NBA Playoffs 2015: Live Stream Schedule, Odds and Bracket Predictions for Friday
The NBA playoffs haven't seen domination like this in seven years. The 2008 postseason was the last time this many first-round series got off to 2-0 starts—seven of the eight home teams have won both games in their own arenas.
The lone tied series, though? There's reason to believe it could've been an eventual conference finals had the seeding worked out differently. The Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs, after splitting the first two contests at Staples Center, travel to Texas for Game 3 at 9:30 p.m. Friday.
Before they tip off in San Antonio, two teams will attempt to dig themselves out of 2-0 holes—one at home and one on the road. Without Rajon Rondo and Chandler Parsons, the Dallas Mavericks host the Houston Rockets in a crucial Game 3, while the Toronto Raptors, after dropping their first two at home, travel to take on the Washington Wizards.
| 7 p.m. ET | (2) Rockets vs. (7) Mavericks | 2-0 HOU | ESPN | WatchESPN | DAL (-2.5) |
| 8 p.m. ET | (4) Raptors vs. (5) Wizards | 2-0 WAS | ESPN2 | WatchESPN | WAS (-3.5) |
| 9:30 p.m. ET | (3) Clippers vs. (6) Spurs | Tied 1-1 | ESPN | WatchESPN | SAS (-3.4) |
Predictions
(2) Rockets vs. (7) Mavericks
On paper, this Rockets-Mavericks series seemed fairly evenly matched for a No. 2 vs. No. 7 matchup. Despite being the lower seed, Rick Carlisle's squad boasted one of the more talented starting fives and the sixth-highest scoring bench, according to HoopsStats.com.
But with Chandler Parsons out for the season due to a knee injury that could require surgery and Rajon Rondo not likely to suit up for Dallas ever again, according to Carlisle, via ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon, the Mavs' chances are as grim as ever.
Houston has won both games by double digits, with James Harden and Dwight Howard combining for 52 points in Game 2.
According to Fox Sports, Devin Harris should get the start at point in Game 3 after missing Wednesday's game. J.J. Barea and Raymond Felton will likely split the backup minutes.
Dallas managed to go 27-14 at home this year, but the Rockets almost matched that mark on the road, going 26-15 in visiting arenas. Missing a pair of starters and going up against a team led by one of the league's best all-around threats in Harden, the Mavericks' chances of winning the series may already be extinct.
Prediction: Rockets 108, Mavericks 98
(4) Raptors vs. (5) Wizards
In a series between two of the more disappointing Eastern Conference teams over the past few months, the Raptors have proven the more futile, dropping a pair of games in front of their raucous home crowd—the first a heartbreaker in overtime, then an 11-point defeat in Game 2 that wasn't as close as the final score would suggest.
Kyle Lowry has been a no-show for Toronto, shooting a combined 5-of-20 over the first two games for 13 points. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 17.5 points in the series, but a Wizard has stepped up in each game to take control.
In Game 1, it was Paul Pierce emerging from mediocrity to instantly reappear as 2008 Paul Pierce. He posted 20 over his 37 minutes, hitting one big shot after another to outlast the Raps in overtime. Game 2 featured the rise of Washington's young backcourt. John Wall went for a remarkable 26 points and 17 assists, while Bradley Beal dropped 28 points on 12-of-21 shooting in the victory.
Now back at the Verizon Center, the series is Washington's for the taking. Toronto came away victorious twice in that arena in the regular season, but not since Feb. 11, which may seem like years ago to this disheveled Raptors team. Now that Wall and Beal have hit their stride, the pressure is going to be on Toronto's guards to keep up.
Wall shot 20 percent better at home than on the road during the regular season. If he can even remotely resemble his output from Monday, Washington could be on the fast track to Round 2.
Prediction: Wizards 103, Raptors 95
(3) Clippers vs. (6) Spurs
Every other series has been predominantly one-sided, but this particular Western Conference matchup may be the best we'll see over the first two rounds.
If the Spurs won their final regular-season game, they'd have been the No. 2 seed, avoiding the top tier of the West until the latter rounds. Instead, they dove all the way to sixth, setting up this classic matchup against the Clips in Round 1.
So far, it's been impossible to call. Los Angeles jumped out in front early in Game 1. But momentum didn't carry into Game 2, when the Spurs took advantage of some Clippers miscues late in the game to win in overtime, 111-107.
In San Antonio, the Spurs are facing a potential problem in the health of Tony Parker. CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported that despite being listed as questionable for Friday with an Achilles injury, he's expected to play. Nonetheless, the team is concerned about his status moving forward:
"Late word out of the Spurs' locker room Wednesday night, according to a person briefed on the matter, is that Parker is expected to play in Game 3 on Friday night in San Antonio. But there is legitimate concern within the organization about how effective he will be, and about the injury becoming a recurring problem throughout the series.
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Gregg Popovich does have Patty Mills and Cory Joseph to turn to in the event Parker can't go, and Mills went for 18 points over 19 minutes in Game 2. But he's never started a playoff game and hasn't started at all since April 10, 2014. Parker is crucial to San Antonio's offense, though the deep Spurs roster may be able to survive in his absence—it could be a prime opportunity for Kawhi Leonard to step into a major role.
Blake Griffin is on the heels of a triple-double for Los Angeles, and he's averaging a ridiculous 27.5 points and 12 boards these playoffs. DeAndre Jordan is coming off of a 20-point, 15-rebound game, and Chris Paul has averaged 26.5 points. With the Clippers, though, the question has never been about their Big Three, but their bench. Excluding Jamal Crawford, the Clips bench has scored 11 points this series.
Will Parker be healthy enough to play effectively? Can L.A.'s stars dominate enough that its bench woes stay muted? There are several variables, and you get the feeling this one will take the full seven to decide.
Prediction: Clippers 101, Spurs 99
