NBA Playoffs Round 1: Opening Weekend

The Heat lead the Bucks 1-0 after Giannis left Game 1 with a lower back injury. Team doctors told the media that his x-rays came back clear, but the Bucks will struggle without their best player in the lineup. 

Game 1: Heat 130, Bucks 117

Game 2: Wednesday at Milwaukee, 9 p.m. ET (NBATV)

Game 3: Saturday at Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Game 4: Monday April 24 at Miami

Game 5*: Wednesday April 26 at Milwaukee

Game 6*: Friday April 28 at Miami

Game 7*: Sunday April 30 at Milwaukee

*If necessary

(2) Boston Celtics 112 (7) Atlanta Hawks 99

Jaylen Brown dropped 29 points in the Celtics’ win over the Hawks. Atlanta struggled against Boston’s defense and will continue to do so if nothing changes. Boston might just be to much of a match for the Hawks to overcome.

Game 1: Celtics 112, Hawks 99

Game 2: Tuesday at Boston, 7 p.m. ET (NBATV)

Game 3: Friday at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Game 4: Sunday at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 5*: Tuesday April 25 at Boston

Game 6*: Thursday April 27 at Atlanta

Game 7*: Saturday April 29 at Boston (TNT)

*If necessary

(3) Philadelphia 76ers 121 (6) Brooklyn Nets 101

The Brooklyn Nets managed to make the playoffs even after losing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. That in itself is commendable. However, with MVP candidate Joel Embid's physical presence and James Hardin, another former Net, dropping 23 points in Game 1, the Nets will be hard-pressed to win this series.

Game 1: 76ers 121, Nets 101

Game 2: Monday at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 3: Thursday at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 4: Saturday at Brooklyn, 1 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 5*: Monday April 24 at Philadelphia

Game 6*: Thursday April 27 at Brooklyn

Game 7*: Saturday April 29 at Philadelphia (TNT)

*If necessary

(5) New York Knicks 101 (4) Cleveland Cavaliers 97

In one of the closest contests in all the Game 1 matchups, this series is likely to continue along the same path. Both teams seem equally matched, and their respective stars will have to step up and show out to claim victory. Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle pushed the Knicks past the Cavs in Game 1, but that could easily change in Game 2.

Game 1: Knicks 101, Cavaliers 97

Game 2: Tuesday at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 3: Friday at New York, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Game 4: Sunday at New York, 1 p.m. ET (ABC)

Game 5*: Wednesday April 26 at Cleveland

Game 6*: Friday April 28 at New York

Game 7*: Sunday April 30 at Cleveland

*If necessary

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Denver Nuggets 109 (8) Minnesota Timberwolves 80

It’s weird to think that with a 29-point margin of victory that the Timberwolves led this game for the majority of the first half. The Nuggets Jamal Murray overcame poor shooting in the early game to finish with 24 points and eight assists.

Game 1: Nuggets 109, Timberwolves 80

Game 2: Wednesday April 19 at Denver, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 3: Friday at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Game 4: Sunday at Minnesota, 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 5*: Tuesday April 25 at Denver

Game 6*: Thursday April 27 at Minnesota

Game 7*: Saturday April 29 at Denver (TNT)

*If necessary

(7) Los Angeles Lakers 128 (2) Memphis Grizzlies 112

The Lake Show played a complete game in a contest where Lebron James credited the Lakers supporting cast with the victory. Grizzlies’ Ja Morant left the game with an apparent hand injury, and team doctors still do not know his availability moving forward. The Lakers’ Rui Hachimura finished with 29 points in LA’s win.

Game 1: Lakers 128, Grizzlies 112

Game 2: Wednesday at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 3: Saturday at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Game 4: Monday April 24 at Los Angeles

Game 5*: Wednesday April 26 at Memphis

Game 6*: Friday April 28 at Los Angeles

Game 7*: Sunday April 30 at Memphis

*If necessary

(3) Sacramento Kings 126 (6) Golden State Warriors 123

Electric is the only way to describe Game 1 of this series. The Defending Champion Warriors are finally back to full strength with Andrew Wiggins back in the lineup, but the Kings just keep winning. De’Aaron Fox dropped 38 points to push the in-experienced Kings past Steph Curry and the Warriors.

Game 1: Kings 126, Warriors 123

Game 2: Monday at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 3: Thursday at Golden State, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 4: Sunday at Golden State, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Game 5*: Wednesday April 26 at Sacramento

Game 6*: Friday April 28 at Golden State

Game 7*: Sunday April 30 at Sacramento

*If necessary

(5) Los Angeles Clippers 115 (4) Phoenix Suns 110

The final game of Round 1’s opening weekend was an instant classic. A duel between Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant culminated in Russel Westbrook, who struggled with shooting, making the defensive play of the game. He blocked a layup put up by Booker and, falling out of bounds, threw it off Devin Booker’s leg to help the Clippers regain possession with less than 20 seconds to go in the 4th quarter. This play helped seal the deal for the Clippers in Leonard's first playoff game in two years.

Game 1: Clippers 115, Suns 110

Game 2: Tuesday at Phoenix, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 3: Thursday at LA, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBATV)

Game 4: Saturday at LA, 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 5*: Tuesday April 25 at Phoenix

Game 6*: Thursday April 27 at LA

Game 7*: Saturday April 29 at Phoenix (TNT)

*If necessary