Celtics, Knicks and Pacers Eye Series Wins Tonight/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Celtics, Knicks, and Pacers all hold 3-1 leads and can advance to the second round with Game 5 victories at home Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Nuggets and Clippers are locked in a 2-2 battle that’s too close to call. Cleveland has already swept Miami, waiting for its next opponent.
NBA Playoffs: Celtics, Knicks, Pacers Aim for Round 2, Nuggets-Clippers Series Up for Grabs
NEW YORK — Three Eastern Conference powers can punch their tickets to the next round Tuesday night, while the Western Conference’s marquee matchup remains a toss-up.
The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Indiana Pacers each hold 3-1 series leads after road wins on Sunday, and now return to home courts with a chance to advance. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers are tied 2-2 in a series that has lived up to its billing as a heavyweight clash.
Historically, teams leading 3-1 have advanced 94% of the time, meaning the East could be mostly settled by Tuesday night.
Celtics Eye Series Finish vs. Magic
The second-seeded Celtics are favored by 12.5 points against Orlando as they seek to eliminate the Magic. Jayson Tatum has been sensational, dropping 36 and 37 points in his last two outings after missing Game 2 with a wrist injury. However, Boston will be without Jrue Holiday again due to a hamstring strain. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero continues to impress, tying legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kobe Bryant with seven straight playoff games scoring 25+ points before turning 23.
Knicks Look to End Pistons’ Run
The Knicks escaped Detroit with a nail-biting 94-93 win and are 5.5-point favorites to close the Pistons out at Madison Square Garden. Jalen Brunson is averaging 33.3 points per game, second only to Giannis Antetokounmpo in the postseason scoring race. New York failed to close a 3-1 lead at home last year — something they’re determined not to repeat.
Pacers Ready to Send Bucks Home
Indiana seeks to knock Milwaukee out for the second year running. The Bucks, missing star Damian Lillard after his Game 4 injury, have lost eight straight road playoff games. Indiana’s offense, averaging over 115 points per win, looks nearly unstoppable, with Pascal Siakam averaging 22.3 points and Tyrese Haliburton dishing out 12.3 assists per game. Giannis has been brilliant but needs more help.
Nuggets-Clippers: A Deadlocked Battle
Meanwhile, the Nuggets and Clippers are deadlocked at two games apiece in a series that feels destined for seven games. Denver’s buzzer-beating tip-in on Saturday tied the series, but neither side has dominated for long stretches. Nikola Jokic continues to post monster numbers, averaging nearly 29 points along with double-digit rebounds and assists.
Game 5 tips off in Denver, with the Clippers slight 1.5-point favorites despite being on the road — a testament to how tightly this series has been contested.
Looking Ahead
If Boston, New York, and Indiana win Tuesday, the East’s semifinal matchups will be set before May. Meanwhile, out West, the Nuggets and Clippers seem headed for a grueling conclusion.
With injuries piling up and tensions rising, every possession counts more than ever.
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