The first round is in the books with the Milwaukee Bucks getting a payout win over the Philadelphia 76ers in a meeting of Eastern Conference heavyweights on Thursday night.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it will shine brightly for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday when they visit the Dallas Mavericks. After two months without Anthony Davis, the Lakers expect their big man to play in this contest, though his time on the floor will be limited.
Teams trending in opposite directions take to the hardwood on Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Clippers visit the Portland Trail Blazers in the second game of a TNT doubleheader. Winners in eight of their last nine games, the Clips continue to apply the heat to the front runners in the Western Conference.