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The GIST: The Play-In Tournament is done and dusted, and the first round Game 1s are already in the books, but superstar injuries are taking center stage as the high-stakes hoopla continues.
Milwaukee Bucks dominate as Giannis watches: No Antetokounmpo (pronounced ah-det-oh-KOON-boh), no problem — the Eastern Conference (EC) No. 3 seed was just fine without him yesterday, dominating the No. 6 Indiana Pacers 109–94 while he nursed a calf strain. It’s still TBD if Antetokounmpo suits up for Game 2 tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Embiid injury scare in Philadelphia 76ers loss: Joel Embiid (pronounced jo-ELL em-BEAD) tweaked his surgically repaired left knee in his EC No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers’ 111–104 loss to the No. 2 NY Knicks on Saturday. Though the reigning MVP returned to the game and finished with 29 points, the Philly faithful are holding their breath ahead of tonight’s 7:30 p.m. ET Game 2.
Jimmy Butler–less Miami Heat scorched by Boston Celtics: With their feisty superstar sidelined, No. 8 Miami looked ice cold in yesterday’s 114–94 loss to the No. 1 Celtics. And the Heat aren’t just missing Butler’s offense — Miami needs to find a way to slow down Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum, who tallied his first postseason triple-double in the dub.
Zion Williamson out as New Orleans Pelicans fall: Bad luck abounds for Williamson, whose hamstring injury kept him in street clothes for yesterday’s 94–92 loss to the Western Conference (WC) No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder. The No. 8 Pels’ postseason hopes hinge on one left hammy, but the notoriously pesky injury is expected to keep oft-injured Williamson sidelined until at least May 1st.
LA Clippers prevail without Kawhi Leonard: The Clips were without two-time Finals MVP Leonard because of a knee injury, but that didn’t stop the WC No. 4 from dismantling the No. 5 Dallas Mavericks 109–97 yesterday.
The oldest team in the NBA let their experience shine with seasoned veterans James Harden and Paul George netting 28 and 22 points, respectively. Still got it.
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