Several 2010 NBA Playoff 1st Round Series Still Going Strong: The first round of the NBA playoffs isn't always the most entertaining set of series, as the higher seeds often make quick work of their opening-round opponents. But that's not the case this spring, as several lower seeds are threatening to dispatch of the pre-series favorites. Here's a quick look at this weekend's action in the Association.
The seventh-seeded team in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs, can close out the second-seeded Dallas Mavericks with a win at home in Game 6 Thursday night (8 Eastern, TNT). Dallas finished five games ahead of San Antonio during the regular season, took the season series three games to one, and won the opener of this series. But the veteran Spurs won the next three games to take a 3-1 series lead. The Mavs then pushed this series to a Game 6 with a 103-81 romp Tuesday night.
As of Thursday morning Sportsbook.com is chalking San Antonio at -4.5 for Thursday night's game at The Barn , with an OVER/UNDER of 190.5. The last four games in this series have stayed UNDER their posted totals. If the Mavs can avoid elimination Thursday night, Game 7 of this series will be played in Dallas on Saturday.
Also in the West the sixth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers will try to extend the third-seeded Phoenix Suns to a Game 7 when they host a Game 6 Thursday night (10:30 Eastern, TNT). Portland took the opener of this series, but Phoenix won the next two games. The Blazers then won Game 4, but the Suns took a 3-2 series lead with a 107-88 Game 5 victory Monday night.
As of Thursday morning Sportsbook.com is listing Portland at -1 for Thursday night's game, with a total of 202. If there is a Game 7 in this series it will be played Saturday in Phoenix.
After dropping the first two games of their first-round Eastern Conference series to the third-seeded Atlanta Hawks, the sixth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks have bounced back to take the next three games to take a 3-2 lead. And they've got a chance to win the series with a Game 6 at home Friday night (7 pm Eastern, ESPN). But if Milwaukee can't close the deal, Game 7 of that series will be played in Atlanta on Sunday.
Also Friday the eight seed in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, look to stay alive when they host the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers for a Game 6 in Oklahoma (9:30 Eastern, ESPN). Through the first five games of this series the home teams have held serve. If the Thunder can take this series to a Game 7, the Lakers will host it Sunday.
And the fifth-seeded Utah Jazz can eliminate the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets when the teams meet for their Game 6 Friday in Salt Lake City (10 Eastern, ESPN). If the Nuggets can get this series to a Game 7, they'll host it Sunday.
The conference semifinals start Saturday when the top seed in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers , host the fourth-seeded Boston Celtics for a Game 1 in Cleveland. As of Thursday morning Sportsbook.com is listing the Cavs at -450 to win this series, with the Celts getting +325.
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