Basketball

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer expressed cautious optimism regarding the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo after the two-time MVP left Milwaukee’s Eastern Conference playoff opener with a bruised lower back.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Isaiah Wong is going to try to make the jump from the Final Four to the NBA.

Jamal Murray overcame some early jitters to have 24 points and eight assists in his first playoff game since the 2020 NBA bubble as the top-seeded Denver Nuggets routed the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-80 Sunday night.

New York Knicks (47-35, fifth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31, fourth in the Eastern Conference) Cleveland; Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Cavaliers -4.5; over/under is 212.

Los Angeles Clippers (44-38, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (45-37, fourth in the Western Conference) Phoenix; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE : Suns -7.

Atlanta Hawks (41-41, seventh in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (57-25, second in the Eastern Conference) Boston; Tuesday, 7 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 35 points and the Miami Heat capitalized on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s early exit to beat the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks 130-117 on Sunday in an Eastern Conference playoff opener featuring two notable injuries.

PHOENIX (AP) — Kawhi Leonard had a great shooting night while Russell Westbrook had a horrible one.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo drove to the basket and took a hard fall. And just like that, the championship aspirations of the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks got quite a bit more precarious.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks didn't have their best player around for the full game. The Miami Heat did. That pretty much made the difference Sunday as the top-seeded Bucks saw their path toward a championship face an early obstacle.