NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: TV Guide, Live Stream Schedule for Sunday Games
The Golden State Warriors became the first team to reach the second round of the 2015 NBA playoffs Saturday evening, completing the series sweep of the New Orleans Pelicans with an 11-point victory. Three more teams have the opportunity to do the same Sunday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets can all clinch spots in the second round, as one more win will result in sweeps over their respective opponents. Washington will be aiming to finish the series at home, while both Cleveland and Houston must do so on the road.
A surging San Antonio Spurs team enters Sunday up two games to one over the Los Angeles Clippers, and it will get a chance to put the Clippers on the brink of elimination with a home win Sunday.
While we anxiously await these four contests to commence, let's take a look at the day's essential viewing information and predict the winner for each game.
Sunday TV Schedule
| Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics | 1 p.m. | ABC | CLE 3-0 |
| Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | SAS 2-1 |
| Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards | 6:30 p.m. | TNT | WAS 3-0 |
| Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks | 9 p.m. | TNT | HOU 3-0 |
Sunday Predictions
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics
For Boston, stopping the Cavaliers is much more than containing LeBron James. While the forward has been fantastic and is coming off a 31-point performance, his supporting cast is just as dangerous. Kevin Love continues to be a factor from distance, and the team's guard play has been solid.
If the Celtics are to have any chance of remaining in the playoffs, they must challenge James and Co. on the interior. Boston has the necessary size on its roster to collect boards and create second-chance opportunities for its shooters while limiting Cleveland's. Winning the rebound battle is crucial here.
The Cavaliers are just so extremely athletic and versatile, and it's difficult to see the Celtics dominating in the paint. That said, expect Cleveland to continue its offensive dominance while Boston struggles with turnovers in a series sweep for the Cavaliers.
Prediction: Cavaliers win
Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs were phenomenal at home in Game 3, winning by a 27-point margin and taking the series lead. Kawhi Leonard has been the Association's best defensive player this season, but his 32-point offensive outburst Friday was a sight to behold. He's surrounded by crafty veterans who know how to win playoff games—especially at home.
If the Clippers are to even up the series, they'll need a big day from Blake Griffin in the paint. The forward hit just 6-of-15 from the floor in Game 3, as Los Angeles had difficulty circumventing San Antonio's stout defense. Feeding Griffin inside will help spread the Spurs across the floor and create more opportunities outside for Chris Paul and J.J. Redick.
San Antonio has been on fire on the offensive side of the court of late, and considering it held the Clippers to shoot just 34.1 percent from the floor in Game 3, it would take quite a road effort from Los Angeles to take down this well-rounded team that is exuding confidence.
Prediction: Spurs win
Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards
The Wizards have a stranglehold on this series following an impressive effort on both ends of the court in Game 3. Washington held Toronto to shoot just 37.4 percent from the floor while hitting 47.4 of its own attempts.
John Wall accumulated a whopping 15 assists in Game 3, earning a double-double with 19 points. In fact, his facilitating led to a total of six Washington players scoring double-digit points. That kind of production is extremely difficult to contain, and it's proved to be problematic for the Raptors through three games.
Toronto has little chance of quelling Washington's attack and will need far better play from its guards to keep up. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry combined to shoot a dismal 16-of-51 from the floor in Game 3, and anything remotely close to that number Sunday will ensure an early exit from the playoffs for the Raptors.
Prediction: Wizards win
Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks
Game 3 of this series was a highly entertaining shootout, as these teams combined to score 258 points in regulation. Although, when the dust settled, a 42-point performance by the dynamic James Harden was the deciding factor in a Rockets victory that placed Dallas on the brink of elimination.
Harden wasn't the only Rocket to produce a jaw-dropping performance, as Dwight Howard hauled in an improbable 26 rebounds, and, combined with his 13 points, he finished with the game's only double-double. Still, those two will need more production from their supporting cast to complete the sweep on the road.
A pair of 34-point performances from Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis kept the Mavericks in the mix in Game 3; however, they received very little help from the team's other starters, as Richard Jefferson, Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton combined to score just 11 points. Relying on bench play to overtake the Rockets won't keep Dallas in the playoffs.
Prediction: Rockets win
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