The NBA Playoffs have featured some epic matchups thus far, and it almost feels like the NBA Finals should be starting, given how much excitement we’ve already witnessed.
But it’s only the end of the second round, and, not only that, it’s going to end on Sunday with not one, but two Game 7s — on Mother’s Day, no less.
So tell your mother you love her, have an early dinner, exchange any presents involved and get ready for two epic games, which we broke down below.
Sixers +6.5
It’s hard not to back the underdog in a Game 7, given all that’s at stake, and, historically, how games tend to be close. And six points is a heck of a lot to be catching, given how much talent hte Sixers have on their roster.
And, not only that, Sixers head coach Brett Brown may have his job on the line. The Sixers have made bold moves to acquire veteran stars such as Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris, and, paired with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and JJ Redick — anything less than at least an Eastern Conference Finals appearance likely just won’t cut it.
These two teams know each other well, and we expect them to exchange punches throughout Sunday’s game. Look for the Sixers to lay it all on the line and keep the contest close, losing by a few points, with Kawhi Leonard sealing the win when it’s all said and done.
Nuggets -5.5
This Nuggets team has been so different home vs away, and they play extremely well in the friendly confines of Pepsi Center. Whether it’s the home crowd, the dimensions of the court or the high altitude, there’s a reason why Denver has dominated its opponents there.
The Blazers, on the other hand, have yet to win in Denver, and their lone superstar — Damian Lillard — has yet to go off this series. The Nuggets have done a great job defending him, and it’s showed, as he’s been much different against Denver, in comparison to his epic games against Oklahoma City. Not only that, the Nuggets have the biggest mismatch in the series, in Nikola Jokic against Enes Kanter, and they’ve continued to exploit it. Denver’s run-and-gun style and three-point shooting will allow them to get the cover in this game.
