NBA playoffs

Dallas will play Golden State for a place in the NBA finals while Boston beat the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Celtics trailed early but outscored the Bucks 61-38 in the second half to cruise to the victory. Boston will face top-seeded Miami beginning on Tuesday in a rematch of the 2020 East finals. They won the first two games against the Bucks in the NBA Finals last season before losing four straight games. That helped Dallas push to a 27-17 advantage in the first quarter and a whopping 57-27 cushion at the halftime break. He also got some help: Dinwiddie was fantastic in the first half with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. Conversely, it was an embarrassing no-show for the Suns who advanced to the NBA finals last season with a very similar roster.

The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics earned dominant Game 7 wins in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Where do they rank among the most lopsided Game 7s of all ...

Dallas manhandled the Houston Rockets at home in Game 7 of their 2005 first-round series. The 33-point margin doesn’t approach the biggest playoff loss in NBA history, but where does it rank among Game 7s? The Mavs took a lead as big as 46 points in the second half.

Here's what you need to know about this week's playoff schedule, including the updated postseason bracket.

The Miami Heat ousted the Philadelphia 76ers and reached the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night with a Game 6 win. Game 6: Mavericks 113, Suns 86 Five teams remain in the battle for the 2022 NBA title, and a few have already punched their tickets into the conference finals.

SportsLine's model has revealed its top NBA picks, predictions, parlay and best bets for Sunday, May 15.

Milwaukee is also in the top four of the NBA playoffs in fast break points and points in the paint. What are the top NBA picks for Sunday? And which pick can you bank on almost 70 percent of the time? You can only see the model's best bets at SportsLine. Milwaukee's offense was elite in the regular season, ranking in the top five of the NBA at 1.14 points per possession. The model entered the fourth full week of the 2022 NBA playoffs on a stunning 86-58 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,100. Both teams now face elimination on Sunday in a pressure-packed environment at TD Garden. The Celtics are favored by five points in the latest NBA odds at Caesars Sportsbook, with an over-under total of 206 points.

The NBA postseason is here, and it's shaping up to be a fun chase to the 2022 title. The Phoenix Suns ran away with the league's best regular-season record ...

- Celtics 'hit in mouth' by Bucks in physical Game 1 Game 4: Celtics 116, Bucks 108 Game 3: Bucks 103, Celtics 101

Without their second star, Khris Middleton, it was an accomplishment itself for Giannis and the Bucks to get this far. An even bigger one?

In truth, it was an accomplishment for the Bucks to reach Game 7. "It's one of the toughest things to do, find that balance," Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. In Game 7, it was outrageous; the Bucks made 1 of 23 over the last three quarters, and the Celtics set a franchise record by making 22 total. And Khris Middleton -- Antetokounmpo's All-Star teammate, shot creator and clutch scorer -- missed the entire series because of a knee injury suffered in the first round. "Giannis is the best player in the world. Already with a dazzling postseason résumé, the performance Antetokounmpo put forth in this second-round series was still one for the ages.

Grant Williams scored a career-high 27 points and hit seven three-pointers as the Boston Celtics advanced with a 109-81 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

He also got some help: Dinwiddie was fantastic in the first half with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. Simply put, the Suns looked overwhelmed by the pressure of a Game 7. Conversely, it was an embarrassing no-show for the playoff-tested Suns — who advanced to the NBA Finals last season with a very similar roster. Boston used a whopping 54-point advantage from behind the arc to improve to 25-9 in decisive seventh games. He’d been wearing the goggles since suffering a right eye abrasion in Game 2 of Milwaukee’s first-round series against the Chicago Bulls. Boston will face top-seeded Miami beginning Tuesday in a rematch of the 2020 East finals.

Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie & Co. have a date with the Western Conference finals. The Mavs' dispatching of the top-seeded Suns had the NBA world buzzing.

— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic)— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) @luka7doncicLadies And Gentlemen 🔥🔥🔥🔥🤯🤯🤯🤯 May 16, 2022 luka wilding 😂🔥💯— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 16, 2022 Another Mav, Spencer Dinwiddie, had himself a night off the bench, scoring a playoff career-high 30 points. suns look shook— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 16, 2022 It also meant the two teams who competed in last year's NBA Finals were eliminated from playoff contention on the same day -- the Boston Celtics blew out the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in an earlier Game 7. Sheesh— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) May 16, 2022

As the 2021-2022 season rolls on, keep up with all news as it relates to the Dallas Mavericks right here with our DallasBasketball.com NBA Tracker.

In the face. And after the game ... By the bees. The NBA Playoffs are physical. “That’s cool,'' he said sarcastically, in no mood to goof off with Phoenix up 2-0 in the series. "I'll take the fine. When the two teams meet up again at Footprint Center, Suns coach Monty Williams will have a brand new trophy presented to him. By the way: That's no sign of animosity; Carlisle recommended Kidd be his replacement. I'll do an appearance and make up the money. And after how they just dismantled the top-seeded Suns? I want my guys to work through it, and this (game) is no different." "I trust my guys,'' coach Jason Kidd said before Sunday's Game 7 in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs, moments before tipoff in Phoenix. ""There’s nothing to get tight about.

The Kiwi was in good form at a press conference following the Grizzlies' playoff exit.

I don't want to be the lame guy." Duckmaster, mate – everybody'll be swiping right on that, mate!" "Yeah, no, I haven't done it yet.

Phoenix Suns left stunned after Luka Doncic goes on scoring blitz to take Mavericks into Western Conference semifinals.

Boston used a whopping 54-point advantage from behind the arc to improve to 25-9 in seventh games. They won the first two games against the Bucks in the NBA Finals last season before losing four straight games. “You could see some of the pressure was on them early,” Kidd said. He also got some help: Dinwiddie was stellar in the first half with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Simply put, the Suns looked overwhelmed by the pressure of a Game 7. Doncic and Dinwiddie, who came off the bench, combined to pour in 48 of the Mavericks' 57 points. Meanwhile, Phoenix's All-Star backcourt of Paul and Devin Booker was never a factor. Couldn’t make a shot early, that messed with us a little bit and Dallas played their tails of from start to finish.” The Mavs led this one by 46 points. Conversely, it was an embarrassing no-show for the playoff-tested Suns – who advanced to the NBA Finals last season with a very similar roster. The series might have been close but the individual games usually were not. Doncic earned the Mavs an early lead, making his first three shots, including two 3-pointers.

The Celtics are the hottest team in the NBA right now. Boston was sitting in ninth-place in the Eastern Conference on Feb. 1 before closing the regular season ...

For all of Curry’s greatness, Doncic feels like the more overwhelming star right now. Boston is equipped to guard the Heat in the halfcourt with almost no weak defenders in the rotation. *Game 7: Mavericks @ Warriors, Monday, May 30, 9:00 p.m. ET, TNT *Game 5: Mavericks @ Warriors, Thursday, May 26, 9:00 p.m. ET, TNT Game 4: Warriors @ Mavericks, Tuesday, May 24, 9:00 p.m. ET, TNT Game 3: Warriors @ Mavericks, Sunday, May 22, 9:00 p.m. ET, TNT Game 2: Mavericks @ Warriors, Friday, May 20, 9:00 p.m. ET, TNT Game 1: Mavericks @ Warriors, Wednesday, May 18, 9:00 p.m. ET, TNT The Warriors beat an injured Denver Nuggets team in round one before beating the Memphis Grizzlies in six games in round two. Game 1: Celtics @ Heat, Tuesday, May 17, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN The Golden State Warriors failed to make the playoffs last season, but they’ve been one of the league’s best teams since the start of the season this year. Miami has been near or at the top of the East all season, and they’re back in the conference finals only two years after reaching the NBA Finals in the bubble in 2020.

The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics earned dominant Game 7 wins in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Where do they rank among the most lopsided Game 7s of all ...

Dallas manhandled the Houston Rockets at home in Game 7 of their 2005 first-round series. The Mavs took a lead as big as 46 points in the second half. The 33-point margin doesn’t approach the biggest playoff loss in NBA history, but where does it rank among Game 7s?

The Boston Celtics have a terrific opportunity to win their first NBA championship since 2008 – and overtake the LA Lakers for the most titles.

The Celtics have been building for this moment for years with this group. Tatum will be the best offensive player on the court in the Miami series and he has shown growth in his game – the ability to take over as he did in Game 6 and the patience not to force offense as he did in Game 7 even with 23 points on just 14 shots. And Al Horford has been around, getting ready for his fourth conference finals. Tatum scored 46 points in Game 6, Horford 30 points in Game 4 and Williams 27 points in Game 7. “This is the group that I feel like is poised enough to get it done," Celtics star Jaylen Brown said. “I feel like everything we’ve overcome – all these battles and challenges and adversity that we’ve been through this season as well as the challenge that we just had overcoming the defending champs – I feel we are prepared.

The Miami Heat ousted the Philadelphia 76ers and reached the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night with a Game 6 win. The Golden State Warriors eliminated ...

The Miami Heat ousted the Philadelphia 76ers and reached the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night with a Game 6 win. Game 6: Mavericks 113, Suns 86 Five teams remain in the battle for the 2022 NBA title, and a few have already punched their tickets into the conference finals.

Luka Doncic, Spencer Dinwiddie & Co. have a date with the Western Conference finals. The Mavs' dispatching of the top-seeded Suns had the NBA world buzzing.

— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic)— Goran Dragić (@Goran_Dragic) @luka7doncicLadies And Gentlemen 🔥🔥🔥🔥🤯🤯🤯🤯 May 16, 2022 luka wilding 😂🔥💯— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 16, 2022 Another Mav, Spencer Dinwiddie, had himself a night off the bench, scoring a playoff career-high 30 points. suns look shook— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 16, 2022 It also meant the two teams that competed in last year's NBA Finals were eliminated from playoff contention on the same day -- the Boston Celtics blew out the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in an earlier Game 7. Sheesh— Robert Covington (@Holla_At_Rob33) May 16, 2022

Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday evening in Arizona. The Game 7 loss officially ends their season in the second-round ...

- SHOULD THE BUCKS MAKE A TRADE? On Sunday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks lost Game 7 to the Boston Celtics, which officially ends their 2021-22 NBA season in the second-round. Paul was traded to the Suns in the summer of 2020 and had one of the best seasons of his entire career last year when he led the Suns out of a ten-year playoff drought and all the way to the NBA Finals. "I'll tell you that much.

The Dallas Mavericks will play the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Game 1 will be on Wednesday, May 18, at 8:00 p.m. CT on TNT.

You can also find the latest coverage, updates and analysis on the postseason at our SB Nation NBA home page, where we’ll be posting links to stories on the latest news and developments on these series from all of our excellent team sites as the NBA postseason continues apace. To get those in your podcast feeds every day, don’t forget to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. So here are the full Conference Finals television schedules, and a dedicated page where you can come hang out and discuss the matchups in the comments below as they get underway.

The Miami Heat ousted the Philadelphia 76ers and reached the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night with a Game 6 win. The Golden State Warriors eliminated ...

Game 4: Mavericks vs. Game 3: Mavericks vs. Game 2: Heat vs. The Miami Heat ousted the Philadelphia 76ers and reached the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday night with a Game 6 win. Game 1: Heat vs. Five teams remain in the battle for the 2022 NBA title, and a few have already punched their tickets into the conference finals.

Time gets us all. And in the Mavericks' dismantling of the top-seeded Suns, Luka Doncic showed his time is now and Chris Paul's is past.

He was constantly exposed by Dallas, and averaged just 9.4 points, 5.8 assists and 3.6 turnovers in the last five games, with Phoenix dropping four of them. And while Ayton’s future is unclear, the Suns could have a Paul problem. And his 39.0 point average in elimination games is the best in NBA history, albeit a small sample size. The Suns clearly have issues. “He’s Luka. He loves the stage,” Kidd said. Not to say that Doncic played harder than CP3 (he did), but at 37, Paul’s legacy can only change so much.

Phoenix coach Monty Williams benched big man Deandre Ayton in the second half of the Western Conference semifinals series finale, and played coy about the ...

He was not satisfied with his contract last October, when he was pushing for a five-year max contract worth $172.5 million ($A247.5m), but Phoenix wasn’t willing to make that offer. Williams subbed in center Bismack Biyombo for Ayton a few minutes into the third quarter. The situation wasn’t captured by broadcast cameras. “He’s the one guy on your roster that you could facilitate a sign-and-trade with and potentially bring back a third player, a wing player, that can get you buckets, that can guard,” Redick said. “His contract situation is between him and the front office,” Booker said. Phoenix coach Monty Williams benched big man Deandre Ayton in the second half of the Western Conference semifinals series finale, and played coy about the situation after the game, telling reporters “it’s internal” when asked about Ayton only playing 17 minutes.

According to Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul had a left quad injury. The Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, ...

- SHOULD THE BUCKS MAKE A TRADE? On Sunday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks lost Game 7 to the Boston Celtics, which officially ends their 2021-22 NBA season in the second-round. When asked about his quad injury, Paul declined comment." @andscape learned that Paul had a left quad injury.

Kyle Lowry has been ruled out for Game 1 between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

- SHOULD THE BUCKS MAKE A TRADE? On Sunday afternoon, the Milwaukee Bucks lost Game 7 to the Boston Celtics, which officially ends their 2021-22 NBA season in the second-round. Last season, they won the NBA Championship, and they will now enter an offseason where they can look to improve the roster to get back to the NBA Finals.CLICK HERE. Lowry got inured during Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, and while they won the series in just five games, he did not play in either of the final two contests.

Heat vs. Celtics. Warriors vs. Mavericks. Here's what you need to know about the NBA's star-studded conference finals.

But as is the case with any great player, the Warriors will always have multiple sets of eyes on Doncic wherever he goes. The Warriors knew early on Luka Doncic was going to be a problem. That is the company Doncic now keeps. "You can tell he's just experienced in terms of playing high-level basketball. We saw just how important 3-point shooting was in Miami's conference semifinal win over Philadelphia, when home-road swings from deep were jarring on both sides. The Boston Celtics overcame an otherworldly series performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo to reach the Eastern Conference finals. It's fun to watch." Boston will be hoping to snap a streak of four straight losses in the conference finals, including two at the hands of the Heat (2011-12 and 2019-20). Most surprisingly, Butler has knocked down 36.4% of his 3s on over four attempts per game. Jayson Tatum. Stephen Curry vs. Jimmy Butler vs. For top-seeded Miami, it will be a chance to make the NBA Finals for a sixth time in the past 12 years and for the first time since beating Boston in 2020 inside the NBA's Orlando, Florida, bubble.

Giannis Antetokounmpo said we have to want it more after his Bucks side wilted in the final quarter of a Game 7 loss to the Boston Celtics; Every game in ...

"I've got to wish (Jayson) Tatum and his team the best for them moving forward. "I thought he was phenomenal. We got to want it more. He said: "We realised, like, hey, we got to get better. "I was just trying to be aggressive," he added. We got to get better as a team.