Author: Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

The Lakers’ Game 1 win changed the tenor of this series. If Ja Morant’s injured right hand continues to bother him, the Grizzlies are in trouble.

The schedule for the first round of the NBA playoffs is set. The Bucks earned the top seed in the East while the Nuggets are No. 1 seed in the West.

Because Miles Bridges, 25, missed the entire 2022-23 season without pay, the NBA has credited him with 20 games already served.

The NBA fined the Dallas Mavericks $750,000 “for conduct detrimental to the league in an elimination game against the Chicago Bulls on April 7.”

Every year at this time, there is pressure on specific players to lead their team to playoff success. USA TODAY Sports highlights 10 of them.

Are the Nuggets the most overlooked No. 1 seed? Have the Lakers hit their stride? Will the Warriors repeat? NBA playoffs kick off Saturday.

If the opening night of the play-in game tournament, especially in the West, revealed anything, it’s that this will be an unconventional playoff.

Who did USA TODAY Sports NBA expert Jeff Zillgitt select for the league’s biggest regular-season awards?

The Bucks, Celtics, Sixers, Cavaliers and Knicks all have compelling talent and plenty of reasons they could make the Eastern Conference finals.

Gobert is suspended for one game and will miss the Timberwolves’ postseason play-in game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.