NBA Playoff Bracket 2018: Wednesday TV Schedule and Game 5 Picks
The first round of the 2018 NBA playoffs has hurtled into a most crucial phase as teams can smell a chance to advance to the second round.
Two teams will have a chance to register finishing blows on Wednesday night and get one step closer to playing for a championship, and two other teams will have a chance to take pivotal 3-2 series leads.
The Houston Rockets appear to be in the most predictable position. They are the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and hold a 3-1 lead in their series with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Rockets were beaten on the road in Game 3, but Houston responded the way great teams do with a 119-100 road win in Game 4.
If the Rockets can play their usual game, there's no reason to think that James Harden and his teammates won't get the best of the upstart Timberwolves. Harden is averaging 30.3 points and 6.3 assists per game in the postseason
The Utah Jazz are also in a position to finish off their opponents Wednesday night. After dropping the first game of their series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the fifth-seeded Jazz have reeled off three straight victories.
After coming through with a surprising 102-95 road victory in Game 2, the Jazz registered two big wins at home over the fourth-seeded Thunder. As a result, the balanced Utah team has a chance to end the season of the homestanding Thunder.
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points in the Game 4 victory for the Jazz, and he had support from five other teammates who were in double figures in the 113-96 victory. Mitchell is averaging 27.5 points in the postseason, while teammate Ricky Rubio is contributing 18.5 points and 8.0 assists per game.
If the Thunder are going to win on their home court, they will need huge games from Russell Westbrook and Paul George.
Wednesday's NBA Playoff Schedule
Eastern Conference
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m., NBATV. Series tied 2-2.
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m., TNT. Series tied 2-2
Western Conference
Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m., TNT. Utah leads series 3-1.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets, 9:30 p.m., NBATV. Houston leads series 3-1.
All times Eastern.
Remainder of NBA Bracket
Eastern Conference
Boston Celtics lead Milwaukee Bucks, 3-2.
Philadelphia 76ers defeated Miami Heat, 4-1.
Western Conference
New Orleans Pelicans defeated Portland Trailblazers, 4-0.
Golden State Warriors defeated San Antonio Spurs, 4-1.
The Washington Wizards looked like they might be easy prey for the Toronto Raptors after losing the first two games north of the border without putting up much of a fight.
But home court can make a huge difference in the NBA, and the Wizards looked like a different team in Washington. They were powerful in registering a 19-point win in Game 3 and shockingly resilient in Game 4. The Wizards overcame an 11-point halftime deficit and came up with a 106-98 victory.
Bradley Beal and John Wall combined for 58 points in that game, and those two helped the Wizards overcome DeMar DeRozan's 35-point effort. Wall is averaging 26.8 points per game and connecting on 83.3 percent of his free throws in the series.
The Cleveland Cavaliers come home with a chance to take the lead in their series with the Indiana Pacers for the first time. Indiana picked up victories in Games 1 and 3, while LeBron James and the Cavs responded with wins in Games 2 and 4.
That's not surprising, because it would be something of a shock if James and his teammates don't find a way to make to the second round. While LeBron has been stopped in the NBA Final at various points in his career, he always finds a way to survive in the early rounds of the playoffs.
The Pacers don't appear to care about James' past history and could have earned a 3-1 advantage in the series if they had been able to hold on to a late lead. Cleveland needed a 10-2 run down the stretch to earn a 104-100 victory in Game 4.
"We just didn't play the game the right way," Pacers coach Nate McMillan said, per Michael Marot of the Associated Press (h/t the Guardian). "You get into these games, these emotional games, and you're so pumped up—sometimes you try do some things yourself. Usually, those things don't work."
Predictions
Minnesota head coach Tom Thibodeau saw his defense taken apart by the Rockets in Game 4 as Houston scored 50 points in the third quarter. It's difficult to see Minnesota responding with a big game on the road. The Rockets are the better team, and they will put the Timberwolves away.
On the other hand, the Thunder will play determination and passion after playing substandard basketball in the first four games of the series. The Thunder may not be able to come all the way back, but they will win Game 5 and earn a trip back to Salt Lake City.
Toronto-Washington has been a home-court series, but the combination of Wall and Beal is quite dangerous. Look for those two to play another sensational game, but the Raptors will win and take a 3-2 edge.
Cleveland has not done much to this point in the series, but the Cavs have still picked up two victories. It's just a matter of time until LeBron has one of "those" games and his teammates follow. The Cavs will show their true colors and punish the Pacers in Game 5.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
