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Things to know about the NBA playoffs, which start Saturday
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Posted April 20 - 4:00 a.m. | Save Story
the No. 1 overall seed Celtics come up No. 1 yet again. Boston went 29-14 against the eventual playoff teams this season, the best such record in the league.
Ingram, Valanciunas lift Zion-less Pelicans past Kings and into the playoffs
Brett Martel, Associated Press | Updated April 20 - 12:11 a.m. | Save Story
Brandon Ingram scored 24 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans booked a spot in the NBA playoffs with a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings in a play-in tournament elimination game. The Pelicans won without leading-scorer Zion Williamson, who strained his left hamstring in a play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. New Orleans used a balanced approach to improved to 8-5 this season without Williamson in the lineup. Six players scored 10 or more points. New Orleans now opens the playoffs at top-seeded Oklahoma City on Sunday. De'Aaron Fox scored 35 points for the Kings and Domantas Sabonis had 23 points and 14 rebounds.
Previewing the 1st round of the NBA playoffs, which start on Saturday
Brian Mahoney And Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 10:11 p.m. | Save Story
The NBA playoffs start on Saturday. The first-round matchups in the Eastern Conference have Boston against Miami, New York against Philadelphia, Milwaukee against Indiana and Cleveland against Orlando. In the Western Conference, the matchups are Oklahoma City against New Orleans, Denver against the Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota against Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers against Dallas.
The NBA playoffs are finally here. And as LeBron James says, 'it's a sprint now'
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 10:08 p.m. | Save Story
There's a 64-win team in Boston that ran away with the league's best record. The defending champions in Denver, a group that won 57 games. A fearless young bunch in Oklahoma City, whose No. 1 seed was no fluke. A trio of Villanova alums in New York, who turned the Knicks into a real contender. And, once again, there's LeBron James, too. The NBA playoffs are about to begin with the Celtics and Nuggets the heavy favorites to collide in the Finals, and no shortage of teams have realistic belief that they can win the whole thing as well.
The Heat are headed to Boston after ousting the Bulls 112-91 in East play-in finale
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 8:30 p.m. | Save Story
Tyler Herro scored 24 points and was an assist shy of a triple-double, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points and the Miami Heat grabbed the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, running away from the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in a play-in tournament elimination game. Kevin Love scored 16 and Bam Adebayo added 13 for Miami. The Heat head to Boston for a rematch of the last two East finals against the Celtics. It's Round 1 this time, with the Heat set to be huge underdogs against the runaway favorite to win the NBA title. DeMar DeRozan scored 22 points for the Bulls.
Coyotes' move to Salt Lake City elicits opposing responses in 2 cities
John Marshall, Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 6:27 p.m. | Save Story
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman sat next to the former Arizona Coyotes owner in a downtown Phoenix hotel meeting room, trying to put a positive spin on the funeral for a franchise. A few hour later, Bettman would sit next to the new Coyotes owner in Salt Lake City to bask in the excitement of the league's newest city and a fan base that had been itching for another team to join the NBA's Utah Jazz. One day, two drastically different news conferences. The Coyotes will move to Salt Lake City following the $1.2 billion sale of the franchise to Jazz owner Ryan Smith. Utah fans are expectedly excited. Arizona fans are decidedly dejected after losing a franchise that had been in Phoenix since 1996.
WNBA moving date of its preseason game in Canada to avoid potential conflict with NHL playoffs
The Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 4:57 p.m. | Save Story
The WNBA is moving its preseason game in Canada between the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm to May 4. The game was originally scheduled for May 5 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, but the NHL's Oilers could potentially be hosting a Game 7 of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings that day. The WNBA is playing a preseason game in Canada for the second straight year. Last season, the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx before a sold out crowd in Toronto. It set records for TV viewers, attendance and merchandise sales in Canada.
Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. heads into playoffs against Lakers after trying week for family
Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 4:42 p.m. | Save Story
Michael Porter Jr.'s teammates on the Denver Nuggets say their starting forward seems to be handling his family's troubles well as the team heads into the playoffs. Porter has one younger brother who was banned by the NBA in a gambling probe and another who was sentenced to six years in prison for a fatal drunken driving crash. The Nuggets say they have faith Porter will be focused and ready to help them defend their NBA title beginning with Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
Clippers fined $25,000 by NBA for violating league injury reporting rules
The Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 4:18 p.m. | Save Story
The Los Angeles Clippers have been fined $25,000 by the NBA for violating league injury reporting rules. The team failed to accurately disclose the availability status of Paul George, Norman Powell and Russell Westbrook before its game against Houston last Sunday, the final day of the regular season. None of the trio played and none were listed on the team's injury report as being out due to injury or rest.
FAU hires Isaiah Austin, whose NBA playing plans were derailed, as an assistant coach
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Updated April 19 - 2:13 p.m. | Save Story
was introduced Friday as an assistant coach on new coach John Jakus' staff at Florida Atlantic. It's the first real coaching opportunity for Austin, who spent the last few years working for the NBA, not playing. He has a long relationship with Jakus from his Baylor days and couldn't say no when invited to join this staff.
Lillard practices fully and Antetokounmpo remains out of live drills as Bucks prepare for playoffs
Steve Megargee, Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 2:09 p.m. | Save Story
Damian Lillard practiced fully but Giannis Antetokounmpo remained out of live drills Friday as the Milwaukee Bucks continued getting ready for Sunday's playoff opener against the Indiana Pacers. Lillard is dealing with a sore adductor that limited him the last weekend of the regular season, while Antetokounmpo missed the Bucks' final three regular-season games with a strained left calf. Bucks President Peter Feigin told Milwaukee radio station WKLH that Antetokounmpo "definitely will not be back for Sunday," But Bucks coach Doc Rivers said he isn't ready to rule the two-time MVP out for the start of the series.
Knicks and 76ers got past injuries that could've ruined them. Now they meet in playoffs
Brian Mahoney, Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 12:42 p.m. | Save Story
Jalen Brunson and his New York teammates refused to let injuries knock them down. Joel Embiid of Philadelphia wouldn't let his keep him down. The Knicks and 76ers both were rocked in January by injuries that could have wrecked them. But they surged at the finish into a first-round matchup that begins Saturday. The Knicks went 50-32 to earn the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia won its final eight games, five after Embiid returned from knee surgery, and took the No. 7 seed after edging Miami in the play-in game.
Cavaliers feel better prepared for playoff stage after '23 flop, face Magic in first-round series
Tom Withers, Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 9:59 a.m. | Save Story
The Cavaliers have waited a year to redeem themselves in the NBA playoffs. Their chance starts Saturday against the Orlando Magic. Cleveland wilted on the postseason stage a year ago, losing in five games to the New York Knicks, who were simply too tough for the Cavs. After surviving a litany of injuries this season, the Cavs are fairly healthy heading into the first-round series. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell was able to rest a bruise left knee that has bothered him for months. Orlando is led by second-year forward Paolo Banchero, who at just 21 led the Magic in scoring, rebounding and assists. Game 2 is Monday at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Kyrie Irving is healthy and drama-free in Dallas as a playoff pairing with Luka Doncic dawns
Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press | Posted April 19 - 4:00 a.m. | Save Story
Kyrie Irving is healthy and publicly free of drama heading into his first playoff game with co-star Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. The eight-time All-Star and 2016 NBA champion brought up on his own that he hasn't had a 50-win season in six years. A late-season surge pushed the Mavs to the 50-win mark. They open the playoffs at the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. The 2023 trade to Dallas ended a drama-filled stint in Brooklyn for Irving. Now he's looking to participate in a deep playoff run for the first time since 2017. That was the year after Irving and LeBron James won a title together in Cleveland.
Butler, Williamson injuries are part of story for Heat-Bulls and Kings-Pelicans play-in finales
Tim Reynolds, Associated Press | Updated April 18 - 7:43 p.m. | Save Story
All four teams in the finales of the NBA play-in tournament on Friday night are dealing with injury issues. Chicago goes to Miami and then Sacramento plays at New Orleans. The winner of the Bulls-Heat game meets Boston in Round 1 and the Kings-Pelicans winner meets Oklahoma City. The Heat will be without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier for their game against the Bulls, who had guard Alex Caruso go down to a sprained ankle in Wednesday's win over Atlanta. The Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson because of a hamstring injury.
Seattle Storm become 2nd WNBA team to open their own practice facility
Tim Booth, Associated Press | Updated April 18 - 6:36 p.m. | Save Story
The Seattle Storm have become the second WNBA team to open a standalone training facility. The $64 million building opened in Seattle's Interbay neighborhood and features two practice courts, a high-performance area, therapy pools, a large locker room and lounge area for players. Seattle joins the Las Vegas Aces as the only teams in the league with their own facilities. Seattle had spent more than a decade using a secondary court at a local NCAA Division II college as its primary practice gym. The Storm will move into the new facility when training camp opens later this month.
The Timberwolves coaching staff, empowered by Finch and energized by chemistry, is a true asset
Dave Campbell, Associated Press | Posted April 18 - 6:21 p.m. | Save Story
The Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff is one of many assets the team takes into the playoffs. The Timberwolves face Phoenix in the first round. Head coach Chris Finch is a strong contender for the NBA Coach of the Year award after steering the Timberwolves to a 56-26 record that was the second-best in franchise history. Finch's assistants have credited him for his empowerment and leadership without micromanagement. The entire staff relishes its chemistry. Assistants form a human tunnel in the hallway before each game that Finch walks through before the staff lets loose with hollers, shoulder shoves and hand slaps.
Kawhi Leonard fighting 'stubborn inflammation' and is questionable for Game 1 of playoffs
Beth Harris, Associated Press | Posted April 18 - 4:51 p.m. | Save Story
Kawhi Leonard has been fighting "very, very stubborn inflammation" in his surgically repaired right knee for three weeks. He'll be listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Clippers' playoff opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Team executive Lawrence Frank says Leonard is making progress but the inflammation needs to continue to go down so he can play. Leonard hasn't played since March 31. Frank wouldn't comment on a published report that Leonard had an injection in his knee earlier this month. Frank says the inflammation isn't related to Leonard's numerous past injuries with his right knee.
GM Mike Dunleavy, Warriors look to regroup after missing the playoffs with Curry, Green, Thompson
Janie Mccauley, Associated Press | Posted April 18 - 3:36 p.m. | Save Story
losing big leads, making costly mistakes, repeatedly unable to deliver the big defensive stop when it mattered most. After the Warriors lost at Sacramento in the play-in tournament on Tuesday night, Dunleavy now has to try to improve the team while also fulfilling his stated goal of bringing veteran Klay Thompson back. The Warriors have won four titles in the past decade with their now-aging core of Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green.
