The Bucks did come from down 2-0 in both the East Finals and NBA Finals in their 2021 championship run and there are a few guys back from that club led by Giannis, but clearly this team is not in that one's stratosphere. That said, I do think the Bucks get Game 3 on Friday at home even if that's their only one. The Pacers did lose both there in the RS. And having two days off after Game 2 instead of one can only help Damian Lillard.

This is the new number with Jaylen Brown (questionable) added to the injury report along with Jrue Holiday (questionable) and Jayson Tatum (doubtful). Almost sure Tatum won't play and maybe the C's are simply playing some mind games regarding Brown and Holiday ... but in case they aren't and somewhat treating this as a "punt" game. The NBA definitely in this betting era monitors these late injury report adds in the playoffs so Brown going on late tends to make me think he could indeed sit. Orlando might win anyways.

It's possible the Grizzlies have mailed it in since Taylor Jenkins was fired, but if they are going to show anything in this series, it would certainly be tonight at home. I mean, this team looked like a potential West finalist a few months ago and has just imploded. Might be easy for OKC to let off the gas a little after back-to-back home blowout wins. Backdoor cover is fine. If the Grizzlies can't lose by single digits, then yeah everyone has quit and it might be time to move Ja Morant and all his distractions. I have a Bulls trade idea: Morant for Patrick Williams, Nikola Vucevic and this year's first. That would apparently been enough for Luka Doncic! But guessing the Grizz laugh.

KAT was a complete no-show in the fourth quarter of Game 2 with Jalen Brunson frankly ball-hogging shot-wise. But Towns is the team's best 3-point shooter, so I think an early game plan tonight will be to get him going. Game 2 snapped a streak of 10 straight 20-point games against Detroit for KAT dating back to his Wolves days. He also shot better and scored a bit more on the road during the 2024-25 RS.

Just think this has come down too far with Damian Lillard cleared after a month off. Maybe 3 years ago this is a mega-difference but the 34-year-old hasn't played in a month and will have his minutes monitored. This really feels like the Bucks saying hey lets get our guys back and get in sync and then be ready to sweep the next two at home when the series shifts. Indiana is 16-4 SU & ATS in its past 20 at home.

Denver interim coach David Adelman benched Michael Porter Jr. about halfway through the fourth quarter of Game 1 and didn't play him at all after because apparently Porter wasn't "engaged." So that either fires up Porter for tonight (he had just four points in the opener) or he goes into a shell. Our model his him at 17.0 points, and MPJ averaged 18.2 during the season and 15.8 vs. the Clippers.

This might be a blowout, which would mean Celtics backups seeing decent action and then a clear drop-off defensively. Orlando topped this number in two of three RS meetings with Boston and easily topped it in the Play-In victory vs. Atlanta, although the Hawks are a bad defensive club. The Celtics allowed an average of 107.2 PPG during the regular season. And, hey, if we get OT then we most surely cash.

Sometimes "chase" has negative connotations but since the Nuggets rallied to beat the Clippers, I am going to chase but because up -- and limit to a half unit to stay that way. I'm not saying the NBA and its TV partners want the Lakers to win this series ... but yeah I am saying that. Not a subscriber to all the wild conspiracy theories (do NOT believe only Oswald killed JFK, however), but that Lakers-Kings 2002 Western Conference Finals, especially Game 7, was completely rigged toward LA, and I don't think it can be argued. I'm not even a Kings fan (did like that team with Webber, Bibby, etc.), and Sacramento may as well be in Madagascar for all I care.

The Clippers may have been playing better than any team in the West at the end of the regular season, but the NBA's best player in maybe the best home-court advantage in the league at only -128 is something we feel obligated to play even if personally I'd love to see the Nuggets out. Their brand of basketball is practically epileptic (probably not a word but should be) with all the herky-jerky stuff. When you have Nikola Jokic at the center of it all, though, it sure seems to work. And this series feels a bit like a referendum on him because no way Coach Michael Malone is fired without NJ giving the OK.

Not much more than a homer pick as I want a financial reason to care because watching my Bulls in the Play-In Tournament yet again certainly doesn't do it solo. But they are pretty darn entertaining this season led by Josh Giddey, seem to like playing together and have been one of the East's better teams since the AS break/trade deadline. Miami has been one of the worst over that span with the whole Jimmy Butler saga essentially torpedoing the season. No. 10 seeds like Miami are 2-8 all-time in Play-In games.

If I had to play ATS, I'd play the Hawks but this time of year is usually about defense and Orlando shines on that end, while Atlanta is one of the NBA's worst teams defensively. It doesn't help that starting center Clint Capela has been out since March 10 and won't return tonight. Hawks star Trae Young shot just 26.7% from deep vs. the Magic in the season series. Orlando won all three home playoff games last year against a Cleveland team that was better than this Atlanta club.

Just a home finale play, not much more on the Spurs. The Raptors are down three starters in RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl, but their rookies have been playing well so not going big on this. The Spurs are down a few guys on top of De'Aaron Fox and Wemby, of course. But maybe it's Chris Paul's final NBA game and we just like teams in their home finales. Both clubs are locked into their lottery spot as well.

The Suns should be truly embarrassed by this season and by this current eight-game losing streak. But don't they have to care a little in the home finale? If not, heads better roll. Still no Kevin Durant and he's likely long gone this summer. The Spurs are without three regulars in Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan and have nothing to play for, either. Letdown game as it is after shocking the Warriors last time out and ahead of the Spurs' home and season finale.

Do the Jazz want to win? Of course not, but players don't tank -- front offices do. Oklahoma City has less than zero reason to care here as the NBA's No. 1 overall seed and is resting pretty much everybody you have heard of. I think Serge Ibaka might see minutes tonight there are so many guys out. It's Utah's home finale so we'd think the JV at least tries. I just don't know how this type of product is remotely good for the NBA.

I think it would be borderline criminal for Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff to allow Cade Cunningham to play heavy minutes tonight. Why? Because the Pistons are all but locked into a first-round 3-6 matchup vs. these Knicks. Back in the day, the Pat Riley Knicks would try and hurt Cunningham ahead of a matchup. Just saying. And Bickerstaff has gone on record saying Cunningham needs some rest to help his banged-up body. CC's minutes average is down to 30.5 in two games this month.