Eastern Conference:

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #8 Miami Heat:

Coming into the Postseason, the Cavs were one of the best teams in the NBA, recording 64 wins. Meanwhile, the Heat snuck into the postseason with a losing record, going 37-45. However, after beating the Bulls and the Hawks in the Play-in, they managed to secure the 8 seed. Going into the series, the Cavaliers were heavy favorites to win, and they ended up making quick work of Miami, as they swept them. Game 1 saw the Cavs win 121-100, with the starting backcourt of the Cavs, All-Star PG Darius Garland and one of the best shooting guards in the league in Donovan Mitchell combined for 57 points, with 6MOTY candidate Ty Jerome adding another 28. Game 2 was the closest game of the series, with the Cavs winning 121-112, and Mitchell had another 30-point outburst. However, All-star Heat Guard Tyler Herro dropped 33 points, and former all-star Bam Adebayo was one assist shy of a triple-double. The Cavaliers wound up dominating both Game 3 and 4, winning 124-87 and 138-83 respectively. It was a team effort in Game 3, with six Cavs players recording at least 13+ points. Game 4 was over by halftime, with the Cavs leading 72-33. They ended up closing out the game and would sweep the Heat.

#2 Boston Celtics vs. #7 Orlando Magic

Similar to the Cavs, the Celtics made quick work of the Magic, beating them in 5 games. Game 1 resulted in a 103-86 Boston win, with SG Derrick White dropping 30. However, the two stars on the Magic, Forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, combined for 59 points. Game 2 was a fairly close Celtics win, as they beat the Magic 109-100 even without superstar Jayson Tatum. The Magic duo combined for 57, but it wasn’t enough as Celtics star Jaylen Brown stepped up and dropped 36 points. Game 3 saw the Magic win in a very close game, beating Boston 95-93. Jayson Tatum came back and dropped 36 points, but it wasn’t enough. Once again, it was Banchero and Wagner carrying the show, combining for 61. Game 4 saw the Celtics win 107-98, with Jayson Tatum scoring 37 points. The duo for the Magic combined for 55. Game 5 saw Boston win 120-89, finally closing out the series. At the half, the Magic were actually up 49-47. However, after the Celtics outscored the Magic 36-13 in the 3rd quarter, it was all over from there. Banchero and Franz combined for their lowest score of the series, combining for 44 points. Jayson Tatum had another great game, scoring 35 points, getting 10 assists, and getting 8 rebounds. 

#3 New York Knicks vs. #6 Detroit Pistons

This was by far the most entertaining series in the East, and it started off with a bang in Game 1 at MSG. With 9:16 remaining in the game, the Pistons were up 98-90, and were about to pull off a pretty solid upset. However, in the 5 minutes that followed, the Pistons crumbled. The Knicks went on a 21-0 run, and from there, it was all over. The Knicks took game 1, and Knicks superstar PG Jalen Brunson dropped 34 points and 8 assists in the win. In Game 2, it was different. The Pistons managed to steal Game 2 at the Garden. Both teams went back and forth all game, with the score being tied at 94-94 with under a minute to go. Pistons guard Dennis Schroder hit the 3 that gave the Pistons a 97-94 lead, and the Pistons managed to close it out, winning 100-94. Despite a 37 point game from Jalen Brunson, it wasn’t enough as Schroder dropped 20 points off the bench and superstar Pistons PG Cade Cunningham dropped 33 points. Game 3 was a tight contest throughout, with the Knicks just barely winning 118-116. All-NBA Knicks Center Karl-Anthony Towns dropped 31 points, and Jalen Brunson dropped 30 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds to give the Knicks a 2-1 lead. Game 4 was another great game. However, the ending was very controversial. The Pistons were up 93-91 when Karl-Anthony Towns hit a stepback 3 to give the Knicks a 94-93 lead with under a minute to go. Both teams exchanged possessions, and the Pistons had a chance to win with 13 seconds, and Cade Cunningham got a shot off but it was no good. However, Pistons SG Tim Hardaway Jr. got the offensive rebound and got a shot up, but it was no good. However, the Pistons wanted a foul, but the refs never bothered to check it. After the game, the NBA admitted that Hardaway was fouled and should have shot free throws. So what should have been the series even at 2-2 resulted in the Knicks taking a 3-1 lead back to MSG. Game 5 was another tight contest, but the Pistons managed to win 106-103 to force a Game 6. Cade Cunningham dropped 24, 8, and 8 while Brunson had his worst game of the series, only dropping 16 while shooting 25% from the field. Game 6 was one of the best games of the season. The Knicks were up 12 with 9:30 remaining, but the Pistons stormed back, going on a 23-5 run to give the Pistons a 112-105 lead with 2:30 remaining. The Knicks then tied the game at 113-113. With 20 seconds left, the Knicks had the ball, and they gave it to Jalen Brunson. Brunson protected the ball for around 10 seconds, and then made his move. He was guarded by one of the best defenders in the NBA in Ausar Thompson. Brunson, standing at the logo, exploded out to the left, then crossed back in between his legs, giving him all the space he needed, he dribbled to the top of the key, set his feet, fired the shot, and gave the Knicks a 116-113 lead with 5 seconds on the clock. The Pistons had a chance to tie the game, but they turned it over, and the Knicks advanced in 6 games in one of the best 1st round series we have seen in a long time.

#4 Indiana Pacers vs. #5 Milwaukee Bucks

Coming into the playoffs, this was one of the more anticipated matchups in the East. The Pacers had knocked off the Bucks in 6 games last year. However, Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had suffered a calf strain right before the playoffs, meaning he missed the whole first round, so nobody really knew how this series was going to go. Coming into the series, Bucks star PG Damian Lillard had suffered a blood clot in his calf in Late March, so many thought he would be done for the first round, if not the entire season. Game 1 tipped off, and the Pacers dominated the Bucks, winning 117-98. Star Pacers Forward Pascal Siakam had 25 points, while star Pacers PG Tyrese Haliburton had 10 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 36 points and 12 boards, but had no help from the rest of his teammates. Surprising many, Game 2 saw Lillard return from his blood clot in under a month, which is insanely fast. However, it was a similar story to Game 1, as the Pacers won 123-115. The entire starting 5 for Indiana all had at least 15 points, with Siakam having 24 and Haliburton having 21 along with 12 assists. Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 18 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Bucks forward Bobby Portis had 28 and 12 off the bench, but it wasn’t enough. Game 3 saw the Bucks win pretty handedly, winning 117-101. Giannis had 37 and 12, and Bucks SG Gary Trent tied the Franchise record for 3s made in a playoff game with 9, finishing with 37 points as well on the night. Game 4 saw the Pacers dominate the Bucks 129-103. Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points, 15 assists, and 8 rebounds to help catapult Indiana to victory. Game 4 also saw Lillard tear his achilles, ending not only this season but likely the next season as well. The Pacers took a 3-1 back to Indiana to close it out, but it was looking like the Bucks were going to win. Late in the 4th Quarter the Bucks were up 4, but Tyrese Haliburton made 2 free throws to cut the lead to 2, and then drove to the rim and dunked the ball to tie it with 10 seconds left. The game would go into Overtime at 103-103. With 40 seconds left in OT, the Bucks were up 118-111, and Bucks sharpshooter AJ Green had a chance to make it an 8 point game, but missed his 2nd free throw. Pascal Siakam grabbed the rebound, gave it to Pacers SG Andrew Nembhard made a 3 on the run to cut the lead to 4. Then on the following inbound, Gary Trent, who was having a great game up to that point, threw up a prayer and turned it over. Then, Tyrese Haliburton drove to the paint, layed the ball up, and got the foul. He made his free throw and the score was 118-117. Then, for the second time, Gary Trent turned it over, this time, the ball slipped out of his hands and went out of bounds. With 10 seconds left, Tyrese Haliburton got the ball in the backcourt, Giannis Antetokounmpo switched on to defend him. Haliburton dribbled by the left hash, crossed back middle, blew by Giannis, got in the paint, and layed it up and in with 1.3 seconds remaining. Trent launched a prayer, but it wasn’t even close, and the Pacers advanced in 5. After the game, Giannis got into an altercation with some players on the Pacers, and bizarrely enough, Haliburton’s Father. Haliburton’s father would not be present at games for the remainder of the playoffs.

Western Conference:

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies

Just like the Eastern Conference, OKC made quick work of the Grizzlies. Game 1 saw the Thunder dominate the Grizzlies, winning 131-80. However, no one on either team had a good game. Game 2 was fairly similar, as OKC wound up winning 118-99. MVP OKC Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 27 points in the victory. Game 3 saw the Thunder eke out a 114-108 win. Unfortunately, Grizzlies star PG Ja Morant suffered an injury, leaving him out for the rest of the series, effectively ending any hope of a comeback. SGA dropped 31 points in the victory. Game 4 was a very tight contest, with under 30 seconds left in the game, OKC were up 3 with the ball. SGA got to his spot, stepped back, and hit the dagger in the series. The Thunder would sweep the Grizzlies and win 117-115. SGA dropped 38 points to close out the series.

#2 Houston Rockets vs. #7 Golden State Warriors

These two teams are polar opposites. On one hand, the Rockets are centered around their youth and athleticism, with players like Point Forward Amen Thompson, Center Alperen Sengun, and SG Jalen Green. On the other hand, the Warriors are centered around their experience, shooting, and their defense, with notable players such as superstar PG Steph Curry, star forward Jimmy Butler, and DPOY candidate Draymond Green. Game 1 saw the Warriors take the win in an absolute dogfight, winning 95-85. Curry and Butler combined for 56 points, and everyone on both sides played great defense. Game 2 saw the Rockets respond with a 109-94 win. Jalen Green had his best game of the series, scoring 38 points, and Sengun had 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists. Butler also got injured in Game 2, leaving him out for Game 3. However, it didn’t matter as the Warriors won 103-94. Once again, it was Curry who carried offensively, as he dropped 36 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Game 4 saw the return of Jimmy Butler, and he made his presence felt as he dropped 27 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds on great defense, propelling the Warriors to a 109-106 victory and giving them a 3-1 lead in the series. The Rockets responded with a 131-116 victory in Game 5, with Amen Thompson having 25 points and 5 steals. Then, in Game 6, the Rockets managed to win 115-107 off of 29 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds from veteran PG and former All-star Fred VanVleet. Curry and Butler combined for 56, but it still wasn’t enough, and just like that, the series was tied at 3-3. In Game 7, despite a 24 point performance from Amen Thompson, it wasn’t enough to complete the 3-1 comeback as the Warriors beat Houston 103-89. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Curry or Butler that carried, it was sharpshooter Buddy Hield that was the leading scorer. Hield had 33 points and made 9 3s to end the Rockets season and put the Warriors in the WCSF.

#3 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #6 Minnesota Timberwolves

Coming into the series, everyone expected the Lakers, led by LeBron James and Luka Doncic, to beat Minnesota pretty easily. However, it went nothing as expected. Game 1 set the tone for the rest of the series, as the Wolves beat the Lakers 117-95. Superstar Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards dropped 22 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, in the victory, and lockdown Timberwolves defender Jaden McDaniels dropped 25 points shooting 11-13 from the field. However, everyone thought it was back to normal after the Lakers took Game 2, winning 94-85. LeBron had 21 points, 7 assists, and 11 rebounds, while Luka Doncic had 31 points, 9 assists, and 12 rebounds. Former All-star forward Julius Randle had 27 points, but it wasn’t enough. To everybody’s surprise, that would be the last win of the Lakers season. Minnesota won Game 3 116-104 despite a 38 point outburst from LeBron James. The trio of Edwards, McDaniels, and Randle combined for 81 points. Game 4 was the closest game of the series, as the Wolves won 116-113 in large part due to Anthony Edwards dropping 43 points. LeBron and Luka combined for 65, so down 3, one would think they would take the last shot. However, it was Lakers SG, Austin Reaves, who took the last shot, a corner 3, and missed. Changes needed to be made in Game 5, and Lakers HC JJ Redick benched starting Center Jaxson Hayes in favor of 3&D wing Dorian Finney-Smith. However, it probably was not the correct decision in hindsight. Game 5 saw the Timberwolves complete the gentleman’s sweep, as they won 103-96. It wasn’t Edwards, Randle, or McDaniels who was the catalyst, but it was Minnesota Center Rudy Gobert. Gobert, who is a 4x DPOY and is known to be one of the worst offensive players in the league, ended up dropping 27 points and 24 rebounds, in large part due to the Lakers not playing any big men. The Timberwolves pulled off maybe the biggest upset of the 1st round, and left everyone surprised.

#4 Denver Nuggets vs. #5 Los Angeles Clippers

This series was one of the only ones that everyone was 50/50 on coming into the postseason. The Nuggets, led by 3x MVP Nikola Jokic, and PG Jamal Murray, who is known for elevating his game in the Playoffs, had just fired their HC, Michael Malone, just before the Playoffs started. The Clippers on the other hand, led by two future Hall of Famers in Wing Kawhi Leonard and PG James Harden, were quietly one of the most underrated and slept on teams all throughout this season. Game 1 was one of the best games of the Playoffs, as Denver won in OT 112-110. Jokic dropped 29 points, 12 assists, and 9 rebounds en route to a big Game 1 victory. Game 2 was a different story, as Kawhi Leonard dropped 39 points to give the Clippers a 105-102 victory. Even though Jokic dropped a triple double, it still wasn’t enough to prevent the Clippers from winning Game 2. Game 3 was a blowout as LA beat Denver 117-83 despite Jokic having another triple-double, 4 players on the Clippers all recorded at least 19 points. Game 4 saw the Nuggets win on a last second buzzer beater, as Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon had a put back dunk off of a Jokic missed 3. Denver beat LA 101-99 to even up the series at 2-2. Denver beat LA in Game 5, 131-115. Jamal Murray dropped 43 points, and Jokic had another triple double, albeit he only scored 13 points. Game 6 saw the Clippers force a Game 7, winning 111-105, as James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and SG Norman Powell combined for 79 points, and headed back to Denver for a Game 7. However, they probably shouldn’t have gone. The Nuggets demolished the Clippers 120-101, with all of Denver’s starters and their 6th man, future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook, all scoring at least 15 points. As for the Clippers, Harden only had 7 points. A disappointing end to an overachieving season for the Clippers.

This 1st round was some of the best basketball us fans have seen in a long time. We have had some all-time classic series such as the one between LA and Denver and New York and Detroit. Whether your team won or lost, these games have been amazing to watch.