Jamal Murray scored 37 points as the Denver Nuggets routed the Los Angeles Lakers 119-108 to move within one win of reaching the NBA finals for the first time in the team's history.
Griner was released by Russia in exchange for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, known as the ‘Merchant of Death’, in December
Jimmy Butler finished with 27 points as the eighth seeds Heat grabbed a second straight victory at Boston's TD Garden to leave the Celtics with a mountain to climb
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic racked up another triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists for the Nuggets, but it was Murray who starred when it mattered most
Jimmy Butler's 35 points and a scorching third quarter propelled the eighth-seeded Miami Heat to a 123-116 victory over the Celtics in game one of the NBA Eastern Conference finals in Boston.
Ja Morant is being investigated by the NBA for his actions, two months after the league suspended him for essentially the same thing — displaying a gun on social media.
The 76ers fired Rivers following a third straight exit in the second round of the playoffs, and the second time over that span he lost a series lead and a Game 7.
Nikola Jokic recorded his sixth triple-double of these NBA playoffs with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 14 assists, powering the Nuggets to a 1-0 series lead.
Memphis suspended Morant on Sunday from team activities, though that's unclear what that involves in the offseason.
The Nuggets have lost all seven playoff series against the Lakers in their history, including inside the NBA bubble in 2020.
It's the second time in less than three months that Morant was seen on Instagram holding what appeared to be a weapon.
Celtics, who lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last year, will face the Miami Heat in the East finals for a second straight season.
Griner returned to game action for the first time since a nearly 10-month detainment in Russia on drug-related charges ended with a prisoner swap
LeBron James had 30 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and the Lakers ended the Golden State Warriors' reign with a 122-101 victory in Game 6 of the second-round series.
Nikola Jokic delivered his third triple-double of the series as Western Conference top seeds Denver dominated from start to finish in Phoenix as they polished off the Suns 4-2 in their best-of-seven conference semi-final.
Game 6 will take place in Los Angeles with the Lakers 5-0 at home this postseason, having won eight consecutive games on their own floor
NBA MVP Joel Embiid, Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mavs' Luka Doncic and Celtics' Jayson Tatum were among those named to the All-NBA First Team.
Jokic had 29 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for his 10th career playoff triple-double, breaking a tie with Wilt Chamberlain for most by a center in NBA history.
The Bucks were the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but were upset by Miami in the opening round of the post-season.
Davis Anthony scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while LeBron James added 21 points to lead the host Lakers over the Warriors 127-97
Booker scored 47 points, Kevin Durant added 39 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Denver Nuggets 121-114 to cut Denver's lead to 2-1 in their Western Conference semifinal series
Curry’s 50 points are the most in NBA history in a Game 7, topping former teammate Kevin Durant’s 48 for the Nets against Milwaukee in 2021.
The Los Angeles Lakers won a playoff series for the first time since winning the club's 17th NBA title in 2020
Russia released Brittney Griner in December last year as part of a deal that saw her swapped for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, also known as the ‘Merchant of Death’
Miami are the sixth No 8 seeds to beat a No. 1 seed. The last time it happened was in 2012, when 76ers beat the Bulls
Nikola Jokic had a triple-double and Jamal Murray scored 35 points as the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.
Anthony Edwards scored 34 points, including a three-point dagger with 11.5 seconds left, as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 114-108 in overtime Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs.
Jimmy Butler all but single-handedly led Heat to a 119-114 win that leaves the Bucks 3-1 down in the best-of-seven NBA Eastern Conference first-round series
Philadelphia 76ers overcame the absence of Joel Embiid to beat the Brooklyn Nets 96-88, and now await the winner of the series between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks.
Jokic had his seventh career triple-double in the playoffs with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists and the Nuggets beat the Timberwolves 120-111 on Friday night to take a 3-0 lead in the first-round series