets -3.5; over/under is 218

PLAY-IN GAME: The Magic and Hornets square off to decide the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets take the court for the NBA Playoffs Play-In Tournament. The winner claims the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The Magic are 26-26 against Eastern Conference opponents. Orlando is 20-26 against opponents with a winning record.

The Hornets are 11-5 against the rest of their division. Charlotte is seventh in the Eastern Conference scoring 116.0 points per game and is shooting 46.0%.

The Magic are shooting 46.4% from the field this season, 0.3 percentage points lower than the 46.7% the Hornets allow to opponents. The Hornets are shooting 46.0% from the field, 1.6% lower than the 47.6% the Magic's opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Paolo Banchero is averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Magic. Jalen Suggs is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LaMelo Ball is averaging 20.1 points and 7.1 assists for the Hornets. Brandon Miller is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 7-3, averaging 116.4 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points per game.

Hornets: 6-4, averaging 113.4 points, 44.8 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.3 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.1 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Jonathan Isaac: day to day (knee).

Hornets: Moussa Diabate: day to day (hip), PJ Hall: out for season (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Saturday, 6 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks to open the Eastern Conference first round. New York went 2-1 against Atlanta during the regular season. The Knicks won the last regular season meeting 108-105 on Monday, April 6 led by 30 points from Jalen Brunson, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 36 points for the Hawks.

The Knicks are 35-17 against conference opponents. New York averages 116.5 points while outscoring opponents by 6.4 points per game.

The Hawks are 27-25 in conference play. Atlanta is 7-8 in one-possession games.

The Knicks average 116.5 points per game, 0.5 more points than the 116.0 the Hawks give up. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mikal Bridges is scoring 14.4 points per game and averaging 3.8 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 20.3 points and 2.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Jalen Johnson is scoring 22.5 points per game and averaging 10.3 rebounds for the Hawks. Alexander-Walker is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 111.2 points, 40.3 rebounds, 26.9 assists, 8.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 49.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.3 points per game.

Hawks: 6-4, averaging 120.0 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.3 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.6 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), OG Anunoby: day to day (ankle), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow), Jalen Brunson: day to day (ankle).

Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu: day to day (finger), Nickeil Alexander-Walker: day to day (toe), Jalen Johnson: day to day (rest), CJ McCollum: day to day (rest), Jonathan Kuminga: day to day (knee), Dyson Daniels: day to day (toe), Jock Landale: out (ankle).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Houston Rockets (52-30, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (53-29, fourth in the Western Conference)

Los Angeles; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Rockets -5.5; over/under is 207.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Lakers host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets to open the Western Conference first round. Los Angeles went 2-1 against Houston during the regular season. The Lakers won the last regular season matchup 124-116 on Thursday, March 19 led by 40 points from Luka Doncic, while Alperen Sengun scored 27 points for the Rockets.

The Lakers are 33-19 in Western Conference games. Los Angeles has an 8-3 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Rockets are 29-23 against Western Conference opponents. Houston has a 5-9 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Lakers make 50.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.2 percentage points higher than the Rockets have allowed to their opponents (46.0%). The Rockets average 11.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.3 fewer made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the Lakers allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jake LaRavia is scoring 8.2 points per game and averaging 4.0 rebounds for the Lakers. LeBron James is averaging 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Kevin Durant is averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists for the Rockets. Reed Sheppard is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 7-3, averaging 116.2 points, 41.4 rebounds, 28.6 assists, 10.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 52.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.2 points per game.

Rockets: 9-1, averaging 123.6 points, 49.1 rebounds, 28.7 assists, 7.7 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points.

INJURIES: Lakers: Austin Reaves: out (rib), Jaxson Hayes: day to day (foot), Luka Doncic: out (hamstring).

Rockets: Kevin Durant: day to day (rest), Amen Thompson: day to day (rest), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: out for season (ankle), Jabari Smith Jr.: day to day (rest), Alperen Sengun: day to day (rest).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Toronto Raptors (46-36, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30, fourth in the Eastern Conference)

Cleveland; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT

LINE: Cavaliers -8.5; over/under is 219.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Cavaliers host first series matchup

BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors to open the Eastern Conference first round. Toronto went 3-0 against Cleveland during the regular season. The Raptors won the last regular season matchup 110-99 on Tuesday, Nov. 25 led by 37 points from Brandon Ingram, while Donovan Mitchell scored 17 points for the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference teams. Cleveland is seventh in the Eastern Conference in rebounding averaging 44.4 rebounds. Evan Mobley paces the Cavaliers with 9.0 boards.

The Raptors have gone 33-19 against Eastern Conference opponents. Toronto has a 21-27 record against teams above .500.

The Cavaliers are shooting 48.2% from the field this season, 1.5 percentage points higher than the 46.7% the Raptors allow to opponents. The Raptors are shooting 48.2% from the field, 1.8% higher than the 46.4% the Cavaliers' opponents have shot this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Mitchell is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 assists over the last 10 games.

Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Ja'Kobe Walter is averaging 2.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 7-3, averaging 121.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 29.1 assists, 7.6 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points per game.

Raptors: 6-4, averaging 119.8 points, 41.0 rebounds, 32.3 assists, 10.0 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 52.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.6 points.

INJURIES: Cavaliers: James Harden: day to day (rest), Dean Wade: day to day (ankle), Dennis Schroder: day to day (rest), Evan Mobley: day to day (calf), Keon Ellis: day to day (knee), Jarrett Allen: day to day (injury management), Thomas Bryant: day to day (calf), Sam Merrill: day to day (hamstring), Donovan Mitchell: day to day (ankle).

Raptors: Chucky Hepburn: day to day (knee), Immanuel Quickley: day to day (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

This is a golden opportunity for Bronny James. 

He can prove himself. He can silence his detractors. He can show the world he belongs. 

Or he can stumble backward, making the negative noise louder. 

With Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) sidelined, James should get some minutes in the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Rockets. 

Postseason minutes are powerful. They can rewrite narratives. They can put careers on different trajectories. 

So far, his narrative has largely been out of his hands. 

James has been dragged through the mud ever since the Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Nepotism. Unready. A joke.

Those words have hovered over the 21-year-old like a shadow, distorting the reality that he has outperformed a lot of other players picked before him in the draft. 

But that narrative is less sexy. 

James has been subjected to the same level of criticism as a No. 1 overall pick by virtue of being LeBron James’ son. 

Of course, there are two sides to that coin. 

Because he’s the offspring of one of the world’s most powerful people, he also had a gold-paved path into the league. 

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But what’s lost in all of this is James doesn’t need to be doing this. He doesn’t need to be a punching bag for pundits. He’s subjecting himself to derision because he’s following his dream. 

Behind the scenes, he works hard. He’s well-liked by his teammates and coaches. He’s humble. He has shown there’s a place for him on NBA rosters. But that hasn’t changed any minds. 

Now’s his chance to make people see him. 

“I mean, it’s what I’ve wanted,” James said at Lakers practice Thursday. “My dream is to play in the playoffs. I wasn’t able to play in March, so this is a bigger stage than that. And I’m completely and totally excited to get out there with my teammates and try to get some wins and try to make it down further in the playoffs.”

James started playing meaningful minutes after Doncic and Reaves suffered their injuries against the Thunder on April. 2. 

In April, James actually had better stats than the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Zaccharie Risacher.

James averaged 7.2 points on 47% shooting from the field and 43% shooting from beyond the arc. Risacher averaged 4.8 points on 42% shooting from the field and 10% shooting from deep. It’s a small sample size, but it’s an eye-popping one. 

But again, that hasn’t moved the needle. 

If James can play well during the postseason, the world will be forced to notice him. They’ll be forced to open their minds. This is his chance. 

James has been through harder things than trying to change his detractors’ minds. As an 18-year-old freshman at USC, he suffered a cardiac arrest during a workout in July 2023. 

At the time, it was unclear if he was going to survive. Nearly three years later, he’s about to play playoff basketball for one of the most heralded franchises in sports. 

For the elder James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all time, this is a dream come true. 

“Every moment we get an opportunity to play together is something that I never take for granted,” LeBron said Thursday. “I mean, listen, me being on the floor with him, postseason, regular season, training camp, practices, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career above everything that I’ve accomplished. 

“So the fact that he’s put himself in a position to get his number called for postseason [games] is pretty remarkable and pretty cool given the circumstances that he’s been given the last couple years. He earned it, he deserves it and he’ll be ready.”

Regardless of what the 41-year-old says, it’s going to be up to his son to make a statement for himself with his play. 

James can make 3-pointers. He can be a menace on defense. He has so much potential. 

And now he has the stage. 

It’s time for him to do something with it. 

Mitchell Robinson has seen it all as a Knick, from toiling on the league’s worst team to now being the X factor on a contender that has a chance to be the best.

The Knicks’ road to a title — the bar set by ownership — starts with Saturday’s first-round Game 1 against the visiting Hawks. Robinson, the longest-tenured player on the roster, is the only one left from their 2021 first-round loss to the Hawks.

“Yeah, it’s crazy. Was it five years ago when we played them in the playoffs?” Robinson asked rhetorically. “I didn’t get to play in that series. Five years later, here we are with a different team for both sides. It’s going to be amazing, going to be fun. [We’re] going to get after it.”

Robinson missed that gentleman’s sweep at the hands of Atlanta, sidelined by a broken foot. But after being handled cautiously the final six games — averaging 20.7 minutes in three and missing the rest — he’s come through a left ankle injury and lost toenail, healthy for this Hawks rematch.

A pending unrestricted free agent, this could be his Garden swan song. Robinson was a rookie on a league-worst 17-65 squad and has been part of their steady climb. Now they’ll aim to turn the Hawks into another rung on their ladder.

“Yeah, I’ve done seen it all,” said Robinson, 28. “This is Year 8 for me, going from not being in the playoffs, to the bottom of the East, to now one of the tops in the East. It’s been amazing. Long journey. Trust the process and here we are.”

Robinson averaged 5.7 points and 8.9 boards this season, but the numbers don’t so much lie as fall short of the truth.

“We’ve got to approach this collectively,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “He’s a terrific player that impacts the game in a lot of ways.”

In their April 6 matchup, Robinson had a dozen boards, three blocks and two steals in just 20 minutes off the bench to lead the Knicks to a road win. The league’s most efficient rebounder, Robinson could be the X factor against a team already undersized before losing Jock Landale to an ankle injury.

In the postseason, when games get slower, defensive and played in the halfcourt — where every rebound matters — Robinson has a golden opportunity to thrive.

“Yeah, everything matters: box-outs, rebounds, offensive rebounds, just the little details. Everything literally counts, and you’ve got to make the best of it,” Robinson said. “I’ve been in a couple of playoff series now. So, got a little experience. With that, I use that as motivation and know what to look for.”

Robinson led the league in rebounds per 100 possessions, offensive rebounds per 100 and offensive rebounds per 36 minutes. And his contrast with Karl-Anthony Towns is like a great fastball-curveball combo.

“Mitchell’s size, athleticism, ability to be a vertical threat, it gives our opponents different looks offensively just by substitution,” coach Mike Brown said, snapping his fingers. “So from that standpoint, it’s pretty neat. … Those two guys are different, and I like to have diversity within our team, especially within the same position.”

Though Towns is great in dribble-handoffs and even from the arc, Robinson is a physical, ferocious offensive rebounder and rim protector.

And the Knicks have gone jumbo with both playing together for 278 minutes in 51 games this season. Their rebound rate of 58 percent was the best of any two-man unit involving Mitchell, and could be a weapon to slow the Hawks’ fast break.

“He impacts the game on the boards in a really significant way. He does things that are selfless. The rebounds show up, but his presence — whether it’s the screening or rolling, the defending — there’s a lot of things he does,” Snyder said. “There’s no one guy for us that you can say that’s your job to stop him. … So we have to approach it collectively.

“They play them together, too. So, you look at all those different lineups. So you can chase matchups, or you can stay with what you think works for your team. I think you need to do both.”

The playoffs are here. After 82 games and 62 wins, the Spurs have an established identity and a set rotation. A big reason for their success has been their depth outside of their main guys. The role players have stepped up, bringing shooting, defense, and playmaking. San Antonio’s top nine is not perfect, but it’s good enough to beat anyone, as they proved in the regular season.

Normally, rotations only tighten up in the playoffs, but it’s not uncommon for someone not in the scouting report to be asked to fill a small role in case of injury or to make adjustments or counters. So let’s see who the Spurs have at the edges of the rotation and what they could do in the playoffs if called upon to contribute.

The Spurs have some “break in case of emergency” backcourt shooting

Jordan McLaughlin has never really had a rotation spot in the NBA because of his limitations, but early in the season and recently, he has been showing that he can give the team a few solid minutes if needed.

McLaughlin is not particularly big, athletic, or quick, but he has good defensive anticipation and always plays hard. He offers ball handling to start possessions, which helps keep the true initiators fresh, and he can also create in a pinch. But more importantly, he’s been a good three-point shooter.

The former Timberwolf and King shot 42 percent from beyond the arc, continuing a recent trend in his career in which his outside shot seems like a reliable weapon, something that wasn’t true in his beginnings. The volume was small, and not a lot of his attempts came in high-leverage situations because of his role, but it’s safe to say he can make open looks as a spot-up shooter.

The Spurs also have a more versatile but less efficient shooter on the roster. Lindy Waters III shot 34 percent from beyond the arc this year, but on a lot of attempts per minute. He’s been better in past stops, and he can fire on the move. He doesn’t offer much ballhandling, but he understands his role, which explains his extremely low turnover rate in admittedly low minutes.

Backcourt shooting was projected to be one of the Spurs’ biggest weaknesses, and it was an issue at times, but San Antonio has done exceptionally well despite not having many rotation guards whom opponents are afraid to leave open. McLaughlin and Waters III shouldn’t be expected to play much in the postseason, if at all, but it’s good to know that if the team needs some extra shooting in a certain situation, they have those two in the deep bench.

The Spurs have a lot of big men, but not much actual big man depth

The Spurs have five centers on their roster. Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet get the rotation minutes, but Kelly Olynyk, Mason Plumlee, and Bismack Biyombo are on the bench every game, which means San Antonio has big bodies to spare. Alas, quantity doesn’t equal quality. Despite the many names, they don’t have a lot of alternatives to throw out there who can either sustain the level of play of the top two guys or offer a different look.

Biyombo is a fantastic human who should not get minutes under any circumstances when the game is on the line. Plumlee has been known to do the little things well, as he can screen, rebound, and keep the ball moving, but at 36, his best defensive years are behind him, and he’s not much of a scoring threat. Olynyk is the most unique of the three, since he can shoot open threes and is a terrific passer, but he’s one of the worst rim protectors among players his size.

The reason why the lack of quality depth has not been a huge problem for the Spurs is not hard to figure out: their top two guys are among the best in the league at their roles. If nothing unexpected happens, Wembanyama will likely see his minutes expanded in the postseason, and Luke Kornet will continue to be an excellent backup who can also share the floor with Wemby at times, for short stints.

If Wemby gets hurt, San Antonio’s chances to make a deep run disappear, no matter who’s behind him in the depth chart, so it’s not necessary to dwell on that scenario. But what happens if Kornet is injured or ineffective? It could be a problem for the Spurs.

Carter Bryant might be more important than the typical 10th man

In the last stretch of the regular season, Harrison Barnes claimed the ninth spot in the rotation, getting a lot more minutes than Carter Bryant, who at one point seemed in contention for the role. It’s not a shock, since Barnes has the playoff experience that the rookie obviously lacks, and despite his inconsistent season, he’s still a 39 percent shooter from beyond the arc on significant volume. Yet while Bryant might get squeezed out of the regular rotation if Mitch Johnson trims it, he could end up being important in some situations.

When he hasn’t had either of his two top big men, Johnson has preferred to go small often, with Bryant as the de facto center for short stretches, allowing the Spurs to be switchable on defense and play five-out on offense. Those units have some question marks in terms of rebounding and rim protection, but considering the alternatives, it’s hard to blame Johnson for preferring them. If opponents go small themselves or the Spurs need a different look, Bryat could get some run.

If the rookie is getting big minutes at the wing, it probably means something went wrong, but he could also have his moments at that slot if the Spurs just need a jolt of athleticism. Bryant might be the 10th man on the rotation, but could also be a factor in specific matchups.

NBA analyst and former All-Star Wally Szczerbiak takes a shot at some playoff Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby. Szczerbiak will be in studio with Bill Pidto and Alan Hahn for MSG Network’s pre- and postgame coverage during the Knicks’ first-round matchup against the Hawks — with contributions by Alex Monaco, Monica McNutt and Tyler Murray. 

Q: Are the Knicks better equipped entering these playoffs compared to a year ago?

A: You can never predict. … I would think they would be because of the depth of their roster, and how many guys they can trust off the bench, and the different kind of rotations that Mike Brown has experimented with. … I remember when I played for Mike in Cleveland, he really did a thorough analysis of who he was playing, matchups in each individual playoff series. And I remember the first round we played against Detroit, and I was playing a lot of minutes, I was the first or second guy off the bench, but that series I didn’t play much at all because he didn’t like my matchup guarding Tayshaun Prince. So he wanted to keep LeBron [James] on him, I think, most of the time. I don’t even know if I even played until maybe Game 4, we won all four in a row.

And he explained to me, he was like, “Wally, just stay ready, this series I’m gonna experiment with some stuff. I’m gonna watch the matchups, see how the series goes.” … The following series we played Atlanta, and my matchup was different, I was taking on [Ronald] Murray, and I played like 25, 30 minutes every game and we won 4-0, and I played a lot in the Eastern Conference finals because I was matched up with Rashard Lewis, he liked that matchup for me. … He has a lot of options now with who he’s gonna go with off the bench. … These are all options that I don’t think the team had last year that Mike Brown and his coaching staff have at their disposal this year.

I personally would think they’re a little more equipped for success and the opportunity to win a championship. That’s how this team has been coached all season long. They’ve been primed to be healthy at this point in the season, peaking at this point in the season, tweaking matchups, tweaking lineups, tweaking benches here and there just to see what works best. … It’s not gonna be easy. … But I think this team is very equipped to make a championship run.

Q: What do you sense the mindset of these Knicks is trying to get over the hump?

A: I just think they embrace the journey. I think they really like each other in the locker room. I think they just need to focus on their opponent one at a time. The Atlanta Hawks are a good basketball team, they really are. They made some good moves, they’ve gotten better defensively and they have a great coach [Quin Snyder]. You gotta respect everyone on that roster. … The prep’s gonna be big for these guys this week and I know this team’ll be ready. I really believe experience wins in the playoffs.

Q: What is the key to the Hawks series?

A: Defend the 3-point line. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a very underrated player. He hurt the Knicks a little bit from 3, and I think they really have to do a good job of not letting [CJ] McCollum get going, obviously he’s like the orchestrator, the guy they trust in the fourth quarter. McCollum’s gonna be aggressive, he’s gonna get his, but when you start doubling McCollum that leaves their shooters open, and that’s a big problem. When the Knicks don’t defend the 3-point line, that’s when they’re vulnerable, and that’s when they get in scramble mode on defense. 

Q: This is a more rested Jalen Brunson?

A: Yes. Do you remember at the end of last year? He missed a month coming off an ankle injury, and he got back right before the playoffs. He looks quick, he looks athletic, he looks explosive, he looks rested, he looks healthy … and most of the guys do. All of ’em, almost. Obviously injuries are gonna come, but Mike Brown has managed minutes very well and trusted the bench. Landry Shamet’s a big part of the rotation, Mitchell Robinson’s been outstanding — he’s healthy this year, he’s had a bounce-back year in every way, shape or form, he’s a difference-maker on the boards. [Miles] Deuce McBride came back and had a big game. I think he’s ready to go now in the playoffs just to remind people how good he was all regular season. 

Q: Describe the Jalen Brunson we see now compared to the Jalen Brunson in Dallas.

A: With Luka Doncic, he was playing Robin to Luka’s Batman. So it’s his team [now], he’s got the keys to the car, he’s the captain. He gets to impose his will on the game when he feels he needs to, and that he can pull the foot off the gas and be a pure point guard when he sees his guys are going. He is completely the engine to this team. He’s the best, if not one of the best, in closing games. He always delivers when the defense is loaded up on him and they’re locked in and they’re playing their hardest. The way this team plays in the fourth quarter and the way he executes the offense in the fourth quarter, I think, is just second to none. 

Q: What do the Knicks need out of Karl Anthony-Towns in these playoffs?

A: I just think aggressiveness is important with him, when teams dare him to switch and put a small guy on him, be aggressive, demand the ball … work him into the offense. I think we saw a lot of high pick-and-roll with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns towards the end of the year, and I think that’s an impossible play to guard. I think we’re gonna see a lot in the playoffs. That’s gonna be maybe their go-to play at the end of games possibly. They’re playing great in the fourth quarter. This team is built to win close games, and they have clutch guys on their team. Karl-Anthony Towns seems fresh, he seems like he doesn’t have as much mileage on his body this year as he did last year. I think that’s a credit to Mike Brown and the coaching staff and the training staff really managing these guys to keep them healthy for the playoffs.

Q: What kind of X factor can Robinson be?

A: Huge factor. Huge. Obviously he has a few limitations — he’s not a jump shooter and he’s not a great free-throw shooter. But what he does well, he has maximized to the fullest. The bench unit, when he comes out there and plays with those guys, he solidifies them defensively. He’s a big-time rim protector. The offensive and defensive glass, when they come in with that unit with [Jordan] Clarkson and Deuce and Shamet and Mitchell Robinson, I think that unit’s really developed a lot of chemistry and played great in the last couple of weeks, and that’s gonna be a dynamic bench unit that can really, I think, help this team in the playoffs.

Q: The entire starting lineup is battle-tested in the playoffs.

A: This team is experienced. They’ve had a couple of pretty good playoff runs the last couple of years. I guess your top eight is the same that made the Eastern Conference finals. … At the same time, Boston’s playing well, Detroit’s playing well, Cleveland’s scary now that they picked up James Harden. … No one’s gonna hand you anything, you gotta go out and earn every one.

Q: Compare Josh Hart starting versus off the bench.

A: I like it, especially with the way he’s shooting the ball. He brings such intangibles to that starting lineup, he doesn’t have to shoot, he does all the other little things while all the other guys are looking to be aggressive and score. I think Josh Hart’s confidence shooting the basketball is in a great place, and that’s one thing that I think hurt the Knicks a little bit in last year’s playoffs, the fact that he didn’t trust his 3-point shooting, and as a result teams were able to load up defensively on all of the other guys. They can’t do that this year. 

Q: Why was the trade for OG Anunoby so important for Leon Rose?

A: In order to win in the playoffs, you need wing defenders, and OG and Mikal [Bridges] are two of the best. The main reason why they got OG, he’s one of the best defenders in the league, he can guard all five positions, and he can play all five positions, so you can play small and you can bump him to the 5. I think he’s been great rebounding the basketball this year, which has allowed Mike Brown to play a lot of different lineups. A winning player is what you got in that trade. 

Q: What should Knicks fans expect from Bridges?

A: The Knicks don’t get by the Celtics without his defense last year. They’re gonna need more of the same. I think he’s had a better shooting year than he did last year. Sometimes he doesn’t get as many shots as maybe he would like and a lot of people think he should get, but he doesn’t complain, he just goes out there and does everything that the team asks of him to win. I love when he’s aggressive and looks to get himself into rhythm, looks to be aggressive and shoot. He’s a very capable outside jump shooter and 3-point shooter, so that opens up the floor for Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and all of the other guys to have a lot of driving lanes to the basket. 

Q: What’s the loudest you’ve heard the Garden?

A: Donte DiVincenzo hit that 3 a couple of years ago in the playoffs. I think that was just the loudest I’ve ever heard a building. It was unbelievable, it was awesome.

Q: How big of a factor can the Garden play?

A: Huge. Massive. Like, every time I go to the Garden, I think they’re never losing, especially in the playoffs, with how loud it is, and how amped-up the crowd is and the way that energy is. I know as a former player, having that kind of home-court advantage, it’s just electric, it really is. They have been a very good road playoff team, too. This team can win on any floor, it doesn’t matter, but it sure helps having home-court advantage with that great crowd.

Q: How crazy would a Knicks-Celtics second-round series be?

A: Oh, that would be awesome. It would be really, really good. Obviously the Celtics have a little different makeup than they did last year. I think the Knicks were very fortunate to steal those first two games in Boston when Boston had those huge leads in the second half and completely fell apart. I wouldn’t bank on that happening again, but I think this year the Knicks match up a little bit better. I think Boston has retooled very well. You had three key pieces that aren’t on the roster anymore that won a championship. That’s a little bit of a question mark for Boston. Some of these guys haven’t played in the playoffs, they’re a little inexperienced, but they sure have stepped up to the plate this year and played outstanding basketball. So a Boston-Knick series in the second round would be really, really fun for the NBA, too.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory when you played for the Celtics?

A: I enjoyed the fans, I enjoyed playing there. Unfortunately, I was a little banged-up, had some injuries there. One of my favorite games was when I first got traded there, I landed like right after the first quarter ended and I made it for the second half, and we beat the Sacramento Kings, just threw on a uniform and went out there and played, made a couple of 3s, and it was off to the races in my Boston Celtic uniform.

Q: How did your game compare to your father’s, Walt?

A: Very similar. The only difference was I had a little bit more ball handling to my game. He was more of a catch-and-shoot guy, and that was maybe because of the time. He was probably a better rebounder. He loved playing down low and just rooting himself down there rebounding. I think I had a few more perimeter skills, and he had a few more big man skills.

Q: Did you play one-on-one against him?

A: Yeah, first time I ever beat him one-on-one was after my freshman year in college that summer. I remember we played a game in Pittsburgh, we were on a little mini-vacation with his family, who grew up in Pittsburgh, he grew up in Pittsburgh. We played at a local YMCA and I said, “Let’s get this over with, buddy,” and I finally beat him.

Q: How did he handle it?

A: He was alright. I was All-Freshman in the MAC [Mid-American Conference], so it was about time he handed over the reins.

Q: Did he coach you growing up?

A: Oh, yeah. He coached me in CYO and stuff. He didn’t coach me, per se, in high school, AAU, but he was very influential in being at games and being in my ear whenever I had questions or just kind of steering me in the right direction all throughout my NBA, college, all my careers.

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Q: How would you sum up your NBA career?

A: The All-Star Game was great, I think I made the playoffs seven out of the 10 years. I fell short of an NBA championship, which still haunts me to this day, made the Eastern and Western Conference finals. I was just all about wanting to win, I played on good teams with great players — K.G. [Kevin Garnett], LeBron, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, [Latrell] Sprewell, [Sam] Cassell, you name it. I was very proud of my career, I just wish I could have avoided some injuries. I would have liked to have played a little longer, and I was still pretty healthy after that 10th year. But that would be my only regret.

Q: Did you have a chip on your shoulder after you were not heavily recruited and chose Miami (Ohio)? 

A: Not really. I liked Miami, it just was a great place for me, we had a great coaching staff. I just looked at it as a kid that needed to get better, I used it as motivation to get better. I had Sean Miller, Thad Matta, Herb Sendek, Charlie Coles, Jenny Christian — great coaching staff that were experts in developing players.

Q: Tell me about your 43-point game in your 1999 opening-round upset of No. 7 seed Washington in March Madness.

A: Well, that was fun because they didn’t double-team me for the first time my whole senior year (laugh). I was dealing with triangle-and-twos in the Mid-American Conference — teams were all over me, really physical, double-teams every time I touched the ball. I had my best games in the nonconference and in the NCAA Tournament because the teams I played against didn’t really think they needed to double-team me as much.

Q: What was that like going to the Sweet 16?

A: That was awesome, it was great. I came off a loss in our Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game where I had a terrible game, lost like 49-42, I shot 4-for-17, I was getting roasted by “Mike and the Mad Dog” on the radio. That’s the first time my games were televised. And I used that roasting as motivation to go out and prove ’em wrong in the NCAA Tournament.

Q: Long Island memories growing up in Cold Spring Harbor?

A: The biggest ones were going to Robert Moses Field 2 with my brother, my sister and my mom and dad — that was my summer vacation. It was so much fun. I used to love boogie boarding. I also was really into soccer at a young age — we had a really good soccer team, travel soccer — and then I played New York State Select and Long Island Select soccer until I was in eighth grade. Another huge memory is growing up going to my dad’s summer league games, my dad’s Huntington League games, Friends Academy games, he played in the leagues after he retired (Real Madrid), so I loved palling around with him, hanging with the guys afterwards for a burger and Coke. That’s kind of where I got my bug for the game of basketball. 

Q: Favorite players growing up?

A: Dominque Wilkins was my favorite. I used to go to the All-Star games with my dad, so I loved his dunking prowess, dunking off two feet. I always loved Chris Mullin, I loved [John] Starks and [Patrick] Ewing, I was a huge Knicks fan, the Knicks were my team growing up. I used to go to the Garden maybe once or twice a year, my dad would take me to a game, and it was just so much fun rooting for the Knicks teams in the ’90s. I loved Larry Bird.

Q: Whatever comes to mind: Bill Pidto.

A: He’s a wonderful host, just a joy to spend so much time with during the season and talk Knicks basketball.

Q: Alan Hahn.

A: A numbers genius that is always fun to debate at times about his stats.

Q: How good of a basketball player was he?

A: He was pretty good, he was a solid Division II player [LIU Post], great athlete, he was like a hustle 4 man, utility 4 man-type guy, a little bit like a Mitchell Robinson type where he rebounded, played defense, just hit the glass hard, could make his free throws and stuff like that. He was a big energy guy, and we played a little bit once I would come home in the summers, we used to play at St. Mary’s, we would always call him up. But unfortunately we got him when his knee was kind of cranky ’cause he had that ACL surgery that derailed his career a little bit in college. 

Q: Monica McNutt.

A: She’s great on camera, she really knows a lot about the game of basketball, the NBA game. She’s great on the radio, too. Having her point of view is big time.

Q: Mike Breen.

A: He’s the GOAT, he’s the best. Ultra prepared. One thing I learned from Mike is it doesn’t matter whether it’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals or whether it’s game 52 [of the regular season] and the Knicks are up 20, 30 points, you gotta bring the same enthusiasm, the same energy to every broadcast. I think that’s what makes him so special. He never lets the fans down, he always delivers, and he knows his job is to call the game where the fans are gonna always respect his call, and he does this like no other guy in the business and he’s just nothing but pure professionalism.

Q: What do you hope the viewers say about you?

A: I hope they see the joy I have about the game of basketball when I talk basketball, whether it’s a broadcast in the studio or whether it’s a broadcast doing the color. I love talking Knicks, I love talking about the skill level and the quality players they have on their team, and I hope the fans can see the joy that I have having the opportunity to call this a job even though it really isn’t. 

Q: Would you ever wear one of Clyde Frazier’s outfits?

A: I’ve tried to wear a little something a little bit Clyde-esque. I would always give anything a shot. Christmas, I wear a red velvet, like, smoker’s jacket so I always try to mix it up a little bit. I think Clyde looks great. As long as the suits fit, and they’re tailored nice, I’ll wear absolutely anything, and Clyde’s all fit to a tee.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Michael Jordan, Nicole Kidman, Scottie Scheffler. 

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Gladiator.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Russell Crowe.

Q: Favorite entertainer?

A: Metallica.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Paella. 

Q: Who could be a Knicks X factor?

A: Josh Hart. I just think what he brings to the table in close games, the ESP that he has with Jalen Brunson, is so key in must-win games and crucial clutch situations at the end of games. And I think his shooting’s gonna be a big X factor, also.

Q: Do you think the Knicks will embrace the pressure of NBA Finals-or-bust?

A: Yes. They have embraced it all season long. They love it. Having been in that situation as a player, you want those expectations. That’s what you live for. That’s the only reason you play this game, is to win the championship. The more pressure, the more glory when you accomplish your goal.

Q: As a New Yorker, paint the picture of the city if the Knicks reach the NBA Finals.

A: Oh, my goodness. Well they’re gonna have to shut down Seventh Avenue for a long time, that’s for sure. … I just think we’re so ready as a fan base — everyone’s just ready to explode. … But I caution everyone to just be patient and enjoy the ride and not just expect it to happen … let it happen. That’s the most important thing. And if it happens, it’s gonna be amazing, and I know this team isn’t only gonna be satisfied with the playoffs. … This team seriously has the capabilities to win the whole thing. … It’s gonna take a little bit of luck, it’s gonna take some great play, and I’m just really excited for the ride. These next couple of months are gonna be, I think, something we’ll never forget as longtime Knick fans.

There’s been plenty of discourse over the past couple of days following the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 7–8 game. A lot of it has centered on Devin Booker and Jordan Ott’s rotations. That’s the natural reaction. You focus on what went wrong and look for ways to fix it. But “moving forward” is now a fragile concept. If the Suns don’t beat the Golden State Warriors, there is no next step. That’s the end of the road.

What hasn’t been talked about enough is Jalen Green. He was electric. He scored 35 points in the loss, carrying the offense at times, keeping the Suns within reach in a game where scoring didn’t come easily. His final stat line on Tuesday? 35 points on 14-of-29 shooting, 2-of-7 from deep, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 5 turnovers.

Being in the arena, one aspect of the game that stood out immediately was that Portland’s perimeter defense was relentless. They were draped all over Phoenix, pushing them off their spots, and forcing uncomfortable looks. It felt suffocating, and believe me, the fact that Toumani Camara was the culprit was not lost on me. But there was one player they couldn’t consistently contain. That was Green. His athleticism and quickness created space where none existed. He found openings, generated clean looks, and did it in a game where those opportunities were rare.

We received the full Jalen Green experience, didn’t we?

The scoring ability is real. It jumps off the screen. The efficiency? Ehhh, not so much. It took him 29 shots to get to 35 points, which puts him in a strange little corner of Suns history. How many players have taken exactly 29 shots and scored exactly 35? Three others. Devin Booker (2023), Josh Jackson (2019), and Stephon Marbury (2002). There’s your random useless nugget for the day.

Green’s shot selection wasn’t always clean. It usually isn’t. He forces the issue at times. Even that four-point play in the first half wasn’t a great look. Fading left from 29 feet. It was low percentage, but he hit it. Knocked down the free throw, too. It turns into a highlight, and that’s part of the deal with him.

And then there are the turnovers. Five of them, many of the live ball variety, which is never ideal. But again, that’s part of the Jalen Green experience. He is aggressive, sometimes too much so as he’s dribbling into defenders, thus dislodging the ball. It needs to be cleaned up, but I doubt it will ever be completely cleaned up. If you look at his career statistics, he’s actually improved in that respect. A player who averaged 2.6 turnovers in 2022-23 has that number all the way down to 2.3. Oooo. Aaaah.

He missed the shot that could have put the Suns ahead with under 10 seconds left, but you know what? He took the shot. He didn’t shy away from the moment; he didn’t pass out of it. No. He wanted the ball, he was ready and willing to take it, and I find value in that. 

This season has been about evaluation. We haven’t had enough clean data to fully understand who Green is within this Suns ecosystem, so these games carry weight. Especially ones with stakes. If Phoenix can defeat the Warriors tomorrow for the eight seed, they run into the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s a defense that can swallow you whole, so there are limits to what you can take from that series from an evaluation perspective. But how a player responds to pressure, to emotion, and to moments like the Play-In game on Tuesday tells you something.

That’s been a concern with Jalen Green following his performance tast postseason with the Houston Rockets. In the seven-game series against Golden State, the 22-year-old kid who led his team is scoring at 21.0 points per night in the regular season faded. He averaged 13.3 points in the postseason on 37/30/67 splits. He was a shell of himself. The moment affected him. You saw it again recently against Houston as he played against his former team. The emotions got loud, and his game followed. 

Against Portland, it felt different. He stepped into it. He didn’t shy away. He took 29 shots in a grind of a game and he took the final one. Again, there’s value in that. He wanted the ball. He made decisions. There was no hesitation. Devin Booker gave it up because he knew Green wouldn’t shrink from the moment. He missed, but he took it.

That’s the duality with him. The same lack of filter that leads to bad shots and turnovers is also what allows him to step forward when it matters. It’s the strength and the flaw, living in the same space. So in my evaluation, this one against the Blazers leans positive. The red flags are still there. The shot selection. The turnovers. They don’t disappear. But the willingness to be the guy? That gets logged too.

Now comes the next challenge. The Golden State Warriors. A familiar stage for Jalen Green, and not one that went well the last time he was there. What do you get from him now? How does he respond? And what does it add to the overall evaluation as you start thinking about his place on this team next season? Those are the questions sitting in front of this game.

There’s real weight here. These aren’t empty reps. Every possession, every decision, every response to pressure adds to the file. The hope is that the results are positive, that he builds on what we saw against Portland and leans into the moment again. Because if they aren’t, the timeline shifts. The decision on whether to move forward with Green comes quicker than expected.

The Suns exceeded expectations this season. That part is real. But now the goal is to extend it, to get into the postseason, to gather more data, more clarity. That’s how you build something sustainable. That’s how you move from a promising team to a consistent one. And understanding and  determining what part Jalen Green plays in the grand scheme of things is vital.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finally discovered midway through this season that they’re better when Jarrett Allen is heavily featured than they are when he’s not. That process was halted at the beginning of March when he injured his knee during the team’s win over the Detroit Pistons. Allen returned to the lineup the last week of March, but admitted that he was playing through pain. Everyone is pushing through something in the playoffs, but Allen is in a better place now than he was a few weeks back.

“It’s better,” Allen said when he was asked about his knee after Thursday’s practice. “I’ve had some time off for it to calm down and try to get back to homeostasis, back to the level where it should be.”

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Even though Allen is feeling better, he wouldn’t go as far as saying he felt perfect when asked if he’d be limited by his knee in any way.

“I’d be lying if I said I would expect it to be 100%,” Allen said. “No, I don’t think anybody would be 100% going into the playoffs. That’s just how it is. That’s my very political answer. … But yeah, it’s definitely something I’m going to have to deal with and manage, get treatment before, take the medicine that I’m supposed to to try to be at my best.”

We don’t know the exact severity of the injury and how much Allen is possibly downplaying it now. What we do know is that Allen has had a rough go of it this season from a health perspective. He played the fewest regular-season games in his career due to various injuries to his hands and knees throughout the season. Allen has done his part to persevere through them as much as he can, and may need to do so again in the postseason.

Allen averaged 15.4 points and 8.5 rebounds on 63.8% shooting in 56 games this season.

The Cavs open up their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday afternoon.

The postseason atmosphere in Denver won’t be confined to the seats inside Ball Arena this spring.

In a move aimed at extending the playoff experience beyond the building’s walls, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced plans to transform the area surrounding the arena into a large-scale, open-air viewing and fan engagement space for both Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets home playoff games.

Chopper Circle, the main thoroughfare bordering Ball Arena between 9th and 11th streets, will be closed during all home playoff dates to accommodate the expanded footprint. The space will operate under two different identities depending on the event: “Avs Alley” for Avalanche games and “Base Camp 5280” for Nuggets contests. Each will feature a 20-foot outdoor video board broadcasting the game live, along with DJs, food trucks, beverage stations, team mascots, dance teams, and sponsor activations.

Both fan zones are scheduled to open two hours prior to game time and remain active throughout the duration of each contest. For example, ahead of Game 1 of the Nuggets’ first-round series against Minnesota, Base Camp 5280 is set to open at 11:30 a.m. local time for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff. Avalanche playoff scheduling—and corresponding Avs Alley dates—will be finalized following the conclusion of the NHL regular season.

Access to both areas will be free through the first two rounds of the playoffs, though fans must secure a digital pass for entry. Notably, possession of a game ticket does not guarantee admission to the outdoor zones, and separate passes are required even for those attending the game inside the arena. Conversely, fans without tickets are welcome to attend the outdoor viewing experience, space permitting.

Organizers indicated that admission fees could be introduced in later playoff rounds, with proceeds directed to Kroenke Sports Charities. The organization previously generated more than $1.1 million during similar postseason initiatives tied to the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run and the Nuggets’ 2023 NBA title campaign.

The location is accessible via Denver’s RTD rail system, with the Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens stop serving as the primary transit point. Standard event parking rates will remain in effect for all playoff games.

The initiative underscores a broader effort to turn downtown Denver into a centralized postseason hub—one that caters not just to ticket holders, but to an entire fan base looking to share in the moment.

Bright lights, big stage, same LeBron.

Unmoved by postseason pressure, superstar LeBron James said he doesn’t plan to change his preparation ahead of the Lakers’ playoff opener against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Approaching his record-tying 19th postseason appearance, James has reason to believe in his well-established routine.

“Nothing changes for me from the regular season to the postseason,” James said, “besides just making even more heightened focus.”

The consistent approach that guided him through 23 regular seasons puts James in position to star in another high-stakes game as the Lakers (53-29) chase the franchise’s 18th NBA championship. James will command almost the entire spotlight with guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves still sidelined.

The 41-year-old, 22-time All-Star has never had a problem with being a leading man.

“I think a lot of the great players, the best players, what they're addicted to is being the showman,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, referencing Stephen Curry’s fourth-quarter heroics that pushed the Golden State Warriors over the Clippers in a thrilling play-in game Wednesday night. “And being on the stage and giving a performance. …

Read more:Luka Doncic eligible for NBA's postseason awards after league, NBPA rule in his favor

"One of the reasons they're great and they're able to be the showman so consistently is because they recognize [that] to be the showman, I have to do all the things necessary to then go on stage and perform at my best. And that's the commitment with LeBron that I've talked about so often.”

The stage is set for a star-studded first-round series with James and Houston’s Kevin Durant. The Rockets' superstar rose to fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list this season. He and James, the league’s all-time leading scorer, have 76,037 combined regular-season points, more than the rest of the Lakers' roster combined (57,341).

“He’s the head of the snake,” James said of Durant. “But it’s the Houston Rockets and they have some damned good players on that team.”

Durant has the support of two-time NBA All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who is averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. James leads the Lakers alone. They’re without Doncic (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) indefinitely.

Since Doncic and Reaves were injured, James assumed the primary role in the Lakers' offense and has delivered 25.5 points, 11 assists and 6.8 rebounds per game. Battling the emotional toll of Doncic’s and Reaves’ injuries, James set the tone for the Lakers’ strong finish to the regular season with his vocal leadership and strong play, Redick said. His teammates are falling in line.

“He’s been in the playoffs I don’t know how many times,” Lakers guard Bronny James said. “So he’s won series, won Finals, I think we just need to have our mind open and ears open and listen to whatever he says because he knows the most."

After years of competing against each other in the NBA and with each other on the international stage, Durant said earlier this season that the Miami Heat version of James was the hardest player he's ever had to guard. James said every version of Durant feels like an impossible matchup.

The 37-year-old scores in bunches and does it efficiently, Redick said. Durant hasn’t shot worse than 50% from the field in a season since 2011-12. Now in his 18th season, Durant played the second-most total minutes of any player this season, trailing only 23-year-old teammate Amen Thompson.

“He’s a guard in a big man’s body,” Lakers guard Marcus Smart said. “I’m 6-3 and he’s 7-foot so he has that advantage and that’s what makes it tough, because he’ll shoot right over top of you it seems. But playing him the years that I have played him — and last month — it definitely gives you insight of what to expect.”

Durant averaged 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists in two losses to the Lakers in March. He shot 55.6% from the field but had 11 total turnovers. The Lakers, who often double-teamed Durant to take the ball out of his hands, forced 36 turnovers in the two wins.

The Lakers expect the same defensive pressure from the Rockets, who are ranked sixth defensively. Guards Reed Sheppard and Thompson both rank in the top 10 in the league in total steals with 122 and 119, respectively.

Smart and guard Luke Kennard have taken larger ball-handling responsibilities along with James to offset the loss of Doncic and Reaves. Bronny James is in line for rotation minutes in the Lakers’ shorthanded backcourt. The 21-year-old guard has played in 10 consecutive games, the longest stretch of his young NBA career, averaging 6.6 points, two assists and a steal with seven-for-17 shooting from three-point range in the five games since Doncic and Reaves were injured.

Read more:Deandre Ayton knows the Lakers need him to be his best in the playoffs

Getting to share the court with his son, whether in regular-season games, practice or now the postseason, is “the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career,” the elder James said.

With his future unknown beyond this season, James pledged all season to stay in the moment. The Lakers hope to make this postseason one last.

“The moment is all we have,” James said. “At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

This is it. 

The last eight years for the Cleveland Cavaliers will come down to the next eight weeks. From LeBron James leaving town that jumpstarted a rebuild featuring Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. To acquiring Donovan Mitchell in 2022 to start their contention window. To multiple playoff failures, including last year’s catastrophe against the Pacers. To Garland being traded for James Harden in February.

This is without a doubt the most crucial, critical, important…you get the point. There is a lot riding on this Cavs playoff run. They have arguably their deepest and most talented roster of the Mitchell era. They have the experience now with a battle-tested group that is adding someone with 174 playoff games of their own in Harden. Now is the time for them to break through, and it starts with the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

With that comes tough lineup decisions, and it will be on head coach Kenny Atkinson to push the right buttons. This is what his rotation should look like against the Raptors.

Starters: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

This lineup projects to be the most reliable and complete unit that Atkinson will put on the floor against Toronto. The sample size is extremely small with this group, but in the 75 possessions this five has shared the court, the Cavs have a +38.9 net rating.

Not much needs to be said about Harden and Mitchell. They are the orchestrators of the offense and are one of the more lethal backcourts in the league. 

Wade, Mobley, and Allen have been Cleveland’s three best defenders for quite some time now. Their length, size, and switchability make them an extremely tough trio to get past on that end. In the 364 possessions those three have together this season, the Cavs have a 99.4 defensive rating. For a team that struggled on the defensive end at times this year, leaning on your best defenders will help alleviate those concerns.

Bench: Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Keon Ellis, Jaylon Tyson

The bench unit may not have as much size as the starters, but Atkinson will be able to stagger the minutes between the nine he ends up deciding on.

Merrill and Strus bring a lot of shooting, movement, and overall toughness that Cleveland is going to need from their role guys. Strus especially has a lot of playoff experience and has proven a willingness to do the dirty work and make winning plays. 

Ellis has shown that he can be an absolute defensive menace for the Cavs. He is great at putting pressure on the ball, getting deflections and steals, and has enough length to disrupt ball-handlers. His offense has been a pleasant surprise as well, as he is knocking down nearly 36% of his threes and shooting 49% overall from the field. 

The last spot should go to Tyson. When Cleveland was struggling early on in the season, he was one of the lone bright spots. His development into a key role player has been nothing short of amazing for the Cavs. His synergy with Mitchell in the short roll, his ability to knock down threes, and just playing with 110% effort every play is what Cleveland needs.  All of the bench guys I mentioned have the toughness, spacing, and tenacity that make them the essential bench pieces. 

Cutting Dennis Schroder from the initial rotation was a tough decision, but Schroder has struggled for the most part since he arrived in February. He’s shooting only 40% from the field and 29% from three. Atkinson could turn to him in spot minutes, and Schroder has enough defensive activity and veteran experience to be called upon at times, but he should not be a nightly fixture in the playoffs.

The Cavs have the star power and depth to make a run. It will be on Atkinson to push the right buttons against the Raptors and hopefully beyond. But this is how he should start out.