{"id":62996,"date":"2018-04-13T06:37:47","date_gmt":"2018-04-13T06:37:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=62996"},"modified":"2018-04-13T06:37:47","modified_gmt":"2018-04-13T06:37:47","slug":"2018-nba-playoff-previews-matchups-schedules-series-outlooks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/sports\/2018-nba-playoff-previews-matchups-schedules-series-outlooks.html","title":{"rendered":"2018 NBA playoff previews: Matchups, schedules, series outlooks"},"content":{"rendered":"

2018 NBA playoff previews: Matchups, schedules, series outlooks<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

If the playoffs are anything like the wild finish to the regular season, hold on.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took an overtime play-in win just to determine the Western Conference playoff teams, and little was settled outside of the top two seeds in the East heading into Wednesday\u2019s season finale.<\/span><\/p>\n

But now that we have the sixteen teams, it\u2019s on. The NBA’s second season officially begins on Saturday afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toronto Raptors (1) vs. Washington Wizards (8)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Wizards at Raptors, Saturday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)<\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Wizards at Raptors, Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. (NBA TV)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 Raptors at Wizards, Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. (ESPN2)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 Raptors at Wizards, Sunday, April 22 at 6 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014Wizards at Raptors, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 Raptors at Wizards, Friday, April 27 (TBD) <\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Wizards at Raptors, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Tied 2-2<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: The Raptors have all sorts of pressure on them this postseason, but they couldn\u2019t have done much better than facing the fledgling Wizards at the start. Washington, which has lost 14 of its last 21 games, welcomed five-time All-Star John Wall back on March 31 after he missed more than two months with a knee injury. Still, Toronto \u2014 which was third in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating this season \u2014 should be able to survive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (7)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Bucks at Celtics, Sunday, April 15 at 1 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Bucks at Celtics, Tuesday, April 17 at 8 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 Celtics at Bucks, Friday, April 20 at 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 Celtics at Bucks, Sunday, April 22 at 1 p.m. (ABC)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014 Bucks at Celtics, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 Celtics at Bucks, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Bucks at Cetlics, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Tied 2-2<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: Boston, which is without five-time All-Star Kyrie Irving for the playoffs and guard Marcus Smart until at least late April, has its hands full against these Bucks. Milwaukee\u2019s 106-102 win over Boston on April 3 serves as the best evidence of how they match up at the moment. The Bucks\u2019 Giannis Antetokounmpo will be looking to advance past the first round for the first time (he\u2019s 0-for-2 thus far).<\/span><\/p>\n

Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Miami Heat (6)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Heat at 76ers, Saturday, April 14 at 8 p.m. (ESPN)<\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Heat at 76ers, Monday, April 16 at 8 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 76ers at Heat, Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 76ers at Heat, Saturday, April 21 at 2:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014 Heat at 76ers, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 76ers at Heat, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Heat at 76ers, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Tied 2-2<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: Philadelphia comes in as the league\u2019s hottest team, having won 16 games in a row. Never mind that All-Star big man Joel Embiid went down with an orbital fracture in his left eye eight games into the stretch, the Sixers just kept rolling. When Embiid was asked if he might be able to play for Game 1, he told reporters it\u2019s \u201cunlikely but still a chance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cleveland Cavaliers (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Pacers at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 15 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC) <\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Pacers at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 Cavaliers at Pacers, Friday, April 20 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 Cavaliers at Pacers, Sunday, April 22 at 8:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014 Pacers at Cavaliers, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 Cavaliers at Pacers, Friday, April 27 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Pacers at Cavaliers, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Indiana won 3-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: LeBron James is no stranger to memorable playoff matchups against the Pacers, but this is a different version of the familiar story. With coach Nate McMillan and All-Star guard Victor Oladipo leading the way, the Pacers were a wonderful surprise this season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Western Conference<\/span>
\nHouston Rockets (1) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (8)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Timberwolves at Rockets, Sunday, April 15 at 9 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Timberwolves at Rockets, Wednesday, April 18 at 9:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 Rockets at Timberwolves, Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 Rockets at Timberwolves, Monday, April 23 at 8 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014 Timberwolves at Rockets, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 Rockets at Timberwolves, Friday, April 27 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Timberwolves at Rockets, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Houston won 4-0<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: The Rockets dominated the season series against the Timberwolves, but only one of those games (a 126-108 win on Feb. 13) included Minnesota\u2019s Jimmy Butler from beginning to end. The four-time All-Star tore his meniscus in their second matchup on Feb. 23, then missed the final two meetings before returning on Friday. The Rockets, meanwhile, lost key defender Luc Mbah a Moute to a dislocated shoulder on Tuesday, and he’s expected to miss the first round \u2014 if not longer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Golden State Warriors (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Spurs at Warriors, Saturday, April 14 at 3 p.m. (ABC)<\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Spurs at Warriors, Monday, April 16 at 10:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 Warriors at Spurs, Thursday, April 19 at 9:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 Warriors at Spurs, Sunday, April 22 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014 Spurs at Warriors, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 Warriors at Spurs, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Spurs at Warriors, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Golden State won 3-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: This is a rematch of last year\u2019s Western Conference finals in name alone, as Golden State is without two-time MVP Stephen Curry this time around and the Spurs\u2019 franchise centerpiece, Kawhi Leonard, remains out after playing just nine games this season. But if anyone is capable of creating a gameplan to upset the ailing defending champions, it\u2019s San Antonio\u2019s Gregg Popovich. His Spurs had the fourth-best defensive rating this season. The Warriors, meanwhile, have lost 10 of their last 17 games.<\/span><\/p>\n

Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (6)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Saturday, April 14 at 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)<\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 17 at 10:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Thursday, April 19 at 9 p.m. (NBA TV)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Saturday, April 21 at 5 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014 Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Tuesday, April 24 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 Trail Blazers at Pelicans, Thursday, April 26 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Pelicans at Trail Blazers, Saturday, April 28 (TNT)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Tied 2-2<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: The Trail Blazers lost seven of their last 12 games, but the regular season finale win over Utah was enough to earn them the No. 3 seed. Portland, which had the league\u2019s ninth-best defensive rating this season, will have all it can handle with the way Pelicans star Anthony Davis has been playing (a league-leading 30.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game since DeMarcus Cousins\u2019 season-ending Achilles injury Jan. 26).<\/span><\/p>\n

Oklahoma City Thunder (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)<\/span><\/p>\n

Game 1 \u2014 Jazz at Thunder, Sunday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 2 \u2014 Jazz at Thunder, Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m. (NBA TV)<\/span>
\nGame 3 \u2014 Thunder at Jazz, Saturday, April 21 at 10 p.m. (ESPN)<\/span>
\nGame 4 \u2014 Thunder at Jazz, Monday, April 23 at 10:30 p.m. (TNT)<\/span>
\nGame 5 (if necessary) \u2014 Jazz at Thunder, Wednesday, April 25 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 6 (if necessary) \u2014 Thunder at Jazz, Friday, April 27 (TBD)<\/span>
\nGame 7 (if necessary) \u2014 Jazz at Thunder, Sunday, April 29 (TBD)<\/span>
\nSeason series: Oklahoma City won 3-1<\/span><\/p>\n

Series outlook: The Jazz boasted the NBA\u2019s best defense for the final few months of the regular season, and now they\u2019ll try to stop a star-studded Thunder squad that finished 10th in offensive rating. But the Jazz have to score too, and therein lies the most pressing question of their postseason: Can rookie guard Donovan Mitchell be the same star-caliber player on this stage? Utah certainly needs him to be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nba\/playoffs\/2018\/04\/12\/2018-nba-playoff-previews-matchups-series-outlooks\/509675002\/<\/span><\/p>\n

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