NBA Playoffs 2015: Predicting Final Scores and Results for Sunday's Schedule
Judgment day.
For the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Dallas Mavericks, that’s what Sunday is. With elimination staring them straight in the eye, will they fight or fold?
The Los Angeles Clippers, while not facing a must-win situation, are in dire need of a victory, too. Going down 3-1 to the San Antonio Spurs might as well be a death sentence.
Sunday will be a great day of intense basketball. Let’s look at each individual matchup.
Schedule
| Cleveland Cavaliers (2) at Boston Celtics (7) | 3-0 CLE | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| Los Angeles Clippers (3) at San Antonio Spurs (6) | 2-1 SAS | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Toronto Raptors (4) at Washington Wizards (5) | 3-0 WAS | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Houston Rockets (2) at Dallas Mavericks (7) | 3-0 HOU | 9 p.m. | TNT |
Score Predictions
Cavaliers at Celtics
While Boston has held its own and represented well, there was never a shadow of a doubt that Cleveland would win.
The Celtics are young, tough and gritty—not to mention stacked to the top with cap space and draft stock. A few years from now, they’re going to be darn good.
But this is LeBron James’ league, and the Celts are unfortunately playing LeBron James’ team. However, don’t count them out on Sunday.
Brad Stevens will have his guys ready to play, and winning a playoff game carries some significant weight for a team that’s green and building toward the future.
If Isaiah Thomas and Evan Turner get hot, and the team somehow finds a way to slow down LBJ, Boston might get its token win.
The Cavaliers will destroy the Celtics unmercifully once this series goes back to the The Land. But at least the C's will be winners for a day.
Score prediction: Boston 99, Cleveland 90
Clippers at Spurs
This has been a weird series.
First, Los Angeles smacks the Spurs around. Then in Game 2, San Antonio commits a robbery and steals a game it should’ve lost. Finally on Friday, Kawhi Leonard personally abused the city of L.A.
How are we supposed to have any idea what will happen in an extremely crucial Game 4?
Perhaps the pattern will hold true—blowout, close game, blowout…close game?
If this series does indeed become cyclical, then Los Angeles should be in for a close win.
It’s not hard to believe. Chris Paul is desperate for that deep playoff run his career has lacked, while Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should be chomping at the bit to tear up everyone on San Antonio’s front line not named Tim Duncan.
The Clips need this one, and they’ll get it.
Score prediction: Los Angeles 115, San Antonio 100
Raptors at Wizards
For the Raptors, Monday night might be a good time to dim the lights, run a nice bath and put on Drake’s Take Care album.
Because if the trash-talking, cocky Wizards beat them down again, they’re going to need it.
Toronto has been exposed as a more flawed team than the regular season indicated. Washington—namely Paul Pierce—has walked the walk after talking a whole lot. Kyle Lowry, in particular, has struggled for the Raptors.
But maybe Pierce’s dagger three-pointer—and subsequent strut-fest—will be the wake-up call that Drake’s beloved team needs. DeMar DeRozan was uncontainable in Game 3, and he’ll need another big game on Sunday.
Pierce will do all he can to end the series in Washington, as Michael Lee of the The Washington Post reported:
Zach Harper of CBS Sports thinks The Truth might not have to travel again this series:
The Wizards are seated too firmly on their high horse, though. They’ve positioned themselves to win the series, but Toronto should put up a fight on the road and bring the series back to Air Canada Centre.
Score prediction: Toronto 102, Washington 90
Rockets at Mavericks
There is one reason why the brooms will stay in the closet on Sunday night: Jason Terry.
The Jet told Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News that he’s preparing his clothes to reflect the death of his former team, the Dallas Mavericks.
"You know my wardrobe," Terry said. "You know what it consists of when it's time to close a series out. So I haven't changed that at all. ... Black on black."
Has this guy not learned?
The New York Knicks pulled the same stunt against Terry’s Boston Celtics two years ago, and it 100 percent backfired.
Dallas is too proud to go down in four games, especially when one of its former players is talking trash.
As long as James Harden doesn’t flex down and Josh Smith doesn’t become Magic Johnson, this will be a win for the amped-up Mavericks looking to save some face against their in-state rival.
Score prediction: Dallas 110, Houston 105
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