Giannis Drops 35 as Bucks Cruise Past Magic 121-107 to Take 2-1 Series Lead
Aug 22, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts after dunking against the Orlando Magic during Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
The Milwaukee Bucks grabbed a 2-1 lead in their first-round series with a 121-107 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 3 on Saturday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo took over once again with a game-high 35 points, and the Bucks shot 56.1 percent from the field.
Milwaukee built a 27-point lead by halftime and went up 34 in the second half before a late charge by the Magic closed the gap. Each game has been decided by double digits.
D.J. Augustin and Terrence Ross played well off the bench for Orlando, but without a huge game from Nikola Vucevic, it was too short-handed to compete with Aaron Gordon and Michael Carter-Williams still unavailable because of injuries. James Ennis III was also ejected in the first half along with Milwaukee forward Marvin Williams.
After their surprising Game 1 win, the Magic simply haven't been able to keep up with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
This opened things up for the rest of his team, and the Bucks shot 63.6 percent from the field in the first half on the way to a 70-43 lead. They outscored the Magic 39-20 in the second quarter alone.
Khris Middleton also woke up after scoring just two points in Game 2, netting 17 points.
Milwaukee needs the All-Star to take pressure off Antetokounmpo, perhaps especially later in the playoffs if the team makes a deep run.
With eight different Bucks hitting three-point shots and the team shooting 17-of-37 (45.9 percent) from beyond the arc, the Magic had no chance.
D.J. Augustin, Terrence Ross Help Short-Handed Magic
Jonathan Isaac is out for the year, and Gordon and Carter-Williams have missed the series—and Orlando lost another starter early when Ennis was ejected alongside Williams:
Orlando just lacks enough options to keep up with Milwaukee.
What's Next?
The teams will continue their afternoon matchups in Game 4, which is set for 1:30 p.m. ET Monday.
House of Highlights' Top Plays of the Week for August 21
Aug 21, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) warms up before Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
It's still Dame Time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YutwSlAnvTM
After dominating the seeding games at Walt Disney World Resort and then guiding the Portland Trail Blazers as they dispatched the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in matchup, Damian Lillard led the Blazers to a victory over the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of their playoff series.
While Portland lost Game 2, Lillard's three-pointer from just inside half-court following a block by Hassan Whiteside during Game 1 topped House of Highlights' best plays from the opening week of the playoffs.
Check out the full list of the top 10 plays, including a spin and dunk by Giannis Antetokounmpo, an impressive finish by LeBron James and multiple Jayson Tatum highlights, one of which ended with an emphatic Jaylen Brown dunk.
Giannis Posts 28 and 20 as Bucks Bounce Back in Game 2, Even Series with Magic
Aug 20, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) shoots against the Orlando Magic during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
The Milwaukee Bucks bounced back from their Game 1 defeat with a 111-96 win over the Orlando Magic to even the first-round series at 1-1.
Giannis Antetokounmpo played at an MVP level with 28 points and 20 rebounds, preventing the No. 1 seed from falling down 2-0 in the series.
A top seed hasn't been eliminated in the first round of the NBA playoffs since 2012.
The Bucks were aggressive early in this one, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter before going up 21 points at halftime. The Magic chipped into the margin and got within single digits late in the fourth but failed to complete the comeback.
Milwaukee still couldn't contain Nikola Vucevic in Game 2 after the center dominated the opening win, but Orlando struggled offensively while shooting just 34.8 percent from the field. With Aaron Gordon still out with a hamstring issue and Jonathan Isaac unavailable after tearing his ACL, the lack of depth was apparent Thursday.
The Magic still haven't won two games in a postseason series since 2011 when Dwight Howard was on the roster.
Playing without Gordon and Michael Carter-Williams made things even tougher for the Magic, who would be facing an uphill battle with them. It's left the squad without three of its top nine scorers.
D.J. Augustin scored 10 points but was 0-of-5 from the field, while Markelle Fultz (11 points) and James Ennis III (eight points) were also relatively quiet. Each of these players will need to come through with bigger showings in Game 3 and beyond.
What's Next?
There is no shift in location like there would be in a normal series, but an important Game 3 will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
NBA Playoff Schedule 2020: Updated Bracket Guide and Postseason Dates
Aug 20, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) works the ball against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Portland won 100-93. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
While the hoops world braced itself for a unique 2020 NBA playoffs, no one could have predicted this start.
For only the second time in league history, both No. 8 seeds opened their respective series with upset victories over the No. 1 seeds. On Wednesday night, the seventh-seeded Dallas Mavericks also evened up their first-round tussle with the second-seeded Los Angeles Clippers at one win apiece, so perhaps 2020 will be the year of the upsets (and many, many other things).
With both 8-1 matchups part of Thursday's four-game slate, we'll soon discover whether the chaos will continue or if order will be restored. After updating the postseason bracket and running through key playoff dates, we'll preview Thursday's action below.
2020 NBA Playoff Bracket Guide
Eastern Conference
No. 8 Orlando Magic lead No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks 1-0
No. 5 Miami Heat lead No. 4 Indiana Pacers 1-0
No. 3 Boston Celtics lead No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers 2-0
No. 2 Toronto Raptors lead No. 7 Brooklyn Nets 2-0
Western Conference
No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers lead No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers 1-0
No. 4 Houston Rockets lead No. 5 Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0
No. 3 Denver Nuggets and No. 6 Utah Jazz tied 1-1
No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers and No. 7 Dallas Mavericks tied 1-1
Key Postseason Dates
August 31: Conference semifinals begin
September 15: Conference finals begin
September 30: NBA Finals begin
October 13: Latest possible date for NBA Finals
Thursday, Aug. 20 Schedule and Preview
Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers: 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Indiana entered the postseason without its lone All-Star Domantas Sabonis, who remains outside the bubble while receiving treatment for plantar fasciitis. Then, the Pacers lost two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo to a first-quarter eye injury during their 113-101 Game 1 loss to the Heat on Tuesday.
Initial testing on Oladipo's ailment revealed "no immediate concerns," leaving the 2 guard listed as day-to-day.
The Pacers almost assuredly need Oladipo healthy and productive to get back in this series. Indiana dropped both the second and fourth quarters by double-digit margins, as Miami pulled away late to cruise to a relatively comfortable win.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets: 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
While the Rockets-Thunder series seemed a must-watch on paper, it hardly looked that way on Tuesday. Houston came out throwing fire balls, building an eight-point advantage after the first quarter and taking a 16-point lead into intermission.
The final tally saw the Rockets roll to a more-lopsided-than-it-sounds 123-108 victory. Houston led by as many as 23 points and never trailed after the first quarter. James Harden led all scorers with 37 points, while Eric Gordon topped 20 points for the first time since late January.
Containing Harden is OKC's biggest key for Game 2—especially if Russell Westbrook remains sidelined with a strained right quadriceps—but the Thunder also need to do a better job of handling the Rockets' zone defense.
"We're going to figure it out," Chris Paultold reporters. "It's a different team. You play the whole season a certain way and then you've got a team that switches everything. It's Game 1. We've got to figure it out."
Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks: 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
Orlando scored by far the most shocking upset in Game 1, building a 10-point lead in the first quarter and maintaining it throughout its 122-110 victory.
The Bucks, who posted the NBA's best win total for the second straight season, looked out of sorts throughout the contest. Despite 31 points and 17 rebounds from reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the offense could never get in gear. All-Star Khris Middleton shot just 4-of-12 from the field, while starting center Brook Lopez managed just five points on nine shots and misfired on all four of his three-point attempts.
"There's no magic wand to point and things are going to change," Antetokounmpo said. "You've got to come out, play hard, play even harder, play together and have fun."
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN
Portland's 100-93 win over L.A. was less shocking to some—chiefly, Charles Barkley, who views the Blazers as an NBA Finals team—but it was still a sight to behold.
Portland built a 16-point lead in the opening frame, then went down by as many as six points in the fourth quarter, before recovering to claim a seven-point victory. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the victory is that it didn't involve a blistering offensive effort by the Blazers, who shot just 39.2 percent from the field, but instead saw them bottle up the Lakers' attack.
LeBron James did what he could for the Purple and Gold (23 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists), but his supporting cast couldn't throw one in the Atlantic Ocean. The Lakers posted a grisly 35.1/15.6/64.5 shooting slash, continuing the offensive struggles that plagued them during the seeding round.
"We realized that we missed 11 free throws," JaVale McGee told reporters. "We didn't make a lot of threes. I think our percentages of shots that we usually shoot wide open were extremely down. Not even a hot day, one of the days where we're just shooting our regular percentages, we would hit those shots."
The Lakers don't have much time to find their rhythm. If they keep throwing up clunkers, it will be interesting to see if James takes a more aggressive approach to finding his own shots. He didn't have the most efficient opener (9-of-20 from the field, 1-of-5 from deep), but the Blazers don't have a great defensive answer for him.
Giannis on Approach After Bucks' Game 1 Upset: 'Do Whatever It Takes to Win'
Aug 18, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) fouls Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) while reaching for a loose ball during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
"Play harder," he said when asked what his approach will be when it comes to leadership going into Game 2, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. "Be more vocal. Lead by example. At the end of the day, I can’t change who I am and what I do. And what I do, as I said early is that I get on the court and do whatever it takes to win."
It's hard to blame the reigning MVP for the 122-110 loss, as he finished with 31 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists. He even hit three triples, which is not exactly his forte and that stood out in a game that the Bucks connected on just 33.3 percent of their three-point attempts.
Khris Middleton was just 4-of-12 from the field for 14 points, while Milwaukee couldn't contain big man Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic exploded for 35 points, 14 rebounds and four assists, exploiting weaknesses in the Bucks defense and proving a matchup problem with his outside shooting.
If there is a silver lining for the top-seeded Bucks, it is recent history.
The Magic shocked the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series last season just for Kawhi Leonard and company to win the next four and parlay that momentum into a championship run.
This is a championship-or-bust postseason for the Bucks after finishing with the league's best record, so they have a blueprint to follow moving forward even after an early loss to Orlando.
All it will take is a win in Thursday's Game 2 for the Bucks to quickly shift the narrative of the series.
Nikola Vucevic Drops 35 as Magic Stun Giannis, Bucks in Game 1 Upset
Aug 18, 2020
Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) passes the ball to forward Gary Clark (12) in front of Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) during the first half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Most expected the Milwaukee Bucks to skate through the first round without breaking a sweat.
The Orlando Magic had other plans.
Nikola Vucevic turned in a dominant 35-point, 14-rebound outing and Markelle Fultz added 15 points as the Magic earned a 122-110 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists, but the Bucks' effort was undone by the failures of the supporting cast. Khris Middleton finished with just 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting, and Brook Lopez had five points and four boards while getting cooked by Vucevic on the other end.
Notable Stats
Magic
C Nikola Vucevic: 35 points (15-24 FG, 5-8 3PT), 14 rebounds, 4 assists
G Eric Bledsoe: 15 points (5-11 FG, 1-5 3PT), 5 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
Markelle Fultz, Feel-Good Story of the Playoffs
This is such an encouraging sign for Markelle Fultz's future. When he eventually starts punishing teams for going under PnR with 3s & forces them into drops, he'll be a really tough cover given his size, craft, mid-range game. Great half for the #1 pick. https://t.co/ALGa9FqlWjpic.twitter.com/k0CoInRwLg
Look through the recent history of the NBA—you'll have a hard time finding someone more unfairly treated than Markelle Fultz. His year-and-a-half odyssey in Philadelphia was full of starts and stops, filled with accusations he could not take the mental rigors of playing in the NBA all while dealing with a mysterious shoulder injury.
While Fultz was eventually diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve disorder that impacted his ability to shoot a basketball, the well was so deeply poisoned the Sixers had to ship him off to Orlando for Jonathon Simmons and a low first-round pick.
Simmons is no longer in the NBA. The pick will be No. 21 in this year's draft, which is widely viewed as one of the weakest of the last 20 years.
Fultz, meanwhile, found an organization willing to give him patience and is beginning to thrive in Orlando. While it's unlikely he'll ever reach the potential that made him a No. 1 overall pick, Fultz is clearly figuring things out. He's devastating off the dribble, equipped with one of the best first steps in the league, and is starting to get comfortable shooting from distance, even if he's not particularly good at it yet.
The Magic would be smart to lock him up to a rookie extension this offseason before he reaches a different level in 2020-21.
Mike Budenholzer Needs to Shorten Rotations—and Fast
The Bucks aren't in any real danger here. They'll probably rampage through the next four games in a gentleman's sweep, reclaiming their status as the East's best team in the process.
At greater issue—and something that could cost the Bucks some games against better opponents—is coach Mike Budenholzer essentially sticking to his regular-season rotation. Giannis played 34 minutes, but no other Bucks player topped more than 31. There is something to be said about preserving bodies during the regular season, and the Magic don't pose a serious threat to knock the Bucks out in Round 1.
However, this is not a new issue. Giannis played only 34.3 minutes per game during the 2019 postseason, not even up two minutes from his regular-season average.
Giannis is 25 years old and the world's best player. He should be in the 37-38-minute range and even touch 40 in close games. While that may put him at something less than peak freshness in some moments, a 95 percent version of Giannis is better than anything Milwaukee can offer in those critical minutes he's off the floor.
Throwing Marvin Williams out there just to get fried on both ends of the floor isn't helping the Bucks. It's only decreasing their margin of error.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks Bucks' 'Frustrating' 3-5 Record in NBA Seeding Games
Aug 15, 2020
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) scores a basket against the Miami Heat during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo expressed frustration Saturday with the way the Milwaukee Bucks played in the regular-season seeding games inside the NBA bubble near Orlando, Florida.
After his team went just 3-5, Giannis gave his take on Milwaukee's performance to ESPN's Eric Woodyard:
"It wasn't frustrating because we were losing. Like, losing is part of basketball, losing is part of the game, but, obviously, what was frustrating because at times I think we wasn't ourselves. We wasn't moving the ball as much as I wanted to move the ball or as much as [coach Mike Budenholzer] wants us to move the ball. We wasn't defending as hard. As I said, there was times that we were ourselves, where we were the No. 1 team in the league on defense, but there were times that we showed that and there was times that we didn't."
Despite their poor record in the bubble, the Bucks finished as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the second consecutive season, as they went 56-17 overall in 2019-20.
Antetokounmpo noted he had an especially difficult time with sitting out the Bucks' final contest against the Memphis Grizzlies while serving a one-game suspension for head-butting Washington Wizards forward Moe Wagner:
"I think the most frustrating part for me was probably the Memphis game, sitting in the hotel and not being able to be out there to help my teammates compete and win a game and losing a lot of money. But, yeah, this is over. This is in the past. Now it's playoff time. I definitely don't believe in the turn-on switch that everybody talks about, like we can turn on the switch and be great, but I do believe that if everybody is on the same page and if everyone is focused and get together and watch clips and be on the same page and we know what our game plan is, I believe we can play way, way better."
Giannis hasn't been the issue for Milwaukee in the bubble, as he averaged 27.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game after the restart. Overall, Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game on the season.
BR Video
Those numbers might be good enough to make him the 12th player in NBA history to win back-to-back NBA MVP awards.
Last season, Giannis and the Bucks were favored to go all the way and represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, but they fell to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. Milwaukee is once again favored to win the East this year as the top seed.
The Raptors, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are all threats, although Toronto is without Kawhi Leonard this year, as he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers after leading Toronto to its first championship last season.
Antetokounmpo and the Bucks will look to get back on track Tuesday when they face the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
NBA Playoff Picture 2020: Bracket, Early Odds and Predictions for Final Teams
Aug 15, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James (23) and Anthony Davis (3) celebrate after defeating the Denver Nuggets 124-121 during an NBA basketball game Monday, Aug. 10, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
After months of inactivity followed by a most unusual restart bubble in Orlando, the 2020 NBA playoff picture is nearly complete. On Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers will play to determine the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference.
Portland will advance with a win, while Memphis needs to win Saturday and then do so again Sunday to secure a place in the playoffs.
The rest of the field is set, and the Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets will kick off the postseason Monday afternoon.
Here you will find a rundown of the opening-round matchups, the latest championship odds—according to Caesars Palace—a closer look at some of the Finals favorites and predictions for the postseason's final four teams.
2020 NBA Playoff Bracket, Round 1
Eastern Conference
8. Orlando Magic vs. 1. Milwaukee Bucks
7. Brooklyn Nets vs. 2. Toronto Raptors
6. Philadelphia 76ers vs. 3. Boston Celtics
5. Miami Heat vs. 4. Indiana Pacers
Western Conference
8. Memphis/Portland vs. 1. Los Angeles Lakers
7. Dallas Mavericks vs. 2. Los Angeles Clippers
6. Utah Jazz vs. 3. Denver Nuggets
5. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 4. Houston Rockets
Latest Championship Odds
Los Angeles Lakers 2-1
Los Angeles Clippers 3-1
Milwaukee Bucks 3-1
Toronto Raptors 11-1
Boston Celtics 11-1
Houston Rockets 12-1
Denver Nuggets 20-1
Portland Trail Blazers 30-1
Oklahoma City Thunder 35-1
Miami Heat 35-1
Dallas Mavericks40-1
Philadelphia 76ers 50-1
Utah Jazz 75-1
Indiana Pacers 150-1
Orlando Magic 500-1
Brooklyn Nets 1000-1
Memphis Grizzlies 1000-1
Los Angeles Lakers 2-1
The Los Angeles Lakers have gone from being a regular-season also-ran in 2018-19 to the top team in the Western Conference this year. The addition of Anthony Davis has been a big part of the turnaround, but a healthy LeBron James and a quick building of chemistry between the two have been important parts of the equation.
However, there is questionable depth behind James and Davis, especially with Avery Bradley opting out and Rajon Rondo yet to feature in the bubble because of injury. Offensively, the Lakers were a mess during the seeding period of the restart virtually any time Davis ran cold.
"Their offense has been worse than the Wizards in Orlando—and how many Wizards starters could you name right now?" NBC Sports' Kurt Helin wrote just over a week ago.
However, the offense showed life in a 124-121 win over the Denver Nuggets on Monday, thanks in large part to contributions from Kyle Kuzma.
Of course, the Lakers also have James and Davis, not to mention the league's fourth-ranked scoring defense. They should have little trouble navigating the opening round.
Milwaukee Bucks 3-1
The Milwaukee Bucks are the team to beat in the Eastern Conferee because of the presence of likely MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though he was suspended one game for headbutting the Washington Wizards' Moe Wagner, he'll be back in the lineup against the Orlando Magic—though some believe one game is an underwhelming punishment.
"Giannis got star treatment because anybody else would have at least got two-to-three games, right?" ESPN's Kendrick Perkins said on The Jump (h/t Ryan Homler of NBC Sports Washington). "One-game suspension for headbutting somebody? This is professional basketball. I do not think it's fair. One game."
Even if Antetokounmpo was going to miss the opening game of the series, it's unlikely that the Bucks would struggle against the Magic.
Milwaukee owns the NBA's best record for a reason. The Bucks play excellent team basketball and complement the individual greatness of Antetokounmpo. Even if they got behind a couple of games, the Bucks aren't going to fall to Orlando in a seven-game series.
Like the Lakers, the Bucks should glide through the early rounds of the postseason. Don't be shocked if the two squads meet in The Finals, either.
Predictions for Conference Championships
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Toronto Raptors
NBA Playoff Bracket 2020: Final Standings, Postseason Picture and Predictions
Aug 15, 2020
Los Angeles Clippers' Kawhi Leonard, right, applies pressure on Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic (77) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
We're somewhat set for the NBA playoffs. One matchup remains underdetermined. The Los Angeles Lakers await the winner of a play-in tournament between the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies.
In the Western Conference, Portland and Memphis finished within four games of each other for the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds, respectively, prompting a play-in series. If the Blazers win, they would claim the final playoff slot. As the lower seed, the Grizzlies need consecutive victories to move into the eighth spot.
We can preview the rest of the playoff field. The first round features some captivating matchups with a couple of lower seeds equipped to pull off upsets.
As usual, storylines that involve star players will dominate the headlines. Can LeBron James propel the Los Angeles Lakers back to the title game? Will we see the rise of a new champion?
Before a look at opening-round predictions, let's review the final standings.
Final 2019-20 NBA Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks (56-17)
2. Toronto Raptors (53-19)
3. Boston Celtics (48-24)
4. Indiana Pacers (45-28)
5. Miami Heat (44-29)
6. Philadelphia 76ers (43-30)
7. Brooklyn Nets (35-37)
8. Orlando Magic (33-40)
9. Washington Wizards (25-47)
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers (52-19)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (49-23)
3. Denver Nuggets (46-27)
4. Houston Rockets (44-28)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-28)
6. Utah Jazz (44-28)
7. Dallas Mavericks (43-32)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (35-39)
9. Memphis Grizzlies (34-39)
10. Phoenix Suns (34-39)
11. San Antonio Spurs (32-39)
12. Sacramento Kings (31-41)
13. New Orleans Pelicans (30-42)
1st-Round Playoff Predictions
East Matchups
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic: Bucks in four games.
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets: Raptors in four games.
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers: Celtics in six games.
No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Miami Heat: Heat in six games.
West Matchups
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers: Lakers in four games.
No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks: Clippers in five games.
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz: Nuggets in seven games.
No. 4 Houston Rocketsvs. No. 5 Oklahoma City Thunder: Rockets in seven games.
Most Intriguing Series: No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Whether the Philadelphia 76ers advance or bow out of the first round, general manager Elton Brand may have to answer some tough questions.
If Philadelphia loses to the Boston Celtics, Brett Brown's job security may come into question. In February, amid a four-game losing streak, reporters asked the Sixers' head coach about his future with the club (h/t CBS Philly):
"I'm worried about going to Milwaukee, and feeling proud to coach the team, that we competed in a way that they usually do compete. We're the fourth-best defensive team in the NBA and that's where I'm at. I'm not young anymore and I'm perfectly content … My job is to coach this team and get them playing at a level that they're capable of and remind them of that always and remind them of that when they're not."
Philadelphia goes into the playoffs without Ben Simmons, who recently underwent knee surgery. That's a major loss on both ends of the court. He averaged 16.4 points and eight assists with the second-best defensive rating (106) among Sixers players who logged at least 300 minutes.
Even with Simmons healthy, the Sixers underachieved during the regular season. Brown's win percentage dropped, and the offense ranked 21st in scoring, averaging the third-fewest points (110.4) among playoff teams.
With two young stars, Simmons and Joel Embiid, along with Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson on the wings, Philadelphia should have more production on the offensive end. The front office could look for a new head coach to optimize the team's talent.
Then again, if the Sixers win the series, skeptics may ask whether they're better off with Embiid and a plethora of shooters around him. In February, Chris Broussard appeared on FS1's The Herd with Colin Cowherd and indicated Simmons and Embiid had some tension:
If Philadelphia's offense flips a switch without Simmons, concerns about his fit with Embiid could become a hot-topic discussion in the offseason.
Philadelphia won the season series with Boston (3-1). Embiid missed one of those games with a finger injury.
Upset Alert: No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz
This matchup has the outlook of a seven-game series. Although the Denver Nuggets haven't struggled to score points without Gary Harris (hip) and Will Barton (knee), head coach Mike Malone may miss the experience of those veterans in the starting lineup.
Malone inserted Torrey Craig into the first unit and unleashed rookie forward Michael Porter Jr., who averaged 22 points and 8.6 rebounds in the bubble. However, he would have to sustain that production against a defensively-sound Utah Jazz squad that ranked ninth in points allowed (108.8) this season.
Neither Harris nor Barton has a concrete timetable to return. They are not stars on a deep Nuggets team, but Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will find it difficult to put away the Jazz early, especially if Mike Conley establishes his rhythm in this series. He shot 41 percent from the field during the regular season.
Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell need help from their supporting cast. Utah won't have Bojan Bogdanovic (wrist surgery), which hurts the offense's perimeter shooting. Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson could help out in that aspect. Like their previous meeting, which went into double overtime, the Jazz and Nuggets will probably battle down to the final seconds in every contest.
Denver has enough depth to outlast Utah, though a Jazz upset shouldn't surprise anyone.
NBA Finals Prediction: No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers
Is it Giannis Antetokounmpo's time to break through for an NBA title? If it is, he may have to knock off Kawhi Leonard to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
His Milwaukee Bucks clinched the No. 1 seed early and have lost three of their past four games. Now, with something to play for, the sleeping giant in the East will wake up for a run to the NBA Finals.
In the West, the Lakers' inconsistent supporting cast around LeBron James and Anthony Davis won't hold up against the Los Angeles Clippers' deep rotation.
The Clippers could have a full house for the playoffs. The midseason additions of forward Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson add strength to a second unit that features three-time Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams. After going through quarantine protocol, Montrezl Harrell will likely suit up as well.
Leonard and Paul George will lead the way for Los Angeles—two star players are better than one. Despite Milwaukee's league-best 102.9 defensive rating, the Clippers have a group that's too deep for the Bucks to handle in a seven-game series.
Los Angeles ranked fifth in defensive rating (107.9). Perhaps Leonard and company clamp down on Antetokounmpo's supporting cast. If the Bucks second- and third-best players struggle, the Clippers can live with the 2018-19 league MVP putting together strong performances without much help.
The Clippers win the series (in six games) and their first NBA title.
NBA Playoff Bracket 2020: Round-by-Round Guide to the Postseason
Aug 14, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, tries to get past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 6, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
More than four months after originally planned, the NBA playoffs are set to tip off Saturday inside the NBA's bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
This year's field features a number of contenders who have seemingly been on track to meet in the Finals since the beginning of the year—namely the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. The two clubs earned the top seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively.
The Lakers are far from the only team in Los Angeles who can win a championship this year, as a rebuilt Clippers team featuring Paul George and Kawhi Leonard appear ready to rewrite their franchise's history. To do so, they'll have to get past a first-round matchup with the Dallas Mavericks in a No. 2 vs. No. 7 battle that could be the most entertaining series of the early stages.
With all games played at a neutral location in Orlando, Florida, without any fans in attendance, the playing field has never been more even.
Here's a round-by-round look at what fans can expect over the next two months.
Eastern Conference First Round
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Orlando Magic (8)
With respect to the Magic, the question in this series isn't if the Bucks will eliminate them, but how many games they'll need to do so.
Led by the league's reigning MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo (29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists per game), who could win the award again this year, Milwaukee has multiple scoring threats the Magic will need to watch if they hope to pull off the upset.
The Bucks averaged a league-best 118.7 points per game in the regular season compared to 107.3 by Orlando. Milwaukee also finished with a league-high 51.7 rebounds and eighth-best 108.6 points against per game.
If Orlando is going to pull off a series win, it'll be on defense, where the team averages 108.0 points allowed per game. With the Bucks' Khris Middleton (20.9 points), Eric Bledsoe (14.9 points) and Brook Lopez (12.0 points) each averaging double-digit scoring, that doesn't look too promising.
Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, Aug 18, 1:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, Aug 20, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, Aug 22, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Monday, Aug 24, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 5*: Wednesday, Aug 26, TBD
Game 6*: Friday, Aug 28, TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, Aug 30, TBD
*if necessary
Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (7)
The Raptors are dangerous this season even if they look different from when they won the NBA title last year.
Kawhi Leonard has been replaced him by committee, with the team thriving off the development of power forward Pascal Siakam (22.9 points, 7.3 rebounds per game) and guard Fred VanVleet (17.6 points, 6.6 assists). Toronto actually improved its winning percentage from .707 in 2018-19 to .736 this year despite the loss of Leonard.
That's who the Brooklyn Nets will have to try to slow down. If Brooklyn had a healthier roster, that wouldn't be such a tall ask.
Despite landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency last summer, both have injuries keeping them out for the rest of the season. Brooklyn is also without Wilson Chandler, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Taurean Prince.
Instead, the Nets are led by Caris LeVert (18.7 points per game), Jarrett Allen (11.1 points, 9.6 rebounds per game) and Chris Chiozza (6.4 points per game), making a tough matchup against Toronto even tougher.
Schedule
Game 1: Monday, Aug 17, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, Aug 19, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 3: Friday, Aug 21, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game 4: Sunday, Aug 23, 6:30 p.m. TNT
Game 5*: Wednesday, Aug 26, TBD
Game 6*: Friday, Aug 28, TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, Aug 30
*if necessary
Boston Celtics (3) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (6)
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens enters the postseason with a new contract extension. Philadelphia 76ers boss Brett Brown is potentially coaching to save his job.
That tells you as much as anything about where each team stands entering the postseason.
Another disappointing year for the Sixers may still have them in the playoffs, but the team is a shell of itself. Franchise cornerstones Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are suffering from injuries, with the former ruled out for the year and the latter's ankle not at 100 percent.
Meanwhile, Boston has Kemba Walker nearing full strength and a deep roster that's found its footing as it looks forward to a deep playoff run.
Schedule
Game 1: Monday, Aug 17, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, Aug 19, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, Aug 21, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Sunday, Aug 23, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 5*: Tuesday, Aug 25, TBD
Game 6*: Thursday, Aug 27, TBD
Game 7*: Saturday, Aug 29, TBD
*if necessary
Indiana Pacers (4) vs. Miami Heat (5)
The first grudge match of the NBA bubble.
Indiana's T.J. Warren has been one of the league's leading scorers since the restart in late July, and only one player has been able to slow him down: Miami's Jimmy Butler.
The two first tussled during a Pacers loss in January that ended with Warren getting ejected and Butler blowing kisses his way.
Now the two will do battle with elimination on the line.
The Pacers haven't advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 2013-14 despite four straight postseason berths. Twice during that span, Indiana forced a seven-game series. The other two ended with the Pacers getting swept.
This one has the feeling of the former and features the star players to make it happen, but the matchup to watch will be Butler vs. Warren.
Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, Aug 18, 4 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, Aug 20, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, Aug 22, 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Monday, Aug 24, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5*: Wednesday, Aug 26, TBD
Game 6*: Friday, Aug 28, TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, Aug 30, TBD
*if necessary
Western Conference First Round
Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs. Play-In Winner (8)
The Lakers will have to wait a bit longer to find out who their opponent will be.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies will square off in a play-in series to determine the No. 8 seed. If the Blazers win one game before the Grizzlies can win two, it'll be Portland that advances. If not, Memphis gets the nod. Either way, the challenge ahead is daunting for the No. 8 seed.
Los Angeles boasts arguably the best duo in the league in LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The offense has been out of sorts of late with the club going 3-5 during the restart, but both stars are veterans with playoff experience who can turn things around quickly.
It doesn't matter whom they're playing, the Lakers match up well with any club in the West, which is one of the reasons why they clinched the No. 1 seed easily.
As James looks to bring a title to his third city, shutting him down in a seven-game series will prove to be the toughest task in the postseason.
Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, Aug 18, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, Aug 20, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, Aug 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 4: Monday, Aug 24, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5*: Wednesday, Aug 26, TBD
Game 6*: Friday, Aug 28, TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, Aug 30, TBD
*if necessary
Los Angeles Clippers (2) vs. Dallas Mavericks (7)
There may not be a first-round series with more star power.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George against Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic. Undeniable shooters against talent unlike the league has ever seen.
The Clippers swept the season series, 3-0, outscoring the Mavericks 350-317 in the process. It's not unlikely L.A. runs through Dallas again in the playoffs, but it won't be without some high-quality playmaking from both sides.
Doncic is one of the game's most exciting young stars and makes the eye-popping seem ordinary. He led the league with 17 triple-doubles and finished third in player efficiency rating. If anyone can take over a game—or a series—it's the 21-year-old Slovenian.
Not to be outdone, Leonard is looking for back-to-back titles and is as ferocious a defender as any in the NBA. He and George have benefited from plenty of load management this season. Now they'll need to prove it was worth it.
Schedule
Game 1: Monday, Aug 17, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, Aug 19, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, Aug 21, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Sunday, Aug 23, 3:30 p.m. ABC
Game 5*: Tuesday, Aug 25, TBD
Game 6*: Thursday, Aug 27, TBD
Game 7*: Saturday, Aug 29, TBD
*if necessary
Denver Nuggets (3) vs. Utah Jazz (6)
The two Western Conference contenders match up stunningly well in their starting lineups.
Denver boasts a trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Will Barton, while Utah counters with Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and Bojan Bogdanovic.
The Nuggets, though, have burgeoning stars in rookies Bol Bol and Michael Porter Jr. on the bench.
At 7'2" and with plenty of range on his shot, Bol may turn out to be the most talented player on the floor in the series. But there's no denying how raw he is. Whether or not they stand up to the intensity of the playoff series will tell a lot about how many minutes he can handle and likely how far Denver can go.
Uber-athletic forward Porter Jr. can stretch the floor but has had trouble staying healthy enough to do so consistently.
Schedule
Game 1: Monday, Aug 17, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2: Wednesday, Aug 19, 4 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: Friday, Aug 21, 4 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sunday, Aug 23, 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5*: Tuesday, Aug 25, TBD
Game 6*: Thursday, Aug 27, TBD
Game 7*: Saturday, Aug 29, TBD
*if necessary
Houston Rockets (4) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (5)
Houston stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook both made names for themselves in Oklahoma City, and they now find themselves with plenty to prove against the organization that drafted them.
Westbrook was acquired from OKC last summer in a trade for Harden's longtime backcourt partner, Chris Paul.
There's no doubt Paul would enjoy taking down the franchise that cast him off, and doing so with a Thunder team that previously parted ways with both Westbrook and Harden would have an air of poetry to it. But that's not the only subplot here.
Houston is trying to win by primarily playing a small-ball game. None of the Rockets' starters stand taller than 6'7" forward Robert Covington, and the plan is to run opponents into the ground with a fast-paced offense that lives and dies by the jump shot.
It just might work, but it could just as easily fall apart.
Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, Aug 18, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 2: Thursday, Aug 20, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Saturday, Aug 22, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 4: Monday, Aug 24, 4 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 5*: Wednesday, Aug 26, TBD
Game 6*: Friday, Aug 28, TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, Aug 30, TBD
*if necessary
Conference Semifinals
Both conferences are expected to begin second-round action August 31, though the exact dates depend on how long each first-round series takes.
A Lakers-Rockets matchup in the West semifinals would provide plenty of high-scoring action; the winner of each of their three previous matchups this season scored at least 113 points. The Rockets went 2-1 against the Lakers this year, and their quick tempo would put as much stress on Los Angeles as any team can manage.
In the East, a potential rematch of last year's conference semifinal may be on the horizon for Philadelphia and Toronto. The Raptors pulled off the win thanks to the first-ever Game 7 buzzer-beater in league history by Leonard, but the Board Man isn't around to will Toronto to victory this year.
Conference Finals
The NBA has September 15 targeted as the start date for the conference finals.
Toronto blew past Milwaukee in six games in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals. A year later, the Bucks are seeking revenge.
The two most talented teams in their respective conference should have little trouble meeting again for the right to play for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, with both teams having grown from the experience last season.
In the West, it all comes down to Los Angeles. Not only would an All-L.A. matchup mark the first time the Lakers and Clippers have met in the playoffs, it'd be the first conference finals appearance in Clippers history.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard versus Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Los Angeles may be big enough for the both of them, but Orlando certainly isn't.
NBA Finals
September 30 has been penciled in as the start of the NBA Finals, with October 13 serving as a potential Game 7 date.
The league has plenty of exciting matchups to hope for—Clippers vs. Sixers, Celtics vs. Lakers, Raptors vs. Clippers, Bucks vs. Blazers—but only one captures the current best of the NBA.
League executives would go wild for a Lakers-Bucks series pitting LeBron James against Giannis Antetokounmpo. No. 1 seed versus No. 1 seed. MVP candidate vs. MVP candidate.
