The tortured replay department

The GIST: Now that’s the chaos the NBA is known for. After close calls in both Denver and New York on Monday, the Milwaukee Bucks became the first home team to lose this postseason after the Indiana Pacers beat them 125–108 last night.

• With the fun just beginning, here are the biggest stories dominating the postseason push.

Injury updates: Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (pronounced ah-det-oh-KOON-boh) is out until at least Friday with a pesky calf injury, leaving his Milwaukee Bucks to battle without him in last night’s aforementioned upset loss, an L that evens the series.

• Out in Hollywood, superstar Kawhi Leonard was back on the hardwood after missing Game 1 with a knee injury, but that wasn’t enough to lift his LA Clippers who lost 96–93 to the Dallas Mavericks, knotting the series at one game each.

• And rounding out the injury report, Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid’s surgically repaired knee looked tender, but the reigning MVP willed his way to 34 points in Monday’s 104–101 loss to the NY Knicks. No pain, no gain?

Refereeing complaints: It’s not just injury woes plaguing the playoffs. The Sixers are expected to file a grievance with the NBA over the officiating of their first two games vs. the Knicks. The grievance isn’t an official protest (so the results of the games will stand), but it is a chance for the team to voice their displeasure — and they just might have a point.

• The LA Lakers aren’t impressed with the refs either. After the Purple and Gold blew a 20-point lead in Monday’s 101–99 L to the Denver Nuggets, LeBron James had some choice words about the league’s replay center. Scoville level spice.

The GIST: Hugfest, incoming — the 2024 NFL Draft begins from Detroit, Michigan, tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET, with a particularly stacked draft class waiting to hear their names called. The pick is (almost) in.

How it works: Launched in 1936, the draft has evolved from a one-day event held in hotel meeting rooms to a highly anticipated three-day party. The selection order is determined by previous season performance, with the team with the worst record picking first…barring any trades.

• Speaking of, the Chicago Bears acquired the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft via a blockbuster 2023 trade with the Carolina Panthers, so this year’s first three selections will be made by the Bears, the Washington Commanders, and the New England Patriots.

• From there, the picks keep comin’ and they don’t stop comin’ for seven rounds (with rounds two and three on Friday and rounds four through seven on Saturday), ending with this year’s Mr. Irrelevant, the No. 257 selection. A true honor.

Names to know: Da Bears have made their intentions clear and are expected to select USC quarterback (QB) Caleb Williams with the top pick. Things are less certain from there, but QBs will likely come off the board early — Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU, UNC’s Drake Maye, and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy highlight a loaded class of signal callers.

• As for non-QBs, the wide receiver pool is also especially deep, with Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers, and Washington’s Rome Odunze expected to go in the top 10. Queue the chime.

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