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GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) — Jalen Brunson held a steel chair. Tyrese Haliburton had brass knuckles.

NEW YORK (AP) — Preview capsule on the Indiana-New York Eastern Conference finals series that starts Wednesday: No. 4 Indiana Pacers (50-32, 8-2) vs. No. 3 New York Knicks (51-31, 8-4) Season series: Knicks, 2-1.

It was a busy opening weekend for the WNBA with record breaking performances and ratings as the league's stars shined. The game between Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever and Angel Reese's Chicago Sky drew an average of 2.

If the NBA playoffs were like the NCAA tournament, chances are your brackets would be busted by now. And that's because these conference final matchups — at least by seeding — weren't very predictable.

Indiana Pacers (50-32, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (51-31, third in the Eastern Conference) New York; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Knicks -4.5; over/under is 223.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The NBA has fined Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams $25,000 for wearing clothing with profane language during a postgame media session, the league announced Monday.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Koby Altman realizes expectations for the Cleveland Cavaliers going into next season will be much different.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle still prefers brutal honesty to nuance. He doesn't sugar-coat mistakes, doesn't fear taking his critiques public and doesn't shield players from high expectations.

BOSTON (AP) — The past 72 hours since the Boston Celtics were eliminated from the playoffs have been a vortex of emotions, conversations and lack of sleep for Brad Stevens.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two years ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves met in the play-in tournament to determine which would get the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Now, they’ll face off for a trip to the NBA Finals.