Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat
The Bucks and Heat face off in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals matchup, with Miami leading the series 3-1.
Miami have shocked the basketball world in this one, having swept Milwaukee 3-0 in the opening three games.
The Bucks looked dead and buried in Game 4 as Giannis Antetokounmpo left the game with an ankle spain, the same injury he reaggravated in game 3. Khris Middleton put the team on his back in leading the team to the 118-115 overtime win, putting up 36 points, three triples eight rebounds and eight assists.
With Giannis’ status for Game 5 unconfirmed, the Bucks are going to need more of that superstar play if they are any chance of extending the series into a Game 6.
Jimmy Butler has been nothing short of sensational in this series, putting up 25.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, four assists and two steals per game. Goran Dragic looks like his 2018 All-Star self, averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds and five dimes in the series.
Bam Adebayo has continued his stellar All-Star form and has been the most dominant big man in the series, averaging 18.3 points, 13.5 rebounds and five assists.
With the reigning MVP banged up and no team ever coming back from a 3-0 deficit in NBA Playoffs history, it’s hard to mount a case for Milwaukee pulling this one back.
Tip: Heat to win @ $1.71.
LA Lakers vs Houston Rockets
The Lakers and Rockets face off in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals with the series all tied up 1-1.
In what has been an electrifying series so far, both teams have looked the dominant team in either game.
The Rockets were firing on all cylinders in Game 1 both defensively and offensively, burying the Lakers 112-97 behind a barrage of 14 three-pointers. James Harden did James Harden things, tallying a game-high 36 points on an impressive 12-of-20 shooting, while Russell Westbrook (24 points, nine rebounds, six assists) and Eric Gordon (23 points) also came up big.
But the Lakers responded as all teams do in Game 2, putting the pedal down in the first half to lead 67-51. The Rockets rallied hard to get back into the game and actually led the in the third quarter, but the Lakers ran away with it in the fourth behind the lead of LeBron James.
Beyond LeBron (averaging 24 points, 9.5 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and two blocks per game in the series) and Anthony Davis (29.5 points, 12 rebounds, 1.5 steals, two blocks) the Lakers aren’t getting much production from their role players. To win this series, and perhaps more importantly, contend for the championship, the likes of Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green and Markieff Morris need to step up their play.
Tip: Lakers to win @ $1.47.
