Conor Allen

The Suns travel to Los Angeles with a 3-2 series lead to take on the Clippers in a Western Conference finals elimination game. The Clippers' Tyronn Lue is 10-2 in elimination games as a coach. The Clippers will be without star froward Kawhi Leonard, who is still down with a right knee sprain. The Suns enter as 1-point favorites. Both California and Arizona get a lot of sunshine. You get it. This one will be close, and ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.  The Suns had a chance to close out the series Monday in Phoenix, but lost 116-102. To avoid a Game 7, Phoenix will have to win this one at the Staples Center, where they are 2-14 in their last 16 games against the Clippers. Hmmmmmmmmm...Ty Lue is 10-2 in elimination games. Phoenix is 2-14 on the road against LA in their last 16. Not sure if I'd want to bet the money line in this one. But before we give up on Phoenix for tonight, remember Devin Booker. Yes, if you're a fan of basketball you'd like to see 36-year old Chris Paul finally

Atlanta travels to Milwaukee Wednesday for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks are undefeated at home this postseason, but it took a Game 7 road win in Brooklyn for them to advance and upset the Nets. It also took Kevin Durant's clown shoes, Kyrie Irving and James Harden injuries, an overtime airball and a lot of grit for Milwaukee to continue their playoff journey. This is a team growing up before our very eyes and moving past blowing a 2-0 lead to Toronto in 2019's Eastern finals and last year's disappointing second round exit at the hands of Miami. Congratulations to the Bucks. Now they get to deal with Trae Young and the surging Atlanta Hawks.   It's hard to believe Atlanta was 14-20 and in 11th place at the beginning of March. But since firing Lloyd Pierce, the Hawks have gone 27-11 under new coach Nate McMillen to earn their first playoff birth since 2017. Atlanta's star third year guard Young is averaging 29.1 PPG in the postseason and is quick

It's time for the Nets to close it out against Milwaukee Thursday. Right? The Nets overcame a 17-point deficit to take a 3-2 series lead in Tuesday's 114-108 win. Kevin Durant dropped 49 points. Grabbed 17 rebounds. Dished 10 assists. Blocked two shots. Played three games of chess at once and won them all. Actually left the building briefly to play a few innings of baseball for the Yankees. After the game, Giannis Antetokounpo called Durant the greatest player in the world. OK fine, we get it. Durant is here and it's his time. But slow down. The Bucks are actually three-point favorers tonight at home.  Durant and the Nets have been playing both basketball and a game of injury musical chairs this year in the regular and postseasons. Their most recent losses to injury have included James Harden going down with a hamstring strain in Game 1 and Kyire Irving suffering a sprained ankle in Game 4. Irving remains sidelined, but Harden is back after playing 46 minutes on Tuesday. Bu