The NBA Playoffs continue tonight as both the Toronto Raptors and San Antonio Spurs look to rebound and even things up in Game 2 of their respective second-round series. Can they get it done, or will we see the Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets nab a commanding 2-0 lead? Read on below for a quick breakdown of each matchup—your best games to bet on for Wednesday night!
The Raptors defense had no way of stopping LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Game 1. Both combined for 59 points and 14 assists—with 10 of those dimes all coming from the latter—in what was a blowout win for the Cavs who also made 41.2 percent of their three-point tries and held DeMar DeRozan below 20 points. It should be another coast-to-coast victory for the reigning champs as long as they come out playing with the same kind of effort and mentality they had in the opener.
But things ought to be highly competitive if Kyle Lowry and the aforementioned DeRozan can both find their rhythm offensively. Lowry had 20 points and 11 assists in Game 1.
San Antonio made a habit of crushing and blowing out opponents in the regular-season, but it found itself on the wrong end of their own medicine at the hands of a red-hot Rockets team that was almost impervious to misses in Game 1. Houston shot nearly 50 percent from the field and, including 22 three-pointers made, en route to a 126-99 win.
Kawhi Leonard was a one-man show for the Spurs in the loss. He finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Parker shared for just 15 markers with both shooting below 40 percent from the floor.
Ultimately though, their defense needs to figure out how to contain Houston’s overflowing variety of weapons—especially James Harden who led the Rockets with 20 points and 14 assists in the opener.
