NBA Playoff Picks and Predictions for Sunday
Our team of writers and handicappers hand out their NBA picks and predictions for Sunday, April 26.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons, 3:30PM ET
One word kept coming up Saturday as Cleveland's players and coaches discussed their first-round playoff opponent from Detroit.
Pride.
After all, that's really all the Pistons are playing for at this point.
The once-mighty team that reached at least the Eastern Conference finals the previous six seasons is in an 0-3 hole with very little reason to think it can win the series, even if it finds a way to prevail Sunday afternoon in Game 4 at The Palace.
``Guys are down,'' Detroit coach Michael Curry said Saturday.
They should be.
Game 3 on Friday was the Pistons' best showing in the series - and they still lost by 11. By the end of the game, some in the Palace crowd serenaded Cavs star LeBron James with chants of ``M-V-P!''
NBA Free Pick: Cleveland | Best Line: -8 Sports Interaction
Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers, 6:35PM ET
Andre Iguodala saw Dwight Howard standing between him and the basket and went right at the NBA's best defender.
This isn't the same Iguodala who flopped in his first playoff series as the man for the Philadelphia 76ers. He's playing with the same aggressiveness and fearlessness that another A.I. displayed every time he stepped on the court.
The surprising Sixers are two wins away from pulling off a stunning upset over the Orlando Magic in their Eastern Conference first-round series. The often-criticized Iguodala is a major reason Philadelphia is in this position after stumbling into the playoffs with a 41-41 record.
NBA Free Pick: Philadelphia | Best Line: +4 Sports Interaction
Portland Trail Blazers at Houston Rockets, 9:05PM ET
HOUSTON (AP) - Yao Ming has taken only 13 shots in the last two games of Houston's first-round series against Portland. That's OK with him.
The Trail Blazers have shut down the Rockets' 7-foot-6 center with aggressive double-teams and physical play, but they still trail the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday in Houston.
Yao was limited to seven points on 2-for-7 shooting in Game 3, but Luis Scola scored 19, Shane Battier added 16 and Houston won 86-83. Yao scored only 11 in Game 2 and the Rockets still nearly rallied before losing 107-103.
Yao will gladly continue to take on multiple defenders and leave the scoring to teammates as long as the Rockets keep winning.
NBA Free Pick: Portland | Best Line: +4 Sports Interaction