A look at the NBA Playoffs second round

The opening round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs came with upsets, masterclasses, and eight teams left, fighting it out to win a championship.

With eighth-seed Miami beating Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Lakers beating the Memphis Grizzlies, and Golden State defeating Sacramento, it will be the first time in NBA history that a team that finished first through eighth will play in the second round.

After Golden State's Game 7 victory on Sunday night, here is all you need to know for the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

The shock victory in the opening round of the playoffs was Miami's 4-1 series victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, earning them a second-round matchup with the New York Knicks.

Jimmy Butler will be imperative for Miami, averaging 37.6 points per game in the opening series. Julius Randle is still questionable for The Knicks after injuring his ankle again in the first series. The Heat shot 45% from three against The Bucks and will need to do the same to win this series.

The Miami Heat won game one against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, winning 108-101, with Jimmy Butler rallying his troops, scoring 25 points, and collecting 11 rebounds.

The Philadelphia 76ers swept the Brooklyn Nets in the opening to set up a blockbuster second-round matchup against the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games.

Sixers star Joel Embiid is listed as out for the foreseeable future after suffering from a grade two knee sprain. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are healthy for Boston, so it will take a mighty effort from James Harden and his supporting cast to win the series.

Philadelphia didn't look as though they missed their star man Embiid in game one after a vintage 45-point performance from James Harden was enough for The Sixers to take the road win 119-115. Tatum did score 39 for The Celtics, but it wasn't enough for his team.

After demolishing the Minnesota Timberwolves in the opening round, the top-seed Denver Nuggets are on a roll to the championship, going up 2-0 in the second round to the Phoenix Suns.

Two-time MVP winner Jokic has been integral in the first two games for The Nuggets, averaging 31 points, 17.5 rebounds, and five assists in the series.

Despite Phoenix's superstar starting five, their lack of depth and points from the bench is a point of concern. Denver's bench has the playoffs second best net rating (4.3), while The Suns bench has a rating of -1.1, ranking ninth in the list.

Steph Curry scored a historic 50 points in game seven of the opening round against Sacramento, setting up a matchup with a familiar foe, LeBron James, and his Los Angeles Lakers team.

Over the years, Steph Curry and LeBron James have given the basketball world some of the greatest NBA Finals in history, from James beating the 73-9 Warriors in 2016 and Curry taking numerous championships away from James.

The Lakers had five different top scorers in their six-game series with Memphis. Kevon Looney became the third-ever Warrior to have 20 or more rebounds in a playoff series, boasting a test for Lakers star Anthony Davis.

Despite all the other second-round matchups, Steph versus LeBron is the game everyone wants to see, so sit back, relax, and enjoy what could be the final playoff matchup of two all-time greats.