NBA Week 24: Thursday Match Predictions

We are officially in the first week of the NBA Playoffs that would lead us to our 2019-2020 champion. Eight teams have emerged from each conference. While some teams only earned their spot after entering the bubble, some teams earned theirs before the break back in March, like the Milwaukee Bucks, who still continue to lead with the most wins of the season.

We would be taking a look at Thursday’s games and make our own prediction for the outcome of the match, based on current information and to help those who want to place bets make better decisions.

First, we have Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers. The last time Miami Heat earned a spot at the Playoffs was in 2018, while the Pacers last appeared in 2019. Both teams are no strangers to qualifying for the playoffs, even though the last time they met was in 2014. The two sides have enjoyed a win-lose situation over the years, with either side maintaining a streak of, say, 2 or 3 games, before being squashed by the other side.

So it is a bit hard to tell whose way the game would go. But Miami Heat has always performed better at the playoffs and that is evident by the fact that they have won 3 NBA Championships. They won the last one in 2013, a year before facing the Pacers. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo continue to Heat good. Derrick Jones Jr would also be available for the Thursday fixture despite suffering a collision in their Friday’s game against Pacers. Miami Heat have always handled playoffs better and, equipped with that experience, they stand a better chance of beating the Pacers on Thursday.

After that, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets get to battle it out. For someone like Russell Westbrook, it would be playing against old teammates as he only left OKC in June 2019. They were both in the 2019 playoffs and the years before that, although the last time they met was in 2017, where OKC lost 4 out of 5 fixtures. Not a very good record to set.

OKC may have had a good history of beating the Rocket, recent games have shown that things are different and they have to be very careful of Rocket, especially James Harden who averages 34.3 points per game. OKC would not like to go down without a fight, but things would rightly go in the way of the Rocket for the sole fact that they are prepared, which is very evident by their wins in the bubble and even before them. Maybe this is the year they make it to the finals.

The next match for the night is the game between Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks. One would expect that Bucks would come out of this victorious. They have played a series of good games in the bubble and they cannot afford to account for losses after maintaining a good record. They beat Magic in 3 out of 4 games in the 2001 playoffs.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton in formation now, it may just be possible for the Bucks to repeat the same record this year. Even in the regular season games, Bucks have always given Magic a tough time. The Bucks have everything in them to win the game consequent playoff fixtures against Magic.

The last match for the night is between Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers. This is Laker’s first appearance at the playoffs in 7 years and it is worth noting when you consider the fact that they have won the NBA championship title 16 times. LeBron James kept true to his promise when he joined Lakers back in 2018, where he said he was going to lead the team to the playoffs.

Now that they finally have the spot, hopefully, they can make it to the finals. They have a team that looks ready for victory. But facing the Trail Blazers is not going to be exactly easy because they also seem very determined to fight. Damian Lillard has established a record this season after making 61 points in 3 games. They would not back out easily.