Preview capsules for the first round of the NBA playoffs, which start Saturday.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 2 NEW YORK KNICKS (50-32) vs. No. 7 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (47-35)
Season series: Knicks, 3-1.
Story line: The Knicks finished with their best record and highest seed since winning 54 games in 2012-13. They didn’t get much of a reward for that, with the opponent being a 76ers team that surged after Joel Embiid returned from knee surgery, winning their final eight games of the regular season and then edging Miami in the play-in tournament to earn the No. 7 seed.
Key matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Tyrese Maxey. Both guards were first-time All-Stars and capable of putting up big scoring numbers. Maxey had three 50-point games during the regular season. Brunson had 11 40-point performances, tying Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing for second-most by a Knicks player in a single season, and was fourth in the league with 28.7 per game.
Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in Alaska
FM highlights positive signs in EU relations
China, France eye more direct flights, high
Xi stresses promoting equipment renewal, trade
Wesley Bryan has a big finish to restore lead at Puntacana on the PGA Tour
G20 not a platform for resolving geopolitical struggles and security issues: Chinese FM
At playoff time, NHL teams march to the beat of their goaltenders and count on them to save the day
Xi highlights upgrading of opening
Biden administration restricts oil and gas leasing in Alaska
China's role as global stabilizing force highlighted at MSC 2024