Kobe Bryant and the Lakers get another chance to finish the job against the Suns. The Chicago Bulls try again to knock out the Miami Heat in the first round.

The NBA's second season is all about second chances -- and the Dallas Mavericks hope to get theirs in the NBA finals after their collapse against the Heat last year.

"There's only one champion," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said. "No matter what you do in the regular season, at the end of the day you've got to try to get it done in the playoffs. It's not like you are playing against your 'B' team, where you are guaranteed to have the ring. There are other teams that have some say-so in this. It's not an easy task."

The playoffs begin Saturday afternoon, starting with Vince Carter going back to Toronto in the opener of the Nets' series against the Atlantic Division champion Raptors. That's one of two high-profile returns in the first round, the other coming when Don Nelson leads Golden State into Dallas for the start of the Warriors' first postseason in 13 years.

Also Saturday, Miami visits Chicago in the rematch of a tense first-round series from a year ago; top-seeded Detroit hosts the Orlando Magic; and Utah travels to Houston for a matchup of former West powers back in the postseason this year.

On Sunday, Cleveland welcomes Washington in yet another first-round rematch; the Lakers head back to Phoenix; the Denver duo of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson takes on San Antonio, and the league-best Mavs host the Warriors.

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