Basketball fans have a feast of action to look forward to this Sunday as the NBA Playoffs serve up four compelling contests starting at 1 p.m. ET. With critical matchups across the bracket, today's games could prove pivotal in several series.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks look to capitalize on their momentum against Detroit. Expect a defensive struggle as the Pistons focus their energy on containing Jalen Brunson's scoring prowess. The total points should stay under 217, particularly if Detroit succeeds in cooling Brunson's hot hand, which would limit New York's overall offensive output.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic continue to show impressive resilience against Boston. While the Celtics remain favorites, their injury concerns combined with Orlando's tenacity suggest a closer contest than the 7-point spread indicates. The Magic have proven they won't back down against the top-seeded Celtics.
Over in Milwaukee, the Bucks appear poised to even their series against Indiana despite Damian Lillard's shooting struggles. Role players have stepped up admirably for Milwaukee, and home-court advantage should help them secure a victory by at least 5 points. The analytics from Statbet show this Bucks-Pacers matchup features the second-fastest pace among all first-round series, suggesting the over on 226.5 points is a strong consideration.
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup features Los Angeles challenging Minnesota. With Luka Doncic reportedly feeling healthier, Austin Reaves emerging from his shooting slump, and LeBron James bringing his legendary playoff intensity, the Lakers are positioned to even the series despite being underdogs. Expect improved offensive production from Los Angeles against Minnesota's typically strong defense, helping push the total beyond 208 points.
Game 4 is often described as the pivotal contest in playoff series, and today's slate offers multiple opportunities for teams to either take commanding leads or draw even in these best-of-seven battles. Basketball enthusiasts would be wise to clear their Sunday schedules for what promises to be an action-packed day of postseason drama.
