In a thrilling playoff opener, Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets with a game-high 31 points, overcoming a glaring rebounding deficit. The Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks also made headlines as they secured victories in the play-in tournament, eliminating the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings, respectively. Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings parted ways with general manager Monte McNair after five seasons. In player news, Trae Young expressed his frustrations following the Atlanta Hawks' loss in the play-in tournament against the Orlando Magic, while Alex Condon of the Florida Gators announced his entry into the NBA Draft.

Additionally, the Warriors turned heads with a strong performance against the Memphis Grizzlies, with Curry hitting crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The Phoenix Suns made a significant coaching change, firing Mike Budenholzer after a disappointing season. As the playoffs unfold, teams and players alike are feeling the pressure, as evidenced by emotional responses from stars like Luka Doncic regarding his trade from the Mavericks. The next few games will be critical as teams fight for playoff positioning.