Oklahoma City Thunder entered the second half of the Game 5 against the Utah Jazz 15 points behind, and it looked like their playoff hope will be crushed before the eyes of their own fans. OKC Thunder trailed 1-3 in the series and was facing elimination. Then, the third quarter started, and Jazz drained 10 more quick points, getting the lead up to 25 points.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan called for a time-out with less than nine minutes left in the third quarter, but it looked like there isn’t much he could do. Still, there was one man who could.

Russell Westbrook decided to take over the game (as he often does), and finally show why he is one of the best basketball players in the world. He drilled back-to-back three-pointers and then started to wreak havoc with layups, and mid-range shots. Paul George followed his example and by the beginning of the fourth quarter, the game was tied. Just like that.

OKC Thunder gained momentum while Jazz crumbled under pressure, unable to close out the game they thought it has been already won. The Thunder ended up with a hard-fought 107-99 win, managing to avoid early elimination. It is important to notice that Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors had foul troubles the entire second half, which played an important part in OKC Thunder’s comeback.

Russell Westbrook ended the game with 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. He also ended up playing the entire second half, without taking his usual rest.

“It was one of those nights where obviously our bench, our crowd, everyone here in Oklahoma was behind us,” – said Westbrook after the game. “We needed every bit of it tonight and our guys stepped up.“

Paul George embraced his “Playoff P” persona and delivered 34 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. He also spent the entire second half in the game.

“We never quit,” – said George. “I can’t pinpoint one thing we did wrong. I think we never got down on ourselves. Regardless of the lead they built and the shots they were making, we felt we could surge back, and we did.“

Game 6 of the series is scheduled for Friday night in Salt Lake City.

The post OKC Thunder Erases 25-Points Deficit against Jazz to win Game 5 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NBA Playoffs 2018 are finally here. Regular season wrapped up on Wednesday and now we know who made it to the postseason, and who will spend their time planning vacations.

We decided to use this small window between the end of the regular season and start of the first round of the playoffs on April 14th to think hard about everything we have seen in the past 82 games and enter the “predictions business.” We made our picks for the winners of all the NBA Playoffs 2018 first-round series and we shall stick with them until the very end. This time we are predicting Western Conference. (You can check out our Eastern Conference predictions here.)

Even the regular season in the Western Conference was crazy and exciting. We didn’t know whether Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets will make the postseason cut, while only top two seeds were locked. The first round of the NBA Playoffs 2018 will be even crazier, but there can only be one winner per series. Here is what we think who that will be.

(1) Houston Rockets vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves

Prediction:
Houston Rockets win 4-1

Why:
Since Jimmy Butler is coming from an injury, he won’t have a great impact on the series. However, he will manage to win one game for the Minnesota Timberwolves at home, under the condition that both Karl Anthony Towns and Andre Wiggins bring their A game. The rest of the series will be blow-out wins from the Houston Rockets.

(2) Golden State Warriors vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs

Prediction:
Golden State Warriors win 4-2

Why:
Why won’t the Golden State Warriors sweep the series? Because they don’t have Stephen Curry, and the San Antonio Spurs have Gregg Popovich. There will be a couple of close games, and this will be overall uncomfortable series for the Warriors. Note: In case that Kawhi Leonard finds his way back before the tip-off of the first game in the series, we take the Spurs.

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) New Orleans Pelicans

Prediction:
Portland Trail Blazers win 4-1

Why:
No one expected the Portland Trail Blazers to be the third seed in the Wild West, and somehow they did. Damian Lillard has been phenomenal this season, and he is the type of player who can drop 50 on you in a heartbeat. But so is Anthony Davis, you will say. Well, Davis doesn’t have a capable supporting cast like Lillard and never won a playoff game. He will now, but that will be all.

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Utah Jazz

Prediction:
Oklahoma City Thunder win 4-1

Why:
First of all, hat down to Quin Snyder for taking Utah Jazz to the fifth seed with a rookie point guard, defensive specialist, and group of outcasts. Donovan Mitchell has absolutely balled this season, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he was to win the Rookie of the Year award. With all of that said, there is no way Jazz takes the Oklahoma City Thunder to six games or more. Despite all of their ups and downs during the season, the Thunder are a team built for the postseason and have tons of playoff experience. This and the sheer will of Russell Westbrook is taking OKC to the second round.

The post Opinion: NBA Playoffs 2018 First Round Predictions – Western Conference appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Oklahoma City Thunder entered the second half of the Game 5 against the Utah Jazz 15 points behind, and it looked like their playoff hope will be crushed before the eyes of their own fans. OKC Thunder trailed 1-3 in the series and was facing elimination. Then, the third quarter started, and Jazz drained 10 more quick points, getting the lead up to 25 points.

Thunder coach Billy Donovan called for a time-out with less than nine minutes left in the third quarter, but it looked like there isn’t much he could do. Still, there was one man who could.

Russell Westbrook decided to take over the game (as he often does), and finally show why he is one of the best basketball players in the world. He drilled back-to-back three-pointers and then started to wreak havoc with layups, and mid-range shots. Paul George followed his example and by the beginning of the fourth quarter, the game was tied. Just like that.

OKC Thunder gained momentum while Jazz crumbled under pressure, unable to close out the game they thought it has been already won. The Thunder ended up with a hard-fought 107-99 win, managing to avoid early elimination. It is important to notice that Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors had foul troubles the entire second half, which played an important part in OKC Thunder’s comeback.

Russell Westbrook ended the game with 45 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists. He also ended up playing the entire second half, without taking his usual rest.

“It was one of those nights where obviously our bench, our crowd, everyone here in Oklahoma was behind us,” – said Westbrook after the game. “We needed every bit of it tonight and our guys stepped up.“

Paul George embraced his “Playoff P” persona and delivered 34 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. He also spent the entire second half in the game.

“We never quit,” – said George. “I can’t pinpoint one thing we did wrong. I think we never got down on ourselves. Regardless of the lead they built and the shots they were making, we felt we could surge back, and we did.“

Game 6 of the series is scheduled for Friday night in Salt Lake City.

The post OKC Thunder Erases 25-Points Deficit against Jazz to win Game 5 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

NBA Playoffs 2018 are finally here. Regular season wrapped up on Wednesday and now we know who made it to the postseason, and who will spend their time planning vacations.

We decided to use this small window between the end of the regular season and start of the first round of the playoffs on April 14th to think hard about everything we have seen in the past 82 games and enter the “predictions business.” We made our picks for the winners of all the NBA Playoffs 2018 first-round series and we shall stick with them until the very end. This time we are predicting Western Conference. (You can check out our Eastern Conference predictions here.)

Even the regular season in the Western Conference was crazy and exciting. We didn’t know whether Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets will make the postseason cut, while only top two seeds were locked. The first round of the NBA Playoffs 2018 will be even crazier, but there can only be one winner per series. Here is what we think who that will be.

(1) Houston Rockets vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves

Prediction:
Houston Rockets win 4-1

Why:
Since Jimmy Butler is coming from an injury, he won’t have a great impact on the series. However, he will manage to win one game for the Minnesota Timberwolves at home, under the condition that both Karl Anthony Towns and Andre Wiggins bring their A game. The rest of the series will be blow-out wins from the Houston Rockets.

(2) Golden State Warriors vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs

Prediction:
Golden State Warriors win 4-2

Why:
Why won’t the Golden State Warriors sweep the series? Because they don’t have Stephen Curry, and the San Antonio Spurs have Gregg Popovich. There will be a couple of close games, and this will be overall uncomfortable series for the Warriors. Note: In case that Kawhi Leonard finds his way back before the tip-off of the first game in the series, we take the Spurs.

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) New Orleans Pelicans

Prediction:
Portland Trail Blazers win 4-1

Why:
No one expected the Portland Trail Blazers to be the third seed in the Wild West, and somehow they did. Damian Lillard has been phenomenal this season, and he is the type of player who can drop 50 on you in a heartbeat. But so is Anthony Davis, you will say. Well, Davis doesn’t have a capable supporting cast like Lillard and never won a playoff game. He will now, but that will be all.

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Utah Jazz

Prediction:
Oklahoma City Thunder win 4-1

Why:
First of all, hat down to Quin Snyder for taking Utah Jazz to the fifth seed with a rookie point guard, defensive specialist, and group of outcasts. Donovan Mitchell has absolutely balled this season, and we wouldn’t be surprised if he was to win the Rookie of the Year award. With all of that said, there is no way Jazz takes the Oklahoma City Thunder to six games or more. Despite all of their ups and downs during the season, the Thunder are a team built for the postseason and have tons of playoff experience. This and the sheer will of Russell Westbrook is taking OKC to the second round.

The post Opinion: NBA Playoffs 2018 First Round Predictions – Western Conference appeared first on SportzBonanza.