NBA Playoff Schedule 2017: TV Info and Outlook for Conference Semifinals
While the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors sprint closer to an NBA Finals rematch, another pair of intriguing second-round showdowns stand tied at two wins apiece.
Both defending conference champions have swept their way through the opening rounds. The real fun, however, lies in determining their conference-finals opponents.
Home-court advantage has proved pivotal between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards, who split the first four games in front of their respective fans. Including their regular-season meetings, the home team is now 8-0 when the burgeoning rivals battle.
The Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs mixed things up with a home and a road victory apiece. Each Western Conference squad has lost a key veteran during the high-octane series.
Let's preview the remaining second-round schedule and take an updated snapshot of each competitive series.
| Date | Game | Road | Home | Time (ET) | TV |
| Tue., May 9 | 5 | Houston Rockets | San Antonio Spurs | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Wed., May 10 | 5 | Washington Wizards | Boston Celtics | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Thur., May 11 | 6 | San Antonio Spurs | Houston Rockets | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Fri., May 12 | 6 | Boston Celtics | Washington Wizards | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sun., May 14 | 7* | Houston Rockets | San Antonio Spurs | TBD | TBD |
| Mon., May 15 | 7* | Washington Wizards | Boston Celtics | 8 p.m. | TNT |
Washington Wizards vs. Boston Celtics
Once the Wizards get rolling, the Celtics have no answers.
After continually falling behind early, Boston avoided a sluggish start on Sunday night, entering halftime with a four-point lead. Washington then orchestrated a 26-0 run.
ESPN Stats & Info broke down the seismic swing:
As noted by Celtics broadcaster Sean Grande, they have succumbed to prolonged stretches of futility all series:
Turnovers are a common thread in these struggles, as the Celtics have coughed up 63 giveaways in four games. Buoyed by ultra-quick point guard John Wall, the Wizards have capitalized with 21.3 points off turnovers per game.
Washington has also fueled its transition game by out-rebounding Boston by 7.3 boards (44.3 to 37.0) per contest. This has led to victories of 27 and 19 points at the Verizon Center.
Despite suffering two double-digit defeats on the road, the Wizards jumped out to huge leads each time. As Wall said after Game 4's win, via Sports Illustrated's Andrew Sharp, his team is confident with the series headed back to Boston.
"We feel like we're in control. We have the momentum," Wall said. "We feel like we can win there. We know we can. We just gotta do a better job taking care of those leads we get, and just playing smart basketball down the stretch."
In order to set up a date with the Cavaliers, they must steal one at TD Garden. In eight head-to-head meetings between the Wizards and Celtics this regular season and postseason, the host has won by an average of 16.9 points per game. Only one—a 110-102 Boston win on March 22—ended with a single-digit margin.
That pattern will change if the Celtics don't avoid costly turnovers on Wednesday. Yet the East's No. 1 seed can quickly halt chatter about momentum by claiming Game 5 at home.
Houston Rockets vs. San Antonio Spurs
During Game 2's bittersweet blowout win over Houston, Tony Parker went down with a season-ending leg injury. With little help from erratic replacements Patty Mills and Dejounte Murray, the Spurs have since traded triumphs.
The Rockets suffered their own blow in Game 4's 125-104 win. Nene, their truest big man who played a pivotal role in the opening round, injured his groin early in Sunday night's contest. On Monday, the team announced that he is out for the entire postseason:
As Houston showed on Sunday, the offense will survive without a player who didn't fit their fast-paced, three-point heavy attack. In 25 minutes, center Clint Capela notched eight points, nine rebounds and a plus-21 plus-minus.
Ryan Anderson, typically deployed as a stretch 4, may now need to log minutes at center. After Game 4, per ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon, he discussed the challenges and advantages of the new role.
"Obviously I'm not a very conventional 5-man, but it also makes it difficult for the other team to figure out how to guard us with pick-and-pops or if I'm rolling to the basket or whatever it is," Anderson said. "Our ability to run, we have to take those opportunities to our advantage."
Defense will prove the biggest dilemma for a squad that ended the season No. 18 with 106.4 points allowed per 100 possessions. Houston posted a 94.3 defensive rating with Nene on the court this series. Point guard Patrick Beverley holds the team's second-highest rating at 102.1.
The already undersized team now must play smaller, placing an even heavier impetus on LaMarcus Aldridge shining for San Antonio. He has resembled his old All-Star self over the past two games, shooting a combined 19-of-33 for 42 points.
Without Parker running San Antonio's offense or Nene patrolling the paint, the power forward needs to perform as Leonard's star sidekick. Otherwise the Rockets can run and shoot their way to the Western Conference Finals.
Note: All stats courtesy of NBA.com.
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