NBA Playoffs 2016: Preview, Prediction and Viewing Info for Sunday's Action
After an extended wait, the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder resume their duel Sunday night with both teams looking to break a tie.
Both teams got a major favor from the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, as the underdog pulled off an upset of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference and avoided a sweep.
In other words, both Golden State and Oklahoma City have a chance to wrap this series and perhaps encounter another Finals hopeful who is not coming off plenty of rest.
If only it were so simple. Chances are these two are just getting started; Sunday's matchup is merely the latest round in a chess match that is almost sure to go seven rounds.
2016 NBA Conference Finals Schedule and Results
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | CLE 115-84 | ||
| Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | CLE 108-89 | ||
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors | TOR 99-84 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors | Mon, May 23 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Wed, May 25 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors | Fri, May 27 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Sun, May 29 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| Oklahoma City vs. Golden State | OKC 108-102 | ||
| Oklahoma City vs. Golden State | GS 118-91 | ||
| Golden State vs. Oklahoma City | Sun, May 22 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Golden State vs. Oklahoma City | Tue, May 24 | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Oklahoma City vs. Golden State | Thu, May 26 | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Golden State vs. Oklahoma City | Sat, May 28 | 9 p.m. | TNT |
| Oklahoma City vs. Golden State | Mon, May 30 | 9 p.m. | TNT |
Preview
A series that started in shocking fashion turned rather routine after just two games.
Game 1 was a six-point triumph for Kevin Durant and Co., as the Thunder hit the road after a shocking upset of the San Antonio Spurs and kept riding the wave of momentum. The Thunder hit 47 percent of their shots from deep and won the battle on the glass 62-55.
Game 2 set things back to normal, mostly. Stephen Curry erupted for 28 points in the 118-91 laugher. His team shot 46 percent from deep and made adjustments underneath the basket to win the rebounding battle (54-45) and stifle Durant.
Speaking of Durant, a new triple-headed defensive attack led by Draymond Green helped hold him to six points in the second half of the Game 2 loss.
Call it a simple matter of adjustments for the Warriors, who had to get creative to trap and halt Portland's Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in the last round. Now it's all about forcing other players to take the shot, as the Mercury News' Tim Kawakami explained:
"The Warriors aren’t often outright trapping Durant and Westbrook, but they’re leaning far off of other Thunder players–Roberson, Serge Ibaka, Dion Waiters, Steven Adams and Randy Foye.
And the Warriors usually have Green, Bogut or Iguodala (when he’s not guarding Durant) standing a few feet away, eagerly waiting to challenge a dribble or a shot attempt.
"
And it worked. Golden State appears content to live and die by Andre Roberson, Randy Foye and Dion Waiters killing them—the trio shot 7-of-20 in Game 2.
Trapping and stopping Durant consistently will prove a challenge, but a team doesn't win 73 games without an ability to stop the opposition's top player and funnel the ball to more preferable options.
For Golden State, the biggest concern might once again be health, with Curry hitting his elbow in an odd manner during the second game. He says it's fine while also providing something of an update on the knee he injured earlier in the postseason, according to ESPN.com's Ethan Sherwood Strauss:
"When you play, playoff intensity, ever since I been back, there's the grind of it. When I'm out there, I'm not thinking about it. I do it feel it the next day after every game. Like I said, you can poll most guys in the league, in these final four teams, most have things they got to deal with, so I'm in that boat.
"
Even so, Golden State rallied against Portland while Curry missed time. The Warriors have an advantage in depth and roster quality that they illustrated in Game 2.
For Oklahoma City, the task is figuring out how to counter and get non-superstar players to knock down open opportunities.
Prediction
The series heads to Oklahoma City Sunday night, though Game 1 was proof enough that home-court advantage takes a back seat to on-court decisions and execution.
That is why it's hard to go any other way than the Warriors here. As mentioned, the Thunder simply don't have the consistent firepower to take the pressure off Durant—and winning via defense doesn't work against these Warriors.
Take one look at the game-to-game disparity once the Warriors adjusted, via ESPN Stats & Info:
Barring a major off night by the Warriors, Sunday belongs to Curry and the visitors.
Versatility, adjustments and the usual hot shooting will put the Warriors ahead.
Prediction: Warriors 122, Thunder 101
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Odds via Odds Shark.
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