The NBA's Twilight Star System

April 22 saw three NBA playoff games, none of which involved the Cavaliers.

The Celtics faced the Hawks, the Wizards played the Raptors, and the Mavericks clashed with the Rockets.

In the East, the Hawks, known for their team-oriented play, defeated the rebuilding Celtics 99-91. No player on the Hawks scored over 20 points, with Paul Millsap leading the way with 19. Al Horford contributed 14 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal, and 2 blocks, proving once again why he's the team's cornerstone.

Meanwhile, the Wizards' dynamic backcourt duo of Bradley Beal and John Wall shone brightly in a 117-106 victory over the Raptors. Beal scored a game-high 28 points, while Wall posted a double-double with 26 points and 17 assists. The Raptors struggled with Kyle Lowry shooting below 30%, despite strong showings from DeMar DeRozan and Lou Williams, who both scored over 20 points.

This was an underdog victory for the Wizards, as the fifth seed upset the fourth-seeded Raptors.

Out West, the Rockets beat the Mavericks 111-99, powered by their "Mo-Harden" duo. James Harden scored 24 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Dwight Howard dominated inside with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Although their partnership would eventually dissolve, the two were formidable when playing cohesively.

For the Mavericks, Monta Ellis led with 24 points, continuing to prove his worth after leaving the Warriors. However, an aging Dirk Nowitzki managed only 10 points and 13 rebounds, shooting a dismal 21.4% from the field. The team's internal conflicts, particularly between Rajon Rondo and coach Rick Carlisle, further complicated matters.

Sometimes, the NBA feels like a soap opera, with its constant drama and headline-grabbing conflicts. Reports of the tension between Carlisle and Rondo were already dominating the media.

On April 23, the Cavaliers faced the Nets for Game 2 of their playoff series.

That same day, the Spurs played the Clippers, and the Grizzlies faced the Trail Blazers.

At TNT's studio that evening, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith were up to their usual antics.

"Charles, look what I got for you!" Kenny grinned as he held up a bag.

Barkley groaned and reluctantly took the bag, pulling out a bright pink bikini.

"No, no, no! Kenny, I can't wear this! Absolutely not!" Barkley protested, holding the bikini like it was something grotesque.

"Relax, Charles. It's the biggest size I could find! Time to honor your bet!" Kenny said, barely able to contain his laughter.

With a resigned sigh, Barkley removed his jacket and put on the bikini, asking Kenny to tie the back straps.

Despite trying to stay composed, Kenny was practically doubled over with laughter as Barkley struck a few poses for the camera.

After the comedic spectacle, the duo returned to their analysis of the game.

"Kenny, don't even think about trying to bait me into another bet tonight. Not happening!" Barkley declared with mock seriousness.

"Alright, Charles. I won't tease you anymore," Kenny said, though the mischievous glint in his eye suggested otherwise.

Back at the arena, Jay Sun prepared for the game as usual, adjusting his wristbands before stepping onto the court.

Brook Lopez and Timofey Mozgov lined up for the opening tip-off, with Mozgov winning the jump ball.

Kyrie Irving brought the ball up, well-rested after sitting out most of the fourth quarter in Game 1.

Right from the start, Irving attacked Deron Williams, slicing through the defense for a high-arching bank shot.

On the other end, Deron ran a pick-and-roll with Lopez. The play was designed to free up Joe Johnson, who was eager to make a statement after being overshadowed by Jay in Game 1.

However, Deron hesitated to pass. Jay's aggressive defense made it look like he was ready to snatch the ball if it came his way.

Jay smirked inwardly. Gotcha. His bluff worked; Deron opted to keep the ball, but his mid-range jumper clanked off the rim.

LeBron James grabbed the rebound and immediately pushed the pace. Charging down the court like a freight train, LeBron finished with a thunderous dunk.

With the Cavaliers up 4-0 early, the Nets were already feeling the pressure.

Deron tried to regroup and set up another play, eventually finding Johnson in the post against Jay.

Johnson backed Jay down, testing his strength with three hard dribbles before spinning into a fadeaway jumper.

The ball bounced on the rim before dropping through.

Jay gave Johnson a quick glance but didn't dwell on the shot. Defense isn't about shutting someone down completely—it's about making every shot as tough as possible.

Back on offense, Irving orchestrated a pick-and-roll with Kevin Love. Exploiting Deron's sluggish lateral movement, Kyrie drove to the rim for an easy layup.

Deron, visibly frustrated, dribbled up the court but passed the ball off to Johnson as soon as he crossed half-court.

Johnson faced Jay again, feinting with jab steps before driving hard to the right. Jay stayed glued to him, cutting off the drive.

Johnson suddenly stopped, stepped back, and launched a jumper.

Jay lunged forward, extending his arm to contest the shot, but Johnson still drained it.

The veteran forward had scored two straight buckets on Jay, but the Cavaliers were still in control.

On the next possession, LeBron attacked Bojan Bogdanović and drew Joe Johnson over to help. Spotting Jay open in the corner, LeBron whipped a crisp pass his way.

Jay caught the ball, squared up, and launched a three-pointer.

Swish!

Jay Sun: 1. Joe Johnson: 0 (for now).