NBA Playoffs 2018: Updated Postseason Schedule, Dates and Predictions
We're less than a week into the 2018 NBA playoffs, but there's already a palpable urgency in the early action.
A star player wants to suit up despite what team physicians say; a 15-year veteran found motivation in the crowd, which sparked a 28-point performance; and there's immediate concern for the Eastern Conference champions.
Lastly, a No. 3 seed fell behind 0-2 with two road games ahead. Is it time to throw in the towel on a dark-horse contender?
As guard Stephen Curry looks on in street clothes, the Golden State Warriors have overwhelmed the Kawhi Leonard-less San Antonio Spurs en route to a 2-0 series lead. The Boston Celtics have done the same against the Milwaukee Bucks without their star players.
Let's check on the latest for each series matchup. Who's set to play in the coming days? Have the outcomes so far affected pre-playoff predictions?
Full 2018 Postseason Schedule and Dates
No. 1 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 8 Washington Wizards (Toronto leads 2-0)
Game 1: Washington at Toronto: (TOR 114-106)
Game 2: Washington at Toronto: (TOR 130-119)
Game 3: Boston at Washington: Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Game 4: Boston at Washington: Sunday, April 22 at 6 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Raptors win in five games
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers (Indiana leads 1-0)
Game 1: Indiana at Cleveland: (IND 98-80)
Game 2: Indiana at Cleveland: Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. TNT
Game 3: Cleveland at Indiana: Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. ESPN
Game 4: Cleveland at Indiana: Sunday, April 22 at 8:30 p.m. TNT
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Cavaliers win in five games
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks (Boston leads 2-0)
Game 1: Milwaukee at Boston: (BOS 113-107 in overtime)
Game 2: Milwaukee at Boston: (BOS 120-106)
Game 3: Boston at Milwaukee: Friday, April 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4: Boston at Milwaukee: Sunday, April 22 at 1 p.m. ET on ABC
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Bucks win in six games
No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Miami Heat (series tied 1-1)
Game 1: Miami at Philadelphia: (PHI 130-103)
Game 2: Miami at Philadelphia: (MIA 113-103)
Game 3: Philadelphia at Miami: Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 4: Philadelphia at Miami: Saturday, April 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Heat win in seven games
No. 1 Houston Rockets vs. No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves (Minnesota leads 1-0)
Game 1: Minnesota at Houston: (HOU 104-101)
Game 2: Minnesota at Houston: Wednesday, April 18 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3: Houston at Minnesota: Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4: Houston at Minnesota: Monday, April 23 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Rockets win in five games
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz (Oklahoma City leads 1-0)
Game 1: Utah at Oklahoma City: (OKC 116-108)
Game 2: Utah at Oklahoma City: Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 3: Oklahoma City at Utah: Saturday, April 21 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4: Oklahoma City at Utah: Monday, April 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Thunder win in seven games
No. 2 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs (Golden State leads 2-0)
Game 1: San Antonio at Golden State: (GS 113-92)
Game 2: San Antonio at Golden State (GS 116-101)
Game 3: Golden State at San Antonio: Thursday, April 19 at 9:30 ET on TNT
Game 4: Golden State at San Antonio: Sunday, April 22 at 3:30 on ABC
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Warriors win in five games
No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers vs. No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans (New Orleans leads 2-0)
Game 1: New Orleans at Portland: (NO 97-95)
Game 2: New Orleans at Portland: (NO 111-102)
Game 3: Portland at New Orleans: Thursday, April 19 at 9 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 4: Portland at New Orleans: Saturday, April 21 at 5 p.m. ET on TNT
*Game 5: TBD
*Game 6: TBD
*Game 7: TBD
Prediction: Blazers win in seven games
*Note: Games played if necessary
Playoff Storylines
Cleveland Cavaliers in Early Trouble?
You can count on death, taxes and LeBron James winning in the first round of the playoffs. According to ESPN Stats and Info, he went into this year's opening series with two profound streaks intact:
However, the Pacers dominated the Cavaliers Sunday 98-80, snapping James' first-round playoff win streak. Lance Stephenson brought energy on the defensive end off the bench through 17 minutes. Victor Oladipo led all scorers with 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field.
After dropping a home game, those who have been critical of the Cavaliers feel uncertain about their road to the Eastern Conference Finals. Nonetheless, James remained unfazed in the postgame press conference via NBA TV:
Hold off on predetermining the Cavaliers' demise. James isn't going to walk over the Pacers as he did in the previous year's postseason, but Cleveland should see more success with shot attempts after converting on just 38.5 percent from the field Sunday.
Furthermore, expect the best player in the league to take over in Game 2 Wednesday.
Joel Embiid Sounds Off on Social Media
The Miami Heat snapped the Philadelphia 76ers' 17-game win streak in a 113-103 victory at the Wells Fargo Center Monday. At 36 years old, Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 28 points in 26 minutes off the bench. He thanked comedian Kevin Hart for the extra motivation. Allen Iverson also exchanged words with the 12-time All-Star:
Typically, Sixers center Joel Embiid inserts his two cents in trash talking, but he sat out due to an orbital fracture. He's yet to receive medical clearance, per NBC Sports Philadelphia reporter Jessica Camerato.
Instead, he took to Instagram to express frustrations pertaining to his availability. The Sixers big man further expanded on the message with ESPN.com reporter Ramona Shelburne:
The Sixers' loss to the Heat added urgency to Embiid's desire to return as the masked man in the middle. Philadelphia tips off against Miami Thursday in South Beach with a big decision on hand. Will they unleash the main ingredient of the process?
Boston Celtics in Command Without Their Star Players
Tip your caps to Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, who continues to devise effective game plans for the healthy bodies in uniform on any given night. Between the two clubs, most would agree the Bucks have the most talented player on the court in Giannis Antetokounmpo, but his team came up short twice at TD Garden.
The Bucks pushed the Celtics into an overtime battle in Game 1, which resulted in a 113-107 loss, and then fell behind early in Game 2 and never recovered in a lopsided 120-106 defeat. The action will shift to the BMO Harris Bradley Center Friday, but Boston looks like the better overall squad.
Milwaukee interim head coach Joe Prunty hasn't found the right combination to clamp down on the Celtics offense. Other than forward Khris Middleton, the Bucks have also struggled with their three-point shooting to even the playing field.
As a club with little margin for error, Boston won the turnover battle 15-7 and hit 13 triples compared to seven for the Bucks Tuesday.
Second-year forward Jaylen Brown led his team with 30 points as a key contributor to a convincing victory. He's the youngest in Celtics history to reach that feat, per ESPN Stats & Info (h/t Elias Sports Bureau):
Playoff Rondo Returns
The last time we saw Rajon Rondo, the No. 8 seed Chicago Bulls held a 2-0 lead over the top-seeded Celtics last year. Unfortunately, he suffered a thumb injury, missed the remainder of the series and Boston won four straight to advance.
Well, he's back.
Playoff Rondo has dished out 26 assists in two road wins at the Moda Center. He's still a top-tier ball distributor who averaged 8.2 in the category during the regular season. The 32-year-old has gone into high gear for the postseason in consecutive years.
The Pelicans backcourt can't match Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum in scoring, but the synergy among Rondo and his teammates has New Orleans in position to pull off an upset.
Down 0-2, the Blazers' impressive season looks like a mirage. Surprisingly, Lillard has struggled in the first two outings. He's shooting 13-of-41 from the field for the series. It's time to sound the panic alarms in Rip City.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
