With the exception of the Bucks and the Clippers, no other team has lost at home in the 2024 NBA playoffs, and the Magic, Sixers, and Lakers are hoping to make it stay that way.
These three teams dropped their first two games on the road, which was expected, as per the NBA 2024 odds. However, they have a chance to get back in the series with wins against their higher-seeded counterparts when they will be the hosts on Friday.
No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit, so there’s a huge sense of urgency for the Magic, Sixers, and Lakers to come out swinging when the Cavaliers, Knicks, and Nuggets visit town.
Read more about the pivotal Game 3s in today’s SBOTOP preview.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Orlando Magic
The Cavaliers are trying hard to shed their “soft” label, and they’re off to a good start as they’ve been particularly solid on the defencive end. In the first two games of the first round, the Magic never scored above 86 points and never made more than 40-per cent of their shots.
On the other side of the floor, they’ve scored 97 and 96 while shooting around 41-per cent as a whole, which is just enough to take a 2-0 lead.
Donovan Mitchell is back in the NBA 2024 highlights reel, leading the way for the Cavaliers since he scored a game-high 30 points in Game 1 and a team-high 23 points in Game 2.
Jarrett Allen has also asserted himself as arguably the best big man in this series so far, as he recorded 16 points, 18 rebounds, and two steals in Game 1 and 16 points, 20 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks in Game 2.
As for the Magic, it is the duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner who has been doing the scoring, but their field goal percentages leave a lot to be desired. For Orlando to be competitive, people like Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, and Mo Wagner have to make their presence felt.
Betting tip: Cleveland Cavaliers Asian Handicap +1.00 @ 2.01
New York Knicks @ Philadelphia Sixers
The Sixers almost stole Game 2 from the Knicks when they were up by five points within the final 30 seconds, but the latter had other ideas and produced one of the craziest late rallies we’ve seen in a while.
Jalen Brunson’s three-point attempt bounced on the rim and fell in to cut the Sixers’ lead to two points with 27 seconds left, and then Donte DiVincenzo knocked down the go-ahead three-pointer via Isaiah Hartenstein’s offensive rebound after he missed his first chance off of a stolen ball by Josh Hart.
Similar to the first game, the Knicks have done their scoring by committee, as five players scored in double digits. If there’s one area of improvement for the Knicks, it is Jalen Brunson’s efficiency, because he has gone 16-of-55 in the first two games.
Meanwhile, the Sixers continue to rely heavily on Joel Embiid and Most Improved Player of the Year award-winner Tyrese Maxey. Embiid is averaging 31.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game in the playoffs, but he doesn’t look 100-per cent fit, which is a long-term worry for Philadelphia. Maxey, meanwhile, is averaging 34.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.
But, as shown in the first two games, that’s not enough to dispatch the Knicks. Tobias Harris, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Kyle Lowry have to do much better for the Sixers to have a chance in this series.
Betting tip: Philadelphia Sixers Asian Handicap -5.00 @ 2.08
Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers almost split their series against the Nuggets up until the defending champions came back from 20 points down, capped off by Jamal Murray’s game-winning step-back jumper over Anthony Davis’ outstretched arms at the buzzer.
With the win, the Nuggets have now won 10 straight games against the Lakers, dating back to last season’s Western Conference Finals.
The Lakers still haven’t figured out a way to slow down Nikola Jokic, as the Joker is averaging 29.5 points, 16.0 rebounds, 8.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 61.5-per cent from the field in this series.
The only positive that the Lakers can take away from Game 2 is that D’Angelo Russell has regained his shooting stroke, as he established a new playoff career-high in three-pointers made, with seven in Game 2 after only making one in Game 1.
Betting tip: Denver Nuggets Asian Handicap -2.00 @ 2.11
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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