The Opening Tip

• Could it get worse for Philly?
• More Luka stats
• This is the testiest postseason in a while

Tonight's must-watch playoff games

1. The end of Sixers-Heat was a therapy session

The Heat blew out the 76ers last night, ending one of the more confounding/disappointing seasons for Philly in one of the most confounding/disappointing eras for one team in NBA history.

The quotes afterward by all involved, either directly or indirectly, showed as much:

Joel Embiid, on James Harden, who didn’t score a point in the fourth last night:

Embiid, on Jimmy Butler:

Doc Rivers, on his job security:

(The Lakers want him if/when he’s fired.)

James Harden, on whether enough plays were drawn for him: 

Harden, on next season: 

(Will he, though?)

Ben Simmons: 

• Oh, he didn’t say anything, but he liked a tweet from Skip Bayless saying Harden was washed and Brooklyn won the trade. 

Reminder: This all happened last night! This league!

[READ: Jimmy Butler lets the Sixers know they picked the wrong guy]

2. Daily GIF: The footwork

Luka Doncic dropped 33 last night to force a Game 7 vs. Phoenix.

• He’s averaging 31.1 PPG this postseason and 32.5 PPG in 22 career playoff games.
• He’s also the third-fastest in NBA history to reach 700 playoff points (22 games), behind only MJ (20 games) and Wilt (20 games).

TL;DR: This guy’s pretty good.

3. Trivia time

Only four teams have failed to reach the conference finals since the last time the 76ers made the conference finals (2001), who are they? 

Hint: Three in East, one in West.

Answer at the bottom.

4. Techs are up

Thanks to some over-officiating and general over-pettiness, we’re on track to break a five-year high in postseason technical fouls called.

If you’re curious, 2022 postseason tech leaders by team:

1. Suns, 14
2. Nuggets, 11 (in five games)
3. 76ers, 9 
4. Jazz, 9
5. Heat, 8
6. Mavericks, 8 

[READ: In the NBA playoffs, tempers rise and pettiness rules] 

5. 05/13/2010: LeBron’s last Eastern Conference playoff loss

On this day 12 years ago, the Celtics eliminated LeBron’s heavily-favored Cavs in Game 6 of the ECSF, setting the stage for his move to Miami. 

• It was also LeBron’s last playoff loss to a team in the Eastern Conference: He won the next eight conference championships in a row, then beat Miami in his one Finals with a team in the West. 
• If you’re counting: That’s 25-0 in his last 25 series vs. East teams.

6.  Quick Hits

• Nikola Jokic rode his horse to his MVP trophy acceptance. 
• Full MVP voting results.
• Rumor: Phil Jackson, current LAL advisor, wants to trade LeBron and keep Russ.
• SAS: "That performance by James Harden requires an investigation"
• Betting lines for Celtics-Bucks and Grizzlies-Warriors tonight. 

7.  Reads

• Inside the mind of scoop-obsessed Shams Charania [New York Post]
• Is Memphis the NBA’s next small-market success? [The Ringer]
• We have no idea who will win the NBA title. Isn’t it marvelous? [Washington Post]

Trivia answer:  Knicks, Hornets, Pelicans, Wizards