What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Monday, May 6, 2024.

What happened in one snapshot in the NBA Playoffs on Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Jamal Murray threw a heating pad on the floor during the middle of a possession in the Denver Nuggets' 106-80 Game 2 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Referee Marc Davis said after the game that Murray should have been assessed a technical foul, but not been ejected for the incident.

"I was the lead official, and I didn't notice it was on the floor or where it came from until Towns scored," Davis told a pool reporter. "We weren't aware it had come from the bench. If we would have been aware it came from the bench, we could have reviewed it under the hostile act trigger. The penalty would have been a technical foul."

Chris Finch called Murray's act "dangerous" and "inexcusable" and said the Wolves attempted to reason with the officiating crew to adjudicate the incident.

"We tried to impress upon [the referees] there probably aren't many fans in the building that have a heat pack, so it probably had to come from the bench, which they found logical," Finch said. "I'm sure it was a mistake and an oversight and nothing intentional by the officiating at all, but certainly can't allow that to happen."

Rudy Gobert is questionable or Game 2 of the Minnesota Timberwolves' second round series against the Denver Nuggets for personal reasons. Gobert was not at shootaround with the Wolves.

Gobert's partner announced earlier this year that they were expecting a baby.

The Wolves enter the game up 1-0 over the Nuggets.

Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mitchell scored 39 points in Game 7 after scoring 50 in Game 6.

Cleveland's 18-point comeback is the largest in a Game 7 since at least 1997. 

The Cavaliers were resilient against the Magic one season after they were eliminated in five games in the first round by the New York Knicks.

"I'm tired of losing in the first round," Mitchell said. "You work too hard. We work too hard. That was my mindset ... for me, just be in attack mode. I'm battling through what I'm battling through, but I could battle through it and figure it out, or rehab it for the next three or four months. That's where I'm at mentally."

"[Mitchell is] the guy that can pull everybody along, not just with his skill but in spirit as well," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "When you see your teammate, a guy you care about playing that way, you don't want to let that guy down so you go out and do whatever you can to help that guy.

"We talk about how everybody has their style and their piece of leadership here and that's how Don leads, by being special in the moment. His teammates want to be a part of it."

"I don’t mean this disrespectful, but it doesn’t really mean much,” Mitchell said. “We didn't come in just to win the first round. We accomplished one goal, now we have to do it again. That’s the mindset."

What happened in one snapshot in the NBA Playoffs on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Friday, May 3, 2024.

Giannis Antetokoumpo was unable to appear in the first round of the Milwaukee Bucks' series against the Indiana Pacers due to a calf injury. 

Antetokoumpo's status heading into Game 6 was slightly more promising, but he was ruled out. 

"I tried my best to come back to help my teammates," Antetokounmpo said Friday. "It's kind of hard to see them being out there and not being able to help them, but I just couldn't.

"I did all the tests I had to do, these like protocols you have to follow and have to check the boxes. I wasn't even close at checking the boxes."

Antetokoumpo suffered the injury at the end of the regular season and last played on April 9th.

Antetokoumpo missed multiple playoff games last season as well with a back injury.

Antetokounmpo was asked if he might change his approach next season.

"I don't know. Maybe I do follow a different pattern," Antetokounmpo said. "Maybe try different things. I don't like the word 'rest.' Like, if I can play, I will play. If I cannot play, I can't play.

"I'm for sure going to sit down and think about it, of how my summer is going to look like and how next year is going to look like."

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

Damian Lillard will return to the lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 at the Indiana Pacers after missing their Game 5 win. Lillard is dealing with an Achilles injury.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, will remain out as he continues to deal with a calf injury.

The Bucks trail the Pacers 3-2 in their first round series.