PREVIEW: The New York Knicks face the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 of their opening-round playoff matchup , with the Knicks holding a 1-0 series lead after winning Game 1 by a score of 113-102. Atlanta enters with elite offensive spacing ranked first in the league and stellar passing ranked second, yet they allow opponents to attack the rim effectively , a vulnerability the Knicks will look to exploit. New York's defense excels at limiting rim attacks ranked fourth and boasts efficient three-point shooting ranked fourth, though they struggle with a slow tempo ranked 27th. The Hawks are determined to...

PREVIEW: For the third time in four years, the Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs. Denver sported the league's best offensive rating of 121.2 during the regular season , and their elite shot-making ability shines through their ShotQuality profile: they rank first in three-point shooting efficiency and fourth in attacking the rim effectively. The Serbian center was particularly motivated in matchups against Minnesota this season, averaging 36 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists across four games while shooting 65 percent from the field. Anthony Edwards might not be 100 percent throughout the postseason, making it...

PREVIEW: Game 2 tips off Monday night at Rocket Arena with coverage on NBC and Peacock , as the Toronto Raptors look to bounce back after dropping Game 1 to Cleveland 126-113 . The Cavaliers dominated the paint in the opening contest, but Toronto enters this matchup with a clear understanding of what adjustments lie ahead. One of the biggest changes could involve how the Raptors guard Cleveland's primary creators, with Scottie Barnes potentially shifting onto either James Harden or Donovan Mitchell to disrupt the Cavs' offensive engine. Toronto enters this series ranked first in good passing and second in...