NBA Playoff Schedule 2018: Game Times, TV and Live-Stream Coverage for Sunday
We saw the first upset in the 2017-18 NBA postseason when the No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans beat the No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on Saturday. As the old adage goes, the series doesn't start until the home team loses.
The Blazers have a tougher task in their quest to advance to the semifinals after dropping the first game of the series to the Pelicans. Looking at Sunday's contests, we could see more road teams steal victories with both 4-5 matchups on display.
In the early contest, the No. 2 Boston Celtics will defend home court against the No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks without their top two players. The series could shake up the Eastern Conference brackets.
Later on, we'll see the Houston Rockets go against one of the toughest No. 8 seeds in recent history, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Will the top seed in the Western Conference fall in Game 1?
NBA Playoff Schedule, Coverage and Live-Stream Details
Sunday, April 15
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics: 1 p.m. ET, TNT, TNTDrama
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC, WatchESPN
Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder: 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT, TNTDrama
Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets: 9 p.m. ET, TNT, TNTDrama
Matchup Storylines
No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks at No. 2 Boston Celtics
The Celtics finished the regular season 14-8, with neither Gordon Hayward nor Kyrie Irving taking the floor. Both will look on as Boston goes into the postseason short-handed. According to Yahoo Sports reporter Shams Charania, guard Marcus Smart (thumb) could return as early as April 27, which lands between Games 6 and 7 if the series extends:
We're going to see the 21-year-old Jaylen Brown and the 20-year-old Jayson Tatum grow up before our eyes or wilt under postseason pressure. Five-time All-Star Al Horford's extensive playoff experience should help keep the young playmakers composed in a competitive series.
The Bucks come into the postseason with good news in terms of player availability. Guards Malcolm Brogdon and Matthew Dellavedova missed long stretches during the year, but the former returned for the last two regular-season games. The latter suited up in the finale.
After missing the first four months of the season, forward Jabari Parker has been a consistent contributor, primarily off the bench, averaging 12.6 points per game.
The Bucks' deep rotation with healthier bodies should give them the edge in this series.
No. 5 Indiana Pacers at No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James officially went into Zero Dark Thirty-23 Mode on Saturday with a Martin Luther King Jr. quote via Instagram:
James has eliminated the Indiana Pacers four times in his career. He's become the one-man roadblock in Indiana's quest for postseason respect.
Even though the Pacers won the season series 3-1, it's important to note all four games happened before the trade deadline, when the Cavaliers flipped their roster. It's a matchup with some unfamiliarity, which may bring different results.
Nonetheless, guard Victor Oladipo has been consistent for the Pacers in his best season, averaging 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists per contest. Look for him to lead the charge against the defending Eastern Conference champions. Focus on center Myles Turner as the X-factor in this series. His production, or lack thereof, will tilt the balance in this matchup.
No. 5 Utah Jazz at No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double in consecutive seasons, and he's bringing two new running mates in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony along with him this year.
Just like James shifts into another gear during the postseason, George transitions into Playoff P.
As noted in the open press conference, George will have his hands full with the Jazz's leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell, who averaged 20.5 points per game during the 2017-18 campaign. The Thunder forward will also carry a scoring responsibility against a team allowing 99.8 per contest on the scoreboard, which ties the San Antonio Spurs for fewest in the league.
Despite Utah's defensive efforts, Anthony's ability to knock down jumpers from anywhere on the court should help the Thunder to a victory.
No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 1 Houston Rockets
The Rockets face an atypical No. 8 seed in the Timberwolves. It's a roster with a talented trio of playmakers. Karl-Anthony Towns, Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins head into the playoffs individually averaging 17 or more points per outing.
However, head coach Tom Thibodeau will likely opt to slow down the pace rather than try to outscore the Rockets in shootouts. Houston ranks second in points per game with 112.4. It's a shock to those who thought James Harden and Chris Paul would struggle to coexist in the backcourt.
Now, 82 games later, Houston has some buzz as a threat to the Golden State Warriors' three-year reign as Western Conference champions. First, the Rockets must go through Minnesota, a team that won 47 games during the 2017-18 campaign.
In their first playoff appearances, Towns and Wiggins will need to perform at optimal levels alongside Butler to take down the team with the best regular-season record.
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