Nuggets/Lakers 8:30: This series is taking a similar pattern to last year's series in which the Lakers covered the first two in Denver, and Denver covered and finished them off in Los Angeles. I'll stay with that sequence. Nuggets have beaten the Lakers twelve consecutive times. Lakers don't have the answers for a couple reasons. Number one, Nuggets just a better starting five. Jokic, Murray, Porter Jr., Gordon and Caldwell-Pope are just better. Number 2:  Lakers' A.D. playing great but there is clearly a disconnect between HC Ham and his players. Defensive lapses, confusion in crucial times of the game, and inability to execute on both ends of the floor down the stretch of games spells impending doom. Denver, on the other hand, runs like a well-oiled machine when they have to. Denver the call. 

Celtics/Heat 6:00: I had the Heat (+14) in Game 2 and they delivered in a big way. Spoelstra was determined to win the perimeter game and slow down Porzingis. It worked. His men shot 53% from 3-point range, compared with Boston's 38%, while Porzingis shot 1 of 9 from the field. It was a complete flip of the switch from Game 1. Today, look for the Celtics to make the needed adjustments. They clearly have the advantage in personnel, and a better regular season road record than Miami had a home record. Boston is also in the top tier defensively guarding the perimeter whereas Miami is 12th in hitting three pointers. Tonight, a bit much to ask for Herro to take over that Jimmy Butler (out) role that he did so well in Game 2. Boston the call. 

Clippers/Mavericks 3:30: I'm going to look for Clippers' HC Lue to make the needed adjustments here. Mavericks got too many easy buckets with Lively and Gafford. Clippers were still in Game 3 despite getting virtually nothing from Leaonard and everybody else besides Harden and Powell shooting 1 of 15 from 3-point range. Clippers had a lack of energy and sloppy in Game 3. Look for that to change today. Dallas was not that consistent of a defensive team all season under Kidd; tonight, I'm looking for that inconsistency to present itself. Clippers the call. 

Knicks/76ers 1:00: Knicks have a lot of grit. They'll fight in there to the end.  This series has been tight, and they've done well at Philadelphia covering two of the last three trips. Mitchell Robinson, who spells great relief for Hartenstein, sprained his ankle and could sit out here. But second tier guys under Thibodeaux have a tendency to step up when needed. Achiuwa should get more minutes. Like the consistency f the role players on this Knicks team in relation to 76ers. Hart, Anunoby and Hartenstein and DiVincenzo have been consistently supporting Brunson. While McBride and Bogdanovic come off bench to add quality minutes. 76ers rely on Maxey to support Embiid with inconsistency in supporting cast. Knicks the call.