Author: Michael

With Friday’s conclusion of the play-in tournament, the 2023 NBA playoffs field is set. The Heat held off the Bulls late to clinch the final spot in the East, while the Timberwolves blew out the Thunder to lock in the No. 8 seed in the west. 
Our NBA experts make their picks through to the Finals, while also eyeing potential underdogs and players who face the most pressure this postseason.
Complete First-Round Schedule for the NBA Playoffs
Chris Herring

Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

Predictions through the NBA Finals
First RoundEastern Conference

No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No.

Despite tens of millions in salary still owed to him through next year, how much longer will the Diamondbacks continue to give him the ball?

Cody Bellinger deserves a special place in Dodgers history, but his return to Dodger Stadium serves as a reminder of what went wrong.

Max Strus and Jimmy Butler scored 31 points apiece, and the Miami Heat got into the playoffs by rallying in the final minutes to beat the Chicago Bulls 102-91 in an Eastern Conference play-in game Friday night.

Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo were named the three finalists for league MVP Friday night, when finalists for all seven of the NBA’s major individual honors were announced.

Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker has requested a trade, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.

Rays starter Jeffrey Springs will miss at least two months due to an elbow issue, and the team has no real sense yet when he might return, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

DeMar DeRozan’s daughter, Diar, was escorted out of Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena by security on Wednesday night after the NBA notified the Chicago Bulls of online threats directed at the nine-year old.

The Tampa Bay Rays 13-game winning streak came to an end on Friday night.
The Rays fell 6-3 to the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, putting an end to a historic season starting streak.
Toronto took advantage of a five hit game by young star Bo Bichette and five innings of one run ball from starter Jose Berrios.
Somehow, despite the Rays’ apparent juggernaut lineup, Sal Romano closed out the 9th inning in order.
Entering the game, Tampa had been on a nearly unprecedented run of success.

DeMar Derozan’s nine-year-old daughter Diar became a social media sensation on Wednesday after going viral during the Bulls’ 109–105 road win over the Raptors in the play-in tournament. But, according to a startling new report, the feel-good moment wasn’t entirely well-received by some online users.
In the aftermath of Chicago’s win, DeMar and Diar were escorted out of Scotiabank Arena and led to the Bulls bus by team security after the NBA notified Chicago of “severe online threats” aimed at the All-Star’s daughter, TNT’s Chris Haynes reported Friday.