The 2023 NBA playoffs have started and the fight for a trip to the NBA finals has been intense so far. These first round series have left NBA fans shocked and wanting more.

The reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors seem to have brought their struggles on the road from the regular season to the playoffs, losing both Games 1 and 2 to the Sacramento Kings.

During the regular season, the Warriors had one of the league’s worst road records going 11-30. De’Aaron Fox led his team to a 126-123 win against the Warriors in Game 1, dropping 38 points and shooting 13-27 from the field in his playoffs debut.

Game 2 was a very physical game, but early in the fourth quarter Warriors Forward Draymond Green was ejected after stepping on the chest of Kings Forward Domantas Sabonis after Sabonis grabbed his foot, preventing him from running. Sabonis was only given a technical and the Kings won the game.

Green was suspended by the NBA for Game 3 for the altercation, but the Warriors handled their business and got their first win of the series, giving them the chance to even it all up. They took advantage of the opportunity, winning 124-123 in Game 4 to even the series 2-2 with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry combining for 58 points.

The Los Angeles Lakers shocked the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1, 128-112. Grizzlies star Ja Morant went down with a hand injury late in the 4th quarter causing him to miss Game 2. The Grizzlies were able to pull out the win tying the series up with the Lakers. Ja was available for Game 3, dropping 45 points, but it was not enough as the Lakers won Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Phoenix Suns were able to take a 3-1 series lead over the Los Angeles Clippers after dropping Game 1 on their home court. The fear for the Clippers is the health of their stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. George has yet to play in these playoffs because of a knee injury. Leonard balled out Games 1 and 2 but was sidelined in Games 3 and 4 with a knee sprain.

Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets took a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves held on in Game 4 to bring this series back to Denver.

The Philadelphia 76ers got the 4-0 series sweep against the Brooklyn Nets, moving them to the next round to play the winner of the Celtics/Hawks series.

The Boston Celtics hold a 3-1 series lead over the Atlanta Hawks. Boston hopes to close it out in Game 5 on their home court with Dejounte Murray suspended for shoving a referee.

The Miami Heat were able to take a 2-1 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks with a 121-99 win in Game 3. Jimmy Butler went off for 30 points to lead the way.

The health of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is a concern after a bad fall in Game 1 left him out of Game 2 with a lower back injury.

New York Stand Up! The New York Knicks are putting in work in these playoffs with Jalen Brunson leading the charge. After losing Game 1 in Cleveland, the Knicks have won three-in-a-row to take a 3-1 lead in this series. Brunson went off for 29 points in Game 4, while the Knicks defense held Donovan Mitchell to only 9 points.

The NBA playoffs are starting off strong and anything is possible while these teams are fighting for a trip to the NBA finals.