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.
US restricts trade with companies tied to drones used by Russia, Houthis
HK's West Kowloon arts hub to run out of funds in 2025: CEO
Colorado reporter's expulsion from Republican gathering causes uproar
Google is combining its Android software and Pixel hardware divisions to more broadly integrate AI
Israeli military says troops captured hundreds of fighters in Gaza hospital
Changes to flu vaccine eligibility missed opportunity to improve health equity
Israel prepared to handle any Iran scenario, defence chief says
JAN MOIR: Another day, another desperate Montecito dollar. This time with jam on it!
Police Minister admits NZ cannot compete with Australian recruitment offer
Tulsa athletic director Rick Dickson announces retirement
Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for more than $1m