NBA Playoffs Weekend: Key Games to Watch

After 82 regular season games spanning 6 months the time for NBA playoffs have finally arrived!

The best of the Eastern and Western conference will square off for a chance at the NBA Championship. It’s the most exciting time of the season and there are plenty of great matchups set for the weekend.

The current champions, the San Antonio Spurs, have their core team in 5 time NBA Champion Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, and last year’s break out star Kawhi Leonard, who leads the league with 2.1 steals per game, returning to face the Los Angeles Clippers armed with Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, who leads the league in rebounds per game with 15, and Chris Paul who leads the league in assists per game with 10.2. The Clippers host the Spurs Sunday April 19th at 10:30E/9:30C on ESPN.

The second seeded Houston Rockets and MVP front runner James Harden and All-Star Dwight Howard will face Western Conference and in state rivals the Dallas Mavericks. James Harden is looking to take the Rockets farther in the playoffs than they’ve been in years. After losing int he first round for the past two years the Houston Rockets seem primed to make a serious run at the Western Conference championship but must first face the Mavericks and the former MVP winner Rajon Rondo. The Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks Saturday April 18th at 9:30E/8:30C on ESPN.

The Golden State Warriors are top seeded in the Western Conference and have the best record in the NBA having won 67 of their 82 games thanks to MVP contender Stephen Curry and face off against the bottom seeded New Orleans Pelicans making a rare appearance in the playoffs after battling for the 8th spot with the Oklahoma City Thunder thanks to the efforts of Anthony Davis who leads the league in blocks with 2.94. The Warriors host the Pelicans Saturday April 18th at 3:30E/2:30C on ABC.

LeBron James and second seeded Cleveland Cavaliers face the Boston Celtics who have managed to return to the playoffs despite the recent loss of Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. LeBron James has had a succesful year after departing the Miami Heat with two NBA titles to return to his hometown of Cleveland. He hopes to take the Cavs to the finals and secure his third championship. The Cavs host the Celtics Sunday April 19th at 3:00E/2:00C on ABC.