Jump to: Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D

More: All you need to know | Full daily fixtures schedule

The draw for the CONCACAF Gold Cup did the U.S. men's national team no favors.

The 2019 tournament sees the field expanded to 16 nations for the first time. This has served to dilute the pool of teams, but the relative strength of the groups has proved to be uneven. Costa Rica should cruise through, and Mexico should have its way as well. As for the U.S., it will face Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and Panama in arguably the most difficult group.

The Americans should progress, but having failed to qualify for the most recent World Cup, nothing can be taken for granted.

Here's how the entire draw shakes out.

GROUP A

Mexico

Mexico enters the tournament as heavy favorites, though El Tri is on the more difficult side of the bracket that includes Costa Rica. As always, being the favorite comes with pressure, though new manager Tata Martino's experience with Argentina -- and Barcelona -- makes him plenty familiar with high expectations.

Mexico's schedule:

• June 15 vs. Cuba at the Rose Bowl; Pasadena, California

• June 19 vs. Canada at Broncos Stadium at Mile High; Denver

• June 23 vs. Martinique at Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, North Carolina

Canada

Long the region's sleeping giant, Canada could be on the brink of playing a more prominent role in the Gold Cup. The ageless Atiba Hutchinson still marshals the midfield for the Reds, but young players like LAFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye and Bayern Munich attacker Alphonso Davies could lead John Herdman's side to brighter days.

Martinique

Anyone who thinks Martinique is a pushover need only look back to the last edition of the tournament, when Les Matinino gave the U.S. all it could handle before falling 3-2. Martinique also impressed in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying with a perfect record. Kevin Parsemain, who scored both goals against the U.S. two years ago, remains the team's go-to striker, with Seattle Sounders defender Jordy Delem another familiar name.

Cuba

The Lions of the Caribbean have produced some impressive players during its history -- current Minnesota United midfielder Ozzie Alonso among them -- though defections have thinned their ranks. In 2019, only a 2-1 loss to Haiti marred Cuba's record, with Yordan Santa Cruz's goals proving crucial to the team's Gold Cup qualification effort.

Game you won't want to miss: Mexico vs. Canada

Canada looks to be a team on the up. That sentiment will be tested in the June 19 encounter with El Tri. Both teams will be eager to avoid a quarterfinal encounter with likely Group B winners Costa Rica.

Who will advance?

Mexico and Canada ought to have little trouble progressing.

GROUP B

Costa Rica

The generation that featured Bryan Ruiz and Celso Borges has passed the dreaded age of 30, but they still have some fuel in the tank, and new manager Gustavo Matosas has other talent at his disposal, including forward Joel Campbell as well as FC Cincinnati midfielder Allan Cruz. The Ticos likely will have to get past Mexico if they are to reach the final for the first time since 2002.

Haiti

If the recent qualifying phase for the CONCACAF Nations League is anything to go by, times may be changing for the better for Haiti. Les Grenadiers won all four of its games and finished in top spot, edging Canada on the goals-scored tiebreaker. MLS fans will recognize New York Red Bulls midfielder Derrick Etienne Jr., with St. Mirren striker Duckens Nazon another player to watch.

Nicaragua

The Blue and Whites have qualified for the Gold Cup for the second tournament running, and given the relative weakness of the group, a spot in the knockout rounds is certainly possible. Juan Barrera, who plies his trade in Guatemala with Municipal, paced Nicaragua's qualifying effort with five goals.

Bermuda

Gombey Warriors will be making their inaugural appearance at the Gold Cup after finishing fifth in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying. Former New York Red Bull and current Charleston Battery midfielder Zeiko Lewis and Queens Park Rangers forward Nahki Wells are the most recognizable names in manager Kyle Lightbourne's squad.

Game you won't want to miss: Haiti vs. Nicaragua

The battle for second place in the group is wide open, and this match between will go far in determining who claims it.

Who will advance?

Costa Rica is winning this group, no problem. What's tougher predict is who will finish second, though Haiti is likely to advance.

GROUP C

Honduras

Having fallen short of the 2018 World Cup after a playoff loss to Australia, Los Catrachos have some rebuilding to do. New manager Fabian Coito joins after considerable time spent managing Uruguay's youth national teams, and the hope is that experience will come in handy in a side led by the Houston Dynamo trio of Maynor Figueroa, Alberth Elis, and Rommel Quioto.

Jamaica

No team has been as wildly inconsistent within CONCACAF as the Reggae Boyz. Jamaica has reached the last two Gold Cup finals, but has been unable to translate that success into recent World Cup qualifying efforts, falling in the semifinal round during the 2018 cycle. Manager Theodore Whitmore can draw on a squad full of names familiar to MLS fans, including Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, New York Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence, and FC Cincinnati forward Darren Mattocks.

El Salvador

Los Cuscatlecos claimed the last qualifying spot, edging out Montserrat on goal differential. El Salvador is still feeling the effects from the damage done by a match-fixing scandal in 2013, but it did manage to reach the Gold Cup quarterfinals in 2017, where it fell to the U.S. 2-0. Oscar Ceren's goals helped lead El Salvador in qualifying, and brother Darwin of the Houston Dynamo is another notable player.

Curacao

The reigning Caribbean Cup champions, Curacao makes its second consecutive appearance at the Gold Cup after exiting the in the group stage in 2017. While the island nation boasts just 160,000 inhabitants, the team makes liberal use of its Dutch connections, including player/manager Cuco Martina, currently on loan with Feyenoord.

Game you won't want to miss: Honduras vs. El Salvador

Honduras and El Salvador engaged in the so-called Soccer War in 1969, though the conflict's roots ran much deeper than mere soccer matches. A peace treaty was signed in 1980, and the two sides have played each other numerous times since then, but the competition between the two neighbors is always intense.

Who will advance?

Jamaica's recent history in the Gold Cup has been positive, so look for the Reggae Boyz to join Honduras in the quarterfinals.

GROUP D

United States

The World Cup qualifying failure still weighs heavy, so there will pressure on this U.S. side to show that it has moved on. New manager Gregg Berhalter will get a taste of tournament intensity for the first time, as will a new generation of players, at least at senior level. And while results matter, observers will be just as concerned with how the team plays.

U.S. schedule:

• June 18 vs. Guyana at Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minnesota

• June 22 vs. Trinidad & Tobago at FirstEnergy Stadium; Cleveland

• June 26 vs. Panama at Children's Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas

Guyana

Guyana is another side making its Gold Cup debut following its seventh-place finish among 34 countries in CONCACAF Nations League qualifying. The team is led by Philadelphia Union midfielder Warren Creavalle and FC Cincinnati forward Emery Welshman (currently on loan with Canadian Premier League side Forge FC).

Panama

Los Canaleros' maiden voyage at the World Cup is now history. Manager Hernan Dario Gomez has departed, with former head coach Julio Dely Valdez returning on a temporary basis. With many in the aging squad having retired from international soccer, Valdez will be looking to the next generation.

Trinidad & Tobago

T&T will forever be remembered as the team that denied the U.S. a spot in the 2018 World Cup, but manager Dennis Lawrence is trying to construct a side that can do better than finishing at the bottom of the Hex. He has some experienced players in midfielder Khaleem Hyland and Daneil Cyrus, as well as former Seattle Sounders defender Joevin Jones.

Game you won't want to miss: U.S. vs. Trinidad & Tobago

The Americans' tilt with Panama likely will decide the group, but no other game will be as fraught with emotion as the match against T&T. A victory won't amount to revenge -- there's only one place where that can happen -- but the U.S. will have a point to prove.

Who will advance?

The U.S. and Panama are the favorites to progress, and a rematch in the semifinals is certainly possible.

The Champions League quarterfinals produced four patient but entertaining first legs that ended with four different scorelines: 1-0, 2-0, 1-1, 0-1. Here are four talking points from the four contests played this week...

Tottenham 1-0 Manchester City: Guardiola's UCL approach prompts more questions

We're no longer surprised when Pep Guardiola names a starting XI that doesn't quite make sense on paper -- but too often in Champions League away legs, it doesn't make sense on the pitch either.

On Tuesday, Guardiola surprisingly omitted Kevin De Bruyne, only summoning him from the bench with a couple of minutes remaining. He also left out John Stones, and City looked extremely nervous when attempting to play the ball out from defence. Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez started ahead of Leroy Sane despite enduring a difficult couple of months. It was hard to see any logic behind the selections.

- Ogden: Spurs prove they can win without Kane

City were meek throughout. Things might have been different had Sergio Aguero converted his first-half penalty, but even that arose from a charitable VAR decision, and wasn't an outright chance that City had manufactured. They enjoyed plenty of possession, but the majority of it came in deep positions, with no one progressing the ball into the final third.

Guardiola has now heaped pressure on himself ahead of next week's second leg, where his starting XI will be even more heavily scrutinised. It seems remarkable to say this about a manager who won this trophy in two of his first three attempts, but if City are eliminated next week, it will be seven Champions League campaigns in a row for Guardiola without reaching the final, despite consistently coaching one of the favourites. It would only be right to question his approach to knockout ties, particularly in terms of tactics.

Liverpool 2-0 Porto: Conceicao's surprise system leaves midfield undermanned

Having switched between 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 for most of the campaign, it was a surprise to see Porto play with a three-man defence at Anfield. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted that it came as a complete surprise to him; having scouted several Porto matches, not once had they deployed that system.

Sergio Conceicao faced a barrage of questions in his postmatch news conference about the change in shape, from Portuguese journalists who seemingly found the system too defensive. The formation is generally considered 3-4-3 in attack but 5-4-1 in defence, although for long periods Porto's shape appeared somewhere in-between: 5-2-3. The wing-backs retreated quickly into a back five, but Porto's front three had little interest in tracking back when Liverpool bisected their press, which left them undermanned in midfield.

- Cox: Liverpool's new trio key to trophy hopes

Liverpool exploited this weakness well. With a new-look midfield of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita -- the first time they've started together in a 4-3-3 -- Liverpool retained the ball in the centre of the pitch well, switching play between the channels, and working Porto's trio of Danilo and Oliver Torres hard. Torres, in particular, endured a difficult game.

Liverpool's goals were well-worked, the first after Keita pushed forward to the edge of the box and his deflected shot looped in off Torres, and the second after Henderson's disguised pass released Trent Alexander-Arnold and his ball across the face was converted by Roberto Firmino. Losing 2-0 isn't a disaster for Porto, and they had some chances, but you suspect Porto will return to a back four next week.

Ajax 1-1 Juventus: Van de Beek keeps Pjanic quiet

Before his side's contest with Juventus, Ajax manager Erik ten Hag refused to entertain any questions about how he would look to cope with Juve's individuals. The key, he said, was keeping possession. For as long as they did that, they wouldn't have to worry about Juve's attacking threat. It was an answer straight out of the Ajax playbook.

Yet of course, it doesn't entirely make sense; you can have possession for 90 percent of the game, but you've still got to plan for the other 10 percent. Ajax were equally impressive without possession, with Ten Hag effectively asking his players to man-mark in midfield. Frenkie de Jong dealt with Rodrigo Bentancur, and Lasse Schone watched Blaise Matuidi.

But the most impressive marking job was performed by Donny van de Beek, who pushed up on to Miralem Pjanic, followed him across the pitch throughout the game, and constricted Juve's key deep-lying playmaker. The Bianconeri instead were forced to hold on to the ball for long periods in defence without progressing it over the halfway line.

- Horncastle: Ajax show signs they have another shock in them

What was most impressive, though, was that Van de Beek offered something going the other way. The problem with man-marking when out of possession is that you find yourself close to your opponent at turnovers, but Van de Beek's spatial awareness and good forward running meant he continually found himself in good positions as Ajax attacked, and he narrowly curled the ball wide with the game still goalless in the first half.

The game's telling moment came in the second half, when Ajax launched a break, and Pjanic tried -- and failed -- to take out Van de Beek with a cynical foul on the break. Pjanic, and Juve, had been rattled by Ajax's youth, mobility and tactical intelligence.

Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona: Solskjaer's formation falls short

Setting up a team to shut down Lionel Messi is a thankless task, especially considering the limitations of Manchester United's defence. But, having constantly preached about playing "The United Way" and insisting upon attack-minded football, it was something of a surprise to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer change formation for the visit of Ernesto Valverde's side, moving to a 5-3-2 formation.

It was especially surprising because this meant re-deploying Luke Shaw as a left-sided centre-back, a week after the experiment with Ashley Young as a right-sided centre-back away at Wolves ended in a red card and a United defeat. It's become increasingly common to see full-backs tucking inside to play as part of a three-man defence: Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta did it brilliantly under Antonio Conte, and Kyle Walker made the shift well for England at last summer's World Cup. Shaw, however, looked desperately uncomfortable.

- Ogden: United can still beat Barca if they dump Lukaku

Shaw was slightly unfortunate to turn the ball into his own net for Barcelona's opener, after Luis Suarez's header across goal deflected off his shoulder and bounced in, but Shaw had lost Messi in the build-up to the goal, allowing the Argentine to collect Sergio Busquets' chip over the top and then cross.

Things didn't particularly improve afterwards. He lost Suarez midway through the second half, when the Uruguayan should have done better than thumping the ball into the side-netting. A first-half booking, meanwhile, means Shaw will be unavailable for the second leg, which might be a blessing in disguise for United, if it convinces Solskjaer to name a less cautious system. Having not managed a shot on target in the first leg, it's not simply about trying to turn the tie around for United, but also about proving their attacking intent.

Former West Indies batsman Xavier Marshall has been named in USA's 14-man squad for ICC World Cricket League Division Two, which starts later this month in Namibia, where USA will strive to obtain ODI status for the first time in their history.

Marshall first played for USA in January last year in the West Indies Regional Super50 tournament. But after managing just 137 runs in eight innings he was dropped in the summer, due, in part, to his partial absence from a squad trial in New York last June.

However, the 33-year-old Marshall made the most of a second chance with the side after being recalled last month for their tour of the UAE. He was in USA's starting XI for their maiden T20 international against the UAE, becoming the seventh player to take the field for two different countries in T20Is . After a slow start, he ended the tour as the side's leading scorer with 424 runs in nine innings, including a best of 170 against a UAE Developmental XI. He also scored three half-centuries, including 75 in USA's six-wicket win over Lancashire on the tour.

The fitness cloud over Barbados-contracted batsman Aaron Jones has also disappeared after he was named in USA's squad. Jones also played a key role in the win over Lancashire on tour by top-scoring with an unbeaten 84 but missed USA's last two matches against the UAE as a precautionary measure after retiring hurt with a left-knee injury against a UAE Developmental XI on March 24.

Though he was not named in the official 14-man squad, USA is expected to take 20-year-old Karima Gore as a traveling reserve to Namibia. Gore, a left-arm spinning allrounder, played three matches in Dubai last month and took four wickets with a team-best 3.51 economy rate on tour.

USA's squad will gather in North Carolina before departing at the end of the week for a brief acclimatization tour in South Africa. Their first match at WCL Division Two in Namibia is on April 20 against Oman before playing four more round-robin matches against Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong and Canada.

The top four of the six teams in the event will secure ODI status with a guaranteed 36 ODIs through 2021 as part of the new Cricket World Cup League Two alongside Nepal, Scotland and UAE. The bottom-two finishers in Namibia will drop into Cricket World Cup Challenge League A and B, which is set to replace the World Cricket League 50-over World Cup qualifying pathway structure for Associates that has been in place since 2007.

USA squad: Saurabh Netravalkar (capt), Jaskaran Malhotra (wk), Elmore Hutchinson, Aaron Jones, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Jannisar Khan, Xavier Marshall, Monank Patel, Timil Patel, Roy Silva, Jessy Singh, Steven Taylor, Hayden Walsh Jr.

Our correspondents bring you the latest gossip from the county circuit as the 2019 season gathers pace

It would have been perfectly understandable if Somerset members in the Long Room of Colin Atkinson pavilion had wanted to celebrate their county's first victory of the season on Monday by buying a cider at the bar.

But if current plans go ahead, those supporters who want to enjoy a home-made pasty with their pint may find their collars felt by a West Country gauleiter.

Somerset's chief executive Andrew Cornish announced at a forum on Saturday evening that an executive decision had been taken that members would no longer be allowed to consume their own food or wine in the Long Room.

Not surprisingly, this diktat has not gone down well. It would seem that any profit made by the club's catering outlets as a result of the move will not outweigh the ill-feeling caused among loyal members who have already paid top-whack subscriptions.

Apparently Cornish is consulting the members about the decision, but if it is enforced, it looks like another example of cricket loading both barrels and taking careful aim at its foot. The other, more ironic consequence, of course, is that the only pasties available in Somerset's pavilion will have to receive Cornish approval.

***

Lancashire supporters arriving at Emirates Old Trafford for next Wednesday's Royal London Cup tie against Worcestershire may notice a familiar voice on the public address.

The long-serving Matt Proctor retired last September and has been succeeded by John Gwynne, who will be most familiar to younger sports fans as one of Sky's football reporters or as a darts commentator.

However, Gwynne has needed little persuasion to return to Old Trafford as often as possible in recent years. Since he stopped being a cricket correspondent for the BBC in the North West, he has become well-known as an MC or interviewer at benefit dinners and he now has the prospect of spending his summer at Manchester, Liverpool and Sedbergh.

Only one question remains: will Gwynne be able to conceal his full-throated ecstasy if a batsman is dismissed for … one hundred and eighteeeeeee?

***

The County Championship might be under permanent threat but at least it has entered the 21st century in terms of WiFi availability.

All 18 counties now offer WiFi on their grounds thanks to a tie-up with Sky. We tested it at Trent Bridge last week and it was surprisingly fast - perhaps because not everybody has cottoned on to its existence.

Just what you need to ensure you can message your thoughts to our County Cricket Live blog without using up your data allowance too quickly.

We couldn't help a snigger or two at the incorrigible optimist Paul Nixon as he assessed Leicestershire's chances on the eve of the season.

Nine players out, four in suggested a tough season ahead for the Foxes but Nixon overflowed with praise for Leicestershire's prospects and, in particular, their new signing from Derbyshire, the seam bowler Tom Taylor.

"Could be in contention for an England Lions trip by the end of the season," said Nixon, so impressed was he by Taylor's winter improvement.

It appears we laughed too soon. Taylor took career-best stats of 10 for 122, promotion hopefuls Sussex were beaten at Hove and Nixon's optimism was vindicated.

***

Perhaps the most surprising sight at Lancashire's Media Day was to see Matt Parkinson virtually fully recovered less than a fortnight after being struck an horrific blow on the jaw by Surrey's Mark Stoneman during a T10 Festival at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

Parkinson, a 22-year-old leg-spinner who has been tipped to get an England call-up, was taken straight to hospital in Dubai where scans revealed no broken bones and the deep lacerations in his jaw were repaired by a plastic surgeon.

Merely to escape with nothing more than stitches from such a life-threatening incident seems faintly miraculous but Parkinson is clearly made of stern stuff. And the astonishment at his availability was not confined to the media. "That ball couldn't have been hit any harder," said head coach, Glen Chapple.

***

In addition to the new players and refreshed ambitions on parade at Trent Bridge, this most splendid of county grounds is showing off another elegant architectural addition in the shape of the two-tier upwards extension of the central section of the Radcliffe Road stand.

The project, which began in 2017, is now finished, providing extra broadcasting suites and hospitality areas, plus a swish new restaurant, under a stylish curved roof.

Nottinghamshire have hired a Michelin-starred chef, Nottingham-born Tom Sellars, to ensure that the new eatery, which has been named Six, meets the highest standards of contemporary fine dining. (Sadly, he won't be supplying the press lunches, although that's not to say the first-floor dining room doesn't look after us very nicely).

Diners who do plan to eat there will need patience and deep pockets. Already, more than 2,000 foodies interested in such offerings as gin-cured chalk stream trout with cucumber and oyster emulsion, Packington chicken with asparagus, morels and wild garlic, or native lobster with lobster bisque and lovage, have been added to a priority booking list for the 40-seat restaurant. Last Friday and Saturday's sampling menus were fully booked at £150 per head.

***

The ECB network correspondents are grumbling because they were asked for a letter of assignation before being issued with their press accreditation for the new season … even though their employer is the ECB.

After a memorable three-run win over Zimbabwe ended the host nation's 2019 World Cup dreams at last year's qualifying tournament, UAE entered the four-match ODI tour this week with hopes of replicating the feat across an entire series rather than just a one-off encounter.

That goal got off to a bumpy start on Wednesday in Harare as Zimbabwe crushed UAE by seven wickets in a one-sided match. UAE coach Dougie Brown gave credit to Zimbabwe's seam attack led by Kyle Jarvis and Man-of-the-Match Tendai Chatara for exploiting bowler-friendly conditions after UAE lost a crucial toss.

"We lost the toss and got sent in on a pitch that had been covered after having heavy rain only yesterday," Brown told ESPNcricinfo after the match. "So it was really juicy, really moist bowling conditions. They bowled exceptionally well to be honest. The ball seamed and it bounced. When the spinners bowled, it spun as well, but it stuck and it made scoring really difficult.

"That said, we've still got to find a way if we do lose the toss to try and post a total that's defendable. 200 may be defendable, but when you get bowled out for 110, you're always against it."

While UAE's lower order battled to stretch the innings out into the 45th over after they had been reduced to 42 for 6 in 23 overs, their final score of 110 wasn't remotely competitive as Zimbabwe cruised to the target in just 23.1 overs. Brown said that although his bowlers showed heart, conditions had changed dramatically by the time Zimbabwe came out to bat.

"You need early wickets," Brown said. "We didn't quite get them although we bowled really well. But the pitch certainly changed over the course of the day with the sun out."

Brown said he hopes that with two matches now under their belt, including a warm-up victory over a Zimbabwe Chairman's XI prior to the first ODI, he believes UAE will soak up the lessons learned in foreign conditions to put in a stronger showing in the second ODI on Friday.

"It's a four-match series and we'll bounce back strong," Brown said. "Hopefully we'll start to address what didn't quite go right today and make some plans and try to put them in place for the game on Friday."

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Joe Pavelski's face was numb, but his spirits were high. The Sharks' captain opened the scoring in Game 1 of San Jose's series against the Vegas Golden Knights with a goal that sparked the Sharks to an emphatic 5-2 victory on Wednesday night. But with the goal came some self-sacrifice -- namely a few of Pavelski's teeth, as a Brent Burns shot bounced off his jaw and behind goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

"I feel all right," said Pavelski after the game, his chin and bottom lip swelled over, blood visible on his bottom row of teeth. "But enough with the dental questions."

At 14:42 of the first period, Pavelski was in his usual spot in front of the opponent's crease.

"I saw Burnsy had it. Sometimes, there's a shot. Sometimes, there's not. It kinda looked like he was trying to release it, and I didn't even see it come off his stick," he said.

Was this the most painful goal Pavelski ever scored?

"Yeah, I suppose," he said. "It didn't feel good."

Pavelski knew he had lost a few teeth as he skated off to the Sharks' trainers room, the crowd cheering loudly for the goal he scored off his face. He would enter the NHL's concussion protocol and have his wounds stitched up, but Pavelski was never worried about having to leave the game.

"You know, I think I knew right away. On my way to the bench, I knew I would be OK," he said.

He missed the first moments of the second period but skated back out wearing a large, plastic chin guard on his helmet. It might have seemed like an emotional moment from the outside, but his teammates expected nothing less.

"We were pretty confident that he shakes off those kinds of things. He's a leader. He does everything for the team," Sharks forward Timo Meier said.

Nor did the Sharks believe Pavelski would shy away from going right back to the front of the net.

"It takes some balls to get in the paint again," Sharks forward Evander Kane said.

Pavelski took regular shifts in skating 16:52 for the game, helping the Sharks take a 1-0 series lead.

"Tough as nails," coach Peter DeBoer said. "You take a puck to the face like that. Doesn't go down. There's no other word for it. He's a warrior."

The warrior was due to become the patient either Wednesday night or Thursday morning, to get his teeth fixed and to ensure his jaw was in good shape. Whatever the damage, it was worth it.

"We like to play this game. It's playoff season. We want to play some playoff hockey. Something like that happens early and you just want to get back out there as soon as you can," Pavelski said.

"We earned that one. And that's a good feeling."

Playoff basketball is back!

It has been a long regular season (177 days, to be exact), but the postseason has arrived, and it looks a lot different than it did a year ago. For the first time since 2010, a team not led by LeBron James will emerge from the Eastern Conference, and for the first time since 2005, James will not be involved in the festivities.

As for the players, teams and matchups to know, well, we've got you covered.

1. Golden State Warriors

2018-19 record: 57-25
BPI odds vs. LAC: 89 percent

There were a lot of emotional highs and lows, but through it all, this group continued to churn out wins and locked up the top spot in the West. The process of trying to get up for most games in the regular season was emotionally draining, but the Warriors held to the belief that they'd be ready when it counted most. The push for a three-peat has begun.

Season in a single game: Jan. 15
The Warriors came into a showdown against Denver hearing some chatter that the Nuggets were ready to give them a push in the Western Conference. OK. Klay Thompson & Co. proceeded to score a league-record 51 first-quarter points and demolish an overwhelmed Nuggets team. The game offered a reminder to the rest of the league that the Warriors are still better than anyone else when they want to focus and play at their peak.

There's trouble brewing:
The Warriors are confident that nobody can beat them if they stay healthy and play together. A potential Oklahoma City first-round series would have been interesting, given Kevin Durant's history with his former team, but the only team that would give the Warriors much pause in the West is the Rockets, especially if Chris Paul can stay healthy. But with home-court advantage at Oracle and the motivation of chasing history, the only thing that truly concerns the Warriors is the possibility of a star injury.

One big stat and why it matters:
Has the regular season become too boring, or does Golden State have some issues that might pop up late in the playoffs? The Warriors' point differential of plus-6.6 at home this season was their worst under Steve Kerr (since 2014-15), and it's a far cry from the plus-16.0 point differential two seasons ago. The Warriors also suffered eight 20-point losses this season, which becomes important when you realize that no NBA champion has suffered more than six during a title run.

Get to know: Quinn Cook
Cook is the Warriors' secret offensive weapon off the bench. The diminutive point guard has found his stride the past few weeks, going 48-for-78 in his past 10 games. He is shooting the ball with confidence while providing Kerr a solid option off the bench. Cook has the ability to be a difference-maker in short bursts.

What to watch in Round 1:
DeMarcus Cousins vs. Montrezl Harrell. This marks the first playoff series for Cousins, and he will see Harrell, an active big man who is going to try and move him around. Cousins' teammates and coaches have been looking forward to seeing how he would perform on this stage, now he'll have a chance to spread the floor when needed and bang down on the blocks against the Clippers. Cousins has actually played against the Clippers three times this season, which is impressive given he has played only 30 games total since returning in mid-January from an Achilles injury that kept him out for almost a year. In those three games, Cousins averaged 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

-- Nick Friedell

8. LA Clippers

2018-19 record: 48-34
BPI odds vs. GS: 11 percent

No team in the league has existed in a greater state of flux the past two seasons than the Clippers, yet here they are -- improbably -- in the NBA playoffs. A far cry from the perennial Lob City squads, this Clippers team is a collection of lunch-pail journeymen and young prospects, many of whom didn't arrive until the trade deadline, when the Clippers dealt away Tobias Harris. Rather than close up shop and ready themselves for a busy offseason after losing one of their most productive players, the Clippers caught fire and secured themselves a playoff berth as the ultimate energy team.

Season in a single game: Feb. 9
Three days after trading Harris and playing with two new starters who had yet to step foot in the team's training facility in Los Angeles, the Clippers found themselves down 28 points in the second quarter in Boston and trailed by 21 at the half. After intermission, the Clippers held the Celtics to a 12-point third quarter before exploding for 42 points in the final frame. Rookie Landry Shamet, acquired from Philadelphia as part of the package for Harris, drained four 3-pointers in his Clippers debut. "We broke out the JJ Redick package with him," said Doc Rivers, referencing his old shooting guard in praise of his new one.

Why they're dangerous:
By nearly every projection, the Clippers shouldn't be playing playoff basketball, which means they have nothing to lose. Lou Williams believes he can score against anybody. Montrezl Harrell plays with reckless abandon, big moment be damned. And there isn't a shot from distance that Danilo Gallinari doesn't think he can drain. The kids -- Shamet, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ivica Zubac? They're too young to know any better and are propelled by the confidence earned during the Clippers' sizzling post-All-Star-break run.

One big stat and why it matters:
The Clippers have been arguably the best team in the NBA at closing out tight games. They have a plus-65 plus/minus in clutch time this season, first in the league. Lou Williams' play is a huge reason. His plus-92 plus/minus in clutch time ranks first in the NBA among individual players. The next-best individual plus/minus in clutch time this season belongs to Denver's Nikola Jokic, at plus-89.

Get to know: Montrezl Harrell
A second-rounder made good, Harrell is more than a mere energy guy who buzzes around the floor. He might not start for the Clippers but is a good bet to play crucial minutes. The Clippers' backup big man has serious skills as Lou Williams' dance partner in one of the most effective pick-and-roll attacks in the league, and he is an efficiency machine with a nose for the rim. Among players who log more than 24 minutes per night, Harrell ranks second to Giannis Antetokounmpo in true shooting percentage.

What to watch in Round 1:
Gilgeous-Alexander has enjoyed a superb rookie campaign and has shown flashes of the lanky, defensive presence at the top of the floor that he projects to be. Now comes his graduate exam: Stephen Curry. Veteran Patrick Beverley will spend much of his time hounding Curry, but the Clippers' 20-year-old point guard will get a prime opportunity to utilize his length and agility against the Warriors' ballet in preparation for a day when the ask is more reasonable and the Clippers find themselves in a high-stakes series. Depending on how the Clippers fare this summer, that could be sooner than later.

-- Kevin Arnovitz

2. Denver Nuggets

2018-19 record: 54-28
BPI odds vs. SA: 71 percent

There are times when a team ends a season in disappointment but on an upward tilt that leads to expectation the following season, expectation that is difficult to meet. Well, the Nuggets didn't just meet that expectation. They jumped in a jet and zoomed past. Nikola Jokic blossomed into an All-NBA star, and the mix of role players and emerging talent has led to an excellent team. The Nuggets play defense, they move the ball, and they have terrific chemistry. But as it goes for any young team, it's unknown how it will look in the pressure cooker of the postseason.

Season in a single game: Jan. 13
It's a sequence of games for the Nuggets that tells the story. In this mid-January game, they beat the Blazers 116-113 in a thriller, with Jokic going for 40-10-8 and playing a brilliant fourth quarter. He even heard a thundering chant of M-V-P while shooting free throws. The win elevated the Nuggets to the top of the West, a half-game up on the Warriors. Two nights after the win, the Nuggets took on the Warriors in Denver, a litmus test for the emerging squad. The Warriors dropped 51 in the first quarter and went on to completely smash the young Nuggets 142-111. It's an example of where things stand for them: They are building, growing and developing into a true Western contender. But against the class of the NBA, they were shown that there's still a ways to go.

There's trouble brewing:
The Nuggets' primary weakness, if it's fair to call it that, is their inexperience. They are young and have yet to feel playoff fire as a group. As a high seed in the West, they'll be favored in their opening-round series and have the pressure of defending home court in their first two games. They've responded all season and handled themselves with impressive maturity, but if teams double Jokic, can Jamal Murray make the right read? Can Gary Harris create his own shot in a critical scenario? Can all their overachieving role players -- Torrey Craig, Monte Morris -- keep hitting shots?

One big stat and why it matters:
When Jokic and Murray share the court -- and the ball -- good things happen for Denver. The duo ranks first and fifth, respectively, in the NBA in passes to each other per game. Jokic finds Murray more than 30 times per game, and Murray gets it to Jokic nearly 25 times per game.

Get to know: Malik Beasley and Torrey Craig
What has made the Nuggets so good this season is that there are three or four candidates who fit the mold of unknown player who could make a name for himself. The Nuggets' depth has been a strength, but head coach Mike Malone is going to have to focus on the eight or nine guys he trusts most. Both Beasley and Craig have taken their turns as game-changing wing, and it's hard to predict which one Malone might lean on more.

What to watch in Round 1:
Derrick White vs. Jamal Murray. White has emerged as one of the better defensive guards in the NBA, and Murray is going to have a considerable amount of pressure and responsibility on his shoulders. So many playoff games can be decided by a big shot or two in the closing minutes, and the Nuggets will rely on Murray to create some on his own. White is long, rangy and athletic; he could give Murray some trouble getting clean looks.

-- Royce Young

7. San Antonio Spurs

2018-19 record: 48-34
BPI odds vs. DEN: 29 percent

San Antonio opened camp without a member of the franchise's famed Big Three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker on the roster for the first time since the 1997-98 season, thus ushering in a new era of Spurs basketball. Despite a rash of early injuries and the hiccups of incorporating DeMar DeRozan and three other new starters, San Antonio scrapped its way to an NBA-record-tying 22nd straight postseason appearance.

Season in a single game: Dec. 15
Even battier than the winged mammals that swoop to the AT&T Center floor from time to time is San Antonio's inability to close games. A Dec. 15 loss at home to the Bulls, in which the Spurs blew a 21-point lead in the second half, made it clear that this is no longer the San Antonio squad known for out-executing less experienced opponents down the stretch. Even internally, the Spurs admit that they can no longer rely on their "corporate knowledge" in the clutch situations that they once relished.

Why they're dangerous:
The Spurs have beaten all but one of the top teams in the West (Houston) on multiple occasions throughout the season, and their jelling process took much more time than usual because they had to strip down many of the complexities of the defensive system to accommodate all the new faces in the lineups. While many teams discuss the desire to play their best ball once the postseason rolls around, San Antonio might actually be trending that way. For several years, the Spurs enjoyed the luxury of resting players as the playoffs approached. But with a younger, less experienced roster, San Antonio had to scrap its way in, which in some ways could lead to a more battle-tested squad for the postseason.

One big stat and why it matters:
The Spurs might be better on defense with their two most recognizable stars on the sideline. When LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan are on the court together (2,242 minutes), the Spurs have a defensive rating of 109.7, which would rank 17th in the league this season. When Aldridge and DeRozan are both off the court (828 minutes), the Spurs have a defensive rating of 102.5, which would rank first in the league this season.

Get to know: Derrick White
White, who spent almost all of his rookie season in the G-League, was forced into the starting lineup by Dejounte Murray's preseason knee injury. He has emerged as an essential part of the Spurs' success. He's an All-Defense candidate who ranked second on the team in net rating (plus-4.3 points per 100 possessions).

What to watch in Round 1:
LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Paul Millsap. The Nuggets can't ask Jokic to guard the Spurs' go-to guy, so that task falls primarily to Millsap, despite the 3-inch height disadvantage. Aldridge averaged 22.3 points on 55.7 percent shooting for the Spurs against the Nuggets this season. San Antonio was 37-10 when Aldridge scored at least 20 points, including 2-1 against the Nuggets. If the Spurs' All-Star is in a rhythm, San Antonio has a real chance to pull off an upset over an inexperienced No. 2 seed.

-- Michael C. Wright and Tim MacMahon

3. Portland Trail Blazers

2018-19 record: 53-29
BPI odds vs. OKC: 57 percent

Shaking off a fluky sweep at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of last year's playoffs, the Blazers started 10-3 and navigated a tricky February schedule to stay in the Western Conference's second tier. Despite the crushing blow of losing starting center Jusuf Nurkic to a compound leg fracture on March 25, Portland took care of business against a weak schedule to earn home-court advantage in the first round.

Season in a single game: March 18
Besides the Pelicans' getting hot at the right time, the Blazers were undone during last year's playoffs by the inability of players besides All-Star Damian Lillard and backcourt-mate CJ McCollum to make a play when New Orleans trapped the duo. Playing without McCollum (left knee injury) in this game, Lillard showed his development as a playmaker, and his teammates showed their improved reliability in a comeback win against the feisty Pacers. In addition to scoring 30 points, Lillard handed out a season-high 15 assists, and six Portland players scored in double figures.

There's trouble brewing:
With 18 points, Nurkic was the Blazers' second-leading scorer in that March 18 game, part of the best season of his career. A week later, he lay on the Moda Center floor in agony after breaking two bones in his left leg in a freak accident. While Portland stayed afloat against lesser competition without Nurkic, it will be difficult for the Blazers to replace his playmaking when opponents trap Lillard and his rim protection against playoff competition. Add McCollum coming back from injury, and Portland, healthy most of the year, is at far less than full strength for the postseason.

One big stat and why it matters:
Lillard is one of the most lethal pick-and-roll ball handlers in the NBA. According to Second Spectrum, the Trail Blazers average 1.11 points per direct pick when Lillard is the ball handler, highest in the NBA among 173 players to receive at least 150 direct picks. Lillard has had success in the pick-and-roll with Zach Collins, one of the players who will attempt to fill the void left by Nurkic. The Blazers average 1.25 points per direct pick with Lillard as the ball handler and Collins as the screener, best in the NBA (min. 150 direct picks).

Get to know: Zach Collins
Collins, in and out of the rotation after the Kanter signing, was thrust into a larger role by Nurkic's untimely injury. Now Portland's best rim protector, as well as a floor-spacing option at the 5 spot (he's a 33 percent 3-point shooter), Collins will likely finish games at center.

What to watch in Round 1:
Damian Lillard vs. Russell Westbrook. Oklahoma City rarely sent two defenders at Lillard in the pick-and-roll -- just 7.5 percent of the time, per Second Spectrum tracking -- allowing him to play scorer in the season series. Lillard's 34.8 points per game were his most against any West opponent. Yet the Thunder swept the four matchups, in part because Westbrook was able to score efficiently against the Blazers. Thanks largely to 9.3 free throw attempts per game, Westbrook's .530 true shooting percentage vs. Portland was far better than his overall .500 mark.

-- Kevin Pelton

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

2018-19 record: 49-33
BPI odds vs. POR: 43 percent

For a minute there, the Thunder didn't just look like a good team -- they looked like an actual title contender. But as it seems to go with them, the inconsistencies caught up, and the roller coaster started. It's hard to project anything when it comes to OKC because the team's variance can be so extreme. The Thunder might be a real playoff threat in the West, and they have the DNA of a dangerous team. They also could be a first-round out. Neither result would surprise anyone.

Season in a single game: Feb. 14
At the time, it felt like a harmless loss. It was the night before the All-Star break, and the Thunder were riding a four-game winning streak and had won 12 of their past 13. They were establishing themselves as a top Western contender, with impressive recent wins over Philly, Portland (twice), Milwaukee and Houston. They rolled into New Orleans, and despite Anthony Davis' leaving the game -- and the arena -- with an injury in the first half, OKC gave up 65 points by halftime, never course-corrected and lost 131-122, despite 44 points from Russell Westbrook. It was foreshadowing of the rocky second half to come, with sloppy defense, bad shooting and inconsistent, lethargic performances mixed with inspired, solid wins.

Why they're dangerous:
It's a pretty straightforward thing with the Thunder: PG and Russ. That kind of combo can score 75 combined on their own, and completely take over a series. Against top teams, the Thunder had one of the best records in the NBA this season and so much of that was because George and Westbrook elevated in those big games. There are some concerns with George's health after his missed the final game of the season with shoulder soreness, but at full tilt, the Thunder can be fast and furious, with Westbrook and George roaring at you relentlessly.

One big stat and why it matters:
If the Thunder are to make a deep run in the postseason, it will come down to Westbrook and George, two of the best hustle players in the NBA. According to NBA.com/stats, George leads the NBA in both deflections and loose ball recoveries, and Westbrook ranks in the top five in both categories.

Get to know: Jerami Grant
Paul George called him the Thunder's X-factor, and it's hard to disagree because Grant is integral to the Thunder's success. His 3-point shooting has been a significant development (39.2 percent), but his electric athleticism and elastic versatility allow him to play in a ton of lineup combinations. If the Thunder advance, it's probably going to be because Grant played well in the series.

What to watch in Round 1:
OKC vs. Enes Kanter. If anyone knows how to attack Kanter, it's the Thunder. Coach Billy Donovan was caught saying "Can't play Kanter" on the bench during the Thunder's series against the Rockets in 2017. Without Jusuf Nurkic, the Thunder appear to have a sizable advantage on the interior and could put Terry Stotts and the Blazers in a bind with lineups. Plus, fellow former 'Stache Brother Steven Adams seems to have Kanter's number.

-- Young

4. Houston Rockets

2018-19 record: 53-29
BPI odds vs. UTAH: 56 percent

It took almost two months for the Rockets to get over their hangover from coming this close in last year's West finals. After digging a hole with an 11-14 start, Houston rode James Harden's historic offensive dominance back into the upper crust of the Western Conference, despite Chris Paul and Clint Capela missing extended time due to injuries. Along the way, GM Daryl Morey dumped some offseason mistakes (Carmelo Anthony, Michael Carter-Williams) and added some quality role players (Austin Rivers, Kenneth Faried, Iman Shumpert) to improve the Rockets' depth.

Season in a single game: Jan. 3
The signature moment of the Rockets' season -- and the Beard's campaign to repeat as MVP -- happened in the final seconds of Houston's Jan. 3 overtime win over the Warriors at Oracle Arena. With Klay Thompson contesting from the left and Draymond Green closing out, Harden launched his 23rd 3-point attempt of the night, drilling a game-winning pullup from 28 feet. That was the exclamation point on a 44-point, 10-rebound, 15-assist performance, a ridiculous stat line that somehow didn't seem too far beyond the norm for Harden during his historic run. Message sent: Harden gives Houston a chance to beat anyone anywhere.

There's trouble brewing:
Can Paul stay healthy throughout a deep playoff run? Can Harden maintain his efficiency after a full season with a historically heavy workload? Paul, who will turn 34 during the conference semifinals, has had his postseasons ended prematurely due to injuries in two of the past three years. Rockets fans need no reminder of the hamstring strain he suffered in the last minute of Houston's series-lead-taking Game 5 win in last year's West finals. Harden's reputation for fading in the playoffs is an exaggeration based on a couple awful elimination games. However, his 3-point shooting, such a vital element of his scoring, bears watching. He has shot sub-30 percent from deep the past two postseasons, perhaps a sign of tired legs.

One big stat and why it matters:
This season, Harden pushed the bounds of how much offense one player can create, blending volume and efficiency at a level only Wilt Chamberlain has ever attained. Harden made 317 unassisted 3-pointers, obliterating his own NBA record set last season and more than doubling the output of any other player in 2018-19.

Get to know: Danuel House Jr.
There's good reason Morey eventually blinked in the contract standoff with House, who was relegated to the G-League when he reached his allotment of NBA service days on his two-way deal and refused the Rockets' offer of a three-year minimum contract. The 6-foot-7 forward gives Houston athleticism and has become a knockdown spot-up shooter (41.6 percent from 3), making him an excellent complementary piece. He has a net rating of plus-14.0 points per 100 possessions in 14 games since the Rockets signed him for the rest of the season.

What to watch in Round 1:
Clint Capela vs. Rudy Gobert. Gobert, who will likely be the Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, has to be a dominant deterrent on Harden's drives for the Jazz to contain Houston's historically elite offense. Capela makes that task even more difficult as a lob threat who has an uncanny chemistry with Harden, who excels at the last-split-second dish for Capela to finish.

-- MacMahon

5. Utah Jazz

2018-19 record: 50-32
BPI odds vs. HOU: 44 percent

Just as they did last season, the Jazz started slowly and finished strong. Utah sat second-to-last in the Western Conference standings a couple of months into the season, after stumbling to a 14-17 record through a road-heavy early stretch of the schedule. Since the Jazz got in a groove, however, Utah has played at an elite level. The NBA-best Bucks are the only team with a better win percentage than the Jazz since Jan. 1.

Season in a single game: Jan. 9
How fitting is it that you can point to a massive comeback as the turning point in the Jazz's season? Utah overcame a 21-point deficit to roll to a 106-93 win over the Magic on Jan. 9. The victory pulled the Jazz's record to 21-21 and jump-started a six-game winning streak. The Jazz rallied with two essential elements to playing to their peak potential: spectacular scoring by Mitchell (22 of 33 points in the second half, including 16 in the fourth quarter) and dominant defense (held the Magic to 30 points after halftime).

Why they're dangerous:
Good news: Utah went 18-6 after the All-Star break, which was the NBA's third-best record in that span. Bad news: The Rockets (20-5) had the league's best record after the break. But the Jazz are an elite defensive team with a star in Donovan Mitchell who has proven that he's capable of winning a playoff series.

One big stat and why it matters:
Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors play significant roles in Utah's interior defense. According to Second Spectrum, Favors leads the NBA in field goal percentage allowed at the rim, and Gobert ranks tied for sixth (min. 250 attempts). Gobert has also defended the most shots at the rim this season.

Get to know: Royce O'Neale
The reserve swingman's path to the NBA included stints in Germany, Spain and Lithuania before he made the Jazz's roster at the start of last season. O'Neale has established himself as an essential role player: He's the epitome of a 3-and-D: O'Neale shoots 38.6 percent from long distance and, at 6-foot-6, 226 pounds, has the strength and versatility to guard multiple positions.

What to watch in Round 1:
Joe Ingles' jumper. The Jazz need Ingles to be a scoring threat to have a shot to beat the Rockets. It's not a coincidence that Ingles had a career night -- 27 points, 7-of-9 from 3-point range -- in Utah's lone win over the Rockets in last year's West semifinals series. He averaged 14.5 points and shot 58.3 percent on 3s in the Jazz's two wins over the Rockets this season, compared to 8.0 points on 33 percent long-range shooting in Utah's two losses to Houston.

-- MacMahon

1. Milwaukee Bucks

2018-19 record: 60-22
BPI odds vs. DET: 94 percent

Armed with a new head coach, a two-way superstar and an edict to shoot 3-pointers at will, the Bucks are no longer the cute story or the ones that got away. Giannis Antetokounmpo's metamorphosis from doe-eyed, gangly rookie to MVP front-runner has led the Bucks to a league-best record of 60-22. Still, Milwaukee has not escaped the first round of the playoffs since 2001.

Season in a single game: March 17
Milwaukee has won a league-best 45 games by double figures -- by the way, every other team to pull that off won the title -- but it is a close loss against an East rival that best sums up their immediate future. Even though Antetokoumpo scored a career-high 52 points, the Bucks fell to the 76ers 130-125. Joel Embiid's 40 points were supported by 66 from his fellow starters. The Bucks' non-Greek starters, on the other hand, combined for just 47 points. Antetokounmpo will continue to put up big numbers in the postseason as he did last year against the Celtics, but the Bucks' success hinges on the play of Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and Milwaukee's deep bench.

There's trouble brewing:
The Bucks glided through the first few months of the season with only minor scrapes and bruises. Then Antetokounmpo's knee soreness began to irritate him, and a sprained ankle caused him to miss two games in March. Sterling Brown hurt his wrist. Malcolm Brogdon has been out since March 15 with a minor plantar fascia tear that is expected to sideline him until at least the second round. Nikola Mirotic fractured his thumb. Tony Snell sprained his ankle. The good news for Milwaukee is that every player except Donte DiVincenzo (out for the season with bilateral heel bursitis) will likely be healthy for the postseason. After aggravating a week-old ankle sprain on March 28, Antetokounmpo limped into the middle of a scrum of reporters and said, "As long as we stay healthy, we are going to be fine."

One big stat and why it matters:
Giannis has been a dominant force all season, recording 116 unassisted dunks in 2018-19, the most in a season the past 20 years. In fact, Giannis is the only player with at least 100 unassisted dunks in that span. This is one of the reasons Giannis is averaging 17.5 points in the paint per game this season, most by any player since Shaquille O'Neal in the early 2000s.

Get to know: Brook Lopez
The Bucks seemingly stumbled into a deal with the perfect center for their MVP contender. Lopez joined the Bucks on a one-year deal at below-market price. Since then, Lopez's lights out 3-point shooting has caught the attention of the league. He routinely pulls up from near the logo and is shooting 36 percent from deep, which helps stretch the floor for Antetokounmpo. But in the playoffs, it will be Lopez's defense the Bucks will be calling on. As the Bucks face off against the likes of Al Horford, Marc Gasol and Joel Embiid, Lopez will play a crucial role manning the inside. Although he's a bit slow and clunky, Lopez is big and disciplined, and his paint presence often discourages ball handlers from driving. He doesn't need to win his matchup every night, thanks to Giannis, but he does need to continue delivering quality contributions on both sides of the ball, like he has all season. If he does, Lopez should be in line for a hefty raise in free agency.

What to watch in Round 1:
Positionless bigs. Blake Griffin hobbled to the end of the regular season, sitting out the final game with a sore knee. Antetokounmpo has battled some knee soreness of his own but heads into the playoffs healthy and rested, sitting two of the Bucks' past three games. The Pistons' upset hopes hang on Griffin, who has struggled with injuries in recent postseasons and hasn't won a playoff series since 2015. In the teams' four meetings so far this season, Griffin averaged 24.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7 assists. The Bucks still won by an average of 15 points.

-- Malika Andrews

8. Detroit Pistons

2018-19 record: 41-41
BPI odds vs. MIL: 6 percent

The 2018-19 Pistons are one of the streakiest teams in recent memory, putting together four winning streaks of at least four games and four losing streaks of at least four games. They alternated between just over and just under the .500 mark the entire season, unable to move far in either direction. Their team foundation is their two strong big men -- Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin -- but the team's streakiness is tied almost entirely to its hot-and-cold perimeter shooting. The Pistons are unlikely to beat the top-seeded Bucks in a series but have the ability to steal a game or two if the shooters are on.

Season in a single game: March 3
The Pistons are built around Drummond and Griffin, one to control the paint and the other to provide dynamic offense, and they can be tough to handle when their perimeter players are on. This was epitomized in their March 3 overtime win over the Raptors, in which they clicked at every phase. Drummond notched as many rebounds and combined blocks/steals as Marc Gasol and Pascal Siakam combined, Griffin turned in 27 points on 21 shots, point guards Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith combined for 28 points and 12 assists, and shooters Wayne Ellington and Luke Kennard knocked down seven 3s on their way to 30 points. That was the Pistons firing on all cylinders.

Why they're dangerous:
It all comes down to the bigs. Drummond is huge, athletic and a vacuum on the glass, while Griffin -- if his sore left knee doesn't give him too much trouble -- is still springy enough and has a versatile face-up game that is difficult for many traditional fours to handle. The Pistons rely on their bigs to create mismatches that put their perimeter players in advantageous situations.

One big stat and why it matters:
The bread and butter of the Pistons' offense is the dribble handoff. According to Second Spectrum, Detroit averages 1.05 points per direct handoff, tied with the 76ers for second-best in the NBA. Only the Rockets have a higher handoff efficiency than the Pistons.

Get to know: Wayne Ellington
The Pistons can win only if their shooters are knocking down shots, and the most consistent shooter on the team is Ellington. He was traded to the Pistons midseason, and he ended the season by knocking down 39 percent from behind the arc to average 15.6 PPG and 3.5 3PG in his last 11 games. Drummond and Griffin should draw the defense and get Ellington some open looks, and if he knocks them down, the Pistons can steal a game or two.

What to watch in Round 1:
Blake vs. Giannis. The Pistons can compete only if Griffin stays healthy enough to win his fair share of 1-on-1 matchups. He has been aggressive in his four matchups with Antetokounmpo this season, taking 71 field goal attempts and dishing 28 assists in those games. Unfortunately, Antetokounmpo has forced him into horrible inefficiency, as he made only 42.3 percent of those shots and matched his assist numbers with 28 turnovers in those four games.

-- Andre Snellings

2. Toronto Raptors

2018-19 record: 58-24
BPI odds vs. ORL: 89 percent

The combination of trading for Kawhi Leonard and archnemesis LeBron James leaving for the Western Conference had fans north of the border dreaming of a trip to the NBA Finals. Nothing that has happened since has led them to think otherwise, as Toronto has the league's second-best record, despite having both Leonard and Kyle Lowry miss large chunks of the season.

Season in a single game: Dec. 12
Yes, Leonard didn't play, but that's kind of the point. The Raptors have been almost as good when Leonard and Lowry don't play as when they do this season, and this night showed what they can look like at top gear, as they dismantled the Warriors -- who had their four All-Stars all playing. This win, combined with a victory over the Warriors in Toronto that completed the season sweep, will give the Raptors confidence that if they can make it to the Finals, they can make it a series.

There's trouble brewing:
All season, the Raptors have looked like two teams: one when Leonard has the ball and one when he doesn't. Some of that is because Leonard prefers to play a more deliberate, isolation style, while the Raptors when he isn't on the court ping the ball around more frequently. There have been only a handful of games all season in which the Raptors have had their full allotment of players available. If there is one weakness to point to heading into the playoffs, it is that lack of time to sort everything out.

One big stat and why it matters:
Don't let the Raptors get out and run, as they are the NBA's best team in transition. According to Second Spectrum, Toronto's 1.22 points per chance in transition leads all teams by a relatively wide margin. They take advantage of that often, as their 1,639 valid chances in transition rank fifth in the league.

Get to know: Pascal Siakam
Siakam, who should be the clear winner of the NBA's Most Improved Player award, has not only improved across the board but also helped keep the Raptors humming while having Lowry and Leonard missing time this season. He should be an All-Star next season and could be the player who puts Toronto over the top and gets the Raptors to their first NBA Finals.

What to watch in Round 1:
Aaron Gordon vs. Siakam. Frankly, there isn't a lot about this series that is exciting, but seeing two of the more athletic young forwards in the league go back-and-forth over the course of a best-of-seven series will provide at least one thing for neutral fans to lock on to.

-- Tim Bontemps

7. Orlando Magic

2018-19 record: 42-40
BPI odds vs. TOR: 11 percent

After six seasons in the lottery, the Magic returned to the playoffs under new head coach Steve Clifford, thanks to a second-half surge. Eleven games below .500 on Jan. 29, Orlando went 22-9 the next 31 games to clinch the Southeast Division championship and a playoff spot.

Season in a single game: March 26
In a crucial matchup of two in-state rivals vying for the Southeast crown, the Magic went south down Florida's Turnpike and helped spoil Dwyane Wade's night by holding the Heat to 42 percent shooting. First-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic had 24 points, 16 rebounds and five assists as all five Orlando starters and sixth man Terrence Ross scored in double figures. But the Magic, per custom, won with defense, holding Miami scoreless for nearly three minutes down the stretch to win a tight game.

Why they're dangerous:
You won't get anything easily against Orlando. Like all of Clifford's teams, the Magic prioritize taking away high-value looks at the rim and beyond the 3-point line. Orlando is one of four teams that rank in the top 10 in keeping opponents from shooting in both of those locations, per Cleaning the Glass, and forces the fifth-highest rate of midrange attempts in between. The Magic also excel on the defensive glass, ranking third, and boast the league's second-best transition defense, according to Cleaning the Glass. Any score against Orlando will be hard-earned.

One big stat and why it matters:
The Magic are hitting the postseason on a defensive tear. Orlando sports a 105.0 defensive efficiency since the start of February -- best in the NBA -- and went 21-9 in that stretch to charge into the playoffs. The Magic ranked 16th in defensive efficiency before this stretch, at 109.0 points per 100 possessions.

Get to know: Jonathan Isaac
Isaac is the quintessential Orlando draft pick of recent vintage: long, young and more athletic than skilled offensively. At 21, he has become the Magic's starting power forward in his second season. Expect Isaac to offer a taste of what's to come at some point during the postseason.

What to watch in Round 1:
The benches. The second unit has been a big factor in Orlando's second-half surge. With new backup guard Michael Carter-Williams on the court, Orlando has outscored opponents by an incredible 13.0 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA Advanced Stats. Meanwhile, the Toronto second unit has gone from a strength last season to something of a liability in 2018-19. If the Magic are to pull the upset, their bench will have to dominate this matchup. That probably means a strong series for former Raptor Terrence Ross, whose 15.1 PPG ranked fifth among qualified reserve scorers.

-- Kevin Pelton

3. Philadelphia 76ers

2018-19 record: 51-31
BPI odds vs. BKN: 79 percent

Philadelphia has gone through three iterations this season: the one that left training camp with the same starting lineup as last year intact; the one that dramatically changed when two of those starters, Dario Saric and Robert Covington, were traded for Jimmy Butler in November; and the final one that turned into after trading a large chunk of the roster at February's deadline, adding Tobias Harris and remaking virtually all of Philadelphia's bench.

Season in a single game: March 20
Not only did the Sixers finally get a win over the Celtics for the first time this season, but this game also showed the pros and cons of their recreated roster for the world to see. The Phantastic 5 -- Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, JJ Redick, Butler and Harris -- combined to score 110 of Philadelphia's 118 points on the night, proving just how overpowering they can be to opposing defenses. At the same time, this win highlighted how limited the rest of Philadelphia's roster is in the wake of those moves.

There's trouble brewing:
There are two glaring issues with Philadelphia's roster: a lack of shooting and a lack of a credible bench. Redick and Harris are terrific shooters, but the rest of the starting lineup is either inconsistent (Butler and Embiid) or nonexistent (Simmons) from deep. The bench, meanwhile, has only one player -- Mike Scott -- that opposing teams are legitimately concerned about come playoff time. The other options -- James Ennis, T.J. McConnell, Jonathon Simmons and Boban Marjanovic -- come with serious limitations that could be exploited by the elite competition Philadelphia will need to surpass in the postseason.

One big stat and why it matters:
The lineup consisting of Harris, Redick, Butler, Embiid and Simmons has the fourth best net efficiency this season among five-man lineups, behind only two Golden State lineups and a Pacers lineup (min. 150 minutes played together). The 76ers acquired Harris near the trade deadline.

Get to know: Mike Scott
Given how thin Philadelphia's bench is, Scott is going to have a significant role for Philadelphia as the lone reserve opposing teams are truly worried about. Scott has his flaws -- he can space out defensively and is prone to making mistakes -- but he's a lights-out shooter who is knocking down 39 percent of his 3s this season. On a team starved for outside shooting, that alone makes Scott a vital piece.

What to watch in Round 1:
D'Angelo Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie vs. Philly's defense. If this series is going to be interesting, it's going to be because Russell and Dinwiddie, Brooklyn's two-headed monster at point guard, have success attacking the 76ers' defense. Philadelphia has struggled to stop scoring point guards all season, and the Nets have two of them. If Brooklyn can exploit that weakness, this is a series. If Philadelphia can shore it up? Well, things get bleak quickly for the Nets.

-- Bontemps

6. Brooklyn Nets

2018-19 record: 42-40
BPI odds vs. PHI: 21 percent

Back in August, you couldn't find many people outside of downtown Brooklyn who would predict a playoff berth for the Nets. The franchise averaged just 23 wins the past three seasons. But thanks to a breakout year from first-time All-Star D'Angelo Russell, Brooklyn became one of the biggest surprises of this NBA season. Russell and the Nets followed the blueprint established by head coach Kenny Atkinson (play with pace; take shots from behind the arc and in the paint; defend the 3-point line and the rim) and weathered major injuries (Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert) to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Season in a single game: Dec. 7
Riding an eight-game losing streak with the season seemingly slipping away, the Nets got a clutch performance from Russell to secure an overtime win in Toronto. The game encapsulated the Nets' season, with Russell hitting clutch shots and Dinwiddie scoring off the bench to compensate for the absence of a key player (LeVert). Russell scored 29 points -- including six in overtime -- with five assists, and Dinwiddie added 17 points and eight assists off the bench help Brooklyn snap a 12-game losing streak against Toronto. The win seemed to spark the Nets; they won 19 of their next 24 to salvage the season and set up an unexpected run to the playoffs.

Why they're dangerous:
If the Nets can put Russell in position to attack the paint and create open looks for his teammates, they have a chance to make things uncomfortable for the 76ers. Brooklyn went 11-7 when Russell had at least nine assists this season, per Basketball Reference.

One big stat and why it matters:
While Philly's bench is among its weaknesses, Brooklyn's thrives. The Nets have received 47.8 bench points per game this season, and their ability to go 11 players deep makes this bench special. Brooklyn is one of two teams -- the Nuggets are the other -- that have had 11 players surpass the 1,000-minute threshold this season.

Get to know: Jarrett Allen
If the Nets are going to make things interesting against Philly, Allen will probably play a key role. The Nets' shot-blocking 21-year-old center will likely have the unenviable task of guarding Joel Embiid (Embiid had 39 points and 13 rebounds in Philadelphia's most recent game against the Nets). Allen will also be vital for Brooklyn on the other end of the floor: According to Second Spectrum, the pick-and-roll combination of Russell and Allen is the second-most-run play across the NBA (1,535 plays), just behind James Harden in isolation (1,548).

What to watch in Round 1:
Dinwiddie and LeVert off the bench. Dinwiddie averaged 23.8 points per game while shooting 58 percent from the floor in four games against the Sixers. LeVert has found his shot late in the regular season after missing nearly three months with a foot injury. He averaged 16 points per game on 49 percent shooting in the final eight games of the season.

-- Ian Begley

4. Boston Celtics

2018-19 record: 49-33
BPI odds vs. IND: 66 percent

The only consistent thing about the Celtics this season has been their inconsistency. Boston entered the season as the team favored to replace LeBron atop the Eastern Conference, but it has been haunted by uneven play and back-and-forths between players on the team in the media. Still, the Celtics enter the playoffs as a team few are willing to count out because of their depth and playoff experience -- though that depth took a huge blow with Marcus Smart being knocked out for the first two rounds because of a torn oblique muscle.

Season in a single game (or two!): Nov. 16-17
We're going to cheat a little and do two games here because it perfectly illustrates the bizarre nature of Boston's season. Beating Toronto in overtime might have been Boston's best win of the season and was a terrific performance. Then the Celtics lost the next night to the Jazz -- a reasonable loss, especially on a back-to-back -- and after the game, coach Brad Stevens went in on his team (a rarity for him), and Kyrie Irving (in what became a theme of the season) had pointed words for the team's young players. That Jekyll-and-Hyde act over those two days sums up the Celtics' 2018-19 campaign.

There's trouble brewing:
Wait, you mean trouble is brewing in Boston? We kid. Anyone who has watched even a minute of Celtics basketball this season is well aware of the tumult and turmoil that have surrounded this team all season. And, as the postseason arrives, the heart of the Celtics -- Smart -- will all but certainly miss at least the first two rounds. Smart has been a legitimate first-team All-Defense-caliber player this season, and has taken large steps forward both in his overall field goal percentage (42.2 percent) and 3-point percentage (36.6 percent). More importantly, he is the obvious emotional leader of the Celtics. Losing him could be a death knell to this team's title chances.

One big stat and why it matters:
The Celtics have one of the NBA's best closers in Irving, who ranks among the top of the league in several clutch-time stats. Irving has scored or assisted on 57 percent of the Celtics' points in clutch time this season (defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter/overtime and the score with five points).

Get to know: Jaylen Brown in an expanded role
If the Celtics are going to survive Smart's absence, it will be because Brown can step into the role Smart has vacated. Brown has been excellent off the bench the past few months and has arguably been Boston's third-best player since the start of 2019. He'll need to remain at that level if the Celtics have any hope of persevering without Smart.

What to watch in Round 1:
Gordon Hayward/Brown vs. Domantas Sabonis/Tyreke Evans. Indiana is going to have difficulty keeping up with Boston in this series from a scoring standpoint. One way the Pacers can is if Sabonis and Evans can give them some scoring pop off the bench. Well, Hayward and Brown have been among Boston's best and most consistent players for weeks now, and if they can continue to play that way, an already difficult road for Indiana to make this series competitive will get that much more difficult.

-- Bontemps

5. Indiana Pacers

2018-19 record: 48-34
BPI odds vs. BOS: 34 percent

This was essentially a tale of two seasons for the Pacers, who in one critical moment went from vying for a top-three seed in the top-heavy East to treading water as the season came to a close. Their defense is one of the league's best and kept them in most games down the stretch. But the jury is still out on whether the Pacers -- without injured All-Star and franchise player Victor Oladipo -- have enough late-game scoring to close out contests come playoff time.

Season in a single game: Jan. 23
Indiana's game on Jan. 23 summed up its season about as well as any other could. The Pacers were leading first-place Toronto in front of their home crowd when Oladipo blew out his right quad, a devastating injury that not only ended the All-Star's season but also likely ended Indiana's chances of making a significant playoff run. Yet for how deflating that image of Oladipo being hauled off on a stretcher was, the hard-nosed Pacers battled and held on to win in his absence -- something they weren't built to do a season ago, when they went a dismal 0-7 in contests without him.

Why they're dangerous:
Even without Oladipo, no one should be shocked if the Pacers find a way to beat Boston in the first round. After all, they took LeBron and the Cavs to a Game 7 last year (albeit with Oladipo), and the Celtics have looked shaky for much of the season. Losing the battle for home-court advantage stings, but it might help that the Pacers' best perimeter shooter, Doug McDermott, has shot the ball much better on the road than at home. Plus, Indiana -- 14-4 when hitting 12 3s or more -- is hard to beat when it connects from distance.

One big stat and why it matters:
If the score stays under 100 points, there's a good chance that Indy is coming out on top. The Pacers are 22-1 this season when limiting opponents to 97 points or fewer. The Pacers also held their opponents to 104.7 points per game during the regular season, the fewest in the NBA.

Get to know: Bojan Bogdanovic
Bogdanovic was vitally important for Indiana last season as the team's top defensive option on LeBron. But since Oladipo's injury, he has been the Pacers' No. 1 option on offense, initiating sets as a pick-and-roll ball handler and averaging about 21 points per game -- up from 16 per game before Oladipo was sidelined. The Pacers need Bogdanovic to play well to win the series, but the forward averaged just 13.5 points against Boston this season, his lowest scoring average against any Eastern Conference team.

What to watch in Round 1:
The Pacers' traps vs. Kyrie Irving. If the All-Star guard gets it going, the Pacers might have to throw different looks at him to break his scoring rhythm. But if they opt to trap, will that effectively slow him down? Indiana misplayed an Irving screen-and-roll with Al Horford in the closing seconds of a March 29 game, allowing Irving to slither all the way to the rim for a game-winning bucket. But generally, the Pacers have struggled when trying to trap, surrendering 1.21 points per possession when trapping this season, the second-worst rate in the NBA, according to Second Spectrum.

-- Chris Herring

Statistics provided by ESPN Stats & Information

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Looking into the rearview mirror at a season that went awry, several members of the Los Angeles Lakers spoke openly about the affect trade-deadline rumors surrounding the team's pursuit of Anthony Davis had on the locker room.

"At the trade deadline, everybody kind of lost themselves," guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said on Wednesday after his exit interview with coach Luke Walton and general manager Rob Pelinka. "That's all they were worried about.

"And I feel like after that, everybody kind of relaxed, calmed down and just started playing basketball and not worrying about the outside talk."

The Lakers went 9-15 from the time LeBron James publicly stated his interest in playing alongside Davis until the trade deadline passed, including a brutal 42-point loss at the Indiana Pacers with just days left before a deal would cease to be consummated.

The Lakers' dealings with the New Orleans Pelicans became a hot-button issue, not only for the players but for the front office. Following the deadline, Lakers team president Magic Johnson -- who stepped down from his post on Tuesday in a stunning turn of events -- told reporters that the Pelicans did not negotiate in good faith. Weeks later, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss called reports of robust trade packages offered by L.A. for Davis "fake news."

The uneasiness seemed to pull apart a roster that was not a natural fit to begin with, full of promising young prospects, veterans on one-year contracts and one of the game's biggest stars in James.

"It was annoying, I guess," said Lakers guard Josh Hart, looking back. "Nowadays, everything is about social media. So, we go on social media, everything's about trades, trade-deadline week, I guess. That's all it is. We see our names, each other's names. I guess that's a part that is amplified.

"Obviously, because we're in L.A., we've got Bron, AD did whatever AD did, so I think that amplified. ... So, I guess it was annoying. The media made it annoying. Social media made it annoying. But at the end of the day, there was no frustration with each other. No frustration between us and the front office. We were all a collective unit, and we tried to be professionals about it. We tried to control what we can control."

The Lakers showed some cohesiveness to finish the season out, going 6-4 in their last 10 games, but their postseason chances were long gone by then.

Point guard Rajon Rondo, one of the clear-cut leaders on the team, marveled at the turnaround.

"Believe it or not, the last couple weeks we've been on the road, every road game or road trip, we've been to dinner every city. Play a little bit of cards all the time throughout the road trip," Rondo said. "So, our bond got completely stronger. It's kind of crazy how it happened at the end of the year versus beginning."

Those late-season wins came with half the lineup out because of injuries. James, Hart, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Tyson Chandler all had their seasons shut down prematurely because of health. To that end, the Lakers parted ways with athletic trainer Marco Nunez on Wednesday after the roster tallied more than 200 games missed because of injury all told during the ill-fated 2018-19 campaign.

Chandler said injuries took their toll as much as the Davis talks did.

"It was injuries and then the trade rumors," the center said. "I wouldn't be honest if I was sitting up here not saying the same; it was one of the huge factors in the season. The injuries were tough for us because we were already a young unit. ... Having those injuries and not being able to get used to one another I think really affected us."

Still, other players said all the trappings that came with the Lakers this season -- even the unfortunate things out of their control -- were worth it.

"I would say it's a lot of distractions, obviously. We're in the media every day, whether it's good or bad. But like I said, I think as long as you're close with teammates and the locker room's good, that's all that matters," Ball said. "The outside noise doesn't really mean too much. If whoever wants to come or is coming, I would say that. Stay close-knit, no matter what, through it all.

"Living out here and growing up here, I know how it is playing in L.A., so I wasn't surprised when I came in. But the fans love you as long as you're doing your job."

Center JaVale McGee, an impending free agent who declared his desire to re-up with the franchise and return for the 2019-20 season, said he could get used to life as a Laker.

"There's opportunities on and off the court here," McGee said. "We had the most TV games out of anybody, and they were coming from a losing season -- or we were coming from a losing season. That's just showing you how much spotlight and how much opportunity there is being with the Lakers, if you're winning or losing. It's just opportunity out of anything. Anyone who wouldn't want to take advantage of that opportunity just because their fear of the spotlight is childish."

LOS ANGELES -- The Golden State Warriors will begin their three-peat quest against an old rival in the LA Clippers, while the Denver Nuggets will look to prove they are legitimate challengers to the champs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The West playoff seeding was finalized late Wednesday night when Denver and the Portland Trail Blazers both completed stirring come-from-behind victories on the final night of the regular season. The Nuggets clinched the No. 2 seed with a 99-95 home victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves and sent the Houston Rockets down to the fourth seed in the process.

The Rockets, who could have been as high as the second seed, slid to fourth because of the Nuggets' victory and Portland's 136-131 home win over the Sacramento Kings. That means a Warriors-Rockets rematch could now potentially take place in the second round, after Golden State needed seven games to outlast Houston in the conference finals last postseason.

The Warriors will begin their title defense by renewing the rivalry with the Clippers. Of course, the No. 1 vs. No. 8 matchup lacks the sizzle of past Warriors-Clippers battles, with Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan all gone from Los Angeles. Still, the Warriors love putting on a show at Staples Center and are thrilled to have a short, in-state commute to Southern California. Golden State enters the series with a 17-3 record against the Clippers since Steve Kerr became head coach in 2014.

Now, the Warriors will start their latest postseason run with a new weapon to use in DeMarcus Cousins, who will get his first taste of the playoffs in his nine-year career.

While Clippers coach Doc Rivers admitted he would have liked to have avoided the two-time defending champs in the first round, the Clippers will look to continue to do what they have done most of this season -- exceed expectations by playing tough-nosed team basketball with a second unit powered by super sixth-man scorer Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell.

"We got our work cut out for us," Warriors All-Star Kevin Durant said. "I know it's a 1-8 series, but they got a lot of talent that know how to play in the playoffs. They got players that are ready for the playoffs, so we're looking forward to seeing what our game plan is, looking forward to preparing for this team. We'll see how it goes."

"They got an all-world scorer in Lou Williams, who can get it going at any time in the game from anywhere," Durant added. "You got [Danilo] Gallinari, who can do the same. And then you got wing players like [Landry] Shamet and Wilson Chandler, guys that can come in and give you some problems in the playoffs for a stretch, having another big like [Ivica] Zubac. So, they got a nice team, well-coached.

"They're going to definitely play us extremely hard from the start, and it's not going to be as easy as people think it is."

Added Clippers guard Patrick Beverley: "We've got nothing to lose. All the pressure is on them."

With the Warriors heavily favored over the Clippers, Golden State's second-round foe will be either the Rockets or the fifth-seeded Utah Jazz. For much of Wednesday night, it looked as if the Rockets would get the 2-seed, before the Nuggets and the Blazers made their comeback wins.

The Rockets and Jazz split their four meetings this season, but Houston enters the postseason with a red-hot reigning MVP James Harden, who has helped the Rockets win 20 of their past 24 games.

"He's been carrying this team for the second half of the season. He's been, I feel, like even better than last year," the Jazz's Rudy Gobert said about Harden. "It's going to be a good challenge for us."

The Nuggets will be making their first postseason appearance since coach George Karl's last season in 2012-13. Denver clinched the second seed with a game-ending 15-0 run against the Timberwolves. The Nuggets will face the San Antonio Spurs, who earned the seventh seed and avoided a first-round matchup with the Warriors by beating the Dallas Mavericks 105-94 at home in Dirk Nowitzki's final game Wednesday night, coupled with Oklahoma City's 127-116 win at the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Nuggets and Spurs split their season series this season and haven't faced each other in the postseason since 2007, when San Antonio knocked out Denver in the first round en route to a title. This will be DeMar DeRozan's first postseason with the Spurs.

Russell Westbrook helped Oklahoma City clinch the sixth seed and a meeting with the third-seeded Blazers on Wednesday with his 34th triple-double of the season. Westbrook's 15 points, 17 assists and 11 rebounds led the Thunder -- who were without Paul George (right shoulder) -- to victory over the Bucks.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan expects George to be ready for the postseason matchup against Portland, which needed a 28-point rally to clinch the third seed. Oklahoma City enters this matchup having swept the season series against Portland.

"Every time we've played them over the years, it's pretty much been a war -- physical, close games, chippy," Portland's Damian Lillard said after the final Blazers-Thunder meeting of the regular season.

The Blazers will seek playoff redemption after they were swept as the 3-seed last year by the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.

ESPN's Nick Friedell, Malika Andrews and Baxter Holmes contributed to this report.

There were some thoughts heading into the 2019 season that we had seen the best of Jose Altuve. The consensus view after a 2018 season in which he hit .316 with 13 home runs and still finished 13th in the MVP voting: still an excellent player, but probably no longer an MVP candidate. Nobody on ESPN's panel picked him to win the award.

Not so fast, my friends. Altuve homered twice in the Astros' 8-6 win over the Yankees, including this Titanic blast off James Paxton:

Go ahead and watch all of this one! ?#TakeItBack pic.twitter.com/7hyKwWwj6L

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 11, 2019

Notes:

• Altuve became the first hitter to homer twice off Paxton in the same game.

• He homered four times in the three-game series as the Astros swept the Yankees.

• As Astros beat writer Chandler Rome tweeted, both home runs had exit velocities of 108 mph. Altuve had just five balls in play all last season of 108 mph or higher.

After hitting 24 home runs in both 2016 and 2017, Altuve didn't homer last season until his 26th game. Still, he was hitting .342/.407/.483 at the end of June, started his fourth straight All-Star Game and looked like a good bet to maybe win his fourth batting title. Somewhere in there, he hurt his knee. He hit .276 the final three months and we saw him limping around in the postseason. He even had to DH one game in the AL Championship Series.

If he can stay healthy, it looks like we still have MVP candidate Jose Altuve. That's huge for the Astros considering their offense scored 99 fewer runs in 2018 than in 2017.

As for the Yankees, they fell to 5-7. Paxton has dominated Houston in the past, but the Astros had a good plan against him, fouling off 26 pitches and running him out of the game after four innings and 95 pitches. Tommy Kahnle then served up a two-run homer to Carlos Correa.

New York rallied with four runs in the eighth and had the tying run on second with no outs but left him stranded, then Zack Britton allowed an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. The vaunted bullpen gave up nine runs in the series and Yankee starters haven't been going deep in games.

Glasnow half full: The Rays beat the White Sox 9-1 on a 38-degree day in Chicago behind Tyler Glasnow's career-high 11 strikeouts in six innings and Tommy Pham's first two home runs. According to Statcast, Glasnow became the first pitcher this season to face at least 20 batters and not allow a ball in play of 95-plus mph (it happened nine times in 2018). Check out his stuff:

.@TGlasnow's ERA entering this game was 0.82

It's now 0.53#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/qzEWIvxPqm

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 10, 2019

Glasnow has started the season firing on all cylinders, continuing the buzz he created over the final two months of last season, when he looked good after coming over from the Pirates. He's 3-0 allowing just one run in 17 innings (an Alex Bregman home run) and has dominated with both his fastball and offspeed stuff. He has thrown the fastest pitch by a starter this season at 100.4 mph, but nine of his 11 strikeouts on Wednesday came with his curveball or slider. Most importantly, he's not walking batters, with just three against 21 strikeouts.

How good does that Chris Archer trade look now? Austin Meadows went 3-for-5 on Wednesday with his fourth home run and is now hitting .341/.420/.659. It's early, but it's possible that both Glasnow and Meadows will outperform Archer this season -- and the Rays have Glasnow under team control for five seasons and Meadows for six, while Archer is signed through 2021. The Rays also received pitcher Shane Baz, the Pirates' first-round pick in 2017.

It's the kind of trade that can push a small-market team like the Rays to the next level and the kind of trade that can potentially cripple a small-market franchise like the Pirates. To be fair, it's understandable why the Pirates made the deal. They hadn't been able to extract the most out of Glasnow's high-ceiling talent and had been using him out of the bullpen after he posted a 7.69 ERA as a starter in 2017. Meadows, meanwhile, had never put it all together and had injury issues throughout his minor league career.

Still, peak Archer had come in 2014 and 2015 and he has a 4.09 ERA since 2016. He's a good pitcher and will help the Pirates, but five years from now we might look at the deal as one of the key building blocks for the 2019-2024 Rays.

Hit Merrifield: Before Whit Merrifield came along, the most famous "Whit" in baseball was probably Walt Whitman, who once wrote, "I see great things in baseball. It's our game -- the American game. It will take them out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism."

(I guess he never envisioned domed stadiums or retractable-roof ballparks.)

Anyway, Merrifield extended his hitting streak to a Royals franchise record of 31 games, breaking a tie with George Brett with a perfect, two-out bunt single down the third-base line in the seventh that also tied the game, scoring Terrance Gore from third base.

Laying one down straight into the record books. pic.twitter.com/6IpvDIibmc

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 11, 2019

Since Merrifield's streak covers two seasons, there is some controversy about whether this "counts." It does. Think of Cal Ripken's stretch of consecutive games. Of course, we can still debate the merits of Merrifield's streak and how the debate will really turn heated if he keeps this thing going and starts approaching, say, 50 games in a row. That's a long way away, of course -- but I can already see all the old-timers screaming that Joe DiMaggio did it within a one season and Whit Merrifield is no Joe DiMaggio. (Go Whit Merrifield!)

The Royals game got really interesting in the ninth. First, Mitch Haniger homered with two outs off Brad Boxberger (Diamondbacks fans nod their heads) to give the Mariners the 6-5 lead and extend their season-opening streak to 14 games with a home run.

In the bottom of the inning, Gore doubled over the head of left fielder Domingo Santana with two outs. That doesn't happen every day! Gore entered the game with two hits in his major league career over six seasons, both singles, and he doubled and tripled in this game. Scott Servais then intentionally walked Merrifield, putting the winning run on base, certainly a questionable move. Gore and Merrifield then pulled off a double steal. Roenis Elias walked Billy Hamilton on a 3-2 breaking ball, but Adalberto Mondesi popped up to end it. The Mariners are 12-2.

(Is this a bad time to mention the Mets started 12-2 last year?)

Cardinals extend Matt Carpenter: The Cardinals announced the signing of the three-time All-Star to a two-year extension that covers 2020 and 2021 at a reported $18.5 million annual salary with a vesting option for 2022 if Carpenter accumulates 1,100 plate appearances in 2020-21, including at least 550 in 2021. Carpenter had already been signed through 2020, so this deal guarantees him another season in St. Louis beyond that and likely two unless he suffers some kind of significant injury.

Carpenter finished ninth in the MVP voting in 2018 after hitting .257/.374/.523 with 36 home runs, 42 doubles and 102 walks. Since his breakout season in 2013, only Mike Trout has scored more runs. Of course, with Paul Goldschmidt now signed through 2024, this locks Carpenter into third base through at least his age-35 season (and 36 in 2022). When the Cardinals acquired Goldschmidt, there were some concerns about Carpenter's ability to play third base, but he has always been adequate there with minus-3 defensive runs saved in his career there, including plus-6 in 76 games in 2018. He might slip to slightly below average in the next season or two, but I wouldn't foresee a defensive disaster over there. Looks like a good signing for a valuable player.

Random bad pitching factoid of the night: The Twins were leading the Mets 1-0 in the fifth inning when this happened with one out:

Single
Walk
Walk
Walk
(Andrew Vasquez replaces Jake Odorizzi)
Hit by pitch
Walk
Walk
(Trevor Hildenberger replaces Vasquez)
Walk
Single

The last time a team walked or hit seven consecutive batters was 1994, when Mariners starter Dave Fleming walked five Yankees in a row and reliever Jeff Nelson hit a batter and walked two more for eight in a row.

The Mets held on for the 9-6 win as Noah Syndergaard tired in the eighth and allowed three runs and then Mickey Callaway, not trusting the rest of his bullpen, was forced to use both Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz as they head to Atlanta on Thursday without an off day.