NBA Playoffs 2012: Three 2nd-Round Clashes You Can't Afford to Miss

The NBA lineup on Wednesday and Thursday is full of statement games.

With only a few games of each series in the books, no team is dominating yet, but Game 3 will be critical in each series that remains on the docket. Some teams dearly need to rebound from crushing losses in Game 2, while some need to further their momentum in the hopes of burying their opponents.

Here's a look at the can't-miss matchups over the next couple of days. As always, you can see the full playoff schedule at ESPN.com.

Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT
Series: Tied 1-1

The Celtics could've flown to Philly with a 2-0 series lead on Monday night. Instead, a critical and controversial error in the final minute of the game cost them a win.

With 10 seconds remaining and one more chance to tie the game at 78, Kevin Garnett was whistled for an illegal screen on Andre Iguodala, and the game was as good as over. Philadelphia escaped from Boston with an 82-81 win, and the Celtics found themselves wondering how their offense became so sluggish, confused, and ineffective in crunch time.

The answer? Only two members of Boston's "Big Four" had decent games on Monday. Garnett tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds and Ray Allen chipped in 17 points off the bench to lead all scorers, but Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo—who have keyed Boston's notorious fourth-quarter runs throughout the postseason—were relatively dormant. Pierce had seven points, five rebounds, and three assists while Rondo had eight points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds.

No one is really expecting this series to be an offensive slugfest, but Boston needs to exhibit more of a presence in Game 3 than it did the last time out, when it truly looked its age. Losing two straight games to such a young, aggressive team could put the Celtics in a hole they can't escape from. 

Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder
When: Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. EDT
Series: Thunder lead 1-0

The Lakers got flat-out embarrassed on the road in Game 1 and in no way resembled a team that is capable of going on a championship run. They were severely out-hustled by a Thunder team—and especially a Thunder bench—that ran all over them.

Like the Celtics, L.A. looked drained of all energy on Monday night and were dominated by a Russell Westbrook-Kevin Durant tandem that looks more and more formidable every game. Together, the two OKC stars tallied 52 points, 15 rebounds, 13 assists, and just one turnover. That pair drastically outplayed Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, and the Lakers fell victim to a deficit from which they couldn't recover for the second time in their last three games.

L.A. seems to be fading fast, and Game 2 is its chance to prove it still has some fight left before it has a chance to extend its momentum at home. But as it stands, the Thunder look as good as any team in the NBA, and the Lakers are quickly losing steam. If OKC won Game 2, it would be nearly impossible to believe the Thunder would have trouble scrounging up two more wins to take the series. 

Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers
When: Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT
Series: Tied 1-1

Just a couple of days after looking like a shoe-in to win the Eastern Conference, the Heat somehow dropped a 78-75 contest at home to the Pacers, and suddenly, this is a series again.

As it seems, Chris Bosh is much more of a factor in Miami's success than expected. The Heat forward is out indefinitely after suffering an abdominal strain in the final minutes of a Game 1 win, forcing LeBron James to switch to the 4—a move he found "a lot more taxing," according to the Miami Herald. The Heat's weariness showed on the boards, where they lost the defensive battle 50-40 as well as one of their most important presences in the paint.

With no official timetable for Bosh's return, the Heat have no choice but to find a way to compensate for his loss, and LeBron is an MVP, so he should be able to find a way to be effective against some of the bigger players in the league. If Miami can't adjust, the Pacers may have just found a way to neutralize the NBA's best player.

With two games at home coming up, a win in the first would be huge for Indiana, while a win for the Heat would give them the confidence to know they can win while Bosh recovers.