NBA Playoffs 2017: Updated Postseason Schedule, Dates and Predictions
For those who chose the favorites to win each opening series, the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz made the first round of the 2017 postseason more intriguing with road wins.
On Tuesday, the Bulls became the first No. 8 seed to go up 2-0 on a No. 1 seed in a seven-game series:
The Bulls' experience and interior defense wore down the Boston Celtics in the first two contests. Chicago won the second game behind guard Dwyane Wade's perimeter shooting (3-of-4 3PT), guard Rajon Rondo's near triple-double (11 PTS, 9 REB, 14 AST) and rookie forward Paul Zipser's 16 points.
Obviously, the Celtics have a steep hill to climb, and it starts with winning a road game on Friday. The Bulls have momentum and confidence in their favor. Will they close the deal on a massive upset?
| No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls | |||
| Chicago at Boston | April 16 | CHI 106-102 | N/A |
| Chicago at Boston | April 18 | CHI 111-97 | N/A |
| Boston at Chicago | April 21 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Boston at Chicago | April 23 | 6:30 p.m. | TNT |
| *Boston at Chicago | April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| *Chicago at Boston | April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *Chicago at Boston | April 30 | TBD | TBD |
| No. 4 Washington Wizards vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks | |||
| Atlanta at Washington | April 16 | WAS 114-107 | N/A |
| Atlanta at Washington | April 19 | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Washington at Atlanta | April 22 | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Washington at Atlanta | April 24 | 8:00 p.m. | TNT |
| *Washington at Atlanta | April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| *Atlanta at Washington | April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *Atlanta at Washington | April 30 | TBD | TBD |
| No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers | |||
| Indiana at Cleveland | April 15 | CLE 109-108 | N/A |
| Indiana at Cleveland | April 17 | CLE 117-111 | N/A |
| Cleveland at Indiana | April 20 | 7:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Cleveland at Indiana | April 23 | 1:00 p.m. | ABC |
| *Cleveland at Indiana | April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| *Indiana at Cleveland | April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| *Indiana at Cleveland | April 29 | TBD | TNT |
| No. 3 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks | |||
| Milwaukee at Toronto | April 15 | MIL 97-83 | N/A |
| Milwaukee at Toronto | April 18 | TOR 106-100 | N/A |
| Toronto at Milwaukee | April 20 | 8:00 p.m | NBA TV |
| Toronto at Milwaukee | April 22 | 3:00 p.m | TNT |
| Toronto at Milwaukee | April 24 | 7:00 p.m | NBA TV |
| *Milwaukee at Toronto | April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| *Milwaukee at Toronto | April 29 | TBD | TNT |
| No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers | |||
| Portland at Golden State | April 16 | GS 121-109 | N/A |
| Portland at Golden State | April 19 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Golden State at Portland | April 22 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Golden State at Portland | April 24 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| *Golden State at Portland | April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| *Portland at Golden State | April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *Portland at Golden State | April 30 | TBD | TBD |
| No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz | |||
| Utah at Los Angeles | April 15 | UTA 97-85 | N/A |
| Utah at Los Angeles | April 18 | LAC 99-91 | N/A |
| Los Angeles at Utah | April 21 | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Los Angeles at Utah | April 23 | 9:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Los Angeles at Utah | April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| *Utah at Los Angeles | April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *Utah at Los Angeles | April 30 | TBD | TBD |
| No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies | |||
| Memphis at San Antonio | April 15 | SA 111-82 | N/A |
| Memphis at San Antonio | April 17 | SA 96-82 | N/A |
| San Antonio at Memphis | April 20 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| San Antonio at Memphis | April 22 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| *San Antonio at Memphis | April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| *Memphis at San Antonio | April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| *Memphis at San Antonio | April 29 | TBD | TNT |
| No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder | |||
| Oklahoma City at Houston | April 16 | HOU 118-97 | N/A |
| Oklahoma City at Houston | April 19 | 8:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Houston at Oklahoma City | April 21 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Houston at Oklahoma City | April 23 | 3:30 p.m | ABC |
| *Houston at Oklahoma City | April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| *Oklahoma City at Houston | April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| *Oklahoma City at Houston | April 29 | TBD | TNT |
| Eastern Conference | ||
| No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls | Bulls lead 2-0 | Bulls in 5 |
| No. 4 Washington Wizards vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks | Wizards lead 1-0 | Wizards in 6 |
| No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers | Cavaliers lead 2-0 | Cavaliers in 5 |
| No. 3 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks | Series tied 1-1 | Raptors in 6 |
| Western Conference | ||
| No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers | Warriors lead 1-0 | Warriors in 4 |
| No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz | Series tied 1-1 | Jazz in 7 |
| No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies | Spurs lead 2-0 | Spurs in 4 |
| No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder | Rockets lead 1-0 | Rockets in 5 |
Most Intriguing 2016-17 Playoff Storylines
Bulls Primed to Pull Off Upset
As mentioned above, the Boston-Chicago series goes into uncharted territory with the No. 8 seed taking an unprecedented 2-0 lead over the top-seeded team in a best-of-seven matchup. The Celtics battled hard for the No. 1 seed, but it means absolutely nothing with two losses on their court.
Guard Isaiah Thomas battles off-court hardship after his sister's untimely death in a car accident early Saturday morning, per Washington State police via ESPN.com. The two-time All-Star led his team with 33 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field in Game 1.
Thomas led his team with 20 points in Game 2, but he shot 6-of-15 from the field and a poor 7-of-13 at the free-throw line. For the season, the Celtics guard shot 90 percent at the charity stripe.
Despite Thomas' role as the go-to guy in Boston, he needs help against a Bulls team collapsing the defense to defend his drives to the paint. Center Al Horford didn't show up on the offensive end in Game 2, scoring just seven points.
On the other hand, the entire Bulls' starting lineup logged double figures in points. Wade and Rondo turned the biological clock backward and contributed heavily to the second victory. With a veteran-laden roster, Chicago should be favored to close out the series on their court.
Triple-Double King Blown Off the Court
No one talked about the triple-double record after the Houston Rockets routed the Oklahoma City Thunder by 31 points on Sunday. Guard Russell Westbrook shot 26 percent from the field, which stands out over any other box score statistic.
The Rockets dared forward Andre Roberson to score, and he put up 18 points behind Westbrook's 22. Houston felt comfortable allowing the Thunder's best defender take on an aggressive role on the offensive end. As an inconsistent scorer, his point production will taper off as the series progresses.
Versatile guard Victor Oladipo never established a rhythm in his first playoff game. He shot a paltry 1-of-12 from the floor. Defensively, the team didn't have an answer for MVP candidate James Harden who barely missed a triple-double in the victory. The Rockets didn't even find their stroke beyond the arc. Head coach Mike D'Antoni's team averages 14 three-pointers per contest and made 10 in Game 1.
Westbrook must deliver an efficient triple-double and score 40 points to give the Thunder a fair chance against a roster filled with high volume three-point shooters.
Spurs Cruising Through Competition
After two early playoff exits in the past two years, the San Antonio Spurs may be due for another deep postseason run. Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale thought the officials paved the way for his opponents in Game 2:
The Spurs held the Grizzlies to 82 points in both games, but Fizdale highlighted the free-throw attempt disparity in the second outing. Expect more calls in Memphis' favor for Game 3. Nonetheless, San Antonio looks like a well-oiled machine on the court.
The Spurs' 34-year-old guard, Tony Parker, scored 33 points combined between the two games. He may have saved this year's best for the postseason. Memphis doesn't have its veteran defender in swingman Tony Allen in action due to a right leg injury.
Collectively, the Grizzlies continue to struggle with a perpetual scoring problem. The front office signed forward Chandler Parsons to a four-year, $94 million deal, per Spotrac, but he's out with a partial meniscus tear in his left knee.
Stats provided by NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
