If Sunday’s Game between the Celtics and Cavaliers is any indication, then it’s obvious that the playoffs are starting to get intense. The Cavaliers swept the Celtics pretty easily, but the game was nothing short of a blood bath as Kevin Love and Jae Crowder both suffered pretty severe injuries while J.R. Smith was ejected for doing his best Floyd Mayweather impersonation.

Meanwhile, the Clippers grabbed a much-needed win over the Spurs in San Antonio to tie the series at 2-2, while the Wizards completely buried the Raptors to complete the sweep of the series. The Mavericks are still alive thanks to big performances from Monta Ellis and Al-Farouq Aminu, but I’ll break down each of these games in this version of the Daily Dose!

Cavaliers 101, Celtics 93 (Cavs win series 4-0)

The Cavaliers never really looked threatened in this series, but they have some serious obstacles ahead knowing that they could be without Kevin Love for a couple of weeks. Love got tangled up with Kelly Olynyk while fighting for a rebound, and Olynyk tugged down hard on Love’s arm which seemed to pop his shoulder out of place. The incident looked pretty dirty, and I think Olynyk will be facing a suspension from the league. The Cavaliers said that Love will undergo some additional tests on his dislocated left shoulder when he arrives back in Cleveland, so a firm timetable should be established soon. If the Cavaliers play the Bulls in the next round (Bulls are leading their series with the Bucks 3-1), they could be in some serious trouble.

With Love on the shelf, the Cavaliers will likely turn to a combination of Tristan Thompson and James Jones, while LeBron James may have to play more minutes at the four spot as well. James is going to get his stats no matter where he plays, but Thompson figures to be the primary beneficiary with Love on the sidelines.

As for Sunday’s game, LeBron James was simply sensational as he finished with 27 points, 10 boards, eight assists, three steals, one block and one 3-pointer. Kyrie Irving also did his thing with 24 points, 11 boards, three assists, two treys, one steal and a block, and it’s safe to say that he doesn’t look like he is fazed by the pressure of his first postseason experience. A potential matchup with Derrick Rose in the next round is going to be must-see TV, and I just can’t wait.

J.R. Smith scored eight points with two steals and two 3-pointers, but he was ejected from the game after slugging Jae Crowder in the face with the back of his fist. Smith will surely be suspended for a game or two, so keep a close eye on that. Iman Shumpert stepped up and scored 15 points with 10 boards, two steals, three blocks and a 3-pointer in 38 minutes, and his role could grow in the next series if Smith misses any games.

The Celtics were simply overpowered for most of the series, but the good news is that their young core of players gained invaluable experience in the process. Unfortunately for Jae Crowder, he landed on his knee awkwardly after getting hit in the face by J.R. Smith, and the Celtics quickly ruled him out of the game with what is being called a knee sprain. Crowder is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, and I’m hopeful that the injury isn’t too serious.

Marcus Smart actually came off the bench on Sunday, but head coach Brad Stevens said it wasn’t because he was late to practice on Saturday. Instead, Stevens wanted Crowder to guard LeBron James due to his size and strength, so the move made a lot of sense. Smart finished the game with 11 points, six boards, one assist and a block, but it’s clear that he has a lot of work to do before he can make a name for himself in this league. Smart did show a lot of promise on the defensive end and developed a pretty nice outside shot (34 percent from deep this season), but the presence of Isaiah Thomas will limit Smart’s appeal in fantasy leagues next season.

Jared Sullinger was dealing with a bruised tailbone during Sunday’s loss, but you couldn’t tell by the way he was playing as he posted 21 points with 11 boards, one trey and a block in 28 minutes. When he’s healthy, Sullinger is clearly the best big on Boston’s roster, but his weight still concerns me and his injury history is troubling to say the least. Draft him with caution next season, but move him up a few spots on your draft board if he arrives to training camp in better shape. Isaiah Thomas scored 21 points with nine assists, five boards, one steal and a 3-pointer, but he shot just 4-of-17 from the field and turned the ball over four times. The Celtics seem to love him as the sixth man, and it looks like he is destined for a similar role next season.

Clippers, 114, Spurs 105 (series tied 2-2)

The Clippers grabbed a crucial win in San Antonio to even up the series, and they have to be feeling pretty confident leading into Game 5 as the series shifts back to Los Angeles. Chris Paul dominated his way to 34 points, seven assists, three boards, one block, one steal and two 3-pointers, and his mid-range game was on full display. Blake Griffin also feasted with 20 points, a playoff career-high 19 boards, seven assists and a steal in 43 impressive minutes.

DeAndre Jordan missed all four of his free throws on the night, but he still managed to pull down 14 boards with six points, one steal and four blocks. Jordan made Tiago Splitter look completely useless for the Spurs, as he failed to register a single point on five shot attempts.  Austin Rivers probably earned himself a little extra allowance from his dad after scoring 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in just 17 minutes. This has fluke written all over it, and I don’t think the Spurs will be too worried about Rivers doing that again.

One of the main concerns the Clippers will have is the health of Matt Barnes, as he picked up a shoulder injury that limited him to just 23 minutes of action on Sunday. Barnes is a warrior and has already said he will play in Game 5, but it’s possible that his shoulder could be a nuisance for the rest of the series.

Tim Duncan did his best to keep the Spurs in the game with 22 points, 14 boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes, but he simply didn’t have enough help. Kawhi Leonard was the only other Spur who really played well, and he finished with 26 points, seven boards, five assists, one block and three treys. Leonard is showing us once again why he is one of the best all-around players in the league, and his averages of 24.8 points, 6.5 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, 2.0 steals and 2.3 3-pointers during this series is just ridiculous. He will be gone in the first couple of rounds in fantasy drafts next season.

Tony Parker was averaging just 5.7 points per game in the series prior to Game 4, so the Spurs can at least take comfort in the fact that he was a lot more aggressive tonight. Parker finished with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, but he only recorded two rebounds and a single assist. Danny Green was arguably the most disappointing player on Sunday, as he was held scoreless after missing all six of his shots (all 3-pointers). Green is averaging just 6.5 points on 29 percent shooting in the series so far, so he is going to have to step it up if the Spurs want to squeak by the Clippers.

If Sunday’s Game between the Celtics and Cavaliers is any indication, then it’s obvious that the playoffs are starting to get intense. The Cavaliers swept the Celtics pretty easily, but the game was nothing short of a blood bath as Kevin Love and Jae Crowder both suffered pretty severe injuries while J.R. Smith was ejected for doing his best Floyd Mayweather impersonation.

Meanwhile, the Clippers grabbed a much-needed win over the Spurs in San Antonio to tie the series at 2-2, while the Wizards completely buried the Raptors to complete the sweep of the series. The Mavericks are still alive thanks to big performances from Monta Ellis and Al-Farouq Aminu, but I’ll break down each of these games in this version of the Daily Dose!

Cavaliers 101, Celtics 93 (Cavs win series 4-0)

The Cavaliers never really looked threatened in this series, but they have some serious obstacles ahead knowing that they could be without Kevin Love for a couple of weeks. Love got tangled up with Kelly Olynyk while fighting for a rebound, and Olynyk tugged down hard on Love’s arm which seemed to pop his shoulder out of place. The incident looked pretty dirty, and I think Olynyk will be facing a suspension from the league. The Cavaliers said that Love will undergo some additional tests on his dislocated left shoulder when he arrives back in Cleveland, so a firm timetable should be established soon. If the Cavaliers play the Bulls in the next round (Bulls are leading their series with the Bucks 3-1), they could be in some serious trouble.

With Love on the shelf, the Cavaliers will likely turn to a combination of Tristan Thompson and James Jones, while LeBron James may have to play more minutes at the four spot as well. James is going to get his stats no matter where he plays, but Thompson figures to be the primary beneficiary with Love on the sidelines.

As for Sunday’s game, LeBron James was simply sensational as he finished with 27 points, 10 boards, eight assists, three steals, one block and one 3-pointer. Kyrie Irving also did his thing with 24 points, 11 boards, three assists, two treys, one steal and a block, and it’s safe to say that he doesn’t look like he is fazed by the pressure of his first postseason experience. A potential matchup with Derrick Rose in the next round is going to be must-see TV, and I just can’t wait.

J.R. Smith scored eight points with two steals and two 3-pointers, but he was ejected from the game after slugging Jae Crowder in the face with the back of his fist. Smith will surely be suspended for a game or two, so keep a close eye on that. Iman Shumpert stepped up and scored 15 points with 10 boards, two steals, three blocks and a 3-pointer in 38 minutes, and his role could grow in the next series if Smith misses any games.

The Celtics were simply overpowered for most of the series, but the good news is that their young core of players gained invaluable experience in the process. Unfortunately for Jae Crowder, he landed on his knee awkwardly after getting hit in the face by J.R. Smith, and the Celtics quickly ruled him out of the game with what is being called a knee sprain. Crowder is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, and I’m hopeful that the injury isn’t too serious.

Marcus Smart actually came off the bench on Sunday, but head coach Brad Stevens said it wasn’t because he was late to practice on Saturday. Instead, Stevens wanted Crowder to guard LeBron James due to his size and strength, so the move made a lot of sense. Smart finished the game with 11 points, six boards, one assist and a block, but it’s clear that he has a lot of work to do before he can make a name for himself in this league. Smart did show a lot of promise on the defensive end and developed a pretty nice outside shot (34 percent from deep this season), but the presence of Isaiah Thomas will limit Smart’s appeal in fantasy leagues next season.

Jared Sullinger was dealing with a bruised tailbone during Sunday’s loss, but you couldn’t tell by the way he was playing as he posted 21 points with 11 boards, one trey and a block in 28 minutes. When he’s healthy, Sullinger is clearly the best big on Boston’s roster, but his weight still concerns me and his injury history is troubling to say the least. Draft him with caution next season, but move him up a few spots on your draft board if he arrives to training camp in better shape. Isaiah Thomas scored 21 points with nine assists, five boards, one steal and a 3-pointer, but he shot just 4-of-17 from the field and turned the ball over four times. The Celtics seem to love him as the sixth man, and it looks like he is destined for a similar role next season.

Clippers, 114, Spurs 105 (series tied 2-2)

The Clippers grabbed a crucial win in San Antonio to even up the series, and they have to be feeling pretty confident leading into Game 5 as the series shifts back to Los Angeles. Chris Paul dominated his way to 34 points, seven assists, three boards, one block, one steal and two 3-pointers, and his mid-range game was on full display. Blake Griffin also feasted with 20 points, a playoff career-high 19 boards, seven assists and a steal in 43 impressive minutes.

DeAndre Jordan missed all four of his free throws on the night, but he still managed to pull down 14 boards with six points, one steal and four blocks. Jordan made Tiago Splitter look completely useless for the Spurs, as he failed to register a single point on five shot attempts.  Austin Rivers probably earned himself a little extra allowance from his dad after scoring 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting in just 17 minutes. This has fluke written all over it, and I don’t think the Spurs will be too worried about Rivers doing that again.

One of the main concerns the Clippers will have is the health of Matt Barnes, as he picked up a shoulder injury that limited him to just 23 minutes of action on Sunday. Barnes is a warrior and has already said he will play in Game 5, but it’s possible that his shoulder could be a nuisance for the rest of the series.

Tim Duncan did his best to keep the Spurs in the game with 22 points, 14 boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes, but he simply didn’t have enough help. Kawhi Leonard was the only other Spur who really played well, and he finished with 26 points, seven boards, five assists, one block and three treys. Leonard is showing us once again why he is one of the best all-around players in the league, and his averages of 24.8 points, 6.5 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, 2.0 steals and 2.3 3-pointers during this series is just ridiculous. He will be gone in the first couple of rounds in fantasy drafts next season.

Tony Parker was averaging just 5.7 points per game in the series prior to Game 4, so the Spurs can at least take comfort in the fact that he was a lot more aggressive tonight. Parker finished with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, but he only recorded two rebounds and a single assist. Danny Green was arguably the most disappointing player on Sunday, as he was held scoreless after missing all six of his shots (all 3-pointers). Green is averaging just 6.5 points on 29 percent shooting in the series so far, so he is going to have to step it up if the Spurs want to squeak by the Clippers.

Wizards 125, Raptors 94 (Wizards win series 4-0)

Led by Bradley Beal’s 23-point performance, the Wizards easily swept the Raptors on Sunday and will now move on to face either the Hawks or the Nets (Hawks lead 2-1). Beal added five assists, one board, four steals and three treys, but he shot just 38 percent from the field in this series and that number will have to improve in the next round. John Wall continued his excellent play in the win, scoring 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting while connecting on all seven of his free throws. Wall also dished out 10 assists with four boards, one steal, one block and a 3-pointer in just 25 minutes.

Marcin Gortat, better known as “The Polish Hammer”, rattled off his second straight double-double by scoring 21 points with 11 boards, five assists, two steals and one block. Gortat is shooting a ridiculous 78.8 percent from the field over his last three games, but a lot of that has to do with Toronto’s soft interior defense. I’m looking at you, Jonas Valanciunas.  Paul Pierce chipped in 14 points with four boards, two assists, one steal and four 3-pointers, and he has really stepped up his game in the playoffs. If I were the Raptors, I probably wouldn’t talk trash to Pierce next season.

Despite a very poor postseason showing, Kyle Lowry ended his season on a high note by scoring 21 points with eight boards, four assists and two 3-pointers. John Wall outplayed him throughout the series, but it should be noted that Lowry hasn’t been 100 percent for a while now and the offseason will allow his body plenty of time to recover. DeMar DeRozan was arguably Toronto’s best player against the Wizards, but he managed just 14 points with four boards, four assists and three steals in the loss.

Lou Williams, the winner of the Sixth Man of the Year Award, contributed 14 points with a couple of treys on Sunday. Williams is set to become a free agent in the summer and will likely command a ton of interest from other teams, so it will be interesting to see if the Raptors make it a priority to retain his services. Jonas Valanciunas scored 16 points with nine boards and a steal, but overall he was pretty quiet in the series. Valanciunas averaged 26.2 minutes per game this season compared to 28.2 minutes in the 2013-14 season, and it doesn’t seem like head coach Dwane Casey is his biggest fan. Valanciunas will have to work on his lateral quickness on defense if he wants to take the next step in his development, but he will be a risky selection in fantasy drafts next season unless his role grows substantially.

Mavericks 121, Rockets 109 (Rockets leading series 3-1)

Despite a slow start to the game, the Mavericks outscored the Rockets 36-19 in the second quarter which helped them keep their playoff chances alive. Monta Ellis was their driving force on Sunday, and he finished the game with 31 points, six boards, three assists, one steal and two 3-pointers. However, the Mavericks wouldn’t have won without the help of J.J. Barea and Al-Farouq Aminu, and it looks like Dallas may finally have some momentum. Barea and Aminu were inserted into the starting lineup in place of Richard Jefferson and Raymond Felton on Sunday, but a lineup change was long overdue by head coach Rick Carlisle.

Barea scored 17 points with 13 assists, three boards, one steal and two 3-pointers, while Aminu contributed 16 points, 12 boards, two assists, one block and three treys in 38 minutes. Aminu also played phenomenal defense on James Harden for most of the game and even “posterized” him with a nasty dunk in the fourth quarter.  Carlisle would be crazy to go away from this lineup after this performance, so I expect to see more of the same from Aminu in Game 5. Tyson Chandler was also solid in Sunday’s win, posting a double-double with 10 points, 14 boards (five on the offensive glass), one assist and two blocks. Dirk Nowitzki, however, was relatively quiet with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting with eight boards, four assists and one block.

James Harden was harassed throughout the game by Al-Farouq Aminu’s pesky defense, but he still managed to post 24 points with five boards, five assists, two steals and one 3-pointer. Josh Smith had another great game off the bench, hitting eight of his ten shots (including 4-of-5 from deep) on his way to 23 points, six boards, three assists, one steal and one block in 28 minutes.

Terrence Jones saw just 18 minutes of action in the loss, but he doesn’t match up well against Nowitzki and his playing time will likely increase if the Rockets advance to the next round. Jones finished with 13 points, six boards and one steal, but he is tough to rely on in daily formats with the way Josh Smith has been playing. Corey Brewer provided a spark off the bench by scoring 22 points in 32 minutes, and he also added five boards, one steal, one block and one 3-pointer on the night. Brewer is averaging 16.8 points per game in this series, and his role in the offense will be important moving forward if Dallas continues to focus most of their attention on James Harden.