Saturday NBA Playoff Action Is Back With Us
Who doesn’t love a Saturday watching their favourite sport? This is the best time of the week for most people and there are two big NBA Playoff games taking place today. There were also two big NBA Playoff games taking place last night and one of them went right to the wire, with an ending that brought a smile to the face of so many basketball fans around the world.
It was a buzzer beating shot from Derrick Rose that decided Game 3 in the Cavs and Bulls series, and this was an outcome that cheered many in the world of basketball. Okay, you don’t expect to see many Cavs fans feeling delighted about losing in such a manner but with all of the trials and tribulations that Derrick Rose has suffered in recent years, this is an outcome that will have cheered many people. The 99-96 win gives the Bulls a 2-1 lead after three games of the series and the pressure is back on LeBron.
The other game was a lot more straightforward with the Clippers routing the Rockets in Los Angeles. The final score of 124-99 was indicative of the strength of the home side and they now hold a 2-1 lead in their series.
Atlanta Hawks @ Washington Wizards
John Wall is hoping against hope that he will be available for Game 3 in the series against the Hawks but at the moment, he is not convinced that he will be able to do so. He is still suffering a lot of pain in his left hand and wrist and he openly admits that at the moment, he can’t dribble and pass without being in pain. If that changes before court time, you can imagine the Wizards pitching him in but at the moment, this may not be a risk that they should be looking to take.
Wall was given almost up to tip-off before Game 2 but as he struggled to take part in the basic drills the players enjoy pre-game, it was decided it was best to leave him out. Ramon Sessions came in and he grabbed 21 points but it wasn’t enough to keep the Wizards on course with the Hawks grabbing a 106-90 win. Bradley Beal was also playing with an injury, a strained ankle, and he grabbed 20 points and 7 assists in the point guard role. With Paul Pierce and Otto Porter both grabbing 15 points each for the Wizards, there were players stepping up for the Washington side, but it wasn’t enough.
As for the Hawks, DeMarre Carroll grabbed 22 points on Tuesday and they also called on Al Horford and Paul Millsap to do the damage. Jeff Teague is yet to find form, but he is never far away from clicking. While the Hawks had a stunning record on the road in the East during the regular campaign, they did fall twice in Brooklyn in the opening Playoff series.
The Hawks hold a 65-25 record for the season and this includes a 26-18 record on the road, and they have a 5-5 record in their last 10 games. This indicates the nature of Playoff life because you wouldn’t expect a team like the Hawks to dip to this sort of record. They face a Wizards side that holds a 51-37 record, and this includes a 31-12 record at home and a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. With respect to average points for, the Hawks lead 102.5 to 99.0 and for average points against, the Hawks lead again 97.1 to 97.8.
Taking the Hawks with a -3.5 handicap, at odds of 1.90, may not be the poorest decision you make this weekend. Bet Now!
Golden State Warriors @ Memphis Grizzlies
The Warriors still remain many people’s tip for glory this season but it would be fair to say that the Grizzlies managed to cause a big shock in Game 2. The series now moves to Memphis for Game 3 and the stakes are high. The Grizzlies come into this game with a bit of confidence after having defeated the Warriors but the Warriors have only slipped to one back to back defeat since January, so it is not as if they are just going to roll over and let the Grizzlies have their way with them.
The return of Mike Conley provided the Memphis team with a big boost in the 90-97 win and with 22 points, the masked man was instrumental in the victory. When Conley has played in the Playoffs, his team has a 4-0 record, which means that they will be determined to keep him as fit as possible. The three days’ rest between the second and third game will have probably helped Conley a great deal and it may be that he is ready to deliver another masterclass in this game but it won’t be a simple or easy game for the home side.
The Warriors have done well in bouncing back from defeat this season and have only lost back to back on four occasions this season. Their 28-13 record on the road in the regular season will give them confidence, as did the fact that they grabbed two wins in New Orleans in the previous round but the Grizzlies did win 3 games at home on their opening Playoff round. The Warriors have triumphed in their past three visits but before that they lost out in 9 games in a row, so they may have one or two concerns about this game and how it will all pan out.
The Warriors have a 72-16 record for the season and this includes a 30-13 record on the road and a 9-1 record in their last 10 games, which indicates the feat that the Grizzlies achieved in winning their most recent game. The Memphis side comes in with a 60-29 record which includes a 34-10 record at home and a 6-4 record in their last 10 outings. For average points scored, the Warriors lead 109.6 to 98.3 but for average points against, the Grizzlies have the edge by 95.0 to 99.7.
You have to think that the Warriors have a great chance of avoiding back to back defeats and taking them with a -4.5 handicap, at odds of 1.90, is a decent bet for Saturday basketball betting action. Bet Now!
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