NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Predictions for Thursday's Game 3 Matchups

The 2012 NBA Playoffs have, so far, proven to be just as compelling as originally anticipated.

The Miami Heat are paving their way through a bruised and battered New York Knicks team. Kevin Durant continues his quest to grab the game’s “top player” accolade amongst league fans.

Now, a pair of Game 3s await fans on Thursday, as both Miami and the Thunder look to take commanding 3-0 leads in their respective first-round matchups. Here’s what’s in store:

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks: TNT, 7 p.m. ET

(Heat Lead 2-0)

Behind Lebron James, the Heat are rolling over a battered Eastern Conference, which will not see the Bulls’ Derek Rose for the remainder of the playoffs with a torn ACL.

Without Rose, Chicago is at a substantial loss, as the conference playoffs are now twister upside-down.

James is averaging a line of 15.5-5.5-6 through the first two games of the series, playing 41 minutes in Game 2 in a 104-94 victory Monday over New York.

The Knick still remain without Jeremy Lin, who's recovering from knee surgery and was reportedly doing basketball-related activity and drills during practice Wednesday.

Big man Amare Stoudemire, who punched a fire extinguisher casing following Monday’s blowout loss, is likely out for the rest of the series or possibly the remainder of the season if the Knicks decide to shut him down.

Miami’s rolling, but if New York want to recover and make the series competitive, it will be on the backs of Carmelo Anthony, who's has failed to pull up in the fourth quarter in this series, and Jeremy Lin, who captured national and world attention with his out-of-nowhere rise.

Lin’s signature—and undeniable—moment of the season came in his 38-point performance against the Lakers back in February, but his roller coaster of a season has since turned into an uphill battle.

Prediction: Heat 105, Knicks 83

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks: TNT, 9:30 p.m. ET

(Thunder Lead 2-0)

Last year's NBA Finals MVP, Dirk Nowitzki, and the rest of the Mavericks are in a heap of trouble, despite losing both Games 1 and 2 by a combined four points.

Kevin Durant is quickly validating his MVP considerations in these NBA Playoffs, as his last-second jumper iced the Thunder’s 99-98 Game 1 victory over the Mavericks last Saturday.

Dallas struggled during the regular season defending in the paint, as they were missing last year’s supreme-defender Tyson Chandler, who walked away to New York for a five-year deal.

The Mavericks will have to rely on the 33-year-old Nowitzki to carry them through, who put up 31 points and six rebounds in Monday’s 102-99 Game 2 loss.

Expect Westbrook to eventually make noise in the series, and expect Oklahoma City to take hold of the series and advance.

Predictions: Thunder 98, Mavericks 92.