Author: Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY

The Heat don’t always need scoring from Jimmy Butler. But they need his all-around game, which was on display in high-definition in their Game 2 win.

Miami overcame a 17-point deficit, walloped Boston in the third quarter and closed out the fourth for a 106-101 win and 2-0 lead in the East finals.

The NBA playoffs inside the bubble in Orlando is basketball distilled to its essence – five-on-five in a random gym.
No home-court advantage.

Kawhi Leonard says few words, but he knows what it takes to win championships. He isn’t immune to criticism in the Clippers collapse vs. the Nuggets.

In taking Game 7 against the Clippers, the Nuggets became the first team in NBA history to come back from 3-1 down twice in one postseason.

LeBron James and the Lakers didn’t want to play a sixth game and give the Rockets any hope. So they took care of business with a persuasive rout.

William Rondo was removed from the guest seating area in the fourth quarter after exchanging words with Russell Westbrook.

The Lakers started fast and rolled to a 119-96 win over the Rockets to reach the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2010.