NBA Playoffs 2018: Updated Conference Finals Schedule and Picks Entering Weekend
After two days off, the NBA playoffs are back. The Boston Celtics face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday with a chance to go up three games to none in the Eastern Conference final.
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors will look to avenge a 22-point Game 2 loss when they host the Houston Rockets in Game 3 on Sunday.
Here's a look at the latest NBA playoff results, the upcoming schedule and picks for the weekend, with a focus on a potential X-factor for each series.
NBA Playoff Bracket: Eastern Conference
1st Round
No. 1 Toronto Raptors 4, No. 8 Washington Wizards 2
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers 4, No. 5 Indiana Pacers 3
No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers 4, No. 6 Miami Heat 1
No. 2 Boston Celtics 4, No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks 3
2nd Round
Cleveland 4, Toronto 0
Boston 4, Philadelphia 1
Conference Finals
Boston 2, Cleveland 0
NBA Playoff Bracket: Western Conference
1st Round
No. 1 Houston Rockets 4, No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves 1
No. 5 Utah Jazz 4, No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder 2
No. 6 New Orleans Pelicans 4, No. 3 Portland Trail Blazers 0
No. 2 Golden State Warriors 4, No. 7 San Antonio Spurs 1
2nd Round
Golden State 4, New Orleans 1
Houston 4, Utah 1
Conference Finals
Golden State 1, Houston 1
Eastern Conference Finals TV Schedule (All Times ET)
Boston at Cleveland (Game 3): Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Boston at Cleveland (Game 4): Monday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Cleveland at Boston (Game 5, if necessary): Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Boston at Cleveland (Game 6, if necessary): Friday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Cleveland at Boston (Game 7, if necessary): Sunday, May 27 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN
Western Conference Finals TV Schedule (All Times ET)
Houston at Golden State (Game 3): Sunday at 8 p.m. on TNT
Houston at Golden State (Game 4): Tuesday at 9 p.m. on TNT
Golden State at Houston (Game 5): Thursday, May 24 at 9 p.m. on TNT
Houston at Golden State (Game 6, if necessary): Saturday, May 26 at 9 p.m. on TNT
Golden State at Houston (Game 7, if necessary): Monday, May 28 at 9 p.m. on TNT
NBA Finals Schedule (All Times ET)
The winner of the Western Conference Finals will have home-court advantage in the NBA Finals, as the Rockets and Warriors have the best two regular-season records of the teams remaining.
East winner at West winner (Game 1): Thursday, May 31 at 9 p.m. on ABC
East winner at West winner (Game 2): Sunday, June 3 at 8 p.m. on ABC
West winner at East winner (Game 3): Wednesday, June 6 at 9 p.m. on ABC
West winner at East winner (Game 4): Friday, June 8 at 9 p.m. on ABC
East winner at West winner (Game 5, if necessary): Monday, June 11 at 9 p.m. on ABC
West winner at East winner (Game 6, if necessary): Thursday, June 14 at 9 p.m. on ABC
East winner at West winner (Game 7, if necessary): Sunday, June 17 at 8 p.m. on ABC
Celtics at Cavaliers: X-Factor and Game 3 Pick
This sentiment is a bit out of left field, but the X-factor for a potential Cavaliers turnaround in this series might be forward Larry Nance Jr.
Nance has fared well this year when given opportunities with Cleveland, averaging 8.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 20.8 minutes per game. But he's only seen the court for 24 minutes since the beginning of the second round, with his single-game high being 11 during that span.
However, something needs to change for Cleveland. Simply put, outside of LeBron James and Kevin Love, the Cavs aren't faring well right now. James and Love combined for 64 of the team's 94 points in Game 2), so it might be time to shake up the rotation and inject some energy into the team and Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday night.
Nance is the type of energetic player who can light up the crowd with spectacular dunks and hustle plays. Cleveland looks a step slower than the younger Boston team, which has seen its speed and energy play big roles en route to an early 2-0 series lead. Nance can help swing the pendulum more towards the Cavs in those areas.
Bringing in Nance might be a problem on the offensive side, though, as he's not an outside shooter (2-for-12 from three-point range this year) and doesn't attempt many field goals to begin with (6.7 per game in a Cavs uniform during the regular season).
That being said, the Cavs need to try something new, and making Nance a more prominent member of the rotation might be a good start. The guess here is that Nance is a surprise and plays well in 20-plus minutes of action, helping the Cavs earn a close win.
Pick: Cavaliers 104, Celtics 101
Game 3 Pick: Rockets at Warriors
Rockets forwards P.J. Tucker and Trevor Ariza combined to make just three field goals in Game 1, and their team lost by 13 points. Tucker and Ariza combined to make 15 field goals (in just 18 attempts) in Game 2, and their team won by 22 points.
Of course, the turnaround between games can be attributed to more than the performances of two players (of note, Warriors not named Kevin Durant went cold, and Eric Gordon dropped 27 off the bench for Houston). However, the Rockets will need their supporting cast outside All-Stars James Harden and Chris Paul to knock down threes and provide tough defense if they are to take this series.
That has been the case virtually all year, as the Rockets won 65 regular-season games and waltzed through the first two playoff rounds. But Golden State provides a much stiffer test, and Houston has to somehow steal a game at the daunting Oracle Arena if it is to make the NBA Finals.
In order to do that, the Rockets need more of that three-point magic from Tucker and Ariza. It will be interesting to see if those two can keep it up in Game 3, but the primary problem they face is that the Warriors are 15-0 at home in the playoffs since Durant joined the team. Even if they are both hot from deep, it simply may not be enough, as the Warriors can pummel teams from downtown.
Look for Game 3 to be a back-and-forth affair and for Ariza and Tucker's performances to fall somewhere between Games 1 and 2. In the end, olden State will win a close one thanks to another big performance from Durant, who scored 37 in Game 1 and 38 in Game 2.
Pick: Warriors 122, Rockets 116
