Nikola Jokic picked out two birthday presents for his coach. Michael Malone was thrilled with the present he received. Denver's dynamic duo of Jamal Murray and Jokic led another stunning turnaround as the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2009.

Our NBA experts break down the Lakers, the Nuggets and Denver's hopes for another monumental upset.

Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal didn't make an All-NBA team Wednesday, but he was very happy that was one of his friends, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, was named to the third team.

Bradley Beal's camp took things into their own hands after Beal was snubbed from the All-NBA roster.

Despite leaguewide speculation about his job security, Daryl Morey will return as GM of the Rockets and pick the team's new head coach, owner Tilman Fertitta said.

With the NBA playoffs reaching the stretch run, let's take a look at what the first round of next season's fantasy basketball drafts could look like.

LeBron makes history with his 16th All-NBA selection, while Giannis, Luka Doncic, A.D and James Harden also make the first team

Same as last year, Bradley Beal got the most votes of any guard who fell short of making the All-NBA team.

After being snubbed for All-NBA honors, Bradley Beal's first public comments were to congratulate his friend Jayson Tatum rather than to complain about his omission.

Ben Simmons has had a great month full of awards, but you wouldn't know it from his Instagram. By Adam Hermann

The NBA has set a time frame for the foreseeable future, but few dates remain firm at this point

The more things changed for the Los Angeles Clippers, the more they stayed the same. The franchise once mocked as the laughingstock of the NBA couldn't erase a big part of its ignominious history: 0-8 all time in games in which it could clinch a spot in the conference finals. George missed time to start the season while recovering from two offseason shoulder surgeries.

On the first off day of this season's Eastern Conference finals, it might have been difficult to tell on Wednesday which team was holding the 1-0 lead in the series. ''We need to play better,'' Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. ''We'll look to play better,'' Boston coach Brad Stevens said.

Hayward has been out since the first round with a Grade 3 ankle sprain

"He reminds me a lot of David West and what he brought to the Warriors."

Phase 1 of the NBA in-market bubble has started for the Pistons, but veterans Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose, and free agents Christian Wood and Langston Galloway, aren't participating right now, according to coach Dwane Casey.

On coach Mike Malone's 49th birthday, the underdog Nuggets became the first team in NBA history to come back twice in one postseason from a 3-1 series deficit with a 104-89 win over the vaunted LA Clippers to reach the Western Conference finals.

"I'm just playing terrible, to be honest," Kemba Walker said after finishing with 19 points, including 1-for-9 from 3-point range, in Boston's 117-114 OT loss to the Heat. "Not much I can say, but I have to be better."

After the Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs on Tuesday, coach Doc Rivers said the team didn't meet expectations. "That's the bottom line. I'm the coach, and I'll take any blame for it," he said.

LeBron James was named to a 16th All-NBA team Wednesday, breaking a tie with Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most in NBA history. He was joined on the first team by Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis.

Steve Kerr can relate to what one of his favorite teams is going through.

Blake Griffin, Christian Wood and others won't participate in the Pistons' bubble, but all of their young players under contract will.

The NBA bubble can be an immersive basketball experience if players want it to be, and the teams that are left have bought into it.

Antetokounmpo could sign for the super-max either on an extension this offseason or a new contract in 2021 free agency.

Get all the latest news and happenings from around the NBA with RealGM's Basketball Wiretap.

Welp, so much for the Battle of Los Angeles in the Western Conference Final

Kemba Walker's shot has gone cold, but his defensive lapses in Boston's Game 1 loss to Miami is more concerning, writes Chris Forsberg.

Is the Houston experiment over, will Giannis stay in Milwaukee, Travis Scott’s McDonald’s collaboration and Halsey is on NBA Twitter?!?!

"We can only get better the longer we stay together and the more we're around each other."

After the Celtics let another playoff victory slip away Tuesday night, A. Sherrod Blakely senses a familiar theme in their late-game struggles.

The Celtics' overtime loss to the Heat on Tuesday night was tough to swallow -- but some special guests in Orlando made the night a little more bearable for a couple players, our Abby Chin writes.

Bam Adebayo delivered the defensive equivalent of a buzzer-beating, game-winning shot with his block of Jayson Tatum at the rim. "He saved us," Jimmy Butler said.

Find all the viewing information you need for every ongoing series in the NBA playoffs

One of the most ridiculous plays you will ever see to close a game

Another second-half collapse led the Clippers falling to the Nuggets in Game 7 of their series Tuesday night. Here are five takeaways from the series.

After getting bounced by the Heat, Giannis sat down with Bucks ownership to hash out a plan to go forward. Both sides reportedly left the meeting feeling good about the future.

Kawhi Leonard and Lou Williams speak on their loss to the Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals .

The Heat's two clutch plays -- Jimmy Butler's shot and Bam Adebayo's block -- are exactly why they're here.

No date for free agency or the start of next season has been formally announced.

The NBA has set a time frame for its return, and everything that comes after

Last summer, the Clippers pushed all their chips in the middle to win now and they busted early -- again.

The NBA world had plenty of jokes after the Clippers blew their 3-1 series lead to the Nuggets on Tuesday night.

So much of a player’s development as a star comes down to how much he is willing to self-examine, how much he can endure staring at his mistakes. For Siakam, that’s doubly true.

Cage Warriors flyweight contender Jake Hadley tells MMA Junkie Radio that he's ready to make the jump to the UFC and become an instant threat at 125 pounds.

The longtime assistant coach, who is a candidate for the Bulls' head coaching vacancy, has toughed up the Nuggets' once-porous defense.

Just about everyone had L.A. vs. L.A. written in for the Western Conference finals. Then along came the resilient Denver Nuggets, who crashed the party. The Nuggets fell behind 3-1 in their first-round series against Utah before bouncing back with three straight victories.

Following another postseason collapse, the Clippers' front office needs to work fast since star Kawhi Leonard can walk after next season.

Shaun Livingston, who won three NBA titles during his five seasons as a player with the Warriors, has returned to the organization as director of player affairs and engagement.

Why has Kemba Walker suddenly gone cold? Kyle Draper, A. Sherrod Blakely and Chris Forsberg investigate the disappearance of "Cardiac Kemba" on a new Celtics Talk Podcast.

Shaun Livingston thinks the Warriors can contend for the NBA title for the next handful of seasons.

The 2020 NBA draft will reportedly take place on Nov. 18. Here's a broad look at where things stand for the Sixers, who will have five picks. By Noah Levick

The L.A. Clippers star spoke following Tuesday’s defeat to Denver, ending the team’s season after holding a halftime lead in each of the final three games of the series.

"We are just not accepting that somebody's better than us" — Nikola Jokic

It comes down to the $85.5 million Chris Paul is owed the next two seasons, plus a potential personality clash.

Denver is the only team in NBA history to come back from down 3-1 to force a Game 7 in back-to-back series. This is the fourth straight @nuggets playoff series to go to 7 games.6:30pm/et: MIA-BOS, Game 19:00pm/et: DEN-LAC, GAME 7ESPN Tune-In Tidbits:

Nikola Jokic tonight became the first player in NBA playoff history to record a 20+ rebound triple-double in a Game 7. Entering tonight, no player had recorded a triple-double through three quarters of a Game 7 over the last 25 years.

The 2019-20 @Nuggets are the first team in NBA playoff history to come back 3-1 deficit twice in one post season. The Nuggets now won 6 elimination games in a row with the win tonight, tying the 1994 Nuggets for the most wins facing elimination in a single post season.

Jayson Tatum recorded 30+ PTS, 10+ REB, 5+ AST, 2+ STL, and 2+ BLK in Game 1. He is now the youngest player (22 years, 196 days) to record this stat line in a playoff game. The previous youngest was Tracy McGrady (22 years, 334 days) in 2002.

OG's winner or Jokic off one leg!?Which was your favorite @MountainDew 3-pointer from the Conference Semis? #MtnDew3PT

TOMBALL ? MIAMI @JimmyButler has led the @MiamiHEAT to a 1-0 Eastern Conference Finals series lead over the Celtics!Game 2 begins Thursday at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN. #NBAPlayof

FOUR. TEAMS. LEFT. ?? Conference Finals continue with MIA/BOS Game 2 on Thursday at 7 PM ET on ESPN, followed by DEN/LAL Game 1 on Friday at 9 PM ET on TNT! #NBAPl

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