The primary spherical of the 2024 NBA playoffs has been nothing in need of thrilling, giving us every little thing from sweeps to back-and-forth battles on each side of the bracket.
Within the Western Convention, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves have already secured spots within the second spherical, with the Nuggets and Timberwolves beginning their collection on Saturday in Denver.
Within the Japanese Convention, the Boston Celtics are joined within the second spherical by the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, with the Knicks and Pacers renewing their rivalry on Tuesday in New York.
That leaves two collection — one in every convention — but to be determined. Each return to motion on Friday in Sport 6 clashes that would doubtlessly spherical out the second-round area.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a 3-2 lead over the Orlando Magic, and can look to advance within the East to face regardless of no street staff having received but within the collection. Within the West, the Dallas Mavericks host the LA Clippers with a 3-2 benefit after a powerful Sport 5 win in Los Angeles.
Our NBA insiders break down the most important storylines to observe going into these essential Sport 6 matchups.
MORE: Every part to know concerning the playoffs | Offseason guides for each staff
Can the Cavaliers generate sufficient offense on the street?
Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Cleveland has constructed its benefit behind the league’s seventh-ranked protection, however to shut out this collection in Orlando, it has to attain extra. The Cavs lastly broke the 100-point mark in Sport 5, when Darius Garland raced out to 17 first-quarter factors and Donovan Mitchell completed with 28. Max Strus, who had struggled capturing, knocked down 4 3-pointers, and Marcus Morris Sr. added 12 factors off the bench.
Sure, that sport was sealed by an Evan Mobley block — his defensive presence is much more necessary with Jarrett Allen’s standing up within the air — however within the two video games the Cavs dropped in Orlando’s Kia Heart, that they had no reply for scoring runs by the Magic, who had the sixth-best house file within the league through the common season.
In Sport 4, Mitchell went scoreless within the second half, whereas the Cavs surrendered a 31-5 run within the third quarter and shot simply 4-of-17 from 3.
— Kendra Andrews
Will historical past repeat itself or can the Mavericks lock in?
Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Luka Doncic did not wish to hear it, interrupting a reporter’s query as quickly as the topic of the Mavericks’ final playoff collection in opposition to the Clippers was broached.
These groups have been in the identical place within the 2021 playoffs, when the Mavs took a 3-2 lead in a first-round collection and headed house for Sport 6. LA received the subsequent two video games, eliminating Dallas for the second consecutive season.
“Current. Current. Not previous,” Doncic insisted after his 35-point, 10-assist efficiency within the Mavs’ Sport 5 blowout win.
Clippers star Paul George, not surprisingly, was far more keen to debate the latest historical past between the 2 groups. He truly made some extent to carry it up after what might be the Clippers’ last house sport at Crypto.com Enviornment until their prior Sport 6 street success repeats itself.
“We have been right here earlier than — going to Dallas, being down 3-2,” George mentioned. “It is bought to be a win, and the one mentality we’ve got is to attempt to go get a win in Dallas.”
In that occasion three years in the past, Kawhi Leonard carried the Clippers to a Sport 6 victory. He matched his playoff profession excessive with 45 factors and performed smothering protection on Doncic down the stretch in that sport.
However the Clippers cannot depend on that occuring once more. Leonard hasn’t been obtainable since Sport 3 due to persistent irritation in his proper knee, and he is not anticipated to return throughout this collection.
Earlier than this collection began, Doncic identified one other main distinction from the opposite occasions the Mavs and Clippers met within the playoffs.
“We’ve got Kai,” Doncic mentioned, referring to Kyrie Irving, his championship skilled co-star.
“We’ll get some relaxation after this one,” Irving mentioned. “Feelings are excessive, however we simply bought to be prepared for no matter’s going to be thrown at us.”
— Tim MacMahon