SI's Best Shots from the NBA playoffs
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SI's Best Shots from the NBA playoffs
Greg Nelson/SI
Portland Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum goes up for a layup during Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals match between the Trail Blazers and the Dallas Mavericks. Despite Batum's 14 points, the Blazers fell to the Mavericks 89-81.
Greg Nelson/SI
Dirk Nowitzki (top left) goes over the back of teammate Tyson Chandler for a layup during Game 1 of the Trail Blazers-Mavericks game in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Nowitzki would score 28 points during the Mavericks' 89-81 victory.
Greg Nelson/SI
Watch out! Ever fearless, Trail Blazers center Marcus Camby (left) steps in front of a pass from Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki during Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
David E. Klutho/SI
With a steely-eyed focus, Derrick Rose (right) led the Bulls to a 96-90 victory over the Pacers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinals match. Rose finished the game with 36 points, seven assists and eight rebounds.
David E. Klutho/SI
Playing in his first playoff series, rookie Paul George (right) gave the Pacers some nice across-the-board production in Game 2. The former Fresno State Bulldog finished the game with six points, four rebounds, three steals and four blocks.
John Biever/SI
A swarming Indiana Pacers defense was instrumental in the team's 89-84 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Despite the victory, the Pacers still trailed 3-1 in the series.
Damian Strohmeyer/SI
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett (left) and Knicks forward Amar'e Stoudemire battle beneath the boards during the Celtics' 87-85 victory over the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Damian Strohmeyer/SI
Celtics forward Paul Pierce draws contact during a shot attempt in Game 1 of the Celtics' Eastern Conference quarterfinals match. Pierce was 4-of-5 from the line and finished the Celtics' 87-75 victory with 18 points.
Damian Strohmeyer/SI
Pressed into action when Amar'e Stoudemire left Game 2 with back spasms, Knicks forward Jared Jeffries (right) recorded 10 points, two blocks and six rebounds. Despite his efforts, the Knicks fell to the Celtics 96-93.
Heinz Kluetmeier/SI
Carmelo Anthony (center) looks for someone to dish the ball to during the Knicks' 101-89 loss to the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Anthony would finish the series-clinching game with 32 points and three assists.
Greg Nelson/SI
San Antonio Spurs center DeJuan Blair slams home a dunk during the Spurs' 93-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Greg Nelson/SI
Tony Parker's dishing propelled the Spurs to a 93-87 Game 2 victory over the Grizzlies in the Western Conference quarterfinals. Parker finished the game with 12 points and seven assists.
David E. Klutho/SI
A sold-out crowd of 18,119 cheered on the Memphis Grizzlies as they earned their first-ever home playoff victory with a 91-88 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. The victory gave the eighth-seeded Grizzlies a 2-1 series lead over the Spurs, the top seed in the West.
Heinz Kluetmeier/SI
Evan Turner (left) and Thaddeus Young (right) did their best to stop Chris Bosh, but the Miami Heat power forward dominated Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Bosh recorded 25 points and 12 rebounds as the Heat defeated the 76ers 97-89.
Heinz Kluetmeier/SI
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade saves a pass from out of bounds during the Heat's Game 1 victory over the 76ers in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Al Tielemans/SI
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade slices his way through the Philadelphia 76ers' defense during the Heat's 86-82 defeat in Philadelphia in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Even with the victory, Philadelphia still trailed 3-1 in the series.
Al Tielemans/SI
LeBron James led the Miami Heat with 31 points in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, but his inability to convert a last-second shot cost the Heat the series-clinching game.
John W. McDonough/SI
After an epic Game 1 performance, Chris Paul came back down to earth in Game 2. The Hornets point guard recorded only 20 points and nine assists, and the Hornets fell to the Lakers 87-78 to tie the Western Conference quarterfinals series at 1-1.
John W. McDonough/SI
Defense such as this limited Kobe Bryant to 3-for-10 shooting from the floor, but his defense on Hornets point guard Chris Paul propelled the Lakers to an 87-78 victory in Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Greg Nelson/SI
Taking advantage of a battered Hornets' frontcourt, Lamar Odom (center) and Andrew Bynum combined for 44 points and 30 rebounds as the Lakers downed the Hornets 100-86 in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Greg Nelson/SI
Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol rebounded from a horrible Game 1 performance with 17 points and 10 rebounds in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Bob Rosato/SI
Dwight Howard tallied 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3, but a Jamal Crawford three-pointer helped the Hawks hold on for an 88-84 victory.
Bob Rosato/SI
Hawks forward Josh Smith (left) is averaging 9.0 rebounds per game during the Hawks-Magic series and pulled down 10 rebounds in the Hawks' 88-84 victory in Game 3.
Bob Rosato/SI
Dwight Howard scored 29 points and pulled down 17 rebounds during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, but the Magic shot only 2-for-23 from three-point range and fell to the Hawks 88-85.
Bob Rosato/SI
Hawks forward Josh Smith tallied a workman-like nine points, two blocks, five assists and 10 rebounds during the Hawks' 88-85 victory over the Magic in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Greg Nelson/SI
With Russell Westbrook (left) and Kevin Durant leading the way -- the two combined for 72 of the Thunder's 107 points -- the Thunder blew past the Nuggets 107-103 to take Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals.
Greg Nelson/SI
With 22 seconds remaining in Game 1, Russell Westbrook hit a 15-foot jumper to put the Thunder up for good. He would finish with 31 points on 12-of-23 shooting.
Greg Nelson/SI
The Denver Nuggets sent Russell Westbrook to the line 13 times in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Westbrook converted 11 of those free throws, and the Thunder won the game 97-94.
