NBA Playoffs picks, odds, how to watch info for Friday: Pacers pursue 3-0 lead, pivotal Game 3 in Denver

It’s the NBA Playoffs, as directed by David Lynch. Does anyone know what’s going on here?! All four road teams stole Game 1 for the first time in postseason history. That’s wild enough on its own, but consider how each one happened … two massive comebacks, upsets of both historically-strong No. 1 seeds, a second Aaron Gordon game-winner.

Then, a new strain of delightful chaos in Game 2 action. The Knicks deflated the Celtics with another 20-point fourth-quarter stunner, and the Pacers pulled the inexplicable in the foreground of a Cavaliers collapse. Here’s to Friday’s pair of second-round Game 3s, which take us into Hoosier territory and then atop the Rockies.

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Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers Game 3

Pacers lead series 2-0

Series odds: Pacers -200, Cavaliers +165

A stepback 3 with one second left, flung up from an injured wrist. Tyrese Haliburton is on a confounding and spectacular playoff run, now with multiple gutsy game-winners (the layup to eliminate Milwaukee and Game 2’s canonizer in Cleveland). He’s been an efficient and headstrong playmaker, averaging a postseason-best 10.7 assists to just 1.7 turnovers. For perspective, the playoffs’ second-leading assist-getter, Nikola Jokić, is at 4.1 turnovers per game.

Myles Turner had the abridged version after Tuesday’s thriller: “Quite frankly, that boy cold, man.”

Indiana comes home with a surprise 2-0 lead, despite losing in three of the NBA’s Four Factors (turnover percentage, offensive rebound percentage and free throw rate). The Cavs’ late-game disorganization has been jarring, and Donovan Mitchell comes into Friday at 2-for-18 behind the arc.

But let’s not overthink this: Cleveland has an injury crisis at the worst possible time. They played Game 2 without Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley (ankle), All-Star Darius Garland (toe) and bench heat-checker De’Andre Hunter (thumb).

It’s a different series if Kenny Atkinson has those three talents in tow. It can also be argued that regardless of opponent, Indy is balling like a team of destiny. The Pacers have been one of the league’s hardest outs since December. They shot a blistering 52.4 percent from the floor and 46.9 percent from 3-point range in the two games in Cleveland. They are balanced, fleet and ultra-cohesive.

Cleveland will compete if it continues to win on the offensive glass and get to the line. Mitchell has muscled his way to 30 free throws in two games. But it’s awfully hard to fade Haliburton in the clutch right now.

Best players in both jerseys

• George Hill
• Johnny Davis
• Caris LeVert
• Dave Robisch
• James Edwards

Expert picks

Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets Game 3

Series tied 1-1

Series odds: Thunder -600, Nuggets +425

Game 1 was very close. Game 2 was absolutely not. Which swing are we getting on Friday?

OKC responded to the opening night humiliation with a thorough and frenetic turnaround, setting an NBA record with 87 first-half points. The final damage: Thunder 149, Nuggets 106. Sheesh.

Denver’s Game 1 win should not be discounted, and Ball Arena is a tough building to win in. But Oklahoma City looked fully recalibrated and just about unbeatable last time out, and they’re still the clear favorite if it keeps moving the ball and staggering its defensive looks. Nikola Jokić fouled out with the worst plus-minus of his career (minus-36), which seems just about impossible for someone of his basketball brilliance.

To take an unexpected 2-1 lead, the Nuggets will need more around Jokić’s restricting orbit. The on-ball pressure from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Thunder Buddies is unrelenting, and the path to victory will be opened or closed by the supporting perimeter outlets. Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 16.7 percent in this series. Christian Braun is at 35.7 percent, Aaron Gordon at 37 and Jamal Murray at 40.

Best players in both jerseys

• Russell Westbrook
• Jeff Green
• Carmelo Anthony
• Danilo Gallinari
• Isaiah Hartenstein

Expert picks

On this day (May 9) in NBA Playoffs history

2015 — Paul Pierce did not call “bank.” Paul Pierce called “game.”

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(Photo of Nikola Jokić and Isaiah Hartenstein: Joshua Gateley / Getty Images)

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