2024 NBA playoffs roundtable: What to observe heading into huge Sport 6 matchups – ESPN

Stephen A. Smith requires wholesale adjustments with the Clippers after they’ve fallen behind the Mavericks 3-2. (2:58)
The primary spherical of the 2024 NBA playoffs has been nothing wanting thrilling, giving us all the things from sweeps to back-and-forth battles on either side of the bracket.
Within the Western Convention, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves have already secured spots within the second spherical, with the Nuggets and Timberwolves beginning their sequence on Saturday in Denver.
Within the Japanese Convention, the Boston Celtics are joined within the second spherical by the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, with the Knicks and Pacers renewing their rivalry on Tuesday in New York.
That leaves two sequence — one in every convention — but to be determined. Each return to motion on Friday in Sport 6 clashes that might doubtlessly spherical out the second-round area.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have a 3-2 lead over the Orlando Magic, and can look to advance within the East to face regardless of no street workforce having gained but within the sequence. Within the West, the Dallas Mavericks host the LA Clippers with a 3-2 benefit after a powerful Sport 5 win in Los Angeles.
Our NBA insiders break down the largest storylines to observe going into these essential Sport 6 matchups.
MORE: Everything to know about the playoffs | Offseason guides for every team

Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Cleveland has constructed its benefit behind the league’s seventh-ranked protection, however to shut out this sequence in Orlando, it has to attain extra. The Cavs lastly broke the 100-point mark in Sport 5, when Darius Garland raced out to 17 first-quarter factors and Donovan Mitchell completed with 28. Max Strus, who had struggled capturing, knocked down 4 3-pointers, and Marcus Morris Sr. added 12 factors off the bench.
Yes, that game was sealed by an Evan Mobley block — his defensive presence is much more vital with Jarrett Allen’s status up in the air — however within the two video games the Cavs dropped in Orlando’s Kia Middle, they’d no reply for scoring runs by the Magic, who had the sixth-best residence document within the league through the common season.
In Sport 4, Mitchell went scoreless within the second half, whereas the Cavs surrendered a 31-5 run within the third quarter and shot simply 4-of-17 from 3.
— Kendra Andrews

Friday, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Luka Doncic did not need to hear it, interrupting a reporter’s query as quickly as the topic of the Mavericks’ final playoff sequence in opposition to the Clippers was broached.
These groups had been in the identical place within the 2021 playoffs, when the Mavs took a 3-2 lead in a first-round sequence and headed residence for Sport 6. LA gained the subsequent two video games, eliminating Dallas for the second consecutive season.
“Current. Current. Not previous,” Doncic insisted after his 35-point, 10-assist efficiency within the Mavs’ Sport 5 blowout win.
The 2023-24 common season is full, and the postseason is underway. We’ve all the things that you must observe alongside for an additional epic title chase.
• What we’ve learned in the first round so far
• Pelton: OKC’s title window is wide open
• MacMahon: The art of the decel move
• Tinsley: Anthony Edwards’ superstar turn
• Herring: Inside Brunson’s old-man game
Clippers star Paul George, not surprisingly, was way more keen to debate the current historical past between the 2 groups. He truly made some extent to carry it up after what could possibly be the Clippers’ remaining residence recreation at Crypto.com Enviornment until their prior Sport 6 street success repeats itself.
“We have been right here earlier than — going to Dallas, being down 3-2,” George stated. “It is received to be a win, and the one mentality we’ve got is to attempt to go get a win in Dallas.”
In that occasion three years in the past, Kawhi Leonard carried the Clippers to a Sport 6 victory. He matched his playoff profession excessive with 45 factors and performed smothering protection on Doncic down the stretch in that recreation.
However the Clippers cannot rely on that taking place once more. Leonard hasn’t been accessible since Sport 3 due to persistent irritation in his proper knee, and he is not anticipated to return throughout this sequence.
Earlier than this sequence began, Doncic identified one other main distinction from the opposite occasions the Mavs and Clippers met within the playoffs.
“We’ve Kai,” Doncic stated, referring to Kyrie Irving, his championship skilled co-star.
“We’ll get some relaxation after this one,” Irving stated. “Feelings are excessive, however we simply received to be prepared for no matter’s going to be thrown at us.”
— Tim MacMahon

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