Of the NBA’s four conference semifinals currently in progress, one looks all but over. The Celtics, who entered the series as heavy favorites, hold a 3-1 lead over the Cavaliers, will host Game 5 (and a potential Game 7) in Boston, and are facing a banged-up Cleveland team that might not have its leading scorer (Donovan Mitchell) or defensive anchor (Jarrett Allen) back in action for a do-or-die game on Wednesday.
The other three series, however, remain very much up in the air, with each of them tied at two games apiece.
In the East, the Pacers have overtaken the Knicks as the betting favorites in their series — BetOnline.ag now lists Indiana at -145 to advance to the conference finals, with New York at +125. A fully healthy Knicks team would presumably still be favored to win the series, but this version of the club is anything but.
Already missing Julius Randle and Bojan Bogdanovic when the second round began, New York has since lost Mitchell Robinson to a season-ending ankle injury and OG Anunoby to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the last two games and will keep him on the shelf for Game 5. Jalen Brunson also isn’t playing at 100% and hasn’t looked quite the same since briefly exiting Game 2 due to a foot issue. He made just 37.2% of his field goal attempts and 18.2% of his three-pointers in the Knicks’ two losses in Indiana.
New York still holds the home court advantage in the series and has shown impressive resiliency over the course of an injury-plagued season. But will the Knicks finally run out of gas and succumb to a healthier and deeper Pacers team?
Over in the West, after impressive Game 4 victories, the Nuggets (-170) are once again considered the favorites to knock out the Timberwolves (+150) and the Thunder (-157) are back in the driver’s seat against the Mavericks (+137).
Denver and Minnesota combined to go 63-19 at home during the regular season, but the two Northwest rivals are 0-4 on their own courts in this series. Given the Nuggets’ championship pedigree and the advantage that the Denver elevation typically gives the home team, it’s no surprise that they’re now the popular pick to win the series, but it would be premature to rule out the Timberwolves after the way they played in those first two games of the series. The Wolves will need more from Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored just 27 points on 9-of-25 shooting (36.0%) in the team’s two home games.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, will go as far as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving can take them, and neither guard came up big in Game 4 — the two stars combined to score just 27 points on 10-of-31 shooting (32.3%). Doncic has been hampered by knee and ankle injuries and likely won’t be 100% healthy until he gets some time this offseason to recover, but if he can give the Mavs performances like he did in Games 3 (29 points) and 4 (22 points, 15 rebounds), they’ll take it.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have had to work around the fact that starting guard Josh Giddey is something of a liability in this matchup — Giddey hasn’t played more than 17 minutes in any of the series’ four games. Oklahoma City has the depth to work around the issue, but it puts more pressure on the team’s other top play-makers and scorers, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, to carry the offensive load. Gilgeous-Alexander has delivered so far, scoring at least 29 points in all four games vs. Dallas and handing out 7.0 assists per contest.
We want to know what you think. It seems pretty safe to assume the Celtics will be in the conference finals, but which three teams will join them there?
Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts and make your predictions!
Dallas, Denver, Boston, Indiana
Thunder, Boston, Nuggets, Indiana.
Luka is a little banged up and OKC is the best team in the West so I’ll go OKC. I wanted Minnesota but picked Denver to win. Wolves surprised most during the first two games but the momentum has shifted, if Minnesota doesn’t make good adjustments like Denver did they’re going to lose.
Cleveland has put up a fight in two games but with no Mitchell and without Allen the Celtics are too much even without Porzingis. Thibs ran OG and Mitchell into the ground, like I said how much longer can Brunson hold up? Indiana will be the fluky Conference Finals team this season. Also what about all the doubters and that was most everybody, is the Siakim trade validated now?
Not sure if Nuggets really made any adjustments or if Murray and the bench just stopped playing like crap. If they can continue to do that, then the Nuggets will still be the best team in the West.
Denver made several adjustments
Dallas vs Denver
Boston vs Indiana
Mavs – Thunder series is a good one for me. The young guys?? Can they grow up now. This is a good opportunity for Mavs imo.
Knicks can win it. And I’m rooting for them.
But I won’t hate if Pacers go. They probably are a better matchup, got players.
No K P ????? you never Know!!!!
We’ll see if Minny can handle it. Imo whoever wins this series going to Finals…..
You said that about Miami.
Then Cleveland.
Now Indy.
Ok.
I never talk about Miami. No real Knick fan cares what Riley does. Love Jimmy that’s it.
You are delusional ….
I like Cavs young talent. Dont really care about Cavs.
What about Indy. What part don’t you understand…. Oh wait this is a basketball board. You need a translator right. Go chase a stick
Towns is the Achilles heel of Minny. You never know what you’re going to get from the guy. Swap the minutes of Naz Reid and Towns and Minny will be better.
I feel like indiana could beat Boston. Pacers Nuggets finals would be some result! Probably the league will rig that because it will make in-season tournament seem more meaningful. Or maybe they’ll rig it for Minnesota since Anthony Edward’s is an American play3r and they need him to he the marketable face of the league. Since people forgot his stance on same sex relationships he is uncanceled. Or maybe they rig it for the knicks since NY is a big market. Hmm what will they rig next
they alredy rigged 1st 2 gms of knicks v pacers
indy figured the only way to win now is by 40+ points, that way the lead is too big for the refs to interfere with. tho they still brought knicks to the line 31 times in game 4. indy? 8 times at the ft line lol
#agedLikeMilk
if officials are fair and honest then indy will sail thru the next 2 games
if silver decides he wants more ratings then the memo will be passed down to bring this to game 7 or even hand the series to the knicks
If Luka can stay alive I think the Mavs win that series in 7. It’s disappointing to see him hurt like this right now. All of the supporting cast is clicking.
I never talk about Miami. No real Knick fan cares what Riley does. Love Jimmy that’s it.
You are delusional ….
I like Cavs young talent. Dont really care about Cavs.
What about Indy. What part don’t you understand…. Oh wait this is a basketball board. You need a translator right. Go chase a stick
Had
OKC, Minn, Boston, NY
Boston v Denver.
BOS has the easiest path to the finals in history, due to the injuries of Giannis and Embiid… so it’s irrelevant who wins the NYK v IND match up.
DEN will beat MIN and if Luka can play at a decent level, then they will beat OKC.
Incorrect El Don. Steph played nothing but back ups every round before having to compete in the finals against the all time great Delly. The Fakers bubble championship wasn’t half bad either. Absolute Steven Bradbury material. Oops I mean hardest title ever won. Chillax, Jokic and the Nuggets are an awful match up for Boston.