The other matchup in the Eastern Conference pits the No. 4 seed Washington Wizards against the No. 5 seed Atlanta Hawks in a Southwest Division showdown.
In the Eastern Conference, the defending National Basketball Association champion Cleveland Cavaliers slot in as a No. 2 seed after a sluggish end to their regular season allowed the Boston Celtics to grab the top spot for first time since their championship campaign in 2007-08. If both the Cavs and Raptors win their opening series, they would meet in the conference semifinals.
Boston comes into the playoffs as the surprise top seed in the East, and the Celtics are brimming with confidence.
Boston is an interesting team because people still don't understand just how risky this team can be. In less than three seasons, five teams had given him the boot.
Two teams that are familiar with each other.
They have perimeter defenders in Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown while being supplemented by the steady low-post play of Al Horford. Brad Stevens and his Celtics seem to be on a mission. This team is the biggest threat to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Spurs have regained the services of starting shooting guard Danny Green, who missed five late-season games with a quad injury.
The game may have also had significance for the Cavs' Kyle Korver, who hit one 3-pointer to move into fifth place on the NBA's all-time list with (2,049).
With six straight visits to the Finals on his resume, James knows his way around the playoffs better than any player in the league, and maybe better than anyone in history.
During a pre-game interview, David Griffin, Cavs General Manager, elaborated on his team's efforts: "If we're the good version of us, we'll be better [than last year's championship team]". Adding in Serge Ibaka at the trade deadline has gone a long way for their toughness and experience and they are still supported by an incredibly underrated supporting cast. Every team wants to be the champions, and that's what they are.
"I wanted to smile, but I knew we had a long way to go in the game", Casey said. Jones also joined the Cavaliers before the start of the playoffs last season and he made significant contributions in their title run, especially in game six of the finals. The Wizards didn't get over.500 until January 10 and haven't looked back since. "At this point, it's whatever this team needs from me". A few years ago, we'd all watch his antics and wonder "why?"
The Masters: Five observations from early in the week
Just went out and played. "You feel like you should be able to, and you've done it once, why can't you do it every time you play". Sometimes, as defending champion Danny Willett found out, it means outsized demands on your time and plenty of unwanted pressure.
Dwyane Wade helped Miami win three championships.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (I spelled that correctly without looking it up, I'm very proud) has fully emerged.
Stephenson averaged just under 22 minutes, 7.2 points, 4.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds with the Pacers, which is nice, but it's just part of the picture.
"Last year was half a season for me, but it just felt like two years". Greg Monroe is still an awkward fit, but the team has been incredibly encouraged by the play of rookie Malcolm Brogdon as well as the recent development of Thon Maker. He's bounced around. Not many teams have given him a chance.
The Clippers enter the playoffs on a roll, having won seven in a row and 11 of their last 13 regular-season outings.
McMillan grew tired of constantly trying to find ways to get the Pacers to giddyup through the first six months of the season.
April 2, 2017: In one of the most memorable games of the 2016-17 season, the Pacers fell 135-130 in a double-overtime thriller with the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Any odds on whether Lance Stephenson tries to blow in LeBron's ear again?
It says the Cavs haven't played good basketball in quite some time, at least consistently.
One of those healthy players is Tristan Thompson, who returned to the lineup against Toronto after missing the past four games with a sprained right thumb. The Bulls finally figured out what they're going to do and who they're going to be.
Rahul Lal is an LA native stuck in a lifelong, love-hate relationship with the Lakers, Dodgers and Raiders.
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