NBA Playoff Schedule 2018: TV Guide, Live-Stream Schedule for Sunday Games
Sunday's NBA postseason action presents a pivotal turning point in each Eastern Conference series and a possible last stand for a Western Conference mainstay.
On one side of the bracket, a string of Game 4 showdowns will either even the slate or give someone a commanding 3-1 advantage. As the Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Wizards look to sustain the pattern of home squads triumphing in their respective series, the Cleveland Cavaliers must avoid another costly shortcoming on the road.
The stakes are even higher for the San Antonio Spurs, who face a perilous 3-0 deficit to the Golden State Warriors.
NBA Playoff Schedule: Sunday, April 22
Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks: 1 p.m. ET on ABC (BOS 2-1)
Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs: 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC (GS 3-0)
Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards: 6 p.m. ET on TNT (TOR 2-1)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers: 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT (IND 2-1)
Live streams: ABC.com, NBA on TNT
Warriors Can Send Spurs Home
One win away from an emphatic sweep over the Spurs, the Warriors have hardly broken a sweat.
The champions have claimed each game by double digits. They have reached 110 points every time and limited the Spurs to 96.7 points per game with a ghastly 24.1 three-point percentage.
The Athletic's Anthony Slater highlighted Golden State's swift defensive turnaround following a sluggish end to the regular season:
For the second straight year, San Antonio is gravely missing Kawhi Leonard in what would be a dream matchup with both squads at 100 percent. Without their star forward, LaMarcus Aldridge is the only Spurs player who has registered more than 40 combined points through the first three games.
Golden State, meanwhile, is faring just fine without Stephen Curry. Backcourt mate Klay Thompson has picked up the slack by averaging 25.7 points per contest with a remarkable 13 three-point makes in 20 attempts. The shooting guard slowed down in Thursday's 110-97 victory by only going 8-of-16 for 19 points.
Yet Kevin Durant has assumed Golden State's headliner honors as Curry recovers from a knee injury. Last year's NBA Finals MVP has resumed his playoff dominance by averaging 27.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in the three triumphs.
After leaving Game 3 early with a sprained ankle, Durant assured ESPN's Chris Haynes he would be ready for Sunday's potential series-clinching contest:
They will need him to stay healthy. Per a team statement on Friday, Curry is not in line to return this round:
Seeing Golden State wrap up this series Sunday and welcome Curry back early in the second round should be everyone else's worse nightmare. Outplayed in every facet without Leonard, the Spurs will at best delay an inevitable elimination.
Pacers Poised to Eliminate Cavs?
Has anyone seen Cleveland's playoff switch?
A 17-point halftime lead evaporated in Friday's 92-90 loss to the Indiana Pacers, who wield a 2-1 series advantage heading into Sunday night's Game 4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Averaging 32.7 of Cleveland's 90 points and 8.3 of its 17.7 assists, LeBron James is receiving little support. Aside from James, Kevin Love is the only other Cav averaging double-digit points (14.7) or more than five rebounds (10.3). Nobody but the three-time Finals MVP has provided two or more assists per contest.
Indiana, however, stole Game 3 behind one standout performance. Bojan Bogdanovic registered 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. The 29-year-old parlayed a hot hand to seven three-point makes in nine tries, and he also amassed a game-high net rating of plus-18.
Per Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor, Bogdanovic has also made his mark on defense by stifling James:
"Everybody thought before this season that I cannot play defense," Bogdanovic said after Friday night's win, per ESPN.com's Mike Wells. "I don't say that I am playing great defense, but I am working hard at trying to make it tough for each offensive player that I'm guarding."
A subpar defense dimmed Cleveland's championship outlook, but it has instead faltered by averaging 90 points with a 96.9 offensive rating, per NBA.com. The Cavs must repair their 30.9 three-point percentage closer to the regular season's 37.2-percent clip. The healing needs to start with Kyle Korver, who drained four threes in their lone postseason win but did not score in either loss.
Someone, anyone outside of James and Love, must contribute for Cleveland if the Cavaliers are to avoid an early elimination.
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