Russell Westbrook was involved in an altercation with a fan on Sunday outside the court at Phoenix's Footprint Center, after the Clippers defeated the Suns. The incident took place in a club lounge that visiting players can use as a shortcut from their locker room to the court, according to the Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin. Westbrook has had previous run-ins with opposing team's fans, including the infamous 2021 playoffs incident when he had popcorn dumped on his head in Philadelphia. Although Westbrook had an awful shooting night against the Suns, going just 3-for-19, he made a number of key plays down the stretch, and had 11 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and two steals. Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said that Westbrook's shot was not important, but rather his contribution in rebounding the basketball. The Clippers were careful with Kawhi Leonard, who played just 52 games this season, but he delivered 38 points in Sunday's game.

According to an anonymous poll conducted by The Athletic, Trae Young has been voted the most overrated player in the NBA. Young received 14.8% of the vote, leaving him technically behind the "other" category. The poll was conducted among 54 NBA players, with Young receiving eight total votes, and no other player receiving more than four. Young rose to fame when he led the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, and he was a huge factor in the Hawks' success. However, he has had poor individual performances in the past two postseasons, with an average of just 15.5 points per game on 31% shooting from the field. The anonymous poll of his peers likely reflects Young's recent struggles and the possibility of him being traded from the Hawks. However, this poll should be taken with a grain of salt, as 'overrated' is a subjective term that could be influenced by Young's media coverage.

Despite not being in the 2023 NBA postseason, San Antonio Spurs’ fans have been vocal about rooting for their ex-players, who are currently playing in the playoffs. Amongst these players are Derrick White and Dejounte Murray, who started their NBA careers in San Antonio but were traded as part of the franchise's rebuild. While Murray made public comments about his time with the Spurs when traded to Atlanta, White had a quiet exit during his trade to Boston, and this behavior seems to have won over the Spurs’ loyalists. Many Spurs’ fans are rooting for White and the Boston Celtics over Murray’s Hawks, with several expressing their support for White and calling for his victory. Some fans are even suggesting that the Celtics sign the young guard to a more secure deal. White earned Mazzulla's confidence early on, and his strong contribution on both ends of the court has earned him a spot in the Celtics’ starting lineup for 70 of 82 games played this past season. The 28-year-old also took a significant jump in his defensive stats, averaging 0.7 steals and 0.9 blocks this season, making him the second among all point guards in the league in these categories. Whether Boston wins the playoffs remains to be seen, but it is quite evident that Spurs’ fans are rooting for their former player.

As the NBA regular season draws to a close, teams are battling for spots in the play-in tournament. This tournament, which the league has used since 2021, features the 7th through 10th place teams in each conference. The 7th and 8th place teams play a game, and the winner advances to the playoffs as the 7th seed. The loser of that game plays against the winner of a game between the 9th and 10th place teams, with the winner becoming the 8th seed in the playoffs.

In the two years of tournament play so far, the 9th place team has won all of its games against the 10th place team and has won all but one of its games in the second round. The 7th place team has won all of its opening games and advanced to the playoffs, but neither the 7th nor 8th seeded teams have reached the second round of playoff play.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz are currently locked in a battle for the 10th seed in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the LA Clippers face a range of possible outcomes as they try to secure their playoff position in the middle of the conference.

Andre Iguodala is the latest to heap praise on Paul George, stating that he is the second-most skilled player in the NBA behind Kevin Durant, according to his interview on the Point Forward podcast. While both players are undeniably talented, the comparison between them is not so straightforward. Durant has had the better career so far, with two championships, two Finals MVPs, and 13 All-Star and 10 All-NBA selections. George, on the other hand, has yet to make it to an NBA Finals, but has shown his scoring prowess with an average of 20.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals throughout his career.

However, injuries and LeBron James' dominance in the Eastern Conference have hindered George's chances of winning a championship. Even with his recent knee sprain, he remains a skilled player and a key component of the Clippers' success in the playoffs. A championship win for George would solidify his legacy as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and would also justify the greatness of his teammates, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard.

The Los Angeles Clippers are set to take on the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and they know they have a tough matchup ahead of them with Kevin Durant. Having faced him in multiple NBA Finals, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue understands the difficulty in guarding Durant over a seven-game series. The Suns have gone undefeated in the eight games Durant has played with his new team, indicating that the Clippers have a monumental task ahead of them. Lue knows that no position can guard Durant and that he just has to be aware of where he is on the floor at all times. Before joining the Clippers in 2020, Lue coached the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016 to 2018, helping the team win their first-ever NBA title with one of the best comebacks in league history against the Golden State Warriors. However, Lue later had to take on the Warriors two more times in the Finals, this time with Durant on the roster, and there was seemingly nothing he could do. Despite the challenge, the Clippers are up for it, knowing that they are in the playoffs and that it's all about being locked in.

Shooting guard's defensive skills give Cavs a boost

Isaac Okoro has missed the past six games with soreness in his left knee but has taken part in some contact during practice ahead of the Cavs' playoff matchup against the Knicks. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff says Okoro is still day-to-day. Okoro's defensive presence has been missed, as he is considered one of the best defenders on the team, according to his teammates. His return could make a big impact, especially in guarding the ball-handler during pick-and-rolls. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are enjoying their fourth seed in the playoffs after being eliminated in the play-in tournament last season. Veteran Danny Green may not be part of the playoff rotation, having only played 71 total minutes in seven games since signing with Cleveland in February. Cavs fans are looking forward to the playoffs and hoping for the team to go as far as they can.

The New York Knicks are hoping that All-Star forward Julius Randle can join their lineup for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday. Randle sprained his left ankle against the Miami Heat on March 29 and has missed the Knicks' final five games of the regular season. The 28-year-old forward has been a key figure for the Knicks this season, averaging 25.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. If Randle can't start, this will place more pressure on Jalen Brunson, who has been playing through pain for much of the second half of the season. The Cavaliers have Donovan Mitchell, who has been playing exceptionally, averaging more than 40 points in four straight games before being put on the bench for his team's final two tilts. However, since the NBA odds for Mitchell's total points prop has adjusted to 30.5, up from a high of 28.5 in his final regular-season tilt, bettors might be sacrificing a little juice. Mitchell has cleared 3.5 three-pointers in most of his previous games, making him a great bet to get at least four threes in this game. Overall, the Cavaliers are favored to win the series against the Knicks, but Randle's return could help increase the Knicks' chances to win Game 1.

The Los Angeles Clippers are expected to play their first-round series against the Phoenix Suns without Paul George. George suffered a knee injury in March, and despite initial predictions of a 2-3 week recovery, he has not progressed enough in rehabilitation to play in the playoffs, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

George is an eight-time All-Star, and his absence presents a significant disadvantage for the Clippers, who will be going up against a formidable Suns team. Since adding Kevin Durant to the lineup, Phoenix has been on an 8-0 run, and now finds themselves among the championship favorites as the No. 4 seed in the West. Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton have all become essential in a Suns team that has thrived with Kevin Durant on board.

Without George, The Clippers will rely on Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris and Ivica Zubac to pick up the slack, making a first-round win against the Suns seem unlikely. Leonard and George are one of the most dangerous tandems in basketball when healthy, and the Suns will have breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the Clippers will be without George.

Despite posting 29 points and 12 rebounds in the Celtics' Game 1 win against the Hawks, Jaylen Brown was dealing with a cut that reopened on his right hand, according to Coley Harvey of ESPN. Brown originally suffered the cut last week and had to get stitches, but he was cleared to play on Tuesday for Game 2. Brown had padding over the cut during Game 1 but he left in the first quarter to return with a new bandage that was more comfortable. Boston will need Brown to be playing at his best as they continue in the playoffs, and it is uncertain whether his hand injury will affect him going forward. Despite the injury, Brown's performance in Game 1 was impressive, especially considering he had some trouble gripping the ball.

The Boston Celtics kicked off their playoff journey with a resounding 112-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of the first-round series. Boston held the Hawks to a poor shooting performance and quickly jumped to a 32-point lead. Atlanta attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics kept their lead safe to earn the first win of the series. Jaylen Brown led the way with 29 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Jayson Tatum and Derrick White with 25 points each.

Now, the question is, can the Celtics keep up this dominance in Game 2 and beyond? The Snyder effect could come into play as Atlanta's offensive rating has significantly improved under coach Quin Snyder. However, the Celtics did a good job neutralizing Atlanta's top scorers, Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, in Game 1.

Boston's Jaylen Brown suffered a slight finger injury before the series, but it did not seem to cause him any problems in the opener. The Hawks will need to find a way to limit his scoring in Game 2 to avoid falling behind 2-0. Overall, the Celtics seem to be firing on all cylinders, and the Hawks will need to make significant adjustments to level the series.

Robert Williams, the talented center for the Boston Celtics, missed significant time due to injury this season. However, he seems to be back in form as the playoffs begin. Last week, he played 31 and 25 minutes in two games against the Raptors before sitting out the finale. The Celtics are relying on him to contribute on both offense and defense, and he believes that he is ready for the playoffs.

The Celtics have employed several strategies to take advantage of Williams' skills. One is the "grenade" action, where Williams receives the ball on the block and then cuts back towards the perimeter, either handing off the ball to teammates or using his screen to facilitate passing and shooting opportunities. Another tactic is the "veer," an on-ball screen that flows into an off-ball screen which frees up other more well-rounded attackers to create. Finally, there's the "quick/wide," where Williams sets a screen for a wing or guard as soon as the ball enters the opponent's halfcourt, allowing them to take advantage and score.

While Williams is just one player on a talented Celtics roster, his success will undoubtedly play a key role in Boston's push for the NBA championship.

Former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman placed a $10 wager on Trae Young, Jayson Tatum, and Marcus Smart each making two three-pointers during the Boston Celtics’ recent game against the Atlanta Hawks. Though Smart’s late three-pointer was an unexpected surprise, it won the fan a sizeable $1,500 payout. Following the Celtics’ success, they are currently listed as the -1000 favorites to win their series against the Hawks and are the second favorites to win the NBA Championship.

Edelman is no stranger to betting, having placed an $11,000 bet on the Celtics to become the NBA champions back in January. The Celtics are yet to disappoint him, winning their first two games against the Atlanta Hawks in their quest for the championship. Edelman has always been an avid Golden State Warriors fan, but his time with the Patriots and his embrace of Boston culture saw him switch to supporting the Celtics in 2017. In 2022, he actively demonstrated his loyalty to his new favorite team by supporting them throughout their NBA Championship loss to the Warriors. Whether Edelman’s faith will continue to act as a good luck charm for the Boston Celtics is yet to be seen.

Boston Celtics point guard, Marcus Smart, has said that the team has returned to their preseason mindset of anger as they prepare to face the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. Despite becoming the number two seed after a period of inconsistency leading up to the All-Star Break, the Celtics managed to finish the regular season with the second-best record in the NBA, and Smart believes this has been due to the overcoming of several obstacles that were thrown at them. The player himself has recently recovered from a neck injury and admits that he is not physically 100 percent, but is looking forward to playing against reigning Hawks' star guard, Trae Young. The Celtics have swept the Hawks during the regular season, however, on both occasions that the Hawks were at full strength, the scorelines were close, with Young being a major threat.

Italian football legend and respected football manager Carlo Ancelotti may return to Chelsea, after being linked to the assistant managerial post with Brazil Football Federation, which he has now refuted. Ancelotti, who had previously won Premier League titles with the Blues and is one of the most decorated managers globally, has been recently linked with a potential return to the Stamford Bridge as their next manager succeeding Tuchel. The decision to keep Tuchel is not finalized, and the Chelsea management has already reached out to Ancelotti, according to reports. The Italian is known for his collaborative and harmonious management style, which has a proven track record of winning. He is a careful listener to his players, owners, and staff. Ancelotti led both Real Madrid and Milan to European Cup triumphs and has won titles in all major leagues.

Ancelotti's exceptional man-management skills and ability to select the right position for each player, regardless of their talent, has resulted in a more potent team. Ancelotti, who recently beat Chelsea 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-finals match with Real Madrid, has frequently beaten Premier League opposition in previous seasons. Chelsea would gain significantly from such an experienced and successful manager, following a string of inconsistent performances from the team.

U.S. men's national team interim coach Anthony Hudson has stated that he is praying for Christian Pulisic, who is going through a rough patch at the club. Pulisic has struggled for game time for Chelsea this season and has only managed one goal and two assists in 27 appearances in all competitions. He faces an uncertain future with the club, especially given their poor form this season. Pulisic's career at Chelsea has been plagued by managerial instability and injuries that have resulted in him not being given a regular place in the starting eleven. Although the winger had pushed his way into Frank Lampard's plans before his dismissal, he currently finds himself on the brink of being sold. Hudson believes that Pulisic has developed a strong mentality in recent years and is hoping that the player will take advantage of any chances he gets to play. Will Chelsea's performance in the Champions League quarterfinals and the rest of the Premier League season give Pulisic the opportunity to prove himself and secure his future with the club? Only time will tell.

Former NFL player Chris Smith has passed away at the age of 31, according to his high school alma mater, West Rowan High School, though his cause of death has yet to be released. Smith, who spent eight years in the NFL and played for the Jaguars, Bengals, Panthers, Browns, Texans, Raiders, and Ravens, recently played for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL. With a total of 72 games played throughout his career, Smith was drafted by the Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft after playing college football at the University of Arkansas. In 2019, Smith's girlfriend Petara Cordero, who had just given birth to their daughter, passed away after a car accident that followed a minor collision with Smith. Smith's daughter has now lost both of her parents before her fourth birthday. The news of Smith's death has led to an outpouring of condolences from teammates and fans alike.

The St. Louis Cardinals didn't include Paul Goldschmidt in their starting lineup for Monday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. While the reason for his absence wasn't explicitly stated, Tyler O'Neill was named in his place in left field. The rest may have been part of a larger plan to rotate players since the Cardinals are off to a fantastic start this season. Even without Goldschmidt during the game, the Cardinals managed a victory on Monday night against the Diamondbacks with a score of 3-1. Goldschmidt had an impressive start to the season and was hitting .322 with 10 runs, 8 RBIs, and a .910 OPS through 73 plate appearances in the first few weeks of the season. The Cardinals are expected to provide more details on Goldschmidt's absence in the coming days.

Sacramento Kings fans had a lot to cheer about after their team outlasted the Golden State Warriors 126-123 in Game 1 of the series. De'Aaron Fox was the star of the game, scoring a historic 38 points and eclipsing the production of Steph Curry who finished with 30 points. During the closing moments of the game, a Kings fan was spotted taunting Curry, yelling “40 on your f--king head!” in reference to Fox’s 38 points. While the fan taunts may not have impacted the outcome of the game, Warriors fans are hopeful that Curry and his teammates will rise to the occasion in Game 2. Along with the series' expected competitiveness, there was a moment between Curry and a young fan that makes for smiles. During warmups for Game 2, Curry stopped to give a low-five to a young fan wearing his jersey, but the fan failed to notice and kept walking. Maybe Curry will get more luck when the series moves back to San Francisco.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors is set to make NBA history. Currently, with 4,212 assists to his name, Green is slated to surpass Hall of Famer Charles Barkley with just four more assists during Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. Although Green hasn’t put up massive numbers, he is one of the best all-around players in the league, which includes being an elite passer and defender. His assists numbers have been consistent as in 64 out of 69 games this season, he has dished out 4+ assists. Given Green's playmaking abilities and the Warriors' strong offensive presence, the feat seems almost certain. Warriors are set to enter the playoffs as the No. 6 playoff seed in the Western Conference after a unique regular season. Despite some weaknesses, Green believes the defending league champions should be favored for the West Finals. In the past eight seasons, the Warriors have won the NBA Championship in four times and have been to the NBA Finals six times.

The whereabouts of a key player on the NBA's most marquee and best-covered team, Golden State Warriors, remained mostly a secret for nearly two months until Andrew Wiggins' return last week. The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the reason for Wiggins' absence was his father had a serious medical situation. Multiple reporters and editors involved in Wiggins coverage described the reporting experience as bizarre, as they debated how to pursue the story, but also one that threatened to upend the Warriors' season as it dragged on. Warriors communications director Raymond Ridder said he was surprised that no national reporters had come up with more details but said he never asked any beat writers not to look into it.

The coverage of Wiggins' absence brought up issues such as what is newsworthy, how much privacy athletes are entitled to, and how journalists and news organizations that cover them balance that with the main tenets of their jobs: reporting news. During Wiggins' return news conference, neither he nor Myers mentioned Wiggins' father and no reporters asked about him. The Warriors confirmed Charania's report. Myers thanked the media for respecting the personal life of someone in a public job, which is a pretty rare thing in the business.

Golden State Warriors' forward, Jonathan Kuminga, had an off night in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Sacramento Kings. In just 10 minutes on the floor, he scored eight points, turned the ball over twice, fouled twice, and failed to pull down a single rebound. In contrast, over the two months leading up to the playoffs where he saw increased minutes, Kuminga proved himself capable. Now, the question is whether or not the versatile combo forward can turn his performance around in Game 2.

Aside from Kuminga's underwhelming performance, the Warriors' primary issue in Game 1 was rebounding. Golden State matched Sacramento's rebounding in the first half but fell behind in the second half, enabling the Kings to mount a comeback victory. Kuminga acknowledged his mistakes and took responsibility for his lack of rebounding, and with coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the team also emphasizing the need for improvement on the glass, Kuminga has an opportunity to redeem himself and contribute to a win in Game 2.

Donte DiVincenzo will come off the bench for the Golden State Warriors in Monday's game 2 against the Sacramento Kings as Andrew Wiggins returns to the starting lineup. This season, DiVincenzo has been a key player for the Warriors with impressive averages of 8.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 triples and 1.2 steals per contest on 45.4 percent shooting in 22.3 minutes per night. Despite primarily being utilized by the team as a reserve player, his career year letting it fly started with him going back to his college roots at Villanova. An assistant coach at Villanova helped DiVincenzo with drills that have greatly improved his shot. The drills emphasized base and lower body, with his objective being to reset himself from the ground up. DiVincenzo’s success is also attributed to a simple tip from one of the game’s most accurate shooters ever. With his impressive shooting skills, DiVincenzo has become an elite shooter, thus giving the Warriors yet another sharpshooter to fear.

Mike Brown, head coach of the Sacramento Kings, has been named the National Basketball Coaches Association's 2023 Coach of the Year. The award is voted on by the NBA's 30 head coaches, and it goes to the coach who has made the greatest positive impact on his team. Brown is expected to also win the NBA's Coach of the Year award, which is voted on by the media and will be announced during the playoffs. This is Brown's first season with the Kings, and under his leadership, the team went 48-34, finished third in the Western Conference, and made the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. Brown has overseen one of the greatest turnarounds in NBA history, taking a franchise that had been a doormat for years and turning it into a team that plays with high energy and confidence. The Kings have been one of the most potent offensive teams in NBA history, scoring a league-best 118.6 points per 100 possessions in the regular season.

De'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell were instrumental in helping the Sacramento Kings take a 114-106 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their Western Conference playoff series on Monday. With their win, the Kings now have a 2-0 lead over the defending champions. Fox scored 24 points while Mitchell guarded Golden State's prolific scorer Stephen Curry, who only managed to score 15 points in three quarters. Although Curry led all scorers with 28 points, he was limited to only 3 of 13 3-point attempts. Mitchell also scored 14 points while displaying his versatility as a defensive player who could make scorers work for every inch. The Kings' success in Game 2 centered on its offense, particularly its scorers charging the Warriors rim multiple times. Domantas Sabonis delivered 24 points and nine rebounds, while Fox and Harrison Barnes added 36 points in the paint for their team. The series now heads to San Francisco for Game 3 on Thursday.