Some NBA Playoff Series Could Be Decided Today
This is a big Saturday of NBA Playoff action and some of the series could be decided today. There were also some big results last night, which we will look at now before beginning our previews of today’s NBA action.
The Rockets grabbed a big away in Dallas, overcoming the Mavericks by a score of 128-130. This sees Houston with a 3-0 lead in the series and they will be feeling mighty confident about progressing from this round. The Spurs were comfortable winners at home over the Los Angeles Clippers, winning by a score of 100-73. This result leaves the Spurs with a 2-1 lead in the series and there is plenty to play for in this game. The other result on Friday night saw the Washington Wizards defeat the Toronto Raptors by a score of 106-99, with the Wizards now leading by 3-0 in the series.
Atlanta Hawks @ Brooklyn Nets
The Hawks may not have been at their best so far in this series, at least not in comparison to their form during the regular season, but they still hold a 2-0 lead so far. Of course, they are now on the road, playing in Brooklyn and they will be trying to overcome the Nets for a third time in a row in the Playoff series.
With 60 wins over the course of the season, there was a lot of expectation that the Hawks would tear it up against the Nets. However, in both of these games so far, the Hawks have had to hold on against a Brooklyn comeback.
In the opening game of the series, the Atlanta side were leading by 16 points but in the end, they were more than happy enough to cling on to a 99-92 win. In the second game, the Hawks were leading by 12 points but in the end, they were thankful for the fact that Deron Williams missed a jump-shot that could have tied the game with just 11 seconds left on the clock. They may have lost out in the two games so far but the Nets will be confident that they can take the Hawks to the wire and being at home in these games may be the factor that makes a difference this time.
Al Horford has managed to bounce back from a pink injury in Game 1 and he offered up 14 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists on Wednesday night. He’ll need to be at his best against a team who have 7 of their last 9 home games. Atlanta had a difficult time on the road before the end of the regular season, losing 6 of 8, but they can point to the fact that they have triumphed three times in a row in Brooklyn.
Brook Lopez has been a major player for the Nets, offering up 37 points and 21 rebounds in the two games of this series, and he also one of the best Nets players during the two home losses to the Hawks earlier in the season.
The Hawks are 62-22 for the season with a 25-16 record on the road, and their last 10 game record stands at 6-5. The Nets come in with a 28-46 record, including a 19-22 record at home and in their last 10 games, the Nets are 4-6. The Hawks lead on average points scored, 102.4 to 97.9 and for average points against, the Hawks lead 97.0 to 100.8.
Taking the Atlanta Hawks with a -2.5 handicap, at odds of 1.90, is likely to be a decent bet. Bet Now!
Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers are hoping that their home crowd can lift their spirits as they are suffering from a handful of injuries and their main marksman has been lacking in form of late. Add this to the fact that they are trailing 0-2 in the series and you can see why the Blazers are feeling pushed to their limits at the moment.
Even though the Trail Blazers topped the Northwest Division but they failed to grab a home-court advantage and the Grizzlies have taken full advantage of this, firmly taking a hold of the series. The Blazers have a strong home record, with a 32-9 record in the Moda Center, and the volume and passion of the home crowd have helped to make a difference. Mind you, the Grizzlies know that they have clinched five of the last 6 games in Portland, and this includes two games this season. Grizzlies have actually 11 of the last 12 games against the Trail Blazers and there have been a good few double digit victories in this run.
The Grizzlies are 57-27 for the season with a 24-17 record on the road, and their last 10 game record stands at 7-3. The Trail Blazers come in with a 51-33 record, including a 32-9 record at home and in their last 10 games; the Portland side has a poor 3-7 record. For average points scored, the Grizzlies lead 102.4 to 97.9 and for average points against, the Memphis side has the edge by a record of 97.0 to 100.8.
This could be the game where the Trail Blazers salvage some pride and taking them with a -3 handicap, at odds of 1.90, is likely to be a decent bet in this game. Bet Now!
Golden State Warriors @ New Orleans Pelicans
The Warriors have a chance to complete the clean sweep in this game, but it was the manner of the victory in Game 3 that will remain the talking point. This may well have been the game that demolished all hope and thought of life from the Pelicans. When you are trailing 2-0 and you have a twenty point lead in the fourth quarter, you have to think that you are right back in the mix of a seven game series. Somehow though, the Pelicans squandered this lead and then managed to lose out in overtime by a score of 119-123. Stephen Curry hit a three point shot with less than 3 seconds on the clock and then started the overtime session with another 3 points shot, which was the first time that the Warriors had been in the lead since the opening quarter. If you thought that there has been a lot of talk about Curry for MVP this campaign, the chants have gotten even bigger since this game.
The Pelicans may find that the psychological barrier involved with getting back on track is the biggest challenge that they have to face in this game. Ryan Anderson performed well for the Pelicans, grabbing 26 points but other players like Eric Gordon failed to live up to their billing, and will need to offer more on Saturday.
This is the first time that the Warriors have held a 3-0 lead in the Playoffs since 1975, a year when they went on to clinch the NBA Championship and there will be many people believing that they can do so again this season.
The Golden State Warriors are 70-15 for the season with a 29-13 record on the road, and their last 10 game record stands at a strong 8-2 record. The New Orleans Pelicans come in with a 45-40 record, including a 28-14 record at home and in their last 10 games, the Pelicans are 4-6. The Warriors lead on average points scored, 109.9 to 99.4 and for average points against, the Pelicans lead 98.9 to 99.9.
The Golden State Warriors will be keen to finish this series off and taking them with a -7 handicap, and odds of 1.90, is likely to be a strong best for Saturday. Bet Now!
Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks
Derrick Rose delivered 40 points in a Playoff game for the first time in 30 years, and he will be hoping to help the Bulls complete a clean sweep in the Playoff for the first time since 2008. Rose only managed a limited number of games in the Playoff season but if he can be instrumental in the post-season, no one will really mind too much.
The Bucks actually led by 18 points at one point in Game 3 but they now face a big challenge in trying to stay in the series and NBA histo0ry indicates that no team who has been 3-0 down has ever progressed in the Playoffs.
Nikola Mirotic dropped out of the training session on Friday and he may sit out this game although Kirk Hinrich could play a major role after featuring for 6 minutes on Thursday.
The Bulls are 53-32 for the season with a 24-18record on the road, and their last 10 game record stands at an impressive 8-2. The Bucks come in with a 41-44 record, including a 22-19 record at home and in their last 10 games, the team from Milwaukee have a 4-6 record. The Bulls lead on average points scored, 100.8 to a 97.7 record and for average points against, it is all square on 97.6.
You can find the Chicago Bulls with a -5 handicap, at odds of 1.90, which should be a decent bet for this game. Bet Now!
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