New team, even Kawhi Leonard. And that may end up being a challenge for the war-won parts of the Los Angeles Clippers in this year’s NBA playoffs.
On Friday night, Leonard scored 36 points, nine rebounds and 8 assists while leading the Clippers to a 130-122 win over the Dallas Mavericks, taking a 2-1 lead in the Top Seven series. Last year, Leonard won the NBA Finals MVP award while leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA title. This year, he will take Los Angeles to his first championship in franchise history.
However, to do so, the Clippers will want to take down the Mavs and eliminate the other more productive groups from the Western Conference, which would possibly not be easy. But it’ll be great to see, as this year’s playoffs have already brought exciting action from the NBA bubble to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Here’s a preview of the calendar for the rest of the opening round, such as a preview of Saturday’s matchups.
Saturday hours, odds
Game 3: Milwaukee Bucks No. 1 (-12) at No. Orlando Magic, 1 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: No. Four Indiana Pacers in No. Five Miami Heat (-five), 3:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 3: No. Four Houston Rockets (-3) at No. five Oklahoma City Thunder, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 3: Los Angeles Lakers No. 1 (-7) at No. Portland Trail Blazers, 30 p.m. ET, ABC
Odds received By Caesars Palace
Remains of the first-round calendar
Sunday, August 23
Game 4: Boston Celtics No. against Philadelphia 76ers No. 6, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 4: No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers at No. 7 Dallas Mavericks, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Game 4: Toronto Raptors No. 2 against No. 7 Brooklyn Nets, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Nuggets No. 3 Denver vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz, nine p.m. ET, TNT
Monday, August 24
Game 4: Milwaukee Bucks No. 1 at No. Orlando Magic, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBATV
Game four: No. four Houston Rockets at No. five Oklahoma City Thunder, four p.m. ET, TNT
Game four: Indiana Pacers No. Four in Miami Heat No. Five, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
Game 4: Los Angeles Lakers No. 1 against Portland Trail Blazers No. 8, nine p.m. ET, TNT
Tuesday, August 25
Game 5: No. 7 Dallas Mavericks at No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers
Game 5: Utah Jazz No. 6 at No. Denver Nuggets
Game 5: No. 7 Brooklyn Nets vs. No. 2 Toronto Raptors (if necessary)
Game 5: Philadelphia 76ers No. 6 to Boston Celtics No. (if necessary)
Wednesday, August 26
Game 5: No. Orlando Magic vs. No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks
Game 5: Portland Trail Blazers to No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers
Game Five: Five Oklahoma City Thunder at No. Four Houston Rockets (if necessary)
Game Five: Five Miami Heat in No. Four Indiana Pacers (if necessary)
Thursday, August 27
Game 6: Toronto Raptors No. 2 to No. 7 Brooklyn Nets (if necessary)
Game 6: No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks (if necessary)
Game 6: No. Denver Nuggets at No. 6 Utah Jazz (if necessary)
Game 6: No. Boston Celtics at No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers (if necessary)
Friday, August 28
Game 6: No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks in No. Orlando Magic (if necessary)
Game 6: Los Angeles Lakers No. 1 in No. Portland Trail Blazers (if necessary)
Game 6: No. Four Houston Rockets in No. Five Oklahoma City Thunder (if necessary)
Game 6: Indiana Pacers No. Four in Miami Heat No. Five (if necessary)
Saturday, August 29
Game 7: No. 7 Brooklyn Nets in No. 2 Toronto Raptors (if necessary)
Game 7: No. 7 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers (if necessary)
Game 7: Utah Jazz No. 6 in No. Denver Nuggets (if necessary)
Game 7: Philadelphia 76ers from No. 6 to Boston Celtics No. (if necessary)
Sunday, August 30
Game 7: No. Orlando Magic to No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks (if necessary)
Game 7: Portland Trail Blazers to No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers (if necessary)
Game 7: Five Oklahoma City Thunder to No. Four Houston Rockets (if necessary)
Game 7: Five Miami Heat in No. Four Indiana Pacers (if necessary)
Saturday’s summary
The Lakers would possibly be the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, however, they face off against a Trail Blazers team so hot and had a boost before the first circular after winning their entry game against the Memphis Grizzlies. That led Portland to win the first game and temporarily take the lead in the series.
However, Los Angeles is one of the league’s groups and one of the favorites to win this year’s NBA title, which he proved by recovering at the time of the game with an 111-88 victory. On Saturday, the Lakers will look to take their first lead in the series by winning Game 3.
“We played fighting,” said Lakers coach Frank Vogel, according to Field Level Media (h/t ESPN). “We played at a very high level. The important thing in the defensive aspect of the ball is where it must be to win the playoffs. And we have immense, immense respect for the offensive power of the basketball team we’re playing.”
If the Trail Blazers can also win Game 3, it may depend on the physical form of star goalkeeper Damian Lillard, who suffers with a left index finger he suffered in Game 2. Without Lillard, Portland’s chances of defeating Los Angeles would be affected. Training
Like the Lakers, the Bucks are also the most sensible to hunt seeds to take the opening series on Saturday. Milwaukee lost the first game in Orlando, but then recovered with an 111-96 win in Game 2. And in that victory, current NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 28 problems and 20 rebounds to help his team tie the series.
“There is an emergency,” Antetokounmpo said, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). “I’m not going to say a thing of concern, be depressed, but you know you have to be urgent.
After losing in last year’s Eastern Conference finals, the Bucks are looking for a deeper playoff series this year. It would be a marvel for them to be disappointed through the Magic, so don’t wonder if Milwaukee wins the third game to take their first lead in the series.
Meanwhile, the Rockets and Heat each will bring some other victory closer to a sweep in their respective series. Houston has a 2-0 lead over Oklahoma City, while Miami is 2-0 ahead of Indiana.
The Rockets will return without gunman Russell Westbrook in Game 3, but that wasn’t a challenge for them in the first two games against the Thunder. James Harden scored 37 and 21 issues in Games 1 and 2, respectively, while Houston won the first two games through at least thirteen issues.