The 76ers took Game 1 against the Raptors thanks to a 38 point performance from Tyrese Maxey. There is a time limit. NBA fans outside of Pennsylvania know the name Tyrese Maxey. The Philadelphia 76ers second-year guard showed why he is an important player in their success with 38 points in a Game 1 win over the Toronto Raptors. If the 76ers were to make a deep playoff run, The Maxey Game would be the performance that sparked it all. We wondered what other X factors were hiding in the first round of the playoffs. Which players could swing a game on their own? Our NBA experts are breaking down one player from each of the 16 playoff teams who could get hot from long range, provide a defensive spark or come out of nowhere to lead his team to a victory. Takeaways from Day 2 of the playoffs. Johnson had the best season of his young career, putting up personal bests across the board. He was one of the top Sixth Man of the Year candidates by shooting 42.5% from 3 and averaging 12.5 points in just 26.2 minutes per game. The ridiculous buzzer-beater to down the Knicks was one of the highlights of a career high 38 points by Cameron Johnson. March 4 is a case in point. Johnson scored a career-high 38 points in 28 minutes off the bench, including 9-of-12 from deep and the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer, in a game without Chris Paul and Devin Booker. In 21 playoff games he played last year, Johnson hit at least two 3s in 12 of them. The worst game of the Suns' entire run might have been in the NBA Finals, when Johnson scored just three points on 1-for-5 shooting, giving him motivation for a bounce-back. Dave McMenamin. Herro is crucial to any success the Heat have in the playoffs. His ability to space the floor will create more opportunities for his teammates. During the 2020 playoffs, Herro proved he is not afraid of the biggest stage when he hit important shots. In a 123-100 Heat win, Herro and Robinson combined for 60 points off the bench. The case in point is Jan. 8 against the Suns. Herro dropped 33 and went 12-for-20 from the field in the Heat's 123-100 win over the Suns. Consistency is the difference in Herro's game this season. The coach of the Heat knew what he was getting from the Kentucky product on most nights, and that should help propel Herro during the playoffs. Nick Friedell. If the Memphis Grizzlies want Jaren Jackson Jr. to spend a lot of time as the primary defender on Karl- Anthony Towns, then they will need to have a major role in this series with Minnesota. Clarke can guard forwards and is a roll threat. The case in point is Nov. 8 and Jan. 13 against the Wolves. In both of the wins over Minnesota, Clarke was a critical contributor. In the two games he played, he averaged 17 points and 8.5 rebound, while shooting 66.7% from the floor. In the season opener against Minnesota, Memphis was plus-20 in 23 minutes when Clarke joined Ja Morant and Jackson on the floor. Tim MacMahon. When White arrived in Boston at the trade deadline, he was the player the Celtics needed: one of the league's better perimeter defenders who also is a quick decision-maker. White's 3-point shooting could make or break Boston's hopes of a deep playoff run. He shot under 30% with the Celtics. The case in point is April 7. While Boston lost to Milwaukee late in the regular season, White's performance -- 19 points and seven rebound, plus 4-for-8 in 3-point shooting -- is exactly the kind of showing the Celtics will want to see on a regular basis during the playoffs. Tim Bontemps. The Warriors played 10 players by halftime. They probably could have played 11. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has made it clear that Kuminga is the next man up on the bench. The Warriors think Kuminga can be a game-changer. The Warriors will go to the 19-year-old rookies if someone on the court isn't having a good night or just needs an extra dose of energy. Jonathan Kuminga dunked the Miami Heat. March 23 vs. the heat was a case in point. Through February and March, Kuminga showed the value he can add to Golden State. Kuminga was the best player for the Warriors. Kuminga did it against one of the league's top defenders in Bam Adebayo by showing off his improved ballhandling and hesitation and spin move. Kuminga has been able to stay ready even when he isn&t playing minutes. Kuminga needs to be prepared to make an impact in a situation where lineups and rotation can change during the playoffs. There is a person named "Kendra Andrews." The NBA playoffs began Saturday and run through June, when the league will crown a champion for its milestone season. Day 2 had the biggestTakeaways from Day 1
• NBA world goes wild over Celtics-Nets
• What to know about all 16 playoff teams
• Playoff predictions: Picks for every series
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Cameron Johnson | SF | Phoenix Suns
Tyler Herro | PG | Miami Heat
Brandon Clarke | PF | Memphis Grizzlies
Derrick White | PG | Boston Celtics
Jonathan Kuminga | PF | Golden State Warriors
Grayson Allen | SG | Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix is better than you think
Teams have spent a lot of time defending the paint in an attempt to slow down Antetokounmpo, leaving Allen with a lot of room to shoot from 3. Since the All-Star break, Allen has shot 47.9% from beyond the 3-point line. It would be ironic if Allen could swing a game with his performance.
The April 5 Bulls match is a good example.
Allen hasn't shot well from 3 against the Bulls this season, but he has found success scoring against Chicago. In their final regular-season game, Allen scored 12 points in the first half to help deflate the Bulls.
The man is named Jamal Collier.
If Dallas didn't sign him to a four-year, $55 million contract extension immediately after the trade deadline, he would have been a coveted free agent. He is taking on Mitchell as his primary assignment in the first round. Over the past two months, Finney-Smith has become a major 3-point threat, converting 45.2% of his six attempts per game.
The Utah Jazz had a nice pass.
March 7 is a case in point.
The Mavs hope that his performance in a win over the Jazz is a sign that he will make a difference in this series. He had 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 4-of-10 from 3-point range. He made Mitchell work for every shot, as he finished with 17 points on 5-of-19 shooting.
MacMahon.
Green has been thrust into the starting lineup because of the absence of Thybulle. He is the only two-way wing Philadelphia has on its roster, and he will be relied on throughout the playoffs as a result.
Sunday, April 17
Nets at Celtics, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Friday, April 22
Heat at Hawks, Game 3, 7 p.m.
Bucks at Bulls, Game 3, 8:30 p.m. (ABC)
Suns at Pelicans, Game 3, 9:30 p.m.
All times Eastern.
April 7 vs. Raptors is a case in point.
Green had 18 points, five rebound, four assists, one steal and a block in 39 minutes in Philadelphia's loss to Toronto. Philadelphia would love to get that kind of performance in the playoffs.
Bontemps
While his production and efficiency dipped this season on the heels of his Sixth Man of the Year campaign, his scoring off the bench continues to be a critical ingredient of the Jazz's success. The Utah team went 16-6) when they had at least 20 points. In the playoffs, the Jazz are 6-1 when Clarkson scores 20 or more.
April 5 is a case in point.
Mitchell went 6-of-24 from the floor in a late-season meeting with Memphis. The Jazz were able to beat the Grizzlies in overtime thanks to a 22-point performance off the bench by Clarkson. He had five assists that night, his fourth-highest total of the season.
MacMahon.
Trent averaged a career-high 18.3 points and shot 38.3% from 3-point range this season, giving the Raptors a third consistent offensive weapon, while being a solid defender and playing 35 minutes a night.
Gary Trent Jr. got the steal and slam dunked as the Raptors led the 76ers.
The April 7 game was a case in point.
Trent scored 30 points in Toronto's final meeting with Philadelphia, helping the Raptors to a win. A performance like that could swing a game in a series that is expected to be very competitive.
Bontemps
The Nuggets were in need of an offensive spark when Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray were out. They got it from their first-round pick. He came on in March with an average of 14.3 points, 4.3 assists and 47.6% 3-point shooting, and he averaged 10 points and 36.6% shooting from behind the arc.
The go-ahead 3 was hit by Bones Hyland in the 4th quarter.
March 14 is a case in point.
Jokic vs. Embiid could be bigger. Look no further than when the Nuggets won at Philadelphia. He scored 21 points off the bench, but he was so good in the fourth quarter that he overshadowed Jokic and Embiid. The Nuggets beat the 76ers thanks to four 3-pointers by Hyland. Delaware firefighters and first responders who helped save him from a house fire last year were in attendance of the inspired game in Philadelphia.
Ohm Youngmisuk.
Milwaukee has allowed the most 3-pointers per game in three of the past four seasons, and if there is one Bulls player most poised to take advantage, it is Coby White. White has been a streaky shooter in his first three NBA seasons, but he shot a career-best 38.5% from beyond the arc this season. He could go on a run if he gets hot from 3.
Coby White hits the side of the basket.
The Feb. 11 game was a case in point.
White shot 48.7% from 3 on seven attempts in February, which was one of the best shooting stretches of his career. He finished with 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting (6-of-10) from 3 and hit all four of his 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter to help the Bulls to a victory against the Wolves.
The person said that it was Collier.
Compete for $40,000 in the NBA playoffs. Pick your favorites.
The NBA's fifth-ranked 3-point shooter, Michael Beasley, shattered the franchise record for treys in a single season. Like many players who live behind the 3-point line, he ran hot and cold. He shot 40% in Minnesota wins.
The case in point is Nov. 24 against the Heat.
Patrick left with an adductor strain in the first quarter, and Beasley stepped up. In 38 minutes, he scored 29 points on 9-of-19 shooting. In a double-digit win over Miami, Minnesota was plus-12 with Michael Beasley on the court.
Kevin Pelton.
In the last two months of the season, Brown averaged close to 15 points a game on both ends of the floor. When teams try to load up on 3-pointers, Brown has proved he can do it on a regular basis. In March, Brown shot 41.9% from beyond the line, and he has been open about how defenses still don't respect his shot.
The Nets earned the 7th seed in the East by virtue of the play of Kyrie Irving.
The case in point is Tuesday's game.
In the play-in win over Cleveland, Brown had 18 points, 9 rebound, 8 assists and 3 steals. He believes he can put up those kind of numbers each night, and Brown was a defensive spark for a Nets team that faded on that end of the floor down the stretch.
Friedell.
Murphy was selected with the 17th pick in last year's draft. He has been a mainstay in the rotation since March 7, and has made 43.8% of his 3s on 4.3 attempts per game. If needed, Murphy can come in and score in bunches.
A lucky bounce on a late 3-pointer.
Friday vs. Clippers was a case in point.
Look no further than the game that sent the Pelicans to the playoffs to see what kind of game-changing ability Murphy can have. He played the final 16 minutes against the Clippers in the elimination game of the play-in tournament and knocked down four 3-pointers, including one to put the Pels up seven late.
Andrew Lopez.
Clint Capela has a knee injury and will be out for a while. John Collins returned from a monthlong absence on Sunday against the Heat, but Okongwu will shoulder starting responsibilities. In six games as a starter, Okongwu averaged 10 points and 7.3 rebound.
Trae Young threw it in for 2.
March 31 is a case in point.
In 25 minutes against Cleveland, Okongwu put up 17 points and 12 rebound. He is a perfect fit for what Atlanta wants to do with Trae Young running the offense. During the regular season, Okongwu can provide a boost on the defensive end, as he can average 2.2 blocks per 36 minutes.
Lopez
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