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Windhorst: The five biggest lessons from the first weekend of the NBA playoffs

A 25-year-old LeBron strategy for the Lakers, a new defense in Cleveland and a message from Oklahoma City: Here's what we learned as the postseason tipped off.

2hBrian Windhorst
Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

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East 1st Round - Game 1ORL leads series 1-0

Jalen Suggs picks Cade Cunningham's pocket and throws down jam as Magic steal Game 1

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0:16

Franz Wagner cranks an explosive one-handed dunk

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0:20

Paolo Banchero lobs it to Wendell Carter Jr. for an alley-oop slam

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Jalen Duren makes an impressive block with his fingertips

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0:25

Isaiah Stewart makes an emphatic rejection at the rim

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0:21

Carter throws down a massive jam

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0:18

Tobias Harris finishes with great burst to the rim

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0:31

Cunningham throws pinpoint pass for a Pistons dunk

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Suggs' hustle leads to a Magic and-1

11h
0:21

    NBA PLAYOFFS SCOREBOARD

    SPURS DOMINATE VS. TRAIL BLAZERS

    Victor Wembanyama drops 35 in playoff debut as Spurs win Game 1

    9h
    1:54

    Wembanyama fights through two defenders for and-1 finish

    9h
    0:23

    AT A CROSSROADS

    Blockbuster trade? New coach? Hard reset? The Warriors begin an offseason with massive uncertainty

    Golden State enters another offseason in search of a co-star for Stephen Curry, and the Warriors might be searching for a new coach too.

    2hRamona Shelburne and Anthony Slater
    Illustration by ESPN

    THUNDER, CELTICS TAKE GAME 1

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander comes up with great block in Thunder's dominant win

    14h
    0:25

    Jayson Tatum leads Boston in largest playoff-opener blowout in Celtics history

    17h
    0:56

    ALL ABOUT THE POSTSEASON

    East playoff takeaways: Magic shock Pistons, Celtics dominate Sixers

    Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Eastern Conference's first round.

    11hNBA insiders
    Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images

    West playoff takeaways: Thunder blow out Suns in Game 1 win

    Here's what has stood out from the latest playoff games of the Western Conference's first round.

    9hNBA insiders

    BEST OF THE BEST

    Wembanyama joins SGA, Jokic as MVP finalist

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama were named finalists for this season's Most Valuable Player award.

    13hVincent Goodwill
    Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

    NBA awards: Bontemps' ballot for MVP, top rookie, every honor

    Which award battles are too close to call? Tim Bontemps unveils his official ballot for MVP, All-NBA and every honor.

    3dTim Bontemps

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