NBA Playoff Schedule 2016: TV, Live-Stream Guide for Sunday's Bracket
Drama should be the name of the game Sunday as two Game 7s take center stage to close out the opening round of the 2016 NBA playoffs. The action will also include the return of the defending champion Golden State Warriors as they start Round 2.
In the East, the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets as well as the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers have gone the distance. In the West, the Warriors look to begin their series with the Portland Trail Blazers on a high note as they wait for Stephen Curry to get healthy.
Let's check out all of the important information for Sunday's action. That's followed by a preview and prediction for each contest.
Sunday's Schedule and Viewing Guide
| 1 | Hornets at Heat | 1 p.m. | ABC | WatchESPN |
| 2 | Trail Blazers at Warriors | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | WatchESPN |
| 1 | Pacers at Raptors | 8 p.m. | TNT | TNT Overtime |
Charlotte Hornets at Miami Heat (Series Tied 3-3)
Dwyane Wade turned back the clock Friday night to help force Game 7. The 12-time All-Star stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks, and the Heat needed all of it as they narrowly escaped Charlotte with the victory to head back home for the deciding contest.
Now the question is whether the 34-year-old superstar, who also put up 25 points in Game 5, has another throwback performance in his bag of tricks. Bill Simmons of The Ringer had high praise for the Heat legend following the Game 6 triumph:
The key for Charlotte stealing the series in Miami comes at the defensive end of the floor. The Hornets ranked ninth in points allowed during the regular season, and in all three of their wins in the series, they allowed less than 90 points.
If they can match that defensive effort and get Kemba Walker, who's averaging 25 points per game in the series, a little more help, they'll be in great shape. That said, it feels like they let their best chance to close out the series slip away in Game 6.
Prediction: Heat 98, Hornets 91
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (Game 1)
The Warriors showed in the latter stages of their series victory over the Houston Rockets that they are an extremely potent offensive team even without Curry. That puts a little less pressure on him to get back in the lineup as the battle with Portland gets underway.
Curry still isn't exactly sure when he'll be ready to roll. Janie McCauley of the Associated Press noted he's rehabbing three times daily, but the guard stated the timeline is fluid as he waits for his body to feel right again after the MCL sprain:
"I always have an optimistic view, no matter what it is. I hope to get back sooner. Having talked to the doctors and athletic training staff, all the experts, that two-week timeline, as Bob said, was an educated guess on cases, other situations on guys that hurt the same thing I did and the kind of recovery time they had. Everybody heals differently, whether it's before two weeks, after two weeks, right at two weeks, the plan is to stay the same. Every day I'm getting treatment, every day I'm trying to do what I need to do to get back on the floor. When the body says it's time, then we'll push that button.
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His status actually puts more pressure on the Blazers. With the reigning MVP's return potentially coming at some point during the series, they need to score a couple of early victories if they want turn this into a long series and potentially pull off the upset.
The problem for Portland is depth. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum have been outstanding, but it's going to take more than two players to keep pace with the Warriors. The Blazers simply don't have enough other pieces they can count on consistently to shock the champs.
Prediction: Warriors 113, Blazers 100
Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors (Series Tied 3-3)
The silver lining for the Raptors as they return home for Game 7 is the fact they still have a chance to advance despite not playing their best basketball in the series. They are shooting below 40 percent, with DeMar DeRozan at 32 percent and Kyle Lowry at 31 percent.
Performing more like the team that finished with a 56-26 record during the regular season would be enough to advance. Josh Lewenberg of TSN wondered about the team's mindset after its comments before a Game 6 loss, though:
Between the Raptors' offensive struggles and the emotional letdown of getting blown out Friday night, the first quarter will be vital Sunday. The Pacers must come out aggressive and attempt to set the tone before Toronto can settle in.
If the Raptors can survive that early surge, they should be able to feed off the raucous crowd. They are the better team overall and, although it's taken longer than they would have liked, that should finally shine through in Game 7.
Prediction: Raptors 103, Pacers 98
