Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets will have the chance to lock up the series when they host the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 on Wednesday night. A win would secure Denver the right to play the winner of Houston/Los Angeles in the conference finals. The Dallas Mavericks avoided being swept in 4 games with an exciting 119-117 high scoring victory in Game 4. Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks with a blazing 44 points which prevented the Nuggets from sweeping the series. Denver will be trying to rebound on Wednesday night and avoid losing back to back games. The Nuggets have not lost back to back games since the beginning of March. Fortunately for the Nuggets they have a few trends that bode well heading into the contest. For starters, Denver has yet to lose a playoff game at home and they are also 2-0 against the Mavericks at home this season as well. The Nuggets will try to put together another solid home performance this Wednesday night and take down the series.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Denver Nuggets at Dallas Mavericks Game 4
The Dallas Mavericks will try and avoid elimination on Monday night as they host the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Mavericks probably should only be down 2-1 in this series but a bad call by the referees allowed Denver’s Carmelo Anthony to get away a 3-point shot that he hit to win Game 3 by a score of 106-105 on Saturday.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic
The Boston Celtics were apart of perhaps the greatest opening round series of all time when they overcame the Chicago Bulls in 7 games that had plenty of overtime sessions as well. The Celtics could be on the verge of another back and forth battle in the Conference Semi-Finals match-up with Orlando. The Magic came out looking strong beating the Celtics at TD Northbank Garden in Game 1 95-90. However, things were much different in Game 2 as Boston completely dominated all aspects of the game blowing the Magic out 112-94. However, the series will take another turn as these teams will battle the next two meetings in Orlando. The Magic have played very well all season at home and they will need to take advantage of the home court over the next two games. Orlando really needs to win both games to avoid having to rely on more wins in Boston. However, the Celtics won the only previous meeting earlier this season in Orlando and they will be looking for similar results this Friday night.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers Game 2
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try and take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The Cavaliers are heavily favored to win Game 2 considering they have only lost two games at home all season. Cleveland has been rolling throughout the playoffs so far, winning all five of their games by double-digits.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Philadelphia at Orlando
The Philadelphia 76ers overcame a 18 point deficit in the opening game of their postseason playoff appearance against the Orlando Magic to score a dramatic upset victory. The 76ers were 10 point underdogs heading into the event and it quickly looked like Orlando may have been a bit too powerful. However, Andre Iguodala and company led a fierce comeback in the 4th quarter with Iguodala draining the game winning bucket with just less than 3 seconds to play in the game. The victory was the first for the 76ers over the Magic this season considering Orlando won the previous 3 regular season match-ups. Orlando will look to rebound on Wednesday night as they get Game 2 at home as well as they seek to even up the series. Similar to the first game Orlando will be again 10 point favorites in the contest, but hopefully it will be another hard fought exciting grudge match.
Related Sports Betting Articles
NBA Playoff Outlook
The Utah Jazz will step up to the plate to give their best effort at taking down the huge favorites in the Los Angeles Lakers in game 1 this Sunday. The Lakers handled the Jazz fairly convincingly in their 125-112 victory in the last game of the regular season. Andrew Bynum scored 22 points in his biggest game back since the knee injury. The Lakers have been more than dominant all season against Western Conference Teams and it will be interesting to see if the trend continues. Utah has been anything but stellar down the stretch losing 7 of their last 9 games to carry them into the post season. The Jazz did beat the Lakers back in February and will attempt to find a way to get the job done again. Deron Williams has carried the team all season with 20 points per game while star Carlos Boozer has been unexpectedly inconsistent in recent weeks.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat currently hold down the number 4 and 5 positions in the Eastern Conference with only two more days left in the regular season. The two teams will also finish in their respected places in the East meaning only one thing; they will meet in the playoffs in the opening round for a best of 5 series. Atlanta has gotten the best of Miami so far this season winning two of the three previous meetings. The Hawks have also won their last 3 games heading into the showdown with the Heat. The question is with this being nearly the final game of the season will these two teams throw down for all its worth or take it rather lightly giving their best shot when it matters the most in the playoffs. Miami has slid in the wrong direction over the past few weeks. The Heat have now lost 9 of their last 15 games to close out the season and desperately need to get things back on track in time for the post-season.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Utah Jazz at LA Lakers
The last game of the regular season for two playoff bound Western Conference teams will take center stage Tuesday night inside the Staples Center. The Los Angeles Lakers have already wrapped up the top spot in the West clinching home court advantage throughout their playoff run in the conference. The Lakers hold a tremendous 10 ½ game advantage over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference and have simply been unstoppable. The question all season long surrounding the Western Conference has been can anyone challenge the Los Angeles Lakers? The Utah Jazz will step up to the plate for the 3rd time this season. The Jazz have split their last two meetings this season with the Lakers getting the best of the number 1 team in the West in the last meeting back in February. The match-up potentially could be a playoff pairing between the two considering the Jazz are the last place team in the West that will be playing in the postseason. As long as the Jazz do not jump ahead of Dallas they will battle the Lakers in a 5 games series in the first round meaning this game will be a big confidence builder for either team.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers
Two of the top dogs in the Eastern Conference square off Easter Sunday when the Boston Celtics take the road to play against the toughest home team in the league when they head to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers. Cleveland is sporting a mind blowing 38-1 record at home heading into the showdown and they have truly been a class of their own inside Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland has won 3 straight games knocking off Philadelphia 102-92 on Friday night. The Celtics have put together a solid 6 game winning streak heading into the much anticipated match-up with their last loss back in late March from Orlando. Boston has a two game advantage over the Magic for the 2nd place bragging rights position in the East and a win would guarantee them that spot. However, the Celtics will be trying to do what only one team has done all season and that is defeat the Cavaliers in Cleveland. Boston has gotten the better of the Cavaliers twice out of the prior 3 meetings this season and they will seek a 3rd victory this Sunday.
Related Sports Betting Articles
Denver Nuggets at LA Lakers
Two of the biggest names out West will collide this Thursday night inside the Staples Center when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Denver Nuggets. The game will be the 4th meeting between these two teams this season as the Lakers captured the first two wins and Denver responded with an 11 point victory in the most recent meeting back in late February. Thursday night’s battle comes at a time when both teams are playing extremely well and promises to be an exciting show. Los Angeles has knocked off 4 straight wins and owns the 2nd best home record in the NBA at 33-5. However, Denver is playing better than they have all season considering they are winners of 7 straight games and 12 of their last 13 games as well. The Nuggets may be the only team from the Western Conference that can contend with the Lakers by the way things have looked throughout the regular season and Thursday night’s game could be an indication of how things could shake out in the playoffs considering these two teams will be biggest favorites to represent the West in the Finals.
Related Sports Betting Articles