Didn't love that endgame process from Murray. Get a layup or take a three. A long two isn't the shot there.

I could have sworn the scorebug showed a timeout. I guess the Knicks didn't have one left. My bad.

Whew...Hawks dodged a bullet there. Knicks probably should have gone with a timeout.

We have a series though!

NAW! What a sequence. Big time strip on Brunson then hit Johnson for the dunk on the break. That's how you make your mark on a game when your shot isn't falling.

Something I've noticed with Toronto: Their spacing will be good, but then they have the wrong guys in the wrong spots. Perfect example was that last play to end Q1. Good spacing for Barnes to drive and kick. But instead of a shooter, it was CMB spacing to the corner.

Are they making the Raptors dribble a football when they have the ball? These turnovers are ridiculous.

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The Utah Jazz winning the tiebreaker drawing with the Sacramento Kings means that even in the very unlikely scenario that four teams leapfrog Utah in the Lottery, the Jazz will keep their first-round pick. This is because Utah's pick can now no longer fall lower than 8th.

He didn't even make the shot, but that alley-oop that Wemby caught where he almost hit his head on the backboard and was above and very far from the rim...

I'm still struggling to process it. League leader in plays where I rewind to understand what just happened.

Alright, man. They're a perfectly built team with no flaws and just had an off night. Is that what you want to hear?

Nonsense like this is going to turn this place into just another version of the other place.

Not enough shooting, not enough creation outside of Cade, couldn't get Duren quality touches, bench was non-existent. All the stuff we've said would sink them, if they were to be sunk.

Took until the seventh series started, but finally had a road winner in Game 1. Huge victory for Orlando.

The Magic have answered every Pistons challenge tonight. And almost all of the worries about Detroit have shown up today.

My point was that other than the SAC and IND games, they weren't always against the weakest teams in the league. The Celtics beat some real teams without him in the lineup, including at least a few playoff teams.

Suns need to go everything a beat quicker. The Thunder rotate and move on a string on defense. You have to be that much quicker with all of your actions. Otherwise, they close it off before you have a chance.

That shot by Booker was really close to being on the glass first, but looked like Chet juuuuuuuust got it.

Embiid has nothing to do with it, so no reason to bring him in. He also usually misses games with injuries, so it's not really a comp either.

But to entertain what you are saying, I don't think most of the games Brown missed were clearly against weak opponents.

If that is how you want to go at it: How valuable are you if your team continues to win at a high rate without you in the lineup? I could argue you aren't really that valuable then?

If a seven-game difference makes that big of a difference to you, so be it. But it's not going to with the voters.

Really good all-around game from the Celtics. 31 assists on 45 hoops. Held the Sixers to 38.9% from the field (4-for-23 from deep). Can't ask for much more to open the playoff run.

1 down. 15 to go!

It's less impactful when your team goes 9-2 without you in the lineup. It's not like they were hurt by him missing games.

The same is fair to say about the other guys, but that's basically the idea that good teams win when guys miss games. I don't think it has that big of an impact.

Neemias Queta has 13 points in 14 minutes. Despite the foul trouble, he's still had a pretty effective game.

For the first time in these playoffs: Empty the bench, Joe.

I figure that's going to be a lot of ballots. No issue with it either.

I don't think he's going to make Top-five for MVP either. I think he'll be sixth behind the other five guys I mentioned. It is what it is. Those other five guys were awesome too.

Wasn't the best first half for Jaylen Brown, as he dealt with some foul trouble and missed some shots he usually makes. Picked it up big time in the third quarter. He kept the Celtics way out in front.

Luka was incredible this season. He's getting first team. If Brown has a chance of beating out anyone, it'll be Cunningham. And I don't think he will.

We'll see, but I doubt it.

I love Jay Bilas, but I don't think Jaylen Brown is making All-NBA First Team. I think that's going to be:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Nikola Jokic
Victor Wembanyama
Luka Doncic
Cade Cunningham

Brown will get Second Team, and that's still a honor for one hell of a season.

Jordan Walsh creating second and third chances for Boston. Always plays with such great energy.