The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs has been nothing short of exciting, giving us everything from sweeps to back-and-forth battles on both sides of the bracket.
At the Western Conference, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver nuggetsAnd Minnesota Timberwolf have earned a spot in the second round, as the Nuggets and Timberwolves begin their series on Saturday in Denver.
At the Eastern Conference, Boston Celtics was joined in the second round by New York Knicks and Indiana Pacerswith the Knicks and Pacers continuing their rivalry on Tuesday in New York.
That leaves two series — one in each conference — yet to be decided. Both return to action on Friday in a potential Game 6 clash in the second round.
The Cleveland Cavaliers leading 3-2 Magic Orlando, and will look to advance to the East to face off even though no road team has won the series yet. In western land, Dallas Mavericks organization LA cutter with a 3-2 advantage after an impressive victory in Game 5 in Los Angeles.
Our NBA insiders break down the biggest storylines to track these key Game 6 matchups.
THAN: Everything you need to know about the playoffs |
Offseason guidance for every team
Can the Cavaliers create enough offense on the road?
Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Cleveland has built an advantage behind the league’s seventh-ranked defense, but to close out the series against Orlando, they must score more. The Cavs finally surpassed the 100-point mark in Game 5, when Darius wreath scored 17 points in the first quarter and Donovan Mitchell ends with 28. Maximum Struswho struggled to shoot, knocked down four 3-pointers, and Marcus Morris Sr. scored 12 more points off the bench.
Yes, that game is sealed by one Evan Mobley blocking — his defensive presence is even more important to by Jarrett Allen state up in the air — but in the two games the Cavs lost at Orlando’s Kia Center, they had no answer for the scoring of the Magic, who had the league’s sixth-best home record during the regular season.
In Game 4, Mitchell went scoreless in the second half, while the Cavs surrendered a 31-5 run in the third quarter and shot just 4-of-17 from three.
— Kendra Andrews
Will history repeat itself or can the Mavericks lock in again?
Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Luka Doncic didn’t want to listen, interrupting the reporter’s question as soon as the topic of the Mavericks’ final playoff series with the Clippers came up.
These teams were in the same position in the 2021 playoffs, when the Mavs took a 3-2 lead in the first-round series and went home in Game 6. LA won the next two games, eliminating Dallas for the second straight season .
“The present. The present. Not the past,” Doncic emphasized after a 35-point, 10-assist performance in the Mavs’ big Game 5 win.
Cut star Paul George, unsurprisingly, was much more willing to discuss the recent history between the two teams. He actually made a point when he reiterated that after what could be the Clippers’ last home game at Crypto.com Arena unless their previous Game 6 success is repeated.
“We’ve been here before – to Dallas, down 3-2,” George said. “It has to be a win and the only mentality we have is to try to win in Dallas.”
In that case three years ago, Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers to victory in Game 6. He matched his playoff career high with 45 points and played suffocating defense against Doncic in that game.
But the Clippers can’t believe it will happen again. Leonard has been unavailable since Game 3 because of persistent inflammation in his right knee, and he is not expected to return in this series.
Before this series began, Doncic pointed out one big difference compared to the times the Mavs and Clippers met in the playoffs.
“We have Kai,” Doncic said, hinting Kyrie Irvinghis unbeatable experienced co-star.
“We’re going to rest a little bit after this game,” Irving said. “Emotions are running high but we have to be ready for whatever is coming our way.”
— Tim MacMahon
