The NBA playoffs are often predictable in the first round, but this year seems to be breaking the trend. A No. 7 seed in the West is trying to oust the No. 2 seed. The No. 8 seed in the East is trying to topple the No. 1 seed. Will these upsets actually happen?
Game 3: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Memphis Grizzlies
Thursday, 8:05 PM ET
Odds: Oklahoma City -1
This is a moment in which Oklahoma City really has to show the resolve of a championship team. The Thunder were fortunate to force overtime in Game 2 of this series on Monday. They needed an improbable four-point play from Kevin Durant and an unlikely basket from struggling center Kendrick Perkins to wipe out a five-point deficit in the closing 20 seconds of regulation. Oklahoma City basically gained a second chance to win that game, but the Thunder didn’t make use of it. They were comprehensively outplayed in the overtime period and fell into a series tie. Memphis knows it can win this series, so Oklahoma City really wants to be able to take a 2-1 series lead and not have to face the prospect of having to win Game 4. A mixture of urgency and anger should help Oklahoma City to be at its best in this game. Take the Thunder.
Pick: Oklahoma City
Game 3: Indiana Pacers @ Atlanta Hawks
Thursday, 7:05 PM ET
Odds: Indiana -2
The Indiana Pacers trailed the Atlanta Hawks, 38-27, midway through the second quarter of Game 2 of this series. Already behind 1-0 in the series, the Pacers had to respond quickly in order to tie the series before it headed south to Georgia. Indiana made a late run to pull within four points of Atlanta at halftime, and in the third quarter, the Pacers unloaded with a 31-13 surge that buried the Hawks. Indiana not only came back to win. It won decisively and totally changed the way the series was perceived. The Pacers should be able to continue to play the way they played in the second half of Game 2. They moved the ball better and set good screens. They started to work harder without trying to cut corners. The Pacers figure to win this game and remove doubts about their ability to move to the second round of the playoffs.
Pick: Indiana
Game 3: Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors
Thursday, 10:35 PM ET
Odds: Los Angeles Clippers -2
The Los Angeles Clippers are merely tied with the Golden State Warriors after two games in this series, but the Clippers have to think that they can and will get the better of their opponent. The Clippers barely lost Game 1 in this series even though Blake Griffin played limited minutes due to foul trouble. Los Angeles came very close to beating the Warriors even though it missed over 10 free throws and failed to convert numerous fast break opportunities in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles showed how good it can be in the process of demolishing Golden State in Game 2. That display should feed the Clippers’ confidence and carry over to Game 3 on the Warriors’ home court. Los Angeles has too many weapons for Golden State to handle.
Pick: Clippers
