The Eastern Conference side of the NBA playoffs has reached the second round, with top-seeded Philadelphia meeting fifth-seeded Atlanta, and second-seeded Brooklyn meeting third-seeded Milwaukee. The Nets rolled in their series opener, while Atlanta edged Philadelphia on the road in their opener.
Let’s take a look at the next two games on the Eastern Conference slate — don’t miss our previews before you lock in your NBA betting choices.
NBA News: Eastern Conference Games (June 7-8)
Monday, June 7
Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets
Game 2 (7:30 pm ET, TNT) | Nets lead, 1-0
James Harden’s hamstring didn’t make it a minute into the Nets-Bucks series, but Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were still able to carry Brooklyn by Milwaukee in their series opener, 115-107. KD had 29 points, and Irving added 25. This is the same injury to Harden’s right hamstring that forced him out during May. However, Joe Harris stepped up, chipping in 19 points, and Blake Griffin provided a throwback performance, putting up 18 points and 14 boards. The Nets also stepped up their defense, holding the Nets 13 points below their season scoring average.
For Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points and 11 rebounds. However, the Bucks clanked 24 of their 30 three-point attempts and posted their first loss in this postseason after sweeping Miami out in the first round. Brook Lopez put up 19 points, and Jrue Holiday added 17 points and nine rebounds. Khris Middleton had 13 points and 13 rebounds, but he only went 6 of 23 from the floor, including an 0 for 5 night from downtown. Harden’s absence remains a major question, though, as he missed 18 consecutive games and 20 of 21 in the late stages of the regular season with that right hamstring strain.
Final Prediction:
Bucks 115, Nets 109
Tuesday, June 8
Atlanta Hawks at Philadelphia 76ers
Game 2 (7:30 pm ET, TNT) | Hawks lead, 1-0
The Hawks ran out to a huge early lead and then had to hold on late for a 128-124 win over the 76ers in Philadelphia. Trae Young had 35 points for the Hawks — 25 before the intermission. Atlanta made 14 of their first 18 shots and went on a 17-0 run in the first half; for the game, the Hawks drained 20 three-pointers. Young is now just the second player in NBA history to put up at least 30 points in his first four playoff road games in his career, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who pulled off the feat in 1970 with the Milwaukee Bucks. Atlanta had 74 points in the first half, along with 13 three-balls, both team records for any half in a playoff game.
For Philadelphia, Joel Embiid returned from a one-game absence with a slight tear in his right meniscus, and he played 38 minutes, posting 39 points and nine rebounds. Tobias Harris put up 20 points and ten rebounds, and Ben Simmons added 17 points. However, he went just 3 of 10 from the free throw line, a huge number given the final margin of victory. As a team, the 76ers missed 11 free throws and 19 three-balls (out of 29 attempts). Will the 76ers shoot that poorly in Game 2? It’s doubtful.
Final Prediction:
76ers 119, Hawks 111
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