F Kevin Durant was the game's top scorer with 29 points, 23 coming in the first half, during the Thunder's Game 2 loss to the Warriors. "They were sending three guys; I was trying to make the right pass," Durant responded when asked why he attempted just five shots in the second half after he scored 23 points before the break.

G Russell Westbrook, who had a game-high 27 points in the Thunder's 108-102 Game 1 win on Monday, was held to 16 points on 5-for-14 shooting in Game 2 against the Warriors. He did find time for a game-high 12 assists, giving him his second consecutive double-double.

G Stephen Curry exploded for 15 of his 28 points over a 1:58 stretch of the third period, helping the Warriors even the West finals.Curry, who had 11 points in the first 28-plus minutes of the game, poured in 17 in the game-breaking third quarter. He connected on nine of 15 shots overall and five of eight 3-point attempts.Curry had his right elbow wrapped after the game as a result of his spill into the crowd late in the first quarter. He insisted he was fine, although he did mention the "tennis ball" just above his elbow.

NBA icon LeBron James' lifetime deal with Nike could be worth more than $1 billion.The Cleveland Cavaliers star's business manager and agent, Maverick Carter, suggested in a GQ story that James' lifetime Nike endorsement deal may top $1 billion.During the interview with the magazine, Carter was asked about rapper Kanye West's contention that the agreement was worth $1 billion.Carter smiled and pointed one finger skyward."Yeah. It's a fantastic deal. Nike feels great about the deal," Carter told GQ on Tuesday. "That's the most important thing. As great as I feel, as great as LeBron feels -- Nike feels fantastic about it. It's the largest deal in the history of the company. Their hope is he makes even more. And our hope is that, too, obviously."James signed the lifetime contact with Nike in December. The deal was reported as the largest single athlete guarantee in the sports apparel company's history. James signed a seven-year, $93 million deal with Nike when he entered the NBA in 20013 and signed another deal with the company in 2010.

F DeMarre Carroll faced the Cavs in the conference finals last year as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, although he injured his knee in the series. "Last year I was on one leg," he said. "So I am feeling a little more comfortable this year." He scored just two points Tuesday in Toronto's Game 1 loss to Cleveland.

G DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points for the Raptors in a Game 1 loss at Cleveland, but only six after the first quarter. Neither he nor backcourt mate Kyle Lowry hit a 3-pointer, and neither attempted a free throw.

F LeBron James made his first nine shots and finished 11-for-13 from the floor for 24 points in Game 1 against Toronto. He only attempted one 3-pointer (and missed). The rest of his shots came from the paint.

G Kyle Lowry missed all seven of his 3-point attempts and finished with eight points on 4-of-14 shooting in Toronto's Game 1 loss at Cleveland. Lowry and backcourt mate DeMar DeRozan failed to make a 3-pointer, and neither shot a free throw in the defeat.

F Kevin Love had 14 points and four rebounds, his first game in this postseason without a double-double. The Cavs rolled anyway, routing the Raptors in Game 1.

Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry said he wasn't showing disrespect to Cleveland forward LeBron James when he recently stated that Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry was probably the best player in the NBA.The comment quickly gained traction and the perception was that Lowry was slighting James as the Raptors and Cavaliers prepare to open the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night.The Raptors advanced by defeating the Miami Heat on Sunday and Lowry said the following during an ESPN post-game interview: "LeBron is probably one of the best players in the league besides Stephen."Lowry said at Tuesday's shootaround that there was no intent to disparage James."I would never throw shade on one of the greatest players in history of basketball," Lowry told reporters. "I would never do that. Some people will take it for too much. LeBron is LeBron James. He'll probably be (one of the) top three players of all-time when he retires."James said he didn't take offense to Lowry's comment."None taken," James said.Lowry's play will be a key for second-seeded Toronto if it harbors any chance of upsetting the top-seeded Cavaliers.In three regular-season games - two won by the Raptors - Lowry averaged 31 points and shot 66 percent from the field."We can't worry about what everybody else says or what they think," Lowry said. "We got the No. 2 seed for a reason. At the end of the day, people going to have their opinions and that's what opinions are for."

C Andrew Bogut (strained right abductor) was listed as questionable, but he started Game 1 against Oklahoma City. He finished scoreless but had three rebounds and three assists in 17 1/2 minutes.

F Kevin Durant scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds Monday in the Thunder's Game 1 win over the Warriors. Durant hit just 10 of 30 shots from the floor.

F Serge Ibaka finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds Monday in the Thunder's Game 1 win over the Warriors.

G Russell Westbrook brushed aside a slow start to score a game-high 27 points in the Thunder's Game 1 win over the Warriors. Westbrook also had a game-high 12 assists and seven steals, and no he had turnovers in the second half as the Thunder took better care of the basketball. However, he hit just seven of 21 shots from the floor.

PG Stephen Curry had a decent night (26 points, six 3-pointers, 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals) in all areas except one -- turnovers (seven) -- during the Warriors' Game 1 loss to Oklahoma City. Curry, who missed most of the Warriors' previous series against Portland with a knee injury, looked rusty at times, especially in his passing. Curry committed a total of just seven turnovers in the Warriors' three regular-season games against the Thunder, all of which Golden State won.

One of the pressing questions for the Miami Heat this offseason centers around Chris Bosh, and the answer might be fleeting.Bosh was sidelined since February and did not participate in the playoffs because of recurring complications from blood clots. ESPN reported Monday that Bosh could potentially be forced into medical retirement, but ESPN Radio's Dan Le Batard, well-connected in Miami, refuted the report by basketball analyst Brian Windhorst citing sources within the Heat organization expecting Bosh to return next season.The media tug-of-war is a possible indication of the uncertainty surrounding Bosh. He has three years, $74.7 million remaining on his contract. All of the money counts against Miami's salary cap unless Bosh is forced into medical retirement. Whether he's willing to accept such a decision - Windhorst reported Heat doctors are not ready to clear Bosh - could complicate matters and send to mediation through the NBA Players Association.Last year, Bosh was hospitalized by... [More]

G Dwyane Wade and G Goran Dragic led the Heat with 16 points each in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Raptors."They were the better team for the majority of the game," Wade said. "With what we had we fought tooth and nail to get to that goal of the Eastern Conference final and fell one game short. We exhausted all possibilities. We did everything we possibly could to get there".

G Goran Dragic and G Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 16 points each in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Raptors.

F DeMarre Carroll added 14 points for Toronto Sunday.

G DeMar DeRozan had 28 points Sunday as the Raptors dominated the Heat in the seventh and deciding game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series."We're so focused on getting ready for our next challenge," DeRozan. "Once you get into the postseason you learn nothing is going to be easy. It gets tougher every single game. ... It's just about battling. Nothing is going to be pretty, nothing is going to do the way you want it to go."