NBA Playoffs Update

Published on Wednesday, 4/18/18, at 11:45 a.m. Eastern.

—My preview of tonight’s three-game NBA card over at VegasInsider.com.

—My picks for tonight’s games.

—Check out the lines for upcoming games later in the week here at VI.

–You can monitor all of the postseason results at VI right here.

–Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday have been nothing short of sensational in dominating Portland’s backcourt combo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. The Pelicans are up 2-0 headed back to the Big Easy for Game 3 on Thursday night at 9:05 p.m. Eastern on NBA-TV. They are three-point home favorites.

–Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer sought permission from the team to discuss the coaching vacancy with the Phoenix Suns. He was granted permission and I hope he gets an offer and gets the hell out of the ATL. Why, you ask? Well, before the Hawks hired a GM during that time when Danny Ferry was suspended but not yet fired, it was Budenholzer’s dumbass idea to sign Dwight Howard to a huge contract before re-signing Al Horford. This led to the franchise’s current state of disarray.

–As for Horford, he’s busy leading the short-handed Celtics to a 2-0 series lead over Milwaukee. In Game 1, Horford led Boston to a 113-107 overtime win over the Bucks by producing 24 points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots, two steals and four assists compared to only one turnover. The two-time national-title winner at the University of Florida drained 5-of-8 field-goal attempts, 1-of-2 launches from 3-point land and 13-of-14 free-throw attempts. Then in last night’s lopsided Game 2 triumph, Horford contributed 16 points, five rebounds, two steals and four assists without a turnover. He hit 7-of-11 FGAs, his only 3-point attempt and 1-of-2 FTs.

—The AJC’s long-time scribe Mark Bradley thinks Bud is a goner.

–Dwyane Wade absolutely went off for 28 points to lead Miami to victory in Game 2 at Philadelphia two nights ago. The Heat’s win snapped the 76ers’ 17-game winning streak and evened the first-round series at 1-1. After the game, D-Wade’s wife sent out this revealing tweet:

Now come on home baby, I got somethin’ for ya #GrownASF

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) April 17, 2018

—Here are the updated series prices from Sportsbook.ag:

Golden St. -9500, San Antonio 18/1 (risk $100 to win $1,800)
Philadelphia -350, Miami +275
New Orleans -480, Portland +380
Boston -340, Milwaukee +270
Toronto -1600, Wizards 10/1
Cleveland -250, Indiana +210
OKC -215, Utah +180
Houston -6000, Minnesota 19/1

–Sportsbook.ag’s updated odds to win the NBA title look like this:

Warriors +110 ‘chalk’ (risk $100 to win $110)
Rockets +160
Raptors 10/1
Cavaliers 15/1
76ers 18/1
Thunder 40/1
Celtics 55/1
Pelicans 75/1
Jazz 75/1
Pacers 100/1
Heat 200/1
Bucks 200/1
Trail Blazers 250/1
Timberwolves 300/1
Spurs 500/1
Wizards 500/1

–David Malinksy, a household name in Las Vegas circles as an outstanding writer, bettor and radio personality, has been missing since going on a hike outside of Las Vegas on Saturday. An intense search has been going on for days to no avail yet. His car has been found and here’s to hoping Dave is found in good health.