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The 2023 NBA postseason has already been full of surprises. Somehow, the Los Angeles Lakers finished with the seventh-best record in the West after starting the season 2-10, and they earned a playoff spot via the play-in tournament. The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the postseason without LeBron James for the first time since 1997-98. The Sacramento Kings snapped the longest playoff drought in NBA history. And, perhaps most notably of all, the No. 8 seed Miami Heat easily downed the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks and have reached the conference finals for the third time in four seasons. Needless to say, some squads already have plenty to celebrate -- and sometimes the festivities spill over onto the hardwood after a big play. Here are some notable celebrations from the postseason. Conference finalsJimmy Butler Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals saw Butler use a classic celebration directed towards former Defensive Player of the Year Grant Williams. Butler hit the "too small" gesture after making a clutch bucket in the Miami Heat's 111-105 win over the Boston Celtics.
First RoundTrae Young Young cashed in on a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left to lift Atlanta Hawks over the Boston Celtics 119-117 in Game 5. He completed the Hawks' comeback with 38 points and showed off his signature shiver. Austin Reaves Reaves scored 23 points in the Lakers' Game 1 upset of the Memphis Grizzlies, including 13 in the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies were threatening to come back. After burying a clutch 3-pointer, Reaves let everyone in the arena know by yelling "I'm him!"
Play-inFred VanVleet VanVleet made four 3-pointers in the first half of Wednesday's play-in game, tying his most in any half this season. His last one was a half-court heave that beat the buzzer and extended the Toronto Raptors' lead to 58-47 over the Chicago Bulls -- and it was certainly something to celebrate.
Dennis Schroder, LeBron JamesSchroder appeared to complete the Lakers' comeback effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves with his tiebreaking 3-pointer on a pass from James with 1.4 seconds left in regulation of Tuesday's play-in tilt. However, the would-be game winner was spoiled when Anthony Davis fouled Mike Conley, who nailed all three foul shots and sent the game to overtime. Luckily for the Lakers, they still came out on top, so Schroder and James' celebration still stands.
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