Over in the Western Conference, however, an intense race for the final playoff spot continues to rage on. When the Grizzlies entered the NBA’s campus in Orlando, Fla., they held a 3 1/2 game advantage over the Trail Blazers. That cushion disappeared after four consecutive losses inside the “bubble,” and now Memphis will be without a key player in Jaren Jackson Jr. after the 20-year-old forward suffered a torn meniscus....

From on-court spats between foes to epic post-game rants from players and coaches to in-game trash talk with celebrities, the NBA playoffs are as much a reality show as they are an athletic spectacle. MORE: NBA scoreboard | Playoff schedule They’re the height of competition. So tempers, emotions and words flare every night. Let’s take a look back at some of the most entertaining moments of the first round. (Shoutout to @World_Wide_Wob for bringing #PettyWarz into the national lexicon....

Regardless of what tipped him off (perhaps it was his coach, Tyronn Lue, telling reporters he needed to be more assertive), James appeared to enter Wednesday’s Game 2 matchup with the full intention of reminding everyone of his greatness. It’s quite astounding how, after 15 seasons in the NBA, James can still reach new heights. He finished with 20 points in the period; if he can maintain the pace, fans might see one of the greatest postseason performances....

Stephen Curry’s 33 points on Friday helped the Warriors to a 118-113 victory in Game 6, which sealed a 4-2 series win and a spot in the Western Conference finals for the fifth consecutive season. The Warriors, seeking a third straight NBA title, have proved a thorn in Houston’s side in recent seasons, and Fertitta was quick to praise Golden State for once again getting the better of the Rockets....

After going into the half down 13 in Game 3 on Saturday, Golden State outscored Portland 29-13 in the third quarter to take a lead into the final frame it would never relinquish. The Warriors won the game 110-99 and now lead the series 3-0. Over the last two games Golden State has outscored Portland 68-39 and erased double-digit deficits in each of those outings. The Trail Blazers’ free-throw shooting absolutely destroyed their chances down the stretch as they missed 13 free throws in the game....

Stevens has made use of his four guards — Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Evan Turner and Marcus Smart — and plays them in interesting combinations. He’ll sometimes use three of them on the court at once. MORE: 8 teams that could win it all | T’Wolves have edge in draft lottery | Westbrook doesn’t care about scoring title While you shouldn’t count the Celtics out, it’s important to note just how strong the Cavaliers are....

James came out on the offensive after his team dropped Game 1 to the Bulls on Monday. The four-time MVP finished with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists as the Cavs evened the series at one game apiece. MORE: Shaq takes a tumble | Butler to win Most Improved PHOTOS: Must-see shots of Round 2 The Rockets also got a lift from their superstar as they tied their series with the Clippers....

Boston fell to Milwaukee 116-91 to lose its Eastern Conference semifinal series in five games. The Bucks won the final four games of the series by an average of 16.3 points, and in all honesty, the games weren’t even that close. Giannis Antetokounmpo wasn’t his usual spectacular self in Game 5, but he delivered a steady and balanced performance in the win, tallying 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the victory....

Forget All-Star appearances, ring counts, or career accomplishments, we’re looking squarely at on-court ability in a player’s absolute prime. In other words, If you could pick any player in history, with the hopes of winning the title immediately, not knowing the era, rules, coach, or teammates — who would you choose? In case you missed it, Part 1 of our countdown spanned the NBA’s entire 75-year history, bridging the gap from George Mikan and Bob Cousy to Joel Embiid and Derrick Rose....

Play is set to resume July 30 with a doubleheader featuring the Jazz vs. Pelicans and Clippers vs. Lakers. “Seeding games” will continue each day through Aug. 14 to determine playoff positioning. The postseason will follow the typical format with full best-of-seven series all the way through the NBA Finals. MORE: Watch select NBA games on fuboTV A total of 22 teams will travel to Orlando, Fla.: the 16 teams currently in playoff position and six teams within six games of the No....

The final output: 15.1 points per game on 30.3 percent shooting, 27.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line, 5.7 assists and 3.7 turnovers per game. Taking into account all the necessary precautions about summer league — and the need to avoid overreacting to the numbers posted there — it’s still fair to say that Young’s overall performance was underwhelming. This was the de facto No. 3 pick, after all, the guy whom the Hawks traded away Slovenian star Luka Doncic to acquire....

The NBA has been as proactive as any league in American sports when it comes to addressing issues that resonate beyond its own games, including raising awareness about discrimination based on sexual orientation. The league has shown little tolerance for anti-gay language, most recently suspending point guard Rajon Rondo for using homophobic language against referee Bill Kennedy, who later announced that he is gay. MORE: Openly gay athletes | NBA ’leans in’ for women’s rights...

While James’ Miami Heat jerseys hit the clearance racks, sales of his Cavaliers jerseys went through the roof. In fact, sales were so rampant that the NBA store no longer has James’ Cavaliers replica jersey in stock, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. MORE: LeBron asks for input on jersey number | Wiggins, Bennett sit out Summer League finale This is quite the departure from the treatment given to James in his last go-around with free agency, when Cavaliers fans burned his jerseys in the street after he chose the Heat in ‘The Decision....

After seeing what Chet Holmgren and Keegan Murray did in the Salt Lake City Summer League and California Classic, Banchero and Smith Jr. will look to make a statement. If you are a bettor or hoops fan, you’ll not only get a chance to wager on the actual game but also player props for Banchero and Smith. Below, we’ll look at a few of the best bets for each rookie in tonight’s Vegas summer league opener....

Whiteside chaed Olynyk down and elbowed him during Monday’s game, drawing a flagrant 2 and an ejection. It was Whiteside’s second ejection in less than a week. He was ejected and fined $15,000 for wrestling with the Suns’ Alex Len. MORE: Austin’s impact beyond basketball | Aldridge’s blessing in disguise Whiteside and members of the Heat were available to the media Tuesday afternoon before the announcement and commented on the situation....

According to ESPN, on Thursday night the league issued a memo directed to all 30 teams in which it recommended not testing players and staff who were asymptomatic. “For the time being, it is not appropriate in the current public health environment to regularly test all players and staff for the coronavirus,” the memo states. The NBA has been suspended since March 11, when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the first player to test positive to COVID-19....

There is a way, though, to predict which teams will fall into the “watching Netflix during the deadline” camp, and which teams are more likely to make a move. Looking through the lens of needs, finances and who is in charge can help paint a picture of who’s going to be shopping more aggressively than others. RAFFERTY: Warriors, Lakers among most interesting teams ahead of deadline Bucks, Nets, Bulls, Warriors could make tweaks The league is wide open this year, and the teams at the top of the standings could all be looking to tinker with their rosters....

The Pelicans have been long after Cousins. The holdup, according to league sources, has been Kings owner Vivek Ranadive, who was reluctant to send away a legitimate star like Cousins while the Kings were awaiting the opening of a new arena in downtown Sacramento. Ranadive has been pressed to trade Cousins for years. Coach Mike Malone and former general manager Pete D’Alessandro, according to sources, wanted badly to move Cousins....

The Suns are finalizing a trade to send Bledsoe to the Bucks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe. Phoenix will receive center Greg Monroe, a 2018 protected first-round pick and a 2018 second-round pick in the deal. Both teams are doing medical evaluations of players before anything becomes official. (We learned from the Kyrie Irving trade just how important that process can be.) TRADE RUMORS: Celtics interested in Jahlil Okafor?...

Washington can offer the 26-year-old guard a three-year contract extension later this month and, if he does not accept the new deal, the team could consider moving him, according to a report from the Washington Post . The report adds: Beal, 26, averaged 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 82 games for the Wizards last season. He shot 47.5% from the field and 35.1% from 3-point range....