MENU
The only two NBA Playoff series currently tied at one game apiece will be broken on Friday night, setting up a 2-1 lead for one lucky team and a nerve-wracking game four for the other. The Indiana Pacers leave the comfort of their own home to take on the Washington Wizards in the first such game, while the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Los Angeles to battle the Clippers in the night’s capper.
Roy Hibbert came alive in the biggest way in Indy’s second game, pouring out 28 random points as the Pacers barely avoided an 0-2 hole. On the flip-side, the L.A. big men came up way too small in their second game against the Thunder, while Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook posted identical near-triple double lines in a win to even their series.
These are two very interesting series that could truly go either way. Let’s break down both of tonight’s games as we try to come away with a winner for each contest:
Indiana Pacers (1) @ Washington Wizards – 8:00 PM ET
We can’t bank on Roy Hibbert suddenly being an elite offensive force on a consistent basis (or even a decent one) – and neither can the Pacers. That means Paul George may have to step up with his best game of the series if the East’s top seed is going to escape with a 2-1 series lead.
While it’s certainly possible, it’s hard to bet on the Pacers these days. They struggled mightily against the Hawks, and really haven’t been all that impressive in two games against the Wizards. Washington is more athletic and hungrier and now they’re at home. That’s a bad recipe for Indiana.
Pick: Wizards 89, Pacers 87
Oklahoma City Thunder (2) @ Los Angeles Clippers (3) – 10:30 PM ET
Do the Clippers really have a chance at winning this series, or was their one game blowout win just one big, major tease? The way Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook played in game, two, it’s starting to look like the latter.
Still, the Clippers head back home and they do still have way more talent in the paint than the Thunder. It’s going to come down to toughness and execution down low. If Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan can show up, the Clips should work their way to a 2-1 series advantage.
Pick: Clippers 105, Thunder 101
