The GIST: With an epic first round done and dusted, the NBA conference semifinals have arrived and are already bringing the early upsets. No more horsing around.

Eastern Conference: In the latest example that the 90s are so back, the NY Knicks and Indiana Pacers face off in Game 1 tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. Jalen Brunson’s gritty Big Apple squad has been setting the pace, but can NY’s battered roster shut down Indy’s resident Hercules, Tyrese Haliburton? TBD.

• Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers punched their first semis ticket since LeBron James departed in 2018, defeating the Orlando Magic 106–94 in Game 7 yesterday.
• The reward for Donovan Mitchell’s heroics? A matchup with the regular-season best (and well-rested) Boston Celtics, starting in Boston tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.

Western Conference: Anthony Edwards scored 43 points to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a feisty Game 1 win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Saturday — no small feat in the Mile High arena. Now trailing in a playoff series for the first time since 2022, the Nugs will try to defend home court tonight at 10 p.m. ET.

• Then tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET, rising stars will collide when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder host Luka Dončić’s Dallas Mavericks. Two MVP contenders facing off in the second round? Say less.

The GIST: The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is officially in the books, with four teams from each conference (Eastern and Western) advancing as the conference semis get underway. Heartbreak feels good in a place like this.

Game 7s weekend recap: Somebody check on Justin Bieber because the Toronto Maple Leafs once again lost in devastating fashion, suffering a 2–1 overtime (OT) loss to their archrivals, the Boston Bruins, on Saturday. The Buds started the scoring in the third period, but the Bruins responded a minute later, with right winger David Pastrňák ultimately delivering the OT game-winner.

• Elsewhere, the Dallas Stars eliminated the reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights, winning last night’s Game 7 2–1 in front of their home crowd. Center Radek Faksa lit the lamp early in the third period, sending the Stars into a second-round meeting with the Colorado Avalanche.

Second round preview: The Presidents’ Trophy–winning NY Rangers are still undefeated this postseason following last night’s 4–3 Game 1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The Metropolitan Division foes clash again from the Big Apple in Game 2 tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET.

• The Bruins, meanwhile, will dress for revenge as they head to the Sunshine State to face the Florida Panthers in Game 1 tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
• The other West semi will feature a Pacific Division showdown between the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers, their first playoff battle since 1992. The Canucks swept the regular-season series, but don’t count out Connor McDavid’s squad, who put up a flurry of goals in the first round. The Game 1 action begins Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.

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Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner’s upcoming memoir Coming Home in which she details her 10-month detainment in Russia and her journey to get back to the U.S. A must-read.

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