DILLON BROOKS

“I’ve preached for the last six and a half years responsibility and accountability, and I take full responsibility for what transpired,” Sharpe said. After the halftime buzzer sounded, Brooks yelled at Sharpe and Sharpe motioned toward Brooks. Morant walked toward Sharpe at his courtside seat before center Steven Adams stepped in front of him. Tee Morant, Ja Morant’s father, also got involved in the conversation before security at Crypto.com Arena separated everyone. Sharpe, 54, yelled “I bet you won’t!” at Tee Morant as security guards tried to break things up.

Hall of Fame football player Shannon Sharpe apologized after getting into a heated courtside conversation with Memphis Grizzlies players Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks and Morant’s father during Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sharpe, who heckled Dillon Brooks and had words with Ja Morant while at the game, used several minutes on "Undisputed" Monday morning to apologize for everything he did. He also apologized individually to Brooks, Morant, the fans, both teams, his stylist, and even LeBron James. And because that wasn't enough, then Tee Morant, Ja's father, came into the fray. It started with Dillon Brooks. As for Sharpe and Tee Morant, the two of them mended fences during the third quarter.

A courtside scuffle during halftime of the Los Angeles Lakers home game Friday evening apparently involved a sports analyst and several players of the visiting Memphis Grizzlies.

The Fox Sports personality exchanged words with Brooks throughout the first half and then yelled at Morant on the final possession of the second quarter. After the halftime buzzer sounded, Brooks yelled at Sharpe and Sharpe motioned toward Brooks. Tee Morant, Ja Morant's father, also got involved in the conversation before security at Crypto.com arena separated everyone. Sharpe, 54, yelled “I bet you won’t!” at Tee Morant as security guards tried to break things up. Sharpe and Tee Morant talked to security in the tunnels at the arena before returning to their seats when the second half started.

Hall of Fame football player Shannon Sharpe had a heated courtside conversation with Memphis Grizzlies players Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks and Morant’s father at the end of the first half in a nationally televised game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sharpe was sitting courtside at the game when the altercation started just before halftime. Both Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks were seen talking at Sharpe while they started walking off the court, but then things quickly erupted. Tee Morant was seen coming up to Sharpe and the larger altercation from the side, and the two had to be separated by security. Sharpe told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that the fight first started after Sharpe told Brooks he “was too small to guard LeBron [James].”"They didn't want this smoke, Dave," Sharpe told ESPN. It's not exactly clear why Sharpe started heckling Brooks in the first place.

Which players and teams are feeling joyous or down after a big Christmas slate – from a dunk of the year candidate to some declawed Grizzlies.

As we get set to tear open the presents and cut into the fruitcake, let's take a look at the five most interesting players — to me! — in the Christmas quintuple-header, in terms of the questions they face and the possibilities they unlock. At his Houston peak, Harden could blitz past any defender in the league and get to the cup at will. Out of 189 players who've logged at least 500 minutes this season, Brooks ranks 11th in average matchup difficulty, according to The BBall Index 's game charting. All-Star cases have been built on a hell of a lot less; a big performance on Christmas would only help bolster Brook's.

A visibly frustrated Ja Morant used "inappropriate language" toward the end of the Grizzlies-Timberwolves game earlier this week, which led to his ejection from the contest.

Kyrie Irving returned from his suspension with 14 points, Ben Simmons tuned up for his trip back to Philadelphia with a season-high 22 and the Brooklyn Nets beat the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies 127-115.

C.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — (AP) — Ja Morant and Desmond Bane scored 38 points each to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 134-124 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving each scored 37 points for the Nets, Nic Claxton finished with 16 points. Bane scored 19 in the period. Despite Durant’s 17 in the quarter, Memphis outscored the Nets 45-28 in the third. .Entering the game, Bane was 8 of 28 from 3-point range.

Ja Morant and Desmond Bane scored 38 points each to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 134-124 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.

Gary Payton II is expected to return for the Golden State Warriors at some point during the NBA Finals from a broken left elbow that he injured when Grizzlies star Dillon Brooks committed a hard foul across Payton's head on a layup attempt during the playoffs' second round. Brooks received a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected, then suspended for one game without pay for what the NBA called “unnecessary and excessive contact.” Forwards Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. also are making positive strides toward playing again.

Steve Kerr is out of the NBA health and safety protocols and preparing to coach the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals after missing the last three games of the semifinal round against Memphis with COVID-19.

Grizzlies Warriors Basketball Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) argue with each other during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball Western Conference playoff semifinal in San Francisco, Friday, May 13, 2022. Yes, the Memphis Grizzlies soaked in every lesson to help chase their first NBA championship. They've gone from being knocked out of the playoff chase in the Orlando bubble in August 2020 to earning the No. “We’re young, they’re getting old, so they know we’re coming every single year,” Brooks said. Bane doubled his scoring from his rookie season to 18.2 points and led the Grizzlies in scoring in their first-round series win.

The NBA’s youngest team to reach a conference semifinal in the past 25 years has wasted little time turning disappointment into motivation.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are cherishing this playoff run a little more given they spent the past two years watching the postseason instead of their familiar position chasing championships.

Klay Thompson knocked down eight 3-pointers on the way to 30 points, Stephen Curry scored 29 with six 3s, and the Golden State Warriors advanced to the Western Conference finals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 110-96 in Game 6.

The Milwaukee Bucks want to build off the momentum from a thrilling comeback.

The Warriors lost for the first time with assistant Mike Brown filling in for coach Steve Kerr, who missed his second straight game since testing positive for COVID before Game 4. Golden State, thanks to Poole coming off the bench, had outscored Memphis' reserves each of the first four games. Then the Grizzlies opened the third quarter outscoring Golden State 20-6, prompting fans to start chanting “Whoop That Trick." They did it by outscoring Golden State 24-5 on second-chance points with a 18-4 edge on the offensive boards. Golden State beat the Los Angeles Lakers by 56 on April 21, 1973.

Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones each scored 21 points and the Memphis Grizzlies routed the Golden State Warriors 134-95 on Wednesday night to avoid elimination and force a sixth game in the Western Conference semifinal.

The Memphis Grizzlies say All-Star guard Ja Morant is doubtful for the remainder of the postseason after an MRI and further evaluation revealed a bone bruise in his injured right knee.

Grizzlies star Ja Morant is out for Game 5 with a bone bruise in his right knee.

Grizzlies Warriors Basketball Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots over Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball Western Conference playoff semifinal in San Francisco, Monday, May 9, 2022. Curry also dished out eight assists and grabbed five rebounds as Golden State rallied to win without coach Steve Kerr after he tested positive for COVID-19 less than two hours before tipoff. Golden State trailed 69-62 going into the fourth quarter after Desmond Bane's 32-foot 3-pointer beat the third-quarter buzzer. Warriors: The Warriors committed 11 first-half turnovers and 16 total. ... Golden State started 0 for 15 from deep before Otto Porter Jr. connected 3:24 before halftime.

Stephen Curry converted eight free throws over the final 45.7 seconds on the way to 32 points, leading the Golden State Warriors’ fourth-quarter comeback for a 101-98 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies and a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is out for Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Warriors with a right knee injury.

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is unlikely to play in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against Golden State on Monday night after injuring his right knee on a play with Jordan Poole that the teams are debating from Memphis’ 142-112 defeat Saturday night.

Ja Morant and Taylor Jenkins were unhappy about a play that led to his knee injury

Grizzlies Warriors Basketball Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball Western Conference playoff semifinal in San Francisco, Saturday, May 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Stephen Curry scored 30 points, Klay Thompson had 21 and nine rebounds and the Golden State Warriors shut down Ja Morant's supporting cast to embarrass the Memphis Grizzlies 142-112 on Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals. Golden State did so with a balanced attack and energy on both ends after Green called for the offense to do more to better the defense. Warriors: The Warriors outrebounded the Grizzlies 21-14 in the first half and 53-37 overall. ... Golden State is 4-0 playing at home during this postseason and 49-11 dating to the 2015 title run that ended with the franchise's first championship in 40 years.

Stephen Curry scored 30 points, Klay Thompson had 21 and nine rebounds and the Golden State Warriors shut down Ja Morant’s supporting cast to embarrass the Memphis Grizzlies 142-112 on Saturday night for a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Stephen Curry had a message for Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. after the Golden State Warriors took Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Morant scored the last 15 points for Memphis, starting with 4:16 left. He returned for the second quarter after getting stitches for a cut at his right eye that was nearly swollen shut by halftime. Memphis scored the first eight points of the game and led 33-25 after the hectic first quarter with Morant scoring 14, Jackson 10. The second quarter got a bit sloppy at times with the Warriors going 2 of 11 outside the arc with five turnovers. The Grizzlies led 56-51 at halftime with Morant scoring the final four points of the second for Memphis, giving him 23.

Ja Morant scored 47 points to match his postseason high and carry the Memphis Grizzlies into a tie in the Western Conference semifinals with a 106-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.

Officials reviewed the play and quickly ruled it a Flagrant 2, sending Brooks to the locker room. Memphis’ top perimeter defender, Brooks' job in Game 2 was to defend two-time NBA scoring champ Stephen Curry. Then Draymond Green went shortly after to the locker room after he appeared to be elbowed in the face. Green, who was ejected just before halftime of Golden State’s win in Game 1, went down under the basket soon after Brooks’ ejection. As he walked to the locker room during a timeout, Green flashed the middle finger on each hand at the fans.

Memphis forward Dillon Brooks has been ejected for a hard foul on Warriors guard Gary Payton in the opening minutes of Game 2 in their Western Conference semifinal.

Grizzlies Timberwolves Basketball Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) celebrates with forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) after the Grizzlies the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 29, 2022, in Minneapolis. With another relentless and resolute finish, the Grizzlies finished off the Timberwolves. Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks each scored 23 points and the Grizzlies rallied yet again to eliminate the Timberwolves, winning 114-106 in Game 6 on Friday night. The Grizzlies advanced in the playoffs for the first time in seven years, this time to meet Golden State, the NBA champions in 2015, 2017 and 2018. The kill shot came soon after for a Wolves team that, like so many others against the Grizzlies this season, was consistently a step and a jump behind on the glass.

Grizzlies Timberwolves Basketball Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley (22) in the first half in Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Friday, April 29, 2022, in Minneapolis. The Grizzlies advanced in the playoffs for the first time in seven years, this time to meet Golden State. Jaden McDaniels had 24 points off the bench, and Karl-Anthony Towns added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bane then swished another one from deep at 3:03 for a 101-99 lead, the first for the Grizzlies since they were up 39-38. The kill shot came soon after for a Wolves team that, like so many others against the Grizzlies this season, was consistently a step and a jump behind on the glass.

Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks each scored 23 points to steer a third fourth-quarter comeback victory in the series by the Memphis Grizzlies, who eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 114-106 victory in Game 6.

Grizzlies Timberwolves Basketball Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns reacts after scoring against the Memphis Grizzlies early in the first half in Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Minneapolis. Morant went 4 for 13 from the floor, and had 11 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out with seven points, and 25 of the Grizzlies' 33 fouls were called their starters. But Tyus Jones had his 3-pointer fall short with 10.5 seconds to go, and Edwards grabbed the rebound. When Towns swished a 3 from the top of the key on the first possession, a jet-like roar followed.

Karl-Anthony Towns rebounded from two rough games with a career playoff-best 33 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Minnesota Timberwolves pull out a 119-118 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Scoring has rarely looked so difficult for Kevin Durant.

Ja Morant scored 23 points and handed out 10 assists as the Memphis Grizzlies looked much more like the team that posted the NBA’s second-best record, routing the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-96 to even up their first-round Western Conference series at 1 apiece.

Anthony Edwards scored 36 points in his postseason debut, and the seventh-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 to grab home-court advantage in the opener of their first-round Western Conference series.

Ja Morant had 21 points and nine assists in his return from soreness in his right knee, Dillon Brooks scored 23 points and the Memphis Grizzlies routed the New Orleans Pelicans 141-114 on Saturday night to tie the 2012-13 franchise record for victories in a season at 56.

Nets Grizzlies Basketball Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) (Brandon Dill)MIAMI — (AP) — Kyrie Irving is finally going to play a home game for Brooklyn again on Sunday. And he apparently intends to play home games with the Nets for years to come. After Saturday’s game at Miami, Irving and the Nets return home to host to Charlotte on Sunday. Offering Irving an extension would mean that the Nets could have roughly $560 million promised to three players. Durant’s four-year, $194 million extension with the Nets starts next season, keeping him under contract to Brooklyn through the 2025-26 season.

Kyrie Irving is finally going to play a home game for Brooklyn again on Sunday.

Desmond Bane scored 23 points, including nine straight as Memphis rebuilt its lead in the fourth quarter, and the Grizzlies beat Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets 132-120.

Ja Morant plans to give Memphis Grizzlies much more than the memorable highlight 360-degree dunk during his first All-Star Game.

Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, including a driving layup with 26.4 seconds left in overtime that put Philadelphia ahead for good, and the 76ers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-119 without Joel Embiid.

The Memphis Grizzlies set a franchise record with their ninth straight win, getting 16 points and a breathtaking block from Ja Morant in a 127-119 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ja Morant scored 41 points, Desmond Bane added 20 and the Memphis Grizzlies overcame a 14-point second-half deficit to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 104-99 on Wednesday night.

Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane scored 21 points each, and the surging Memphis Grizzlies beat the Miami Heat 105-90.

Grizzlies Jazz Basketball Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) blocks the shot of Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY — (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 26 of his 30 points in the first half and the Utah Jazz advanced to the second round of the playoffs, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 126-110 on Wednesday night in Game 5. The Jazz out-passed the Grizzlies’ slow rotations and scored on 16 of 19 possessions to start the game, highlighted by shooting 8 for 10 from 3-point range. … Memphis scored more points in the paint than Utah in all of the first four games but were outscored inside 60-52. Jazz: Mike Conley left with 8:58 left in the second quarter due to right hamstring soreness and did not return.

Donovan Mitchell scored 26 of his 30 points in the first half and the Utah Jazz advanced to the second round of the playoffs, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 126-110 on Wednesday night in Game 5.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points, and the top-seeded Utah Jazz grabbed a 3-1 lead by holding off the Memphis Grizzlies 120-113.

Donovan Mitchell scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and the top-seeded Utah Jazz beat the Memphis Grizzlies 121-111 on Saturday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.

Virtually all of Canada’s top NBA players, excluding those who are injured, have accepted invitations to attend training camp next month in advance of that country’s last chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

Grizzlies Jazz Basketball Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) looks at the scoreboard following a foul during the second half of Game 2 of the team's NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in Salt Lake City. Mike Conley had 20 points and a career-best 15 assists, and Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points to help the Jazz knot the series. Mitchell’s anger simmered as he watched the Jazz drop Game 1 to a motivated Memphis squad. The Grizzlies scored 43 points in the third — a franchise record — on 67% shooting, led by Morant’s 13 in the period. Jazz: After Clarkson missed all eight 3s in Game 1, he banked in his first attempt from beyond the arc.

Donovan Mitchell scored 25 points in his much-anticipated return from a sprained ankle and the Utah Jazz overcame Ja Morant’s franchise-record 47 points in a 141-129 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at a game apiece.

Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant led the way as the Grizzlies stole Game 1 in Utah 48 hours after securing their spot in the playoffs via the play-in.

Grizzlies Jazz Basketball Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks (24) lays the ball up as Utah Jazz forward Royce O'Neale (23) looks on during the first half of Game 1 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) (Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY — (AP) — Dillon Brooks had 31 points and seven rebounds and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Utah Jazz 112-109 Sunday night in the opening game of their first-round playoff series. Rudy Gobert added 15 rebounds and 11 points, and Derrick Favors finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Bogdanovic hit five free throws in the final minute to help Utah cut Memphis’ lead to 110-109 with 6.4 seconds left. Memphis went ahead 17-14 on a three-point play by Dillon Brooks, but could not gain further ground against the Jazz defense.

Dillon Brooks had 31 points and seven rebounds and the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies beat the top-seeded Utah Jazz 112-109 in the opening game of their first-round playoff series.

Ja Morant made consecutive jumpers in the final 48 seconds of overtime and scored 35 points, Memphis had an answer for every Stephen Curry flurry, and the Grizzlies are headed back to the playoffs for the first time in four years after holding off the Golden State Warriors 117-112 in a thrilling play-in game.

Ja Morant scored 35 points to overcome 39 by Steph Curry as the Grizzlies won 117-112 in overtime to clinch the NBA's final playoff spot.

The Grizzlies will play the Golden State Warriors or the Los Angeles Lakers, who played later Wednesday night for the No. Memphis pulled out all the stops possible in a pandemic in the biggest home game since the Grizzlies' last playoff appearance in 2017 against these very Spurs. Gay dunked late in the first quarter, starting the Spurs on a 22-3 run that pulled them within 41-39 of the Grizzlies. ... DeRozan led the Spurs in scoring this season and in all but one of their final six games. Grizzlies: Memphis improved to 35-11 when leading after three.

Dillon Brooks scored eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help put Memphis ahead to stay and the Grizzlies eliminated the San Antonio Spurs 100-96 on Wednesday night in the first Western Conference play-in game.

Stephen Curry became the oldest scoring champion since Michael Jordan in 1998, finishing with 46 points as the Golden State Warriors held off the Memphis Grizzlies 113-101 in a regular-season finale that determined the play-in tournament’s eighth and ninth spots.

Knicks Grizzlies Basketball New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) shoots ahead of Memphis Grizzlies guard De'Anthony Melton (0) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, May 3, 2021, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) (Brandon Dill)MEMPHIS, Tenn. — (AP) — Julius Randle scored 28 points, Derrick Rose added 25, converting 11 of 15 shots and the New York Knicks held off the Memphis Grizzlies 118-104 on Monday night. RJ Barrett added 15 points for the Knicks. Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 15 points for the Grizzlies. With the win, the Knicks are assured of their first winning record in a season since going 54-28 in 2012-13. Jackson and Bane had 11 points each for Memphis, which couldn’t keep pace with the Knicks shooting accuracy despite the Grizzlies shooting 55.6% in the period.

Julius Randle scored 28 points, Derrick Rose added 25, converting 11 of 15 shots and the New York Knicks held off the Memphis Grizzlies 118-104.

Cole Anthony made a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds remaining, giving him a career-best 26 points, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 112-111 on Saturday night.

Dillon Brooks scored 20 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and 15 rebounds, and the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Orlando Magic 92-75 on a poor shooting night for both teams.

Nikola Jokic scored 47 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer late in the second overtime, and the Denver Nuggets rallied to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 139-137.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James complains about the lack of a foul call during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)NEW YORK – LeBron James was warned Saturday for violating the NBA's anti-flopping rule after a play in which the superstar appeared to fall dramatically with little or no contact. The league also warned teammate Kyle Kuzma for flopping in the same game, the Los Angeles Lakers' 115-105 victory over Memphis on Friday. James was between two Memphis players when teammate Anthony Davis took a shot from the other side of the court. Kuzma was defending against Dillon Brooks when he spun all the way around and tumbled across the baseline.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, right, wears a boot on his left foot after suffering an injury during the team's NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in New York. The Grizzlies earned their first victory of the season, outlasting the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 116-111 in overtime Monday night. Morant was hurt late in the first half when he leaped to block a shot by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and landed on the Nets forward's foot. Morant watched Brandon Clarke score the go-ahead basket on a follow shot with 41 seconds left in overtime before the Grizzlies put it away with free throws. “Early in the season I think guys are still acclimating to back-to-backs, let alone an overtime back-to-back,” Nets coach Steve Nash said.

Portland finished eighth in the West, Memphis was ninth, and the Grizzlies needed to sweep a two-game matchup to advance. They had a chance, up eight in the final quarter, before Portland did what Portland does in the bubble find a way at the end. The Grizzlies' 42-point third quarter matched the second-highest scoring period of the season for Memphis and was the second-highest scoring third quarter in franchise history. LOOKING AHEADThe Lakers went 2-1 against the Blazers this season, with the road team winning all three games. Anthony Davis (32.0 ppg) and LeBron James (24.7 ppg) led the Lakers; Lillard (36.0 ppg) and Whiteside (22.0 ppg) led the Blazers.

8 team two straight times to advance to face the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for a second straight season. The Grizzlies were eighth in the West with a 3 -game lead over the rest of the pack when they arrived at Florida. TIP-INSBucks: Starting guard Wesley Matthews missed a second straight game with a sore right adductor. UP NEXTThe Bucks will face the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs.