Superstar injuries take center stage in the NBA Playoffs

The GIST: The Play-In Tournament is done and dusted, and the first round Game 1s are already in the books, but superstar injuries are taking center stage as the high-stakes hoopla continues.

Milwaukee Bucks dominate as Giannis watches: No Antetokounmpo (pronounced ah-det-oh-KOON-boh), no problem — the Eastern Conference (EC) No. 3 seed was just fine without him yesterday, dominating the No. 6 Indiana Pacers 109–94 while he nursed a calf strain. It’s still TBD if Antetokounmpo suits up for Game 2 tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Embiid injury scare in Philadelphia 76ers loss: Joel Embiid (pronounced jo-ELL em-BEAD) tweaked his surgically repaired left knee in his EC No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers’ 111–104 loss to the No. 2 NY Knicks on Saturday. Though the reigning MVP returned to the game and finished with 29 points, the Philly faithful are holding their breath ahead of tonight’s 7:30 p.m. ET Game 2.

Jimmy Butler–less Miami Heat scorched by Boston Celtics: With their feisty superstar sidelined, No. 8 Miami looked ice cold in yesterday’s 114–94 loss to the No. 1 Celtics. And the Heat aren’t just missing Butler’s offense — Miami needs to find a way to slow down Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum, who tallied his first postseason triple-double in the dub.

Zion Williamson out as New Orleans Pelicans fall: Bad luck abounds for Williamson, whose hamstring injury kept him in street clothes for yesterday’s 94–92 loss to the Western Conference (WC) No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder. The No. 8 Pels’ postseason hopes hinge on one left hammy, but the notoriously pesky injury is expected to keep oft-injured Williamson sidelined until at least May 1st.

LA Clippers prevail without Kawhi Leonard: The Clips were without two-time Finals MVP Leonard because of a knee injury, but that didn’t stop the WC No. 4 from dismantling the No. 5 Dallas Mavericks 109–97 yesterday.

• The oldest team in the NBA let their experience shine with seasoned veterans James Harden and Paul George netting 28 and 22 points, respectively. Still got it.