NBA Playoffs 2015: The East is getting interesting after the Nets and Bucks win on Monday

There are more reasons to be excited about if you're a Wizards fans than the Capitals' first-round playoff series win over the Islanders. In fact, we are getting quite giddy in this unexpected, yet well-earned week of rest.

On Monday, we saw both Eastern Conference playoff games end up in upsets as lower-seeded teams kept their seasons alive. That makes Wizards fans wonder if a second-round meeting with the Hawks is inevitable after all.

The Nets defeated the Hawks, 120-115 in overtime in Game 4, ties series 2-all

Deron Williams scored 35 points, including seven three-pointers to get the Nets to even their first-round series against the Hawks, who aren't looking like the 60-22 team we saw during the regular season. The key stat in the game was turnovers, where the Hawks committed 16 which turned into 26 Nets points. Those turnovers proved costly and negated Atlanta's 55-40 rebounding advantage.

The series returns to Atlanta for Game 5 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, which you can see on TNT. If the Nets can steal a W, we may very well see the Wizards start Game 1 of their second-round playoff series at home!

The Bucks just won't go away, win at Chicago in Game 5, 94-88

Milwaukee staved off elimination, 92-90 on Saturday, and many assumed that Chicago would close them out on Monday. Instead, Michael Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton scored a combined 43 points to make this series a bit more interesting than it should be on paper. The Bulls were able to prevent the Bucks from shooting at a high rate -- Milwaukee only shot 42.4 percent -- but they only shot 34.4 percent for the game. Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler had a very inefficient shooting night to say the least.

The Bucks still are behind in this series, 3-2, but remember that they gutted out two wins in a row. Who knows what can happen during Game 6 on Thursday, at 7 p.m. You can watch this game on TNT.

In the West, the Trail Blazers staved off elimination with a 99-92 comeback win against the Grizzlies

The Portland Trail Blazers were blown out by the Memphis Grizzlies in Games 3 and 4, and also looked like they gave their best shot in Game 3, which they also lost, 115-109. However, they forced a Game 5 by scoring 31 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Grizzlies. Damian Lillard led the way in those final minutes by scoring 12 points, while CJ McCollum added seven more points on 3 of 4 shooting.

Even though Portland only shot 35 percent in the fourth quarter, they also made 15 of 17 free throws, while controlling Memphis to just two attempts. This alone almost made up for the deficit. We'll see if the Blazers and their "Clutchman" can extend this series for at least one more game while Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley is out due to a facial injury.

Tuesday's NBA Playoff Games

There are no Eastern Conference games on today. But two Western Conference games will be:

• The Dallas Mavericks will play the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of their first-round series at 8 p.m. ET on TNT. The Rockets lead, 3-1.
• The San Antonio Spurs will play the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5 of their first-round series at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT. The series is tied, 2-2.