NBA Playoffs 2018: Game Times, TV, Live-Stream Coverage and Picks for Tuesday
For the first time in his 12-year career, guard Chris Paul could advance to the NBA conference championship round. The Houston Rockets have a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Utah Jazz and look to finish the job at the Toyota Center Tuesday.
While it looks good on paper for Houston, don't discuss future possibilities with Paul, who lost a series up 3-1 with the Los Angeles Clippers to the Rockets during the 2014-15 postseason:
The veteran guard won't count his wins before they happen, but this could become a postseason breakthrough for the nine-time All-Star.
The Golden State Warriors have a closeout game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Unlike the previous year, the defending champions have lost a game within the first two rounds. Still, head coach Steve Kerr's group looks like the overwhelming favorite in the series.
Will we have our Western Conference Finals matchup set after Tuesday's games? Check out the action on television or through the live-streaming service listed below.
TV and Live-Stream Details for Tuesday's Semifinal Matchups
Utah at Houston: Tuesday, May 8 at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, TNT Overdrive
New Orleans at Golden State: Tuesday, May 8 at 10:30 p.m. ET on TNT, TNT Overdrive
Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz
The Rockets fell to the San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals last year. Now they're in control of the series with an elimination game on their court.
The Utah Jazz don't have their starting point guard Ricky Rubio due to a hamstring injury, and Donovan Mitchell hasn't been efficient scoring from the field. He's shooting 27-of-83 for the series.
Simply slowing the game down isn't going to lead the Jazz to victory. They must score more 100 points to contend with the third-best team in points at 109.2 per contest.
Rubio, who will miss Game 5, averaged 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the first round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Without his contributions, Utah's offense will struggle without his decision-making skills and improved defense on the other end of the court.
The Rockets have two veteran ball-handlers who can score and facilitate while Mitchell looks to find a shooting rhythm and scorers to help him put up points.
Finally, Paul goes to the conference finals with a team that's playing at or near its peak levels.
Prediction: Rockets 112, Jazz 101
Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Warriors' 119-100 loss to the Pelicans in Game 2 may have lit a new fire under the defending champions. They roared back in the following game with a 26-point blowout. Head coach Steve Kerr talked about how his team handled defeat:
Kerr has thrown out different lineups throughout the year. Ten Warriors average 12 minutes or more in the postseason. He went with the "death lineup," which features Andre Iguodala along the team's four All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant.
Rajon Rondo's postseason play certainly boosts the Pelicans' ability to run the floor and execute for easy buckets in transition. However, he's not a volume scorer. At times, Warriors defenders will leave him wide open to shoot and the gamble oftentimes works out in their favor.
Rondo scored 22 points in Game 2, but he's converted 4-of-21 from the field since. The 32-year-old runs the floor as an exceptional facilitator, but the subpar shooting deals a blow to the offense when defenders can play 5-on-4 when contesting shots.
It's almost automatic to pencil Anthony Davis down for at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in an elimination game. But it's not enough to escape Oakland with a victory.
Prediction: Warriors 120, Pelicans 104
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