Although it is not as dramatic or consecutive as its subsequent towers, the NBA eliminators’ opening series always offers good things. This is where Luka Dončić obtained a “double bang” and where Paul Pierce called Game, not Bank. We have seen monumental classics and upheavals to the best of the 7, but even the standard things reach the energy of the playoffs differently.
This first Saturday has something of a feeling of madness in March, with four games stacked through national television. He begins with a simmering rivalry of Bucks-Pacers. Then we are going to go up at altitude for the mowers and the nuggets loaded with stars, before piling up in the city center of Manhattan for pistons in Knicks. In order not to be outdone, our Nightcap Timberwolves-Lakers resemble a total banger. It is Dončić against Anthony Edwards, with more records of eliminatory series in the majestic scope of LeBron James. Let’s go.
Vision guide for Saturday
| Game | Tip (and) | TV | Flow |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bucks at Pacers |
1 p.m. |
Espn |
|
|
Clippers at Nuggets |
3.30 p.m. |
Espn |
|
|
Knicks pistons |
6 p.m. |
Espn |
|
|
Timberwolves at Lakers |
8:30 p.m. |
ABC |
Look in person? Get stubhub tickets.
Second dimensions: Pacers -175, Bucks +145
The hosts discreetly won their first season of 50 winners in more than a decade, going back to the Paul George-Roy Hibbert outfit. Better still, they did it despite a slow start (11-15 only on December 13). The bucket spell was effective and smooth in Tyrese Haliburton care. The Pacers put an end to the regular ninth season in an offensive note and fourth in an effective shot. Seven pacers have an average of a two -digit score.
The deer were surprise champions of the NBA Cup in December and underwent a global inconsistency. Milwaukee manages to make a sequence of eight consecutive victories, which came immediately after four consecutive LS. Damian Lillard now returns to the fold after the blood coagotille in his calf and his back. Khris Middleton was exchanged for Kyle Kuzma. Bobby Portis was suspended for more than a quarter of the season. Through all this, Giannis Antetokounmpo remained regularly.
Michael Grady makes us leave Indianapolis on the game by play, with the new coach of the fever of the Indiana Stephanie White in a trailer for comment.
Animosities: Many things happen here. The previous season, Antetokounmpo was embarrassed by the Bench of Indiana when his 64 -point match ball in career and franchise disappeared. In the 2023 season tournament, Haliburton struck a cold dagger before imitating the celebration of “Lady Time”. Patrick Beverley took the elimination last spring on a fanless fan of the Pacers. Remember when Indy added James Johnson to just watch Giannis?
Tête-à-tête: The Bucks took three of the four games this season, although they are all before the fear of Lillard’s health. The only L Milwaukee was a thriller of 115-114 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse last month. Antetokounmpo has on average an absurd line of 30 / 12.3 / 7.5 against the Pacers this year.
Series of qualifying series of all time: Indy won three first -round meetings (1999, 2000 and 2024).
Choice of experts
Clippers from Los Angeles to Denver Nuggets
Second dimensions: Clippers -125, Nuggets +105
What a cool series here. Los Angeles is proud of its complex and disciplined intensity in defense. Denver puts big figures on the board through Nikola Jokić. It is a force print on the force that sets up six talents combined in All-NBA.
The dismissal of Michael Malone’s Nuggets was a surprising decision. Well, the timing was. Regardless: all possible basketball teams have a chance with Jokić in the middle. It was only a few buckets of an average of a triple-double of 30 points, and did it on its highest volume of 3 points of all time.
In Inglewood, the Tyronn Lue team won 17 of its last 20 tests. Kawhi Leonard’s averages before the stars break: 16.3 points per game in 26 minutes. After: 25 points per match in 35.9 minutes. Attention.
Animosities: This nucleus Nuggets completely broke the first Kawhi-PG Clippers executed. Last summer, exchanged Russell Westbrook at Utah for Kris Dunn, only for the former MVP leader to settle with Denver.
Tête-à-tête: They divided the series, 2-2, with three of these games in Denver’s Den. The clips won the first two (October 26 and December 1), and the Nuggs obtained the last two (December 13 and January 8). Jokić collected an average of 10.2 assists, but fell to 5.7 against the, with 15 turnarks at 17 dimers in 106 minutes.
Series of qualifying series of all time: Both sides are also divided here. The Elton Brand-Sam Cassell team cut the Nuggets of Carmelo Anthony in a first 2006 round. Denver then amazed Los Angeles in the “Bubble” procedure of 2020, erasing an advance of 3-1 to make the final of the conference. It was a devastating discomfort for the entire Clippers franchise, but especially for Doc Rivers.
Choice of experts
Detroit Pistons in New York Knicks
Second dimensions: Knicks -425, pistons +325
The pistons are contested to win their first eliminatory series in 17 years. Knicks fans are a singular breed. Detroit has a defense among the first five since the new year, and New York has finished fifth in an offensive note. What an interesting duel.
Jalen Brunson came back from an ankle sprain and seems to be largely installed. Under Tom Thibodeau, the five Knicks have an average of at least 35 minutes per game.
Visitors fought with turnover and faults this season, and Cade Cunningham does not have a real option n ° 2 to delegate, but these are minor problems for a franchise that has been suffering for a long time. JB Bickerstaff led a furious subject that deserves to be celebrated, even if the pistons are about a year of high level status.
Animosities: Cunningham could buy black and white cookies for the five arrondissements and name each of his children after a song by Billy Joel. He will always be treated like Trae Young or Reggie Miller if Detroit fights.
Tête-à-tête: Detroit won three of the four. New York beat its host’s brakes in a draw on November 1, but the pistons stole the two games in the garden as part of their emerging recovery. They also launched a return in the second half to win on April 10, although Josh Hart and Og Anunoby rested.
Series of qualifying series of all time: New York is in place, 2-1, although these teams have not met here since 1992. The Knicks have won the 1984 opening action in OT. The Pistons “Bad Boys” won their victory in the semi-final of the 1990 conference, on the way to consecutive championships. Patrick Ewing and his friends vengus two years later, bringing Detroit out of the first round in what was then five games.
Choice of experts
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
Second dimensions: Lakers -175, Timberwolves +155
There was a discomfort around the blockbuster of Karl-Anthony Towns and the controversial sale of the organization, but Chris Finch and his Wolves settled and locked for 49 victories, with the first 10 notes at both ends. Anthony Edwards has increased its production in each of its five professional seasons. Julius Randle now has the opportunity to kill dragons and shake ghosts with a new team of playoffs. Minnesota has been 17-4 since March 1, only third at Juggernaut OKC Thunder and Boston Celtics during this period.
The Lake Show has suddenly become the favorite of betting for the final of this spring. Dončić and James are Gods of God, of course. Austin Reaves had a stealthy but boasting of 20 points per match in a summit of 73 departures. Los Angeles finished the regular regular season of the League in attempts at free throws (which in fact 78.5%), and his defense in fact held up without Anthony Davis in advance. James, the top scorer of the playoffs already in history, only follows Magic Johnson for assists in the playoffs. He is also fourth of the rebounds in the playoffs, behind Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Tim Duncan.
Animosities: “I don’t care. Whoever is. We are ready,” said Edwards when asked opponents in the playoffs. On the odds of the Outsider of Minnesota, he said: “They don’t want Timberwolves to win, I understand.” Luka Dončić struck a winner of the match against Rudy Gobert in last year’s qualifiers.
Tête-à-tête: Each team has won twice in their home gymnasium. However, three of the four meetings took place before mid-December, when it had had an ad and Minnesota adapted to Kat’s trade. The Lakers won a 9 -point victory the last time on February 27, titled by the LeBron line of 33/17/6.
Series of qualifying series of all time: The Lakers of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant beat the Timberwolves of Kevin Garnett in the 4-2 consecutive series, a first round in 2003 and a final of conference in ’04.
Choice of experts
Betting / dimensions, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of Athletics. Restrictions can apply. Athletics maintains complete editorial independence. Partners have no control or contribution to the report or publishing process and do not review the stories before the publication.
(Photo by LeBron James: Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
