NBA Playoffs 2015: Top 10 Moments from the Weekend

First-round action in the NBA playoffs continued this weekend, with all 16 teams involved providing several eye-catching moments, including full-court shots and picture-perfect passes.

On top of the individual moments, the Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers all rolled to fourth straight wins to finalize their series sweeps.

While some teams began their offseasons, other teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks fought to see another game in the postseason.

Following the eight weekend games, here are the top 10 moments from Saturday and Sunday’s action in the NBA, taking into account the visual appeal of the action, the way it represented the entire series and the impact it had on the team’s fortunes moving forward.

10. LeBron James' and Dwight Howard's Trick Shots

Everybody knows LeBron James can back a defender down or drain a three-pointer, but the best player in the world revealed a new skill in his repertoire.

The Cleveland forward has shown the ability to make trick shots in the past, but this play seems so effortless. James essentially throws the shot like a football quarterback, as if operating an inbound pass play.

Fellow trick-shot artist Dwight Howard refused to be topped and responded with a shot of his own. While still wearing his backpack, the Houston center effortlessly matched James' shot.

Neither of these shots held any effect in a game, but baskets like these do not happen every day.

9. Rick Carlisle's Press Conference

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle found an unusual way to avoid a fine for criticizing referees following his team's 121-109 win over the Houston Rockets in the fourth game of the series.

Carlisle placed tape over his mouth to remain quiet during questions about the officiating. This comes on the back of a game featuring physical play in which the Rockets shot 40 free throws. Officials also dished out four technical fouls and one flagrant in the game.

Carlisle's comical way to avoid questions comes quickly after the league fined him $25,000 for criticizing the men in stripes.

The Mavericks live to fight another day despite their complaints against the officials as they head into Game 5 following their first win of the series. The coach's demeanor could infuse an attitude in his team as it continues to battle back against Houston.

8. Steph Curry's Continued Dominance

The 2014-15 campaign is the season of Steph Curry. The player is not new to professional basketball, but his phenomenal play partnered with his team's dominance makes him a must-watch player every night.

The MVP candidate posted 39 points in Golden State's 109-98 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. Curry also added nine assists, including the dish above, to help his team to victory.

The play above shows Curry's ability to attract attention and then find his open teammates for easy baskets. Look for Curry to make more plays like this in the second round of the playoffs against the winner of the Memphis-Portland series.

7. Dwight Howard and Josh Smith Connecting for Alley-Oop

Dwight Howard looks happy and healthy in the NBA playoffs thus far. The easygoing center displayed his ability to sink trick shots before the game and then showed off his athleticism in the equally impressive alley-oop shown above.

Josh Smith's lob left a lot for Howard to do as he rose up and slammed it down with one hand. The center finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks but missed 10 free throws Sunday night. 

Fast-break alley-oops like the one shown above can shift momentum in a game, but the Rockets failed to seal the deal in Dallas.

6. J.R. Smith Lashing Out

The Cavaliers clinched their spot in the second round of the playoffs after topping the Boston Celtics in four games. However, the Cavaliers may be without a key contributor following the play by J.R. Smith shown above.

Officials ejected Smith from Sunday night's game following the flagrant-2 foul after he struck Jae Crowder in the face in the second half. Crowder faced a lot of abuse in the game, as Kendrick Perkins shouldered the Boston player in the first half.

The Cavaliers may be without their starting shooting guard to start their next series against either the Bulls or the Bucks. Iman Shumpert primarily filled in for Smith following the ejection, but a suspension could thin Cleveland's rotation moving forward.

5. Jerryd Bayless' Buzzer-Beater

The Bucks live to fight another day in the NBA playoffs. Milwaukee faced elimination Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls, but Jerryd Bayless' last-second shot shown above gave Milwaukee its first win of the series.

The backup point guard played 25 minutes in the game, contributing 10 points, including the two points that won the game.

Derrick Rose's impressive return to the playoffs has been greatly documented this postseason, but Bayless beat the star point guard on this play to force a fifth game. The Bucks traveled to Chicago to face elimination again Monday.

4. Bradley Beal's Big Game 4

Bradley Beal shot early and often Sunday as Washington beat down the Toronto Raptors 125-94. The University of Florida product led the game in scoring with 23 points as the Wizards finished off the sweep in the nation's capital.

The shooting guard converted this unlikely three-pointer late in the shot clock, showing Washington's fortune in the game.

The Wizards are the only lower-seeded team to clinch a spot in the next round thus far. However, this may have been a poor showing on the part of the Raptors rather than a dominant series by the Wizards. Toronto looked dismal throughout the series as its shots consistently did not fall.

The Wizards will face the winner of the series between the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets in the second round.

3. Golden State's Complete Team Performance

The Golden State Warriors do not necessarily rely on a Big Three. Instead, the team revolves around the Splash Brothers and a cast of superb role players.

The team play of the Warriors was on full display in the play shown above. Steph Curry started the play, and his partner Klay Thompson finished it by knocking down the three-point shot. This particular play showcased Golden State's ball movement as all five players touched the ball on this possession.

The Warriors swept the Pelicans in four games in large part due to great team play and the depth of their bench. Golden State now has a few days off as its second-round opponent is not yet determined.

2. Chris Paul Getting the Clippers Back on Track

It seemed like every shot fell for Chris Paul on Sunday as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the San Antonio Spurs behind the point guard's 34 points.

Paul converted 11 of his 19 shots from the floor, including the circus shot shown above. How do you classify that shot? Is it a floater, a mid-range jumper or something that cannot be described?

The 29-year-old also contributed seven assists as the Clippers regained momentum in the series. The Spurs looked to jump out to a two-game lead at home Sunday. Instead, the Clippers tied the series to turn up the pressure on the defending champions.

The Clippers return to Los Angeles on Tuesday night as they try to finish off the Spurs.

1. Kevin Love's Injury

The biggest moment of the weekend featured an injury rather than a highlight, as the health of Kevin Love is uncertain following his scrap with Boston's Kelly Olynyk, shown above.

Love dislocated his shoulder after locking arms with Olynyk. The power forward headed to the locker room and did not return to the game following the injury.

The Cavaliers swept the Celtics but face major injury concerns moving forward with the absence of Love. Cleveland ruled Love out for the team's semifinal series against either Chicago or Milwaukee, according to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt.

"This is a gigantic setback for the Cavaliers' championship hopes," Zillgitt wrote. "Love was fantastic in Cleveland's first three games of the Boston series, averaging 18.3 points, nine rebounds and three assists. He also had made 47.3 percent of his three-pointers. In Game 3, Love had 23 points, nine rebounds and three assists."

Love's impact makes this injury the top moment, as the Cavs will feel his loss as they progress in the playoffs.