PLAYOFFS 2024 NBA playoffs: The four trends that have defined the field so farKevin Pelton, ESPN+ As important as Denver's clutch play was to the team's 2023 title run, the Nuggets also put together the strongest first halves of any playoff team a year ago, outscoring opponents by 9.0 points per 100 possessions according to NBA Advanced Stats. That has changed dramatically this year, when Denver's minus-17.0 net rating in first halves ranks ahead of only the long-eliminated Heat (minus-33.4). Anthony Edwards, fire, and rebirth Mike Shearer, NYK-IND At the Buzzer: R2G2 — Knicks 130, Pacers 12 ..read more

NBA PLAYOFFS DEN-MIN Nuggets on the precipiceDavid Thorpe, Nikola Jokic and a forgotten basketball legend: Inside an MVP connection nearly 60 years in the makingBaxter Holmes, ESPN Korać holds the EuroLeague record for points in a game at 99, the second most at 71 and the fifth most at 60. His career scoring average in the EuroLeague is a record 43.6 points per game… He was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame (and named one of its 50 best players of all time) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He became the only basketball player in the world to have a large international tour ..read more

THE PLAYOFFS BOS-CLE Round two of NBA playoffs should pose stiffer challenge for the Celtics Sherrod Blakely, Full Court Press Newsletter Cavaliers vs. Celtics: Boston should be able to exploit Cleveland's flaws Gary Washburn, Boston Globe Substance over style: small ball, double bigs, and everything in between is an option for Boston Bill Sy, SB Nation CLE-ORL Takeaways from Cleveland Cavaliers Game 7 redemption against Orlando Magic Mateo Mayorga, Fansided Caris LeVert becomes Game 7 hero as Cavs beat Magic for first LeBron-less playoff series win in decades Jimmy Watkins, Cleveland.com DAL ..read more

THE PLAYOFFS BOS-MIA 10 Takeaways from Celtics/Heat Adam Taylor, Celtics Blog CLE-ORL What will decide Game 7? Four key factors ahead of Magic-Cavaliers Kevin Pelton, ESPN+ Basketball Intelligence Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. 3 Keys to Watch Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Dily DAL-LAC There Was a Model for Luka Dončić. Now He’s Broken It Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker DAL-OKC Scouting Mavericks-Thunder: Which MVP candidate has the edge in Western Conference semis? Mike Curtis, Morning ..read more

Once again, apologies for the not-quite-complete edition. Xfinity’s poor internet service once again reared its ugly head. Despite that, today’s BI is closer to complete than yesterday’s and with Xfinity’s promise that the problems are fixed, we look forward to returning to the quality you expect from BI tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. (And btw our confidence is finally high thanks to the great assistance received from an Xfinity agent today). THE PLAYOFFS BOS-CLE/ORL Joe Mazzulla wants Celtics to be the tougher team going forward Adam Himmelbach, Boston Globe Basketball Intelligence News ..read more

We have experienced intermittent Xfinity internet outage this morning, affecting our ability to complete Basketball Intelligence. We will include stories that we missed today as we play catch-up in tomorrow’s BI. -Basketball Intelligence Team THE PLAYOFFS CLE-ORL Cavaliers may need bold moves to beat the Magic in Orlando Joe Vardon, The Athletic DAL-LAC Can these Mavericks do what Dallas couldn’t three years ago and close out the Clippers? Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News Earlier impacts from Kyrie Irving have Dallas Mavericks on doorstep of second round Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News ..read more

LEAGUE STORIES NBA playoffs 2024: Slowing down has quickly become a favorite move for the league's elite scorersTim MacMahon, ESPN For Lakers, Suns and Heat, what now after NBA playoff exits? When going all-in goes wrongJohn Hollinger, The Athletic 2024 NBA playoffs roundtable: What to watch heading into massive Game 6 matchupsStaff, ESPN NBA Playoffs Analysis: Overachievers & Underachievers, TWolves Rebounding, Heat's Zone Defense, Chet's Defensive Mastery, and Knicks Game 6 AdjustmentsVikram Dimba, NBA Librarian Weekly PLAYOFFS: DAL-LAC 5 thoughts from Mavericks-Clippers Game 5: Dallas s ..read more

THE PLAYOFFS CLE-ORL Cavs push Magic to brink of playoff elimination with hard-fought 104-103 winChris Fedor, Cleveland.com Marcus Morris Sr. gives Cavaliers buyout success story in playoffsJoe Vardon, The Athletic Morris appeared in 12 games for the Cavs and averaged 5.8 points. He was watching, and talking trash, through four playoff games, until an injury to Jarrett Allen and a shooting slump too bad to ignore for Georges Niang forced Cleveland to look at Morris. So when he showed up at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse Tuesday to get ready for pivotal Game 5, with the series tied at 2-2, the Cle ..read more

THE PLAYOFFS BOS-MIA Celtics maintain momentum, and other observations from a Game 4 victory Adam Himmelsbach, Bston Globe Derrick White’s career night with ‘ultimate green light’ puts Celtics in driver’s seat Jay King, The Athletic One step closer: The Celtics have a commanding 3-1 lead over the Miami Heat Adam Taylor, The Celtics Chronicle Celtics await news on Kristaps Porziņģis injury, push Heat to brink of elimination Jared Weiss, The Athletic Takeaways from Game 4 loss to Celtics Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald Derrick White led the Celtics, but Game 4 win is overshadowed by injury to Krist ..read more

By Mark Medina Up until the final play, the Los Angeles Lakers appeared capable of seriously challenging the Denver Nuggets in at least extending their first-round playoff series beyond five games. Once their 108-106 loss to Denver in Game 5 became official, the Lakers will soon encounter another issue perhaps just as daunting as unseating the NBA’s defending champions. How will the Lakers handle their offseason? How will LeBron James ponder his future? To what extent will these issues become intertwined? Read more ..read more