Pelicans stun Suns, Jimmy Butler scores 45 in win

Welcome back to the Enjoy Basketball Newsletter!

Yesterday we were lucky enough to witness three playoff games and a 45-point bomb from Jimmy "Jimothy" Butler. The Grizzlies had the most Grizzlies win of all time, and Brandon Ingram dropped 37 to beat the first-seeded Suns and beat Mikal Bridges in a "whose arms are longer" contest. Let's dive into it all!

Pelicans stun Suns behind Ingram's ingenuity

Game. Of. The. Night. The Suns threw every punch they had available and the Pelicans took each one on the chin and kept executing. In a game with 20 lead-changes, each minute was charged with brilliant teamwork and high-quality basketball.

Brandon Ingram truly has arrived. He scored 37 points and hit tough shot after tough shot down the stretch, countering everything the Phoenix defensive staff schemed for him. Besides BI, CJ McCollum provided shot creation for 40 minutes, Herb Jones added 14 points and stellar defense in 41 minutes (crazy playing time for a rookie BTW), and Jaxson Hayes added some high-motor plays. Sidenote: I feel like I have never seen Trey Murphy III miss a three-pointer, man seems to always hit big shots.

Devin Booker was unequivocally unstoppable tonight in the first half. Book notched 31 points in the first two quarters on 7-11 from three before leaving the game in the 3rd quarter with a hamstring injury. Phoenix missed DBook deeply down the stretch, and it's something to keep an eye on for the rest of the series.

The last six minutes of this game was a thrilling shootout, a product of incredible offensive display and random defensive lapses. New Orleans ended the game on a 28-16 run in the last 6:30, mainly thanks to Ingram. A reminder that the Pelicans started off this season 1-12 and tallied 28 less regular season wins than the Suns, yet they just walked into Phoenix and stole a win from the 1-seed on the road. Hats off.

Butler explodes as Heat take 2-0 lead

What an outstanding performance by the Miami Heat. Jimmy Buckets got buckets and the Miami Heat defense put Trae Young in basketball hell. Butler had 45 points on 60% shooting in an absolute scoring masterclass. When Jimmy hits 4 of 7 threes, there is pretty much no way to stop him. With the defense forced to respect his outside game, the six-time all star shredded the midrange and relentlessly attacked the rim. He also hit 11 of 12 free throws, shrewdly drawing contact on the flying Hawks defenders. 

Trae did well in the floater game and had 25 points on 50% shooting, though hitting only 2-10 from beyond the arc. Why I praise the heat defense is that Young had TEN turnovers, tied for the third-most in playoff history since 1984. To Atlanta's credit, they kept the score tied for most of the first half and brought it to within 4 points with 6:27 left in the fourth quarter. Shoutout to Bogdon Bogdonovic for pouring in an efficient 29 points on 12-18 from the field and 5-10 from three. When the Heat were seemingly everywhere on defense, Bogdonovic would launch a deep three to keep the game close, but ultimately it was not enough.

Miami now has officially defended home court. Atlanta put up a much better performance than the game one blowout, but I still see the Heat closing this series out in five games. *Waves Trae Young goodbye*

Grizzlies trounce Timberwolves to even series

This was a must-win for the Grizzlies and they absolutely delivered. Ja Morant, of course, lead the way, coming one rebound shy of a 23-point triple-double. The supporting cast, however, was also phenomenal. Seven Grizzlies scored in double digits, with none other scoring over sixteen. Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman were especially impressive. The Grizzlies lead the NBA in points in the paint with 58, and tonight this unlocked their success. They finished with 60 points in the paint compared to Minnesota's lackluster 34. 

The Timberwolves couldn't hit the ocean if they threw a rock off a boat. They shot an abysmal 39% from the field and 29% from three. KAT had foul trouble the whole game and only had 5 points at the end of the third quarter. D'Angelo Russell scored just 11 points on a meager 3-11 from the field. Only Anthony Edwards showed life offensively. Hopefully they can reignite their offense as they flee the Grindhouse and head north to Minnesota.

Marcus Smart is first guard to win DPOY since Gary Payton

Celtics guard Marcus Smart has won the Defensive Player of the Year Award! It is extremely notable because he is the first guard to win the award since Gary Payton in 1995-96. He joins a select group of guards to win the award: Payton, Michael Jordan, Michael Cooper, Alvin Robertson, and Sidney Moncrief (twice).

Smart was given the award to his petty on-ball perimeter defense and heading a Boston defense which was best in the NBA. As a result, he received 257 points (with 37 first-place votes) in the process. First runner-up was Suns' forward Mikal Bridges (202 points, 22 first-place votes) and second runner-up was reigning DPOY Rudy Gobert (136 points, 12 first-place votes). 

Ben Simmons starts contact play

Steve Friedell of ESPN reported yesterday that Steve Nash has confirmed that Ben Simmons is cleared for contact practice. Simmons, who hasn't played a game all season and continues with back troubles, got some 4-on-4 work in yesterday and seemed to play very well. The injection of Simmons into the Nets lineup, who have struggled against Boston with rebounding and defense, would fill Brooklyn's weaknesses perfectly and could be the difference between winning and losing this series.

Warriors have a new death lineup

This isn't any hard news, but I couldn't not include it. Maybe it's my undying fealty toward Wardell, but the lineup which Golden State rolled out against the Nuggets in the first two games of the series has been devastating. The lineup is Steph Curry, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green. It recalls to mind the original "death lineup" of 2015-16 of Curry, Thompson, Green, Andre Iguodala, and Harrison Barnes which shredded through the NBA. A similar array of shooting and defensive switchablilty has had the Nuggets in utter disarray. In game two, the lineup went on a 22-8 run to close out the last 6:30 of the 2nd quarter and bring the Warriors the lead. To fans of the Suns, Grizzlies, and any other title-hopeful, you should be scared.

Enes Kanter Freedom and the consequences of speaking out -- Sopan Deb (New York Times)

To win the NBA title, the Phoenix Suns will defy convention -- Mark Deeks (Forbes)

The twin towers strategy made a comeback in the NBA. Can it work in the playoffs? -- Zach Kram (The Ringer)

Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics - 7:00 p.m. EST

I cannot wait for round two of the best first-round series. I've generally been a Celtics skeptic and a Nets truther, and this manifests tonight. Brooklyn will steal one in TD Garden despite the Boston fans' jeers and probably more middle-fingers from Kyrie. Boston's success will have to be slowing down the juggernaut Nets offense, which they could do behind newly-minted Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, but I think KD and Kyrie will outscore Boston tonight. Get your popcorn ready.

Toronto Raptors @ Philadelphia 76ers - 8:00 p.m. EST

A lot of people thought this series would go seven. I didn't, and still don't. The Sixers have consistently had one of the best postseason home court advantages around the league, and Toronto simply does not have an answer for Joel Embiid. This contest might be closer than last game, but given the injuries of Scottie Barnes and Gary Trent Jr, I don't see the Raptors having a real shot in this one. 

Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks - 9:30 p.m. EST

If Chicago was going to steal a game from the Bucks, it would have been game one. Both sides struggled heavily on offense, so maybe Demar and Lavine shaping up will produce a win. However, outside of Giannis, the Bucks offense dragged. I expect Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday to increase their offensive output, and for the home crowd to sway fortune in the Bucks' favor. Fear the Deer. 

That'll do it for me. I can't wait for Nets vs Celtics tonight. What is the over/under on Kyrie middle fingers? On how much the NBA will fine him? Hit me up on Twitter with your thoughts. Maybe if they had lines for these bets, I would be in the green and not the red...

If you entered, keep an eye on our playoff pool via Run Your Pool to see how your predictions are stacking up. Appreciate all the support for the newsletter and our writers!

- Conor Geelan

Last Trivia Answer: I will flex again that somehow I knew Jack's question, because Lebron only recently passed this player for most all-time playoff wins. The answer is Derek Fisher, who has won 161 playoff games. He has also played the second-most playoff games ever, which helps.

Trivia Question: The highest total box plus/minus for an entire regular season was +1070. Who recorded it? Bonus points for getting the year right too! Hint: it was in the last decade.