ESPN commentators forced to apologize after start of NBA playoffs coverage is plagued by ‘technical difficulties’
ESPN was hit by technical difficulties as the NBA playoffs got underway.
The audio went out for nearly two minutes at the start of the game between Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Fans were left listening to the sounds coming from the arena without any commentary.
"Just underway here in Cleveland, and we apologize for some technical difficulties we're having," ESPN's Beth Mowins said once it returned.
Cleveland was downed in the first round of the 2023 playoffs but looked a different prospect this time.
Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points as Cleveland cruised to a 97-81 Game 1 triumph.
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"Last year is over with," Mitchell said. "We flushed that. This is who we are, and this is who we expect to be."
Game 2 is Monday at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
ESPN's audio was working perfectly as the Denver Nuggets saw out a 114-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
"Who's your Daddy?" fans could be heard chanting on the broadcast as their team closed out the game.
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It was Denver's NINTH consecutive triumph over the Lakers.
Broadcaster Bob Myers told viewers that James stared at him after a big three-point shot in the game.
"Wow ... I mean, wow," Myers said while laughing at the impressive play.
"I was laughing because after he made this, he looked right back at me," he said.
Elsewhere, FOX NFL star Michael Strahan kept it low-key with his attire choice while appearing at a New York Knicks playoff game.
During the second quarter, Knicks small forward Bojan Bogdanovic drilled a three-pointer to cut the 76ers lead to 36-34.
The Knicks crowd cheered as the ESPN cameras pointed to Strahan.
"We flushed that."
Donovan Mitchell
The NFL icon was seen clapping at the moment.
Strahan had on an all-black look, donning a suit along with a hat and was sat next to Stranger Things actor David Harbour.
Director and long-devoted Knicks fan Spike Lee was seen courtside.
Actors Chris Rock, Ben Stiller and Jason Bateman appeared at the contest.
And actors Tracy Morgan, Matthew Modine and Steve Schrippa were seen at celebrity row.
