8 p.m. ET: Magic vs. Hawks - (Orlando leads, 3-0)

• Magic play off Dwight Howard and rely on 3-pointers to win - (Orlando Sentinel)
• Orlando stays focused with lengthy film session - (Orlando Sentinel)
• Hawks players, coach question effort against the Magic - (Orlando Sentinel)
• Give Stan Van Gundy a makeover! - (Orlando Sentinel)
• Hawks vow to fight to the end - (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Smith and Howard have a long history - (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Joe Johnson angry about boos, happy about time in Atlanta - (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

10:30 p.m. ET: Lakers vs. Jazz - (Los Angeles leads, 3-0)

• Lakers go for rare sweep against Jazz, and a close-out would be special - (Los Angeles Times)
• What the Lakers have to do to win Game 4 - (Los Angeles Times)
• Messages sent and received: Lost playoff tweets - (Los Angeles Times)
• Jazz face daunting task against Lakers - (Los Angeles Times)
• Jazz: All hope is lost - (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Kirilenko gives imperiled Jazz a boost - (Salt Lake Tribune)
• One more night to shape Boozer's legacy - (Salt Lake Tribune)

BRACKET & SCHEDULE

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1 p.m. ET: Quarterfinals - Bucks vs. Hawks (Series tied, 3-3)

• No time to sulk, Bucks must take advantage of last chance - (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Handling pressure will be deciding factor for Milwaukee - (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Pondering Game 7... - (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Hawks aggravating, but still alive - (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
• Atlanta mixing in new defensive wrinkles - (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
• Hawks vow to keep good vibes going - (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

3:30 p.m. ET: Semifinals - Jazz vs. Lakers (Series tied, 0-0)

• Bynum questionable for Game 1 - (Los Angeles Times)
• Jazz face personal house of horrors at the Staples Center - (Salt Lake Tribune)
• First Jazz-Lakers series was a memorable one  - (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Sloan says he's sticking with Fesenko  - (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Why can't this be Utah's year?  - (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Jazz Series should be a nice break for the Lakers - (Los Angeles Times)
• Kobe not himself, but can still lead - (Los Angeles Times)
• Jazz happy that Boozer stuck around - (Los Angeles Times) 
• Utah has new faces this time around - (Los Angeles Times) 

7:00 p.m. ET - Hawks vs. Bucks

• Hawks losing sleep after loss in Game 5 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Jamal Crawford: Putting Game 5 in the rear-view mirror (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Despite frustrations, Hawks remain unified (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Woodson wants more ball movement in Game 6 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
• Brandon Jennings not the top rookie, but still on the court (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Finally time to get on the Bucks wagon (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
• Home court or no, Bucks need to maintain focus (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

9:30 p.m. ET - Lakers vs. Thunder

• For the Lakers, winning mind games can be critical (Los Angeles Times)
• Silence is purple and golden. Lakers need to quiet the Oklahoma City crowd (Los Angeles Times)
• Kobe never ceases to amaze (Los Angeles Times)
• Serge Ibaka embodies rising Thunder (Los Angeles Times)
• A star is born: Russell Westbrook commands attention in the playoffs (The Oklahoman)
• Thunder shouldn't change a thing in Game 6 (The Oklahoman)
• Scott Brooks needs to ignite offense (The Oklahoman)
• Ignorance is bliss for the young Thunder (The Oklahoman)

10:00 p.m. ET - Nuggets vs. Jazz

• Nene may play if the series goes to Game 7 (The Denver Post)
• Kirilenko not expected to return for Game 6 (The Salt Lake Tribune)
• Jazz should feel good about their chances (The Salt Lake Tribune)
• Utah will defend turf in Game 6 (The Salt Lake Tribune)
• For Jazz, Game 6 might as well be Game 7 (The Salt Lake Tribune)
• This one is all about mental toughness for Denver (The Denver Post)
• Nuggets' challenge: Keep Jazz off offensive boards (The Denver Post)

BRACKET & SCHEDULE

Despite elbow concerns for LeBron James, our panel of experts decides unanimously in favor of Cleveland...

Expert Scores
Expert	Right	Wrong	Bonus	Total
Sergio Gonzalez	6	1	3	15
Ken Berger	6	1	1	13
NBA2K10	6	1	0	12
Nunzio Ingrassia	5	2	2	12
Jamey Eisenberg	5	2	2	12
Gerg Urbano	5	2	1	11
Right = correct pick (2pts) - Wrong = wrong pick (0pts) - Bonus = correct number of games (1pt)

2KSports.com has been nice enough to help us run the show, using full-length game simulations on NBA2K10.

Think you can outmatch the machine? Post your predictions in the comments section!

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8 p.m. ET - Hawks vs. Bucks (Series tied, 2-2)

Game Stats | Hawks Stats | Bucks Stats

Atlanta bangs it out down low; blocking seven shots, outrebounding Milwaukee 29-19, and racking up 60 points in the paint. Joe Johnson drops in 22 points to carry Atlanta, while Mike Bibby chips in a double-double of his own. Final score: Hawks 102, Bucks 94.

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10:30 p.m. ET - Jazz vs. Nuggets (Utah leads series, 3-1)

Game Stats | Jazz Stats | Nuggets Stats

The Nuggets keep the series alive with a 103-93 win over the Jazz. Carmelo Anthony leads the charge with a 27-point performance, and Denver uses stout defense to seal the deal. Kyle Korver becomes an unlikely leader for the Jazz, scoring 21 points in defeat.

BRACKET & SCHEDULE

7 p.m. ET - Celtics vs. Heat (Boston leads series, 2-1)

• Wade needs an encore to keep the Heat alive (Miami Herald)
• O'Neal wants to reward supportive fans (Miami Herald)
• Heat ready for long-awaited Boston breakthrough (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• Word games help Spoelstra motivate in Miami (South Florida Sun Sentinel)
• While Wade may be thinking future, Paul Pierce thinking present (Boston Herald)
• Ray Allen getting extra work on free throws (Boston Herald)
• Celtics need to stop the one-man show (Boston Herald)
• Heat have an outside shot (Boston Globe)
• Loss gives Boston a sense of urgency (Boston Globe)

 

8 p.m. ET - Bulls vs. Cavaliers (Cleveland leads series, 3-1)

• Cavs strategy for defending Derrick Rose? Guesswork (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
• Defense will be the key for the Cavs (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
• LeBron delivering on his goal to elevate game for the playoffs (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
• Bulls not counting themselves out (Chicago Tribune)
• Del Negro's job security issues don't faze Bulls players (Chicago Tribune)
• LeBron loves Chicago, but will break its heart (Chicago Tribune)

9:30 p.m. ET - Spurs vs. Mavericks (San Antonio leads series, 3-1)

• Spurs playing Wrestlemania-style basketball (San Antonio Express-News)
• Mavericks have reasons to believe right in their locker room (San Antonio Express-News)
• Ginobili narrowly avoided big miscue (San Antonio Express-News)
• Good news: Mavericks at home. Bad news: Everything else. (Dallas Morning News)
• Shawn Marion: 'I don't see no fat lady' (Dallas Morning News)
• Nowitzki expects more double teams (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• A Dallas victory puts the pressure back on San Antonio (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

10:30 p.m. ET - Thunder vs. Lakers (Series tied, 2-2)

• James Harden on a roll, could disprove Willis Reed (The Oklahoman)
• Young Thunder exploit fast break against Lakers (The Oklahoman)
• Jackson, Kobe still on same page? (The Oklahoman)
• Lakers search for what's missing (Los Angeles Times)
• Ron Artest of old? Not in a Lakers uniform. (The Oklahoman)
• Lakers back may be against the wall, but at least it's healthy (Los Angeles Times)
• Ron Harper: 'Who is going to show up for L.A. in Game 5?' (Los Angeles Times)
• Lakers take even-handed approach to latest adversity (Los Angeles Times)
• Los Angeles must improve transition defense (Los Angeles Times)
• Lakers can't be afraid to grind it out (Los Angeles Times)

Magic 99, Bobcats 90 (Orlando wins series, 4-0)

GameTracker | Box Score | Full Play-byPlay | Shot Chart | Photos



As the final seconds ticked down, Dwight Howard was back in his familiar spot on the bench and coach Stan Van Gundy was steamed at his superstar for fouling out again.

Then the buzzer sounded and the Orlando Magic became the first team to advance in the NBA playoffs.

Who needs Howard? Not these deep Magic -- at least not in the first round.

Vince Carter scored 21 points, Jameer Nelson added 18 and the Magic showcased their depth and pressure shot-making in a 99-90 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night to complete a sweep of their first-round series.

Read More

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Bucks 111, Hawks 104 (Series tied, 2-2)

GameTracker | Box Score | Full Play-byPlay | Shot Chart | Photos



Powered by Carlos Delfino's hot shooting, Brandon Jennings' creativity and an unexpected windfall of chances at the free-throw line, the undermanned Milwaukee Bucks are beginning to make the Atlanta Hawks sweat.

The Bucks pulled off their second straight playoff surprise, beating the Hawks 111-104 in Game 4 on Monday night to pull even in the first round of the playoffs.

"I still feel like there's no pressure on us," Jennings said. "At the end of the day, everybody still expects us to lose the series. The best thing we can do right now is just keep fighting, keep competing with them and just see how everything goes. Hopefully we can go over there and steal one."

Delfino scored 22 points with six 3-pointers, Jennings scored 23 and John Salmons added 22 for the Bucks, who finally started getting free throws and made the most of them. Milwaukee was 28 of 32 from the line after attempting 17 free throws or fewer in each of the first three games of the series.

Read More

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Suns 107, Trail Blazers 88 (Suns lead series, 3-2)

GameTracker | Box Score | Full Play-byPlay | Shot Chart | Photos



Reserves Channing Frye and Jared Dudley broke out of their series-long shooting slumps with 20 and 19 points, respectively, and the Phoenix Suns overcame an early 14-point deficit to rout the Portland Trail Blazers 107-88 on Monday night and take a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Phoenix can advance to the second round by beating the Blazers in Portland on Thursday night.

Frye, who spent the previous two seasons on the Portland bench, made 3-of-5 3-pointers and grabbed eight rebounds. Dudley was 5 of 9 on 3s. The Suns' two best 3-point shooters in the regular season, Frye and Dudley had been a combined 14 of 48 (29 percent) on 3s in the first four games of the series.

Amare Stoudemire scored 19, and Steve Nash had 14 points and 10 assists for Phoenix.

Read More

Although all of our experts picked the Magic to advance, Sergio Gonzalez takes an early lead by calling the sweep!

Expert Scores
Expert	Right	Wrong	Bonus	Total
Sergio Gonzalez	1	0	1	3
Ken Berger	1	0	0	2
Jamie Eisenberg	1	0	0	2
Gerg Urbano	1	0	0	2
Nunzio Ingrassia	1	0	0	2
NBA2K10	1	0	0	2
Right = correct pick (2pts) - Wrong = wrong pick (0pts) - Bonus = correct number of games (1pt)