NBA Playoffs continue to impress

The NBA playoffs have continued to display mesmerizing performances. This has made where to bet on the NBA confusing and more challenging than anything else. Most games have gone down to the wire, making it hard to predict who will win.

On Tuesday night, the Dallas Mavericks extended their series lead to 2-0 over the Los Angeles Clippers with a hard-fought 127-121 win. It is even more impressive because it was another win on the road and can head back to Dallas in a commanding position. 

The chief destroyer of the Clippers was once again Mav's sensation Luka Doncic who put up 39 points on 16-29 shooting with 7 assists and 7 rebounds. He led by example, which uplifted the rest of the Dallas team, who shot 58.5% from the field and 52.9% from three-point range.

The Clippers are in serious danger of being swept if the Mavs win their next two home games. Their stars will need to step up and show their worth in the upcoming games with only Kawhi Leonard putting up a fight. He ended game 2 with 41 points, carrying the Clippers offence. But the biggest issue for the Clippers has been the ability to defend Doncic. Los Angeles just do not seem to have the answer to defend Doncic; even when his double and triple teamed he has still been managing to hit tough shots.

On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers even the series with the Phoenix Suns with a 109-102 win. After a disastrous game one, the defending champions were back to their best. The Lakers lacked a lot of confidence coming into the playoffs, mainly due to Anthony Davis and Lebron James being injured for most of the season. But the duo showed glimpses of last year's postseason form, which saw them crowned champions. 

Davis said after a disappointing game one that he needed to make up for it, and he certainly did as he delivered 33 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks. He showed extra determination and noticeable aggression, which was definitely needed. Despite his nagging ankle injury, Lebron still scored 23 points with 9 assists. The power duo scored 16 of the Lakers last 18 points to close out the game, which was a huge indication of their dominance when they are playing well.

The rest of the NBA teams that are in the playoffs should be terrified of the Brooklyn Nets. Why? Well, they have shown the full extent of their offensive wealth and dominance in the first two games of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics. 

In game two, the Nets were quick out of the blocks, scoring 11 of their first 14 shots. They never looked back and earned a comfortable 130-108 win. The most terrifying part about the Nets offence is not their power trio but instead Joe Harris, who ended the game with 25 points and hit 7 of 10 from behind the arc. During the second half Brooklyn led the Celtics by 33 points and went on to shoot 52.3% overall and 44.7% from 3-point range. Even more impressively, all five of the Nets started scoring double figures. Any team in the NBA would find it hard to cope with that depth and quality, which surely makes it all the more difficult just for the Celtics to even the series.

Utah Jazz's Western Conference leaders bounced back after a game one defeat to tie the series against the Memphis Grizzlies. They looked like a different side, and the apparent reason was because of returning Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell who played his first game since April 16th. 

The Jazz welcomed the return from Mitchell, who looked like a completely different side in game two, which saw them win 141-129. The presence of Mitchell was felt more beyond his stats but more for what he brought to the team. The confidence within the team was completely different from game one, and with Mitchell on the court, it brought other players more open looks. However, Mitchell was the highest scorer on the Jazz side as he scored 25 points. 

For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant will feel hard done by as he scored 47 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds only to lose the game. It was an incredible display from the young star, and he will hope he can continue that form into game 3 and 4, where the Grizzlies will have home-court advantage.

The Eastern Conference game two matchup between the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks was memorable. The Knicks won the game 101-92, which saw them clinch their first playoff victory since 2013. 

Vintage Derrick Rose came out to play as he scored 26 points off the bench to help the Knicks to victory. Although, no one's contribution was more valuable than that of Most Improved Player of the Year winner Julius Randle who recorded 13 of his 15 points and 12 rebounds in the third quarter, which helped the Knicks recover from a 15-point deficit. The Hawks proved tough to beat, and they were led once again by a dominant performance from Trae Young, who scored 30 points. Young seemed to have gotten under the skin of the MSG who booed him every time he touched the ball. Game 3 takes place on Friday, and if it's anything like the last two games, it surely cannot be missed.

On Wednesday night, the Washington Wizards lost game two to the Philadelphia 76ers 120-95. There does not seem to be any coming back for the Wizards, who, even at their peak, just do not seem to have enough to cope with the Sixers. Game two was a blowout as the Wizards trailed by 27 points and had to play their entire bench midway through the fourth quarter. 

The Sixers have been led by Ben Simmons, who has come to life since the start of the playoffs. He silenced all his critics who doubted his ability to score after he dropped 22 points on 11 from 15 shooting while recording 9 rebounds. Joel Embiid also put on another dominant performance, ending the game with 22 points and 7 rebounds. 

At this point, it looks doubtful that the Wizards will be able to turn things around. Now more than ever after, their star Russell Westbrook also left the game with an injury. The Sixers look likely to take the series and to make a deep run into the playoffs.