Which of Shaq's "others" steps up in Game Four? ...

Totals trends continue to trend one way in playoffs...

Have the Magic have gotten under the skin of the Celtics? ...

Jimmy Butler's status remains up in the air, but either way, however, expect the Dubs to circle the wagons back at Chase Center. Steve Kerr is ready to plus Jonathan Kuminga back into the rotation with extended minutes if Butler is limited or can't go, and Brandin Podziemski should be more ready to contribute than in Game 2 when he was dealing with illness. And, of course, there's Steph. Houston is still a playoff newcomer and plays its first postseason game as a visitor since May of 2019. Jalen Green's inconsistencies (7 and 38 points, respectively, in the first two games) make Houston a harder to trust...whether of not Jimmy B is on the floor for Golden State. Play Warriors

Too many internal dysfunctions on the Nuggets side. Denver doesn't have the same personnel as it did when winning the title two years ago, something that perhaps should have been considered before recently hitting the eject button on HC Michael Malone. The Clippers are an especially tough fundamental matchup for Denver because Ivica Zubac can defend the Joker better than most, but that's only the beginning, because the Clips have, for the moment, arrived at the formula to get Kawhi Leonard healthy and at peak performance when it counts in the playoffs. Kawhi's (27.3 ppg in this series) mid-range game is destroying the Nuggets, and Denver's thin bench added only 6 points in Game 3, with Russell Westbrook's foot injury now a concern. Play Clippers

This series has been more competitive than the Cavs' 2-0 lead might make it seem. Miami as been able to get into its offense fairly consistently as it's hit better than 50% from the floor (81 of 161) across the first two games. Tyler Herro, who has scored 33+ in the four play-in/playoff games, remains capable of shooting the Heat into a game. Rebounding numbers across the first two games are almost even; though Cleveland (only 17 TOs across the first two games) has been a bit more careful with possessions. If Miami, home for the first time since April 13, makes a bit of a stand as we suspect, this is time to give the Heat a chance to unnerve the Cavs, Play Heat

Noting easy here for the Lakers, who needed the T-wolves to go ice-cold with their shooting to recover from the 117-95 Game One humbling and level this series heading back to Minneapolis. LA has been held beneath 100 points in each of the first two games, with Luka Doncic (34 ppg in series) the only Laker performing to near full-capacity. JJ Redick's bench has also scored a paltry 13 points in each of the first two games. Minnesota's length and athleticism is a bother to the Lakers, now it's up to the Wolves offense to deliver as in Game One, when Shaq's so-called "others" (such as Jaden McDaniels who scored 25 on Sunday) contributed in support of Ant Edwards and Julius Randle. Play T-wolves

The unders have continued to deliver in the playoffs and did again last night in two of the three tilts, now 13-6 in the first round. These Lakers-Wolves games have been at the forefront, real rock-fights featuring stifling defense, both unders as well. Three-point shooting became a real issue in Game 2 when neither side shot as well as 21% from deep. For the Lakers, they're only shooting 30% (21 of 70) from deep across the past two games. Moreover, the Lakers have been held to beneath 100 points in each of the first two games, and LA bench production almost non-existent (only 13 points in each). And, remember, unders are now 6-0 in Lake Show-Wolves games this season. Play Lakers-Wolves Under

Though down 2-0, the Magic have at least succeeded in making this an uncomfortable series for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum (wrist) is once again a doubtful, and worth noting that in a game he also missed at Orlando earlier this season (December 23), Boston lost 108-104 despite 35 points from Jaylen Brown, who scored nearly the same (35) on Sunday when the Celtics won, but didn't cover, in Game 2. Though Boston had geared it down and rested starters in the 96-76 loss at Kia Center on April 9, the Celtics were 0-2 in Orlando this season. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are combining for 58 ppg in this series, and a little help from elsewhere might give the Magic a legit chance. Play Magic

The overs were 2-1 last night, but totals are still dropping across the NBA first round, and Nuggets-Clips tonight is down from 224.5 in Game One, 217.5 in Game 2, to 213.5 for Game 3...and we don't think it's dropped quite enough. Some underlying reasons for the generally-lower scores, as it looks like the playoffs are being played differently; without the bottom-of-the-barrel teams like the Wizards and Jazz and Pelicans and Hornets to worry about, these better teams are mostly taking away the three-point shots from the opposition and turning the clock back to the 1990s. Most of these series have turned into rock fights; modern analytics again mostly disappear in the postseason, which is what we're seeing in this series. Play Nuggets-Clippers Under

So far this season, this matchup has been the NBA equivalent of George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier. Six wins, six covers for OKC, no margin less than 13; we hardly think a change in venue to the Bluff City will change the dynamics, either, as the Thunder won by 13 and 17 earlier this season at FedEx Forum. OKC's defensive length has wrecked the Griz, held under 100 points in the first two games, and with Ja Morant playing on a bad wheel, Memphis is fighting with a hand tied behind its back. The Thunder hasn't even needed SGA at his best (just 22 ppg the first two playoff games after 36.3 pg vs. Griz during the season) to pull clear. Play Thunder

Things aren't looking too good for the Griz. Perhaps the fact Ja Morant seems to be playing at less than 100% on a sore ankle has something to do with it, but it's probably just as much the disorienting defensive schemes and quickness deployed by OKC, which is also challenging the Memphis shooters from the perimeter and holding the Griz to just 16 for 65 accuracy (24.6%) that has disoriented Morant, Desmond Bane & Co. The lopsidedness of this series, a carryover from the regular season, might be a fitting way for a Griz campaign that jumped the rails and forced out HC Taylor Jenkins, to conclude. Unders are also 11-5 overall in the playoffs (2-0 in this series) entering Thursday. Play Thunder-Grizzlies Under

The zig-zag worked in only one of three chances last night, and we can pick out spots bucking the venerable trend in postseason. Golden State's playoff experience showed on Sunday when the Dubs paced the game to their liking and frustrated the Rockets on the defensive end, taking control in the second quarter as Houston could only score 34 points in the first half. The Warriors are now 22-7 since Jimmy Butler joined the ranks, and a team with this much postseason savvy knows the difference from being up 2-0 in a series as opposed to 1-1. A panicked Houston shot just 39% from the floor in game and a recovery in Game 2 is by no means a sure thing. Play Warriors

Unders are cashing nicely in the NBA playoffs (10-3 to date), including Game One of this series on Sunday. That 95-85 Dubs win has prompted the total to drop 9-10 points for Game 2 (now in the 204 range), but it also makes us look at some potential underlying reasons. It looks like these playoffs are being officiated a bit differently; without the bottom-of-the-barrel teams like the Wizards and Jazz and Pelicans and Hornets to worry about, these better teams are mostly taking away the three-point shots from the opposition and turning the clock back to the 1990s. Most of these series have turned into rock fights; modern analytics again mostly disappear in the postseason. Play Warriors-Rockets Under

The zig-zag hit only one of three last night but it remains a factor to be considered in every NBA playoffs Game 2. So we consider it after the Cavs' 121-100 Sunday win was a bit more competitive than the final scoreline suggests; Miami was still within single digits midway thru the 4th Q before the Cavs went on a late spurt. The surprise for Cleveland was ex-Virginia G Ty Jerome, who scored a big 28 points off of the bench to help fuel the late Cavs run. If the Heat can get a bit more from Tyler Herro, who is capable of more than the 21 points he scored in Game One, Miami can stick within earshot and make zig-zag work again. Play Heat