BASKETBALL NBA ARTICLES

The Boston Celtics don’t care that several of their best players are on the sidelines these days. They just keep winning. Boston was the underdog in each of its first two home games against the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals but won them both. ... 

The Cleveland Cavaliers entered the Eastern Conference Semifinals in an unfamiliar position, as they were the underdogs to the Toronto Raptors when it started. But they have instead played like the powerhouse they have long been, winning both games in Toronto to take control of the series. ... 

The Golden State Warriors looked bored at times during the regular season, but they have turned it up in the playoffs. The Warriors cruised past the Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference postseason and have grabbed the first two games of the conference semifinals against the New Orleans Pelicans. ... 

The Utah Jazz might be underdogs in their Western Conference Semifinals matchup against the Houston Rockets, but they don’t plan on rolling over. Utah pulled off a big-time upset in Game 2 last time out to know the series at 1 as the series now heads to the Jazz’s home court. ... 

The Houston Rockets are facing a new opponent in the second round of the playoffs, but they are looking for the same easy result. Houston rolled past the Timberwolves in the first round and had a similar experience with a blowout of the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. ... 

The Toronto Raptors finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, but questions persisted about their ability to finish the deal in the playoffs. Those are only getting louder after the Cleveland Cavaliers came into town and stole Game 1 to open up their Eastern Conference second round series. ... 

The Boston Celtics continue to be counted out, and they keep rising to the occasion. Despite being home underdogs in the first game of their Eastern Conference Semifinal, Boston knocked off the Philadelphia 76ers. They will aim to win again at home and really put the pressure on heading back to Philadelphia. ... 

The Philadelphia 76ers were the laughingstock of the NBA for the past several seasons. Now they are in contention to make an NBA Finals appearance. The 76ers continued their hot streak by laying waste to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. They are the lower seed but the favorites to knock off the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.... 

The Golden State Warriors didn’t get Steph Curry back for their first game of the Western Conference Semifinals, and it didn’t matter. The rest of his star-studded team proved to have plenty of firepower as the Warriors cruised past the New Orleans Pelicans to take an early series lead. ... 

LeBron James did what LeBron James does, putting together a monster performance in Game 7 against the Pacers to rescue the Cleveland Cavaliers and get them into the second round of the playoffs. It wasn’t easy and now Cleveland must regroup in a hurry as it faces off against the top-seeded Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. ... 

It all comes down to this. LeBron James has never been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round but the Indiana Pacers have now pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to a decisive Game 7. The Cavs have the home court advantage but these two teams have battled back and forth for six contests and this one could be lining up to be a classic. ... 

The hotly-contested first round series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics deserved to go to a Game 7, and it has. Milwaukee defended its home court last time out to force an elimination game for both sides next time out. ... 

The New Orleans Pelicans had no problem surprising their foe in the first round, sweeping past the favored Portland Trail Blazers in four games. It will be a different animal this time around as the underdog Pelicans would pull off a titanic upset if they can knock off the defending champion Golden State Warriors. ... 

It hasn’t been as easy as hoped, but a win last time out has given the Toronto Raptors a 3-2 lead in their first round series against the No. 8 seed Washington Wizards. Toronto has yet to win a road game in this series but breaking through in Game 6 would wrap up the series and send them on to the second round.... 

One of the most entertaining first-round series will head to a critical Game 6 when the Cleveland Cavaliers hit the road to face the Indiana Pacers. Despite a rocky regular season the Cavs entered the playoffs as the favorites to advance out of the Eastern Conference and make the NBA Finals once again. However, Indiana has given Cleveland all it can handle in this series.... 

The first-round series between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks has lived up to the hype, as each team has taken care of business on its home court in the first five games. The Bucks need to keep that trend going as their backs are against the wall heading into Game 6. ... 

The Cleveland Cavaliers accomplished what they needed to in Indiana, splitting two games to head back home with a 2-2 series tie. The best-of-seven series against the Indiana Pacers is down to three games, as each side needs two more to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. ... 

The Houston Rockets have larger goals beyond simply getting out of the first round of the playoffs, but this is the first step. Houston will have a chance to close out the Minnesota Timberwolves and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals with a win in Game 5.
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The Philadelphia 76ers have proven that inexperience isn’t a big negative in the postseason. The young, talented squad is on the verge of advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Philadelphia can get there with a victory over the Miami Heat in Game 5 this week.... 

The San Antonio Spurs avoided a first-round sweep by knocking off the Golden State Warriors last time out, but they are going to need a miracle to extend this series past five games. The Warriors return home still up 3-1 and will be expected to punch their ticket to the second round with a victory over San Antonio.... 

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t going down quietly, as a Game 3 victory has pulled them to within striking distance of the Houston Rockets in their first round matchup. Minnesota can really make this series interesting by pulling off another upset next time out in Game 4.
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The Utah Jazz have won two straight games to take the series lead against the Oklahoma City Thunder, as they prepare for a pivotal Game 4 matchup. Utah is at home and will be the favorite next time out, as a victory would give it a 3-1 lead and make the Jazz large favorites to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.
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The masked man may have just tilted the first round series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. Joel Embiid returned from an orbital fracture and played very well in Game 3 to help his Philadelphia team cruise to a win and re-take the series advantage. Embiid’s presence has given the 76ers a big boost as the two sides face off in a pivotal Game 4 showdown.
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The Golden State Warriors are back up to their old tricks, as a bumpier-than-usual regular season has made way to a flawless postseason start. Despite injuries to their stars, the Warriors have rolled to three straight wins over the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
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The Oklahoma City and Utah Jazz have traded punches through the first two games of their series, and it doesn’t look like there is going to be a knockout blow any time soon. The series shifts to Utah for the third game after each side picked up a win in Oklahoma City.
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