Can’t get enough playoff action? Well you’re in luck as the NBA has lined up two mouth-watering postseason games that will definitely whet your sporting appetite tonight. Kicking things off this evening is the pivotal Game 3 clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks.
Following shortly thereafter is the Eastern Conference clash between the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors. Which teams will grab the crucial victories tonight? Read on below for a quick breakdown of these two critical games and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of Golden State vs. Houston.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks (7:00 PM ET)
Line: Oklahoma City Thunder (-8.5) at Dallas Mavericks (+8.5); total: 196.5 – view all NBA lines
There’s still some life left with the injury-plagued Dallas Mavericks. The resilient Mavs bounced back from their humiliating 38-point loss in the series opener, beating the highly-favored Oklahoma City Thunder, 85-84, in Game 2 on Monday night. Raymond Felton had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Mavericks who evened their series with the Thunder at one game apiece.
Game 3 is set later tonight with Oklahoma City looking to reclaim its home court advantage. For the Thunder to accomplish that feat, they will need to get more production from Kevin Durant. The 2014 MVP struggled mightily in Game 2, scoring just 21 points on a woeful 7-of-33 shooting from the field. Durant’s 26 misses were the most he’s had in 716 career games.
The Mavericks are 3-2 SU and ATS in their last five home games against the Thunder.
Click here for an in-depth breakdown of this game.
Writer’s Prediction
Oklahoma City retaliates with an impressive 100-84 win.
Toronto Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers (7:30 PM ET)
Line: Toronto Raptors (-1.5) at Indiana Pacers (+1.5); total: 193.0 – view all NBA lines
The Toronto Raptors finally snapped their seven-game postseason losing streak with a resounding 98-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series on Monday night. Five players scored in double-figures for the Raptors who knotted their series with the Pacers at one game apiece.
Leading the way for the Raptors in this all-important win was Jonas Valanciunas. He scored a career playoff-high 23 points and grabbed 15 boards in Game 2. Kyle Lowry also bounced back from a horrible Game 1 performance, scoring 18 points, dishing out nine assists and hauling down seven boards on Monday.
They will have a battle in their hands, however, in Game 3 as the Pacers have proven to be unstoppable at home of late. The Pacers are 3-0 SU and ATS in their last three home games, with Indiana trouncing its opponents by an average of 16.7 points. For the Pelicans to extend their winning streak at home to four games, they will need another gargantuan effort from Paul George. He has been superb for the Pacers in this series, averaging 30.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the first two games.
