Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics (-8, 173.5)
Series tied 1-1
THE STORY: Paul Pierce was a one-man show in Game 2, Rajon Rondo returns for Game 3 and Atlanta could be without forward Josh Smith when the Boston Celtics host the Hawks on Friday. Pierce had 36 points and 14 rebounds in Boston’s 87-80 victory that tied the series on Tuesday, a contest that Rondo missed after he drew a one-game suspension for bumping official Marc Davis in Game 1. Smith strained a left knee tendon in Game 2, resulting in patellar tendinitis. He's considered doubtful for Game 3.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sport South (Atlanta), Comcast SportsNet New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (37-29-2 ATS): Not having Smith would be a huge blow for an Atlanta team that is also without frontcourt players Al Horford (pectoral) and Zaza Pachulia (foot). Smith is averaging 19 and 15 rebounds in the series and has been the Hawks’ top player over the second half of the season. “He’s certainly a key component in order for us to have success,” Atlanta coach Larry Drew said. “Obviously, we already have both centers out, and now we’re looking at our starting power forward possibly being injured. These types of situations have been happening to us all year. We’ve been kind of snakebit but we’re just hoping for the best.”
ABOUT THE CELTICS (35-31-2 ATS): Pierce bounced back from a poor Game 1 to register one of the top playoff efforts of his stellar career - an impressive feat considering he was a marked man with both Rondo and Ray Allen (guard) out of the lineup. Pierce scored just 12 points in the opener on 5-of-19 shooting. Allen is questionable to play in Game 3. Coach Doc Rivers cited his team’s experience as being a prime factor in why Boston was able to even the series while shorthanded. “We’ve won games this year without some of our key players,” Rivers said. “This is a tough-minded basketball team, and having a lot of veterans on your team helps with that.”
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Atlanta All-Star Joe Johnson is averaging just 15.5 points in the series and his shooting has been horrid – 31.3 percent from the field, including 3 of 17 from 3-point range.
2. The Celtics missed their first 19 3-point attempts in the series and are 3 for 25 overall.
3. Scoring has been tough for both teams – the Hawks are averaging 81.5 points and Boston is at 80.5.
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (-2, 179.5)
Series tied 1-1
THE STORY: The Chicago Bulls did just fine without Derrick Rose for one half. Then things fell apart. The Philadelphia 76ers blitzed past the Bulls in the second half on Tuesday, running away with Game 2 and evening the series at a game apiece. The 76ers torched Chicago’s league-best defense, shooting 59 percent from the field. The series now shifts back to Philadelphia, where the 76ers lost four straight to end the regular season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSCH (Chicago), CSN (Philadelphia), ESPN2
ABOUT THE BULLS (39-28-1 ATS): Chicago went 18-9 without Rose during the regular season and was confident going into Game 2. The Bulls held a 55-47 lead at the half before collapsing in the third quarter in a 109-92 loss. C.J. Watson and John Lucas III combined for 27 points and seven assists in Rose’s spot but the defense could not contain anyone. The 59 percent shooting Chicago allowed was the highest mark surrendered by the team since Tom Thibodeau took over as head coach prior to the 2010-11 season. Joakim Noah was the one highlight in Game 2, scoring 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting, but Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer both struggled on the interior as the Bulls were outscored 52-32 in the paint.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (34-33-1 ATS): Philadelphia took advantage of Rose’s absence mostly on the offensive end, where point guard Jrue Holiday had little trouble navigating Rose’s replacements en route to 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting. The 76ers put six players in double figures and got strong performances from Evan Turner and Lou Williams. Philadelphia played 10 of its final 14 regular season games on the road and started the playoffs in Chicago, so the atmosphere at the Wells Fargo Center should be a welcome change of pace. The 76ers finished 19-14 at home during the regular season despite the April stumble.
TRENDS:
* Over is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings in Philadelphia.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The top rebounding team in the NBA during the season, Chicago was beaten on the boards, 38-32, in Game 2.
2. The 76ers switched their lineup in Game 2, moving Turner and Spencer Hawes into the starting five.
3. Rose, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Game 1, likely won’t travel to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (-4, 204)
Los Angeles leads series 2-0
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets are hoping a variety of factors – the home crowd and mile-high altitude chief among them – will turn the moment in their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Staring at a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series, Denver will need to push the pace to exploit Los Angeles' age (read: Kobe Bryant) and negate the Lakers' overwhelming size advantage. Avoiding playing catch-up would also help the Nuggets, who have never led in the series.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ALT
ABOUT THE LAKERS (29-29 ATS): Bryant was magnificent through three quarters on his way to a 38-point performance in Game 2, giving him 69 points in the series. With Bynum dominating the inside, Los Angeles has a 1-2 punch that the Nuggets have been unable to slow down, much less stop. Coming off his triple-double in Game 1, the 7-foot Bynum followed up with a career playoff-high 27 points Tuesday night. The behemoth center has had his way against Denver, averaging a shade under 25 points and 12 rebounds in four regular-season meetings.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (37-31 ATS): Behind point guard Ty Lawson, Denver finally got its running game untracked and managed to chop a 19-point deficit to four late in the fourth quarter. But the Nuggets also trailed by 17 early in Game 1 and cannot afford to play from behind, particularly since they were among the league’s weakest 3-point shooting teams during the regular season. Shooting guard Arron Afflalo needs to get untracked. He averaged 18.7 points in the final month of the season, but has a combined 20 points on 7-of-23 shooting in the series.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Denver.
* Under is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Los Angeles is 42-1 when winning the first two games of a postseason series.
2. Denver is 0-5 all time against the Lakers in the playoffs.
3. Bryant struggled mightily in both regular-season meetings in Denver, shooting 13 of 51 overall and 2 of 12 from behind the arc.
Series tied 1-1
THE STORY: Paul Pierce was a one-man show in Game 2, Rajon Rondo returns for Game 3 and Atlanta could be without forward Josh Smith when the Boston Celtics host the Hawks on Friday. Pierce had 36 points and 14 rebounds in Boston’s 87-80 victory that tied the series on Tuesday, a contest that Rondo missed after he drew a one-game suspension for bumping official Marc Davis in Game 1. Smith strained a left knee tendon in Game 2, resulting in patellar tendinitis. He's considered doubtful for Game 3.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Sport South (Atlanta), Comcast SportsNet New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (37-29-2 ATS): Not having Smith would be a huge blow for an Atlanta team that is also without frontcourt players Al Horford (pectoral) and Zaza Pachulia (foot). Smith is averaging 19 and 15 rebounds in the series and has been the Hawks’ top player over the second half of the season. “He’s certainly a key component in order for us to have success,” Atlanta coach Larry Drew said. “Obviously, we already have both centers out, and now we’re looking at our starting power forward possibly being injured. These types of situations have been happening to us all year. We’ve been kind of snakebit but we’re just hoping for the best.”
ABOUT THE CELTICS (35-31-2 ATS): Pierce bounced back from a poor Game 1 to register one of the top playoff efforts of his stellar career - an impressive feat considering he was a marked man with both Rondo and Ray Allen (guard) out of the lineup. Pierce scored just 12 points in the opener on 5-of-19 shooting. Allen is questionable to play in Game 3. Coach Doc Rivers cited his team’s experience as being a prime factor in why Boston was able to even the series while shorthanded. “We’ve won games this year without some of our key players,” Rivers said. “This is a tough-minded basketball team, and having a lot of veterans on your team helps with that.”
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings.
* Underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Atlanta All-Star Joe Johnson is averaging just 15.5 points in the series and his shooting has been horrid – 31.3 percent from the field, including 3 of 17 from 3-point range.
2. The Celtics missed their first 19 3-point attempts in the series and are 3 for 25 overall.
3. Scoring has been tough for both teams – the Hawks are averaging 81.5 points and Boston is at 80.5.
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (-2, 179.5)
Series tied 1-1
THE STORY: The Chicago Bulls did just fine without Derrick Rose for one half. Then things fell apart. The Philadelphia 76ers blitzed past the Bulls in the second half on Tuesday, running away with Game 2 and evening the series at a game apiece. The 76ers torched Chicago’s league-best defense, shooting 59 percent from the field. The series now shifts back to Philadelphia, where the 76ers lost four straight to end the regular season.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSCH (Chicago), CSN (Philadelphia), ESPN2
ABOUT THE BULLS (39-28-1 ATS): Chicago went 18-9 without Rose during the regular season and was confident going into Game 2. The Bulls held a 55-47 lead at the half before collapsing in the third quarter in a 109-92 loss. C.J. Watson and John Lucas III combined for 27 points and seven assists in Rose’s spot but the defense could not contain anyone. The 59 percent shooting Chicago allowed was the highest mark surrendered by the team since Tom Thibodeau took over as head coach prior to the 2010-11 season. Joakim Noah was the one highlight in Game 2, scoring 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting, but Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer both struggled on the interior as the Bulls were outscored 52-32 in the paint.
ABOUT THE 76ERS (34-33-1 ATS): Philadelphia took advantage of Rose’s absence mostly on the offensive end, where point guard Jrue Holiday had little trouble navigating Rose’s replacements en route to 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting. The 76ers put six players in double figures and got strong performances from Evan Turner and Lou Williams. Philadelphia played 10 of its final 14 regular season games on the road and started the playoffs in Chicago, so the atmosphere at the Wells Fargo Center should be a welcome change of pace. The 76ers finished 19-14 at home during the regular season despite the April stumble.
TRENDS:
* Over is 7-1-1 in the last nine meetings in Philadelphia.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The top rebounding team in the NBA during the season, Chicago was beaten on the boards, 38-32, in Game 2.
2. The 76ers switched their lineup in Game 2, moving Turner and Spencer Hawes into the starting five.
3. Rose, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Game 1, likely won’t travel to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (-4, 204)
Los Angeles leads series 2-0
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets are hoping a variety of factors – the home crowd and mile-high altitude chief among them – will turn the moment in their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers. Staring at a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series, Denver will need to push the pace to exploit Los Angeles' age (read: Kobe Bryant) and negate the Lakers' overwhelming size advantage. Avoiding playing catch-up would also help the Nuggets, who have never led in the series.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, ALT
ABOUT THE LAKERS (29-29 ATS): Bryant was magnificent through three quarters on his way to a 38-point performance in Game 2, giving him 69 points in the series. With Bynum dominating the inside, Los Angeles has a 1-2 punch that the Nuggets have been unable to slow down, much less stop. Coming off his triple-double in Game 1, the 7-foot Bynum followed up with a career playoff-high 27 points Tuesday night. The behemoth center has had his way against Denver, averaging a shade under 25 points and 12 rebounds in four regular-season meetings.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (37-31 ATS): Behind point guard Ty Lawson, Denver finally got its running game untracked and managed to chop a 19-point deficit to four late in the fourth quarter. But the Nuggets also trailed by 17 early in Game 1 and cannot afford to play from behind, particularly since they were among the league’s weakest 3-point shooting teams during the regular season. Shooting guard Arron Afflalo needs to get untracked. He averaged 18.7 points in the final month of the season, but has a combined 20 points on 7-of-23 shooting in the series.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Denver.
* Under is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Los Angeles is 42-1 when winning the first two games of a postseason series.
2. Denver is 0-5 all time against the Lakers in the playoffs.
3. Bryant struggled mightily in both regular-season meetings in Denver, shooting 13 of 51 overall and 2 of 12 from behind the arc.
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