Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics
The Heat and Celtics go head-to-head in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at 8.30am (all times AEST).
Both teams forged very different paths to get here. The fifth seed Heat shocked the basketball world by ousting the first seed Milwaukee in five games in the Semifinals.
Jimmy Butler was nothing short of sensational in that series to remind the league he is indeed still a genuine superstar. Butler put up 23.4 points on 53 per cent shooting from the field, 5.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals against the Bucks and outduelled MVP favourite Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Goron Dragic (19.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists) and Bam Adebayo (17.2 points, 12.2 rebounds) also came up big and Miami got great production from the likes of Jae Crowder, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson.
Coming off such a dominant series win, Erik Spoelstra’s team will be oozing confidence.
On the other side, the third seed Celtics just got by a potent Raptors team in an epic seven-game series.
After enjoying a breakout 2020 campaign, Jayson Tatum has ascended his game even further in the playoffs to emerge as the true leader of this Boson team.
He averaged 24.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists against Toronto and was doing it all on both ends of the court. The Celtics might be the most balanced team remaining – if Tatum doesn’t get you, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown or even Marcus Smart will.
However, the C’s will need Walker and Brown shooting the three-ball better in this series after going at a 27 and 28 per cent clip respectively against the Raps.
Boston are 2-1 against Miami in their earlier meetings this season.
Tip: Boston to win @ $1.82.
Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Clippers
The Nuggets and Clippers face off in a huge Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals at 11am.
It’s been a true whirlwind of a series between two teams looking to book their ticket to a Western Finals matchup with LeBron James’ LA Lakers.
The Clippers had complete control of this series early to boast a 3-1 lead, only for the Nuggets to push it out to a Game 7 as they did against Utah in the first round.
Look for Kawhi Leonard to put the Clips on his back in this one, who has averaged 26 points on 47 per cent shooting, nine rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.2 blocks in the series.
Paul George (23.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals) has lifted after a disappointing first round, while the Clippers haven’t seen the best of star bench duo Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell during the entirety of their time in the bubble.
The Nuggets continue to defy the odds and will not bow down. They were given no chance of winning this series or even challenging the Clippers as many experts predicted an all-LA Western Finals was a given. Now, they look to make NBA history and become the first team to come back from 3-1 deficits in consecutive playoffs series.
Nikola Jokic has been on another level in the last two games with the Nuggets facing elimination. In Game 5 he had 22 points, two threes, 14 rebounds, five assists, a steal and two blocks and then in Game 6 tallied 34 points, four triples,14 boards, seven dimes, a steal and a block.
The Nuggets will live and die by the Joker in this one, but Denver also will also need Jamal Murray to maintain his improved play and strong cameos out of guys like Gary Harris, Michael Porter Jr., Paul Millsap and Jeremi Grant.
Tip: Clippers to win @ $1.32.
