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Luka vs. Lu, backcourt battles: Biggest factors in Thunder-Mavs, Celtics-Cavs series

Our experts reveal the biggest factors to watch heading into the second-round playoff series between the Thunder and Mavericks and the Celtics and Cavaliers.

1hTim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Predicting conference semifinal matchups: Celtics-Cavs, Thunder-Mavs

Which teams will reach the conference finals? Our experts make their picks for each second-round matchup.

3hESPN

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East Semifinals - Game 1NY leads series 1-0

Jalen Brunson leads Knicks with 43-point masterclass in Game 1 win

12h
1:56

Windhorst: Late calls will overshadow Brunson's night

11h
1:36

Andrew Nembhard T'd up in final seconds to give Knicks easy points

13h
0:17

DiVincenzo drains huge 3 in final minute to give Knicks lead

12h
0:23

Aaron Nesmith gets up for unreal poster jam

12h
0:22

Myles Turner beats the 3rd-quarter buzzer with deep 3

12h
0:23

Isaiah Hartenstein drains half-court buzzer-beater to end first half

13h
0:30
    West Semifinals - Game 2MIN leads series 2-0

    Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns lead Timberwolves' rout of Nuggets in Game 2

    10h
    1:47

    Should Jamal Murray be suspended for throwing heating pad?

    1h
    1:44

    Jokic: I didn't lose my emotions, Murray shouldn't either

    9h
    0:21

    Michael Malone gets in ref's face after being infuriated by no-call

    1h
    0:51

    Edwards drains a masterful fadeaway jumper

    2h
    0:26

      'THEY'RE STUCK'

      They're stuck': After a hot start, the Clippers were undone by familiar issues

      The Clippers are moving into a $2 billion arena next season, but a final promising season at Crypto.com Arena was undone once more by injuries.

      3hOhm Youngmisuk
      Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

      WEMBANYAMA NAMED TOP ROOKIE

      Wembanyama: Winning is the most important, but individual awards tell a lot

      2h
      1:56

      Wemby's rookie mixtape is unlike anything we've seen

      2h
      1:41

      RECAPPING ROUND 1

      Jokic, Edwards, ???: We ranked the 20 best players from the first round of the NBA playoffs

      Is Anthony Edwards No. 1? How about LeBron James? Let's dive into the most important players, as ranked by the numbers.

      23hNeil Paine
      Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

      RILEY DOESN'T MINCE WORDS

      Pat Riley: Jimmy Butler should keep his mouth shut if he isn't playing

      20h
      1:21

      Pat Riley on Tyler Herro: He's been a little fragile

      20h
      1:23

      WHO HAS THE EDGE?

      Eight NBA playoffs teams left! Each has a massive strength -- and a potentially fatal flaw

      Here's each team's biggest strength -- and a weakness that could end their season.

      1dChris Herring
      Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

      Playoff tiers: How do the eight remaining teams stack up?

      ESPN NBA Insider Kevin Pelton puts the remaining eight playoff teams into five tiers. How many land in Tier 1?

      2dKevin Pelton

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