NBA Playoffs: Second round matchups

The GIST: The beat goes on and on and on in the NBA, with the first set of conference semifinals tipping off yesterday and another doubleheader on deck tonight. Spoiled.

Eastern Conference: The defending champion No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks started the party by defeating the No. 2 Boston Celtics 101–89 on the road, thanks to Milwaukee’s Giannis “one-man show” Antetokounmpo (pronounced YAH-niss ah-det-oh-KOON-boh) notching his second career playoff triple-double.

• Next up, the No. 1 Miami Heat and No. 4 Philadelphia 76ers take the court tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. Miami’s Kyle Lowry will miss Game 1 with a hamstring injury while Philly’s Joel Embiid (who is recovering from an orbital fracture and concussion) could return in Game 3 or 4. Stay tuned.

Western Conference: Despite the questionable ejection of Draymond Green in the first half, the No. 3 Golden State Warriors edged the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies 117–116 in yesterday’s Game 1. Memphis’ Ja Morant poured in 34 points during the back-and-forth battle, but the real star was 22-year-old Warriors phenom Jordan Poole, who netted a career-high 31 off the bench.

• The No. 1 Phoenix Suns will host the No. 4 Dallas Mavericks tonight at 10 p.m. ET. Both squads battled through injuries in their opening series, but superstars Devin Booker (Phoenix) and Luka Doncic (Dallas) are back to power this high voltage matchup.