As we look to Thursday night’s games in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, we see an Eastern Conference matchup that may finally have the Milwaukee Bucks showing some physicality, as they steamrolled the Miami Heat in Game 2. Game 3 is set for Thursday night down on South Beach, and it will be interesting to see if the Bucks can keep up the intensity. Two Western Conference series that are split go to Game 3 tonight, as Phoenix visits the Los Angeles Lakers looking to win a road game and take back home court advantage, and the Denver Nuggets head to Portland looking to accomplish the same thing.
We have a preview and NBA betting prediction for each game.
NBA News: First Round Update (May 27)
Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat, Game 3
(7:30 pm ET, TNT) | Bucks lead, 2-0
If you were surprised to read that Bryn Forbes was a major contributor in Milwaukee’s 132-98 shellacking of Miami on Monday night, you’re not alone, but the team knew what they were getting when they added Forbes via free agency in the off-season. He nailed six three-balls en route to 22 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 31 points, 13 boards and six assists, and as a team, the Bucks went 22 of 53 from behind the arc, including 15 of 29 before halftime, building a lead that got as large as 36.
The Heat were led by 16 points from Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler added 10. When Milwaukee won Game 1, they needed a jumper from Khris Middleton with time winding down in overtime to save the two-point victory. They went 5 of 31 in that opener, and they doubled that number of makes in the first quarter alone in Game 2. Can the Bucks keep pouring it on in Game 3?
Final Prediction:
Bucks 114, Heat 108
Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers, Game 3
(10:00 pm ET, TNT) | Series tied, 1-1
The Lakers appear to be following their blueprint from a year ago, rope-a-doping the opposition in Game 1 losses before turning things up in their game. They beat Phoenix, 109-102, down in the desert in Game 2 on Tuesday night. The Suns went on a monster run in the fourth quarter, but then LeBron knocked down a turnaround jumper, and Anthony Davis drilled a three-ball to seal the win. LeBron had 23 points and nine assists, and Davis went 18 of 21 from the free throw line, pulling down 10 boards and dishing out seven assists.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 31 points, going a perfect 17 of 17 from the free throw line. Deandre Ayton put up 22 points and 10 boards, making 11 of his 13 shots. The Lakers used their size advantage in Game 2, in ways that they went away from in Game 1. Turnovers didn’t help Phoenix, as they coughed the ball up seven times, leading to a dozen points for the Lakers, just in the first quarter. The Suns will have to figure out how to get the game back to their rhythm and defend against a bigger team.
Final Prediction:
Lakers 108, Suns 101
Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers, Game 3
(10:30 pm ET, NBA TV) | Series tied, 1-1
In Game 1, Portland limited Nikola Jokic to just one assist. In Game 2, he dished out five, along with 38 points and eight rebounds. Those 38 points came in handy, as Portland got a huge night from Damian Lillard from behind the arc. Lillard had 42 points, 32 in the first half. He nailed eight three-balls before the intermission, tying an NBA postseason record. He would finish 9 of 16 from downtown, as Denver put 6’9” Aaron Gordon on the 6’2” Lillard.
The game was physical, with four technical fouls, three against Denver, and two flagrant-1 fouls, on C.J. McCollum and CArmelo Anthony. Portland turned the ball over 21 times, and they were outscored 54-32 in the lane. Denver also had the edge in fast break points (16-4) and second chance points (21-4). As the series shifts to Portland, the Trail Blazers will look to get back to ball security and a fast-paced offense.
Final Prediction:
Nuggets 119, Trail Blazers 113
