Maurice Evans, Magic
114-100 win vs. Raptors
14 pts, 5-7 FG, 4-6 3-pt FG

Dwight Howard, Magic
114-100 win vs. Raptors
25 pts, 8-13 FG, 9-11 FT

Pau Gasol, Lakers
128-114 win vs. Nuggets
36 pts, 14-20 FG, 8-8 FT

Dwight Howard knows that legends are made in the playoffs. Howard saw how LeBron James built a name for himself last season by carrying his team to the Finals and knows that if he wants to keep the ‘Superman’ moniker he needs to post some super games. If Sunday was any indication, watch out. Howard tallied 25 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks, making him the youngest player to post a 20-20 game in the playoffs.

T.J. Ford, Raptors
114-100 loss at Magic
5 pts, 1-9 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG

Joe Johnson, Hawks
104-81 loss at Celtics
19 pts, 7-22 FG, 2-6 3-pt FG

Richard Hamilton, Pistons
90-86 loss vs Sixers
13 pts, 5-17 FG, 0-1 3-pt FG

With the two best records in the NBA, a Celtics-Pistons matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals seems like a forgone conclusion according to most analysts. I guess nobody checked with the Sixers about that one. Philadelphia is the least experienced team in the playoffs, but opened the first quarter strong in Detroit before trailing by 12 at the half and falling behind by as many as 15 points. Detroit appeared to be coasting to a victory, much as they had done down the stretch in the regular season but Maurice Cheeks’ team still had one big charge left in them. Two back-to-back buckets by Willie Green started off a 10-0 run, that allowed Philly back in the game. The young Sixers would look shaky in the waning moments, giving the Pistons every chance to steal the game back, but held on for the 90-86 road win. Andre Miller led the way, scoring 15 of his team-high 20 points in the second half, while Andre Iguodala came up big with 16 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. After stealing one in Detroit, if the Sixers can defend their home floor three times in Philly they will pull off a miraculous upset.

While the Nuggets led the league in both steals and blocks, thanks to aggressive play from guys like Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby, Denver has had a rough season on the defensive end. It has been talked about throughout the regular season, but expect the Nuggets' 29th-in-the-NBA defense to get mentioned in every game of this series. Iverson and Carmelo Anthony chipped in 30 points a piece on Sunday, while Linas Kleiza and J.R. Smith were money off the bench, shooting 15-of-21 from the field to combine for 38 points. But unless George Karl can get his players as fired up on the defensive end as his coaches are during pre-game festivities, the Nuggets don’t stand a chance of stopping the Lakers. These guys are the best at tipping away a pass or blocking a shot on isolated possessions, but they can’t stand idly by while the Lakers penetrate the lane and consistently make the extra pass for easy shots. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined for 46 of their 68 points as Los Angeles ran away from Denver in the second half. If the Nuggets want to avoid the broom, someone needs to step up on D.

Sixers’ coach Mo Cheeks elected to start Thaddeus Young over Reggie Evans at power forward in Philadelphia’s playoff opener on Sunday. The decision worked out for both players. Young started out hot, scoring eight of his 10 points in the first quarter, while Evans came in and provided intensity off the bench. Evans scored 10 of his 11 points in the second half, while also grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds, both career playoff highs. Evans also hit two key free throws and a turn-around jumper on back-to-back possessions to put the Sixers ahead with five minutes to go.

Kevin Durant may end up taking the Rookie of the Year award, but Al Horford is still playing basketball and building up that resume. The former-Florida Gator wasn’t overwhelmed by the Hawks’ tough first round matchup with Boston. Horford led Atlanta with 20 points and 10 rebounds – seven on the offensive end – while also shooting 7-of-10 from the field against the Celtics' stout defense and contributing a steal and a block on the defensive end. “He played like he has been playing playoffs all season,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said after the game.

Pau Gasol has experienced great success in international play, taking home the MVP award while helping Spain to the 2006 FIBA World Championship. That’s why it is surprising that the 7-footer was 0-12 in the playoffs until snapping that streak in his first playoff appearance with the Lakers. Gasol nearly posted a triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists, while also shooting 70 percent from the field and perfect from the free throw line. He also pumped in 16 points in the third quarter when the Lakers pulled away.