Complete coverage: NBA playoffs 2021
The Lakers and Clippers open the NBA playoffs on May 22-23. Here’s a guide to the Los Angeles Times’ complete coverage.
- 1
The Clippers again have trouble slowing down Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz fend off a late L.A. rally for a 2-0 lead in series that moves to L.A.
- 2
The Clippers weathered another scoring spree by Donovan Mitchell to take a fourth-quarter lead, but lost Thursday night and the Jazz lead series 2-0.
- 3
Kawhi Leonard hasn’t let an increased workload slow him down, and the Clippers need the entire team to experience a similar revival in Game 2 vs. Jazz.
- 4
The Clippers might have wanted a matchup with Utah in the second round of the playoffs, but Los Angeles blew an opportunity to take control of series.
- 5
The Clippers fell 112-109 to the Jazz in Salt Lake City in Game 1 of their second-round series, as Donovan Mitchell scored 45 to lead the comeback.
- 6
Rudy Gobert reached out to Nicolas Batum before he joined the Clippers to consider joining the Jazz. Now the friends from France meet in the playoffs.
- 7
The Utah Jazz won the season series 2-1, but in January when both teams were at full strength the Clippers won. A first look at the series.
- 8
After defeating Dallas in Game 7, the Clippers are trying to erase their curse by getting past top-seeded Utah for their first conference finals.
- 9
Kawhi Leonard was an assist shy of a triple-double, Paul George had 22 points and 10 assists and Clippers role players were big in series’ first home win.
- 10
Kawhi Leonard says he doesn’t think much about Game 7 playoff performances, and the Clippers will try to put the past behind them by beating Dallas.
- 11
Kawhi Leonard did for the Clippers what LeBron James could not do for the Lakers by dominating on both ends of the court when most needed in Game 6.
- 12
Kawhi Leonard scored 45 and the Clippers contained Luka Doncic to 29 points to force a Game 7 with a 104-97 victory on Friday night in Dallas.
- 13
The Lakers’ season comes crashing down amid a flurry of injuries and problems in a first-round playoff loss to the Phoenix Suns. Here’s a look at why.
- 14
During a stunningly sordid playoff exit Thursday in Game 6, the Lakers future is in doubt with LeBron James aging and Anthony Davis appearing frail.
- 15
Anthony Davis starts for Lakers in Game 6, but lasts only 5 1/2 minutes in a season-ending loss to the Phoenix Suns, led by Devin Booker’s 47 points.
- 16
Lakers guard Dennis Schroder, who turned down a contract extension, is ready to ‘work his ass off’ and return to the team for another run at a title.
- 17
The Clippers can make history Friday against the Mavericks with a sixth road team win in a playoff series. Former NBA stars explain why it can happen.
- 18
When LeBron James has two or fewer turnovers the Lakers are 75-18. That’s more important than his scoring in pivotal Game 6 tonight against the Suns.
- 19
The Clippers again failed to win a home game in the playoff series with the Mavericks, who won Game 5 at Staples Center behind Luka Doncic’s 42 points.
- 20
Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both are game-time decisions for Game 6 against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center.
- 21
With Anthony Davis sidelined, the Lakers will go into a must-win Game 6 on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns with many questions and few answers.
- 22
The Lakers, with Anthony Davis sidelined, score 10 points in the second quarter and fall behind by more than 30 in a Game 5 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
- 23
Who tanked to avoid playing whom in the NBA playoffs is last week’s news. The Lakers and Clippers enter Game 5 of their series in pure survival mode.
- 24
An MRI confirms Anthony Davis has a groin strain and he’s questionable for the Lakers-Suns Game 5 on Tuesday in Phoenix. Lakers to plan accordingly.
- 25
The Clippers and Mavericks have split four games in their first-round series, the road team winning each time.
- 26
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George lead the Clippers to a Game 4 defeat of the Mavericks, and the series is looking like it could be over.
- 27
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are sharp for the Clippers, who ran away from an ailing Luka Doncic and Dallas 106-81 to reclaim home-court advantage.
- 28
Facing a 19-point deficit early in Game 3 when trailing 0-2 in playoff series, the Clippers get defensive and rediscover their identity to beat Dallas.
- 29
Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 65 points and wiped out a 19-point deficit in a 118-108 win to cut the Mavericks’ series lead to 2-1.
- 30
The Lakers, behind the play of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, dominated the Suns during the third quarter Thursday, showing signs of future dominance.
- 31
The Lakers took control of Game 3 against the Suns in the third quarter and held off a late Phoenix rally for a 109-95 victory and a 2-1 series lead.
- 32
Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped contain Suns guard Devin Booker in Game 3, but left the game because of an injury. His status is unclear.
- 33
The Clippers say back spasms have left backup center Serge Ibaka questionable to play in Game 3 of their first-round series against Dallas on Friday.
- 34
If the Clippers can’t defeat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs, it’ll be their biggest meltdown yet. What do they do next?
- 35
The Lakers won Game 2 against the Phoenix Suns because Anthony Davis flipped the script. The goat in opening loss was stellar in evening the series.
- 36
Guard Dennis Schroder and center Andre Drummond rebounded from lackluster performances to help the Lakers even their playoff series against the Suns.
- 37
Anthony Davis and LeBron James combined to score 16 of the Lakers’ last 18 points in a 109-102 victory Tuesday that evened the best-of-seven series.
- 38
Luka Doncic has 39 points to offset a big night from Kawhi Leonard, who had 41, and Paul George in a 127-121 Dallas win on Tuesday at Staples Center.
- 39
The Phoenix Suns issued a warning to the Lakers in Game 1: be ready or be left behind. The Lakers expect to improve in Game 2 on Tuesday.
- 40
Losing the first game in best-of-seven playoff series does not have Clippers overreacting. “It’s the first team to win four games,” Tyronn Lue said.
- 41
Anthony Davis is supposed to be a game-changer. Against the Phoenix Suns in Game 1, he played soft and decimated the Lakers’ chance at victory.
- 42
LeBron James and Anthony Davis struggled with their shooting as Devin Booker and the Suns overcame an injury to Chris Paul to defeat the Lakers 99-90.
- 43
Luka Doncic had a triple-double and Dallas Mavericks role players outperformed the Clippers late to win Game 1 of the first-round series 113-103.
- 44
With Kawhi Leonard and Paul George leading what should be a revitalized franchise, the Clippers will have no excuse if they don’t get their act together against the Mavericks.
- 45
Memphis built a big second-half lead and then held off Utah for a three-point win. The 76ers and Hawks also pick up series-opening victories.
- 46
Khris Middleton’s jumper late in overtime lifted Milwaukee over Miami in a playoff opener, while Brooklyn defeated Boston and Portland won at Denver.
- 47
A look at the first-round playoff series between the Lakers and second-seeded Phoenix Suns.
- 48
Kristaps Porzingis caused plenty of problems for the Clippers in the playoffs last year, but can the Mavericks center replicate the feat coming off injury?
- 49
Former Laker Julius Randle has helped carry the Knicks into the playoffs, and he’s welcomed the pressure that came with it as he became an All-Star.
- 50
It’s a perfectly weird position to be in to start the playoffs at the end of an imperfectly weird regular season.
- 51
Alex Caruso scored 12 of his 14 points when the Lakers struggled in the first half against the Warriors, continuing to play well in big moments of the win.
- 52
Kawhi Leonard says the Clippers must have the right mental approach in order to win their playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks.
- 53
Paul George, Marcus Morris and coach Tyronn Lue say the Clippers are more prepared this postseason than last. “It’s a big difference from the bubble.”
- 54
The Lakers were teetering against the Warriors when their exhausted leader made the winning shot, because he’s LeBron James. Don’t ever forget that.
