Basketball

A year ago when the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, they were weary and worn down. This year, it's different. That's why the Lakers feel like they have a chance — and why the Nuggets expect this to be a challenge.

The Boston Celtics had almost no trouble at all with the 14 teams that didn’t make the playoffs this season, going 35-4 against those squads. Against the teams that actually made the postseason, the Celtics were really good as well.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hustle plays and production from up and down the lineup helped the New Orleans Pelicans overcome the absence of leading-scorer Zion Williamson, keep their season alive and avoid a historically significant loss.

New Orleans Pelicans (49-33, seventh in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25, first in the Western Conference) Oklahoma City; Sunday, 9:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Thunder -7.5; over/under is 214.

Miami Heat (46-36, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (64-18, first in the Eastern Conference) Boston; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Celtics -13.5; over/under is 208.

Indiana Pacers (47-35, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (49-33, third in the Eastern Conference) Milwaukee; Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Pacers -1.5; over/under is 231.

Dallas Mavericks (50-32, fifth in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (51-31, fourth in the Western Conference) Los Angeles; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Mavericks -2; over/under is 223.

MIAMI (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 24 points and was an assist shy of a triple-double, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Preview capsules for the first round of the NBA playoffs, which start Saturday. ___ EASTERN CONFERENCE No. 1 BOSTON CELTICS (64-18) vs. No. 8 MIAMI HEAT (46-36) Season series: Celtics, 3-0. Story line: Here they go again, sort of.

There’s a 64-win team in Boston that ran away with the league’s best record. The defending champions in Denver, a group that won 57 games. A fearless young bunch in Oklahoma City, whose No. 1 seed was no fluke.