NBA Playoffs 2016: Latest Conference Semifinal Scores and Bracket Picks
While the 2016 NBA playoff's conference semifinals bracket looks like a mixed bag, it never fails to entertain.
Just two of the four encounters look competitive so far, with the Cleveland Cavaliers up 3-0 on the hapless Atlanta Hawks, and the Golden State Warriors up 2-0 on the Portland Trail Blazers.
Still, injuries, odd officiating, ricochet passes off someone's face winding up in a converted shot from deep and so much more have made the round another set of can't-miss action.
Below, let's take a look at the updated conference semifinals score and schedule before taking a look at Saturday's games. And for completionist's sake, expect Cleveland and San Antonio to pull away in the series that don't suit up Saturday.
2016 NBA Conference Semifinals Schedule and Results
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1. Atlanta vs. Cleveland | CLE 104-93 | ||
| 2. Atlanta vs. Cleveland | CLE 123-98 | ||
| 3. Cleveland vs. Atlanta | CLE 121-108 | ||
| 4. Cleveland vs. Atlanta | Sunday, May 8 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 5. Atlanta vs. Cleveland | Tuesday, May 10 | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 6. Cleveland vs. Atlanta | Thursday, May 12 | TBA | ESPN |
| 7. Atlanta vs. Cleveland | Sunday, May 15 | TBA | TBA |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1. Toronto vs. Miami | MIA 102-96 | ||
| 2. Toronto vs. Miami | TOR 96-92 | ||
| 3. Miami vs. Toronto | Saturday, May 7 | 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4. Miami vs. Toronto | Monday, May 9 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 5. Toronto vs. Miami | Wednesday, May 11 | TBA | TNT |
| 6. Miami vs. Toronto | Friday, May 13 | TBA | ESPN |
| 7. Toronto vs. Miami | Sunday, May 15 | TBA | TBA |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1. Golden State vs. Portland | GS 118-106 | ||
| 2. Golden State vs. Portland | GS 110-99 | ||
| 3. Portland vs. Golden State | Saturday, May 7 | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 4. Portland vs. Golden State | Monday, May 9 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 5. Golden State vs. Portland | Wednesday, May 11 | TBA | TNT |
| 6. Portland vs. Golden State | Friday, May 13 | TBA | ESPN |
| 7. Golden State vs. Portland | Monday, May 16 | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1. San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City | SA 124-92 | ||
| 2. San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City | OKC 98-97 | ||
| 3. Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio | SA 100-96 | ||
| 4. Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio | Sunday, May 8 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 5. San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City | Tuesday, May 10 | TBA | TNT |
| 6. Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio | Thursday, May 12 | TBA | ESPN |
| 7. San Antonio vs. Oklahoma City | Sunday, May 15 | TBA | TNT |
Saturday Bracket Picks
Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat
Chris Bosh or not, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat did exactly what they needed to do over the first two games against the Toronto Raptors, stealing one game on the road before heading home for a two-game stretch.
Wade and Co. stole Game 1 in Toronto, a 102-96 overtime triumph behind 26 points from Goran Dragic and a silly 17 rebounds from Hassan Whiteside. The Raptors, almost on cue based on a budding reputation as a playoff choker, couldn't convert when they needed it most.
To be fair, the two teams switched roles in Game 2, a 96-92 overtime victory for the Raptors as DeMarre Carroll and DeMar DeRozan combined for 41 points.
Folks might notice the lack of Kyle Lowry's name there—he scored 18 on a miserable 7-of-22 effort, putting him at 10-of-35 over two games.
Perhaps a quote from Toronto forward Luis Scola paints the situation best, as NBA on ESPN captured:
Which is the biggest problem for the Raptors.
A team with a habit of choking in the first round now finds itself tied going into two straight road encounters. Simply put, the Heat seem to want it more and are more composed. Toronto shooting just 25-of-41 from the free-throw line and never better than 24 percent from deep says this well enough.
Miami doesn't have Bosh, but it does have a stable veteran core matching what Toronto deploys quite well. This doesn't feel like a tied series in any sense of the description, and Miami will pull out Game 3 and more as the Raptors continue to slump.
Prediction: Miami 98-93, Miami wins series in six
Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The Warriors can afford Stephen Curry more rest with the way the series against the Trail Blazers has gone so far.
Game 1? Klay Thompson stepped into the void and posted 37 points, countering Damian Lillard's 30 while the Warriors shot 47 percent from the floor and won the battle on the glass, 61-51, for a 118-106 victory.
Game 2? More of the same in a 110-99 Warriors victory with Lillard mustering 25 points but Golden State getting another 27 from Thompson and double-digit outputs from four other players. Golden State still shot 46 percent from the floor and forced 17 turnovers.
If anything, Golden State proved it can be as clutch as needed without Curry, outscoring the Trail Blazers, 34-12, in the final frame of Game 2.
"It started with how focused we were in that fourth," Thompson said, according to ESPN.com. "We've been down and out before. ... We were just locked in on both sides of the ball. We can build on this game. That effort there in the fourth quarter is what it's going to take to beat this team."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has already confirmed Curry won't suit up for Game 3, according to Paul Pabst of NBC Sports Radio.
Does it really matter? Probably not. One could argue Portland will put up its best shot in Game 3 to avoid a 3-0 hole, but these Warriors haven't shown much in the way of weakness so far. With the team shooting this hot, Golden State can't lose—Curry or not.
Prediction: Golden State 117-110, Golden State wins in four
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
