The favorites, the underdogs and the Lakers: All you need to know for the playoffs

Another game, yet another unnerving free throw disparity favoring the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Sacramento Kings have hired former Houston Rockets executive Monte McNair as their new general manager. The team announced the move to replace Vlade Divac on Thursday, making McNair the team’s top basketball executive reporting to owner Vivek Ranadive. ”Monte is one of the NBA’s top basketball minds who has played an instrumental role in building several winning teams in Houston,” Ranadive said.

TORONTO – Reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder came into the Air Canada Centre on Sunday afternoon and handed the Toronto Raptors just their second loss in 20 games. Westbrook finished 37 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists in the 132-125 victory, and scored 17 points in the fourth