NBA Playoffs picks, odds, how to watch Wednesday: Warriors seek 2-0 lead; Celtics, Cavs heavily favored

What a nice, brisk start to the Round 1 proceedings. We’ve had some wild turns (the Knicks’ 21-0 run on Saturday, Kawhi Leonard going fully automated in the Denver altitude on Monday) spliced with overwhelming dominance (OKC’s near-historic beatdown and Cleveland’s jumpshooting clinic).

We get three more Game 2s on Wednesday. The Magic and Celtics are shipping up to Boston, while the Heat and Cavaliers meet at East 1999. The final matchup is one of the postseason’s most anticipated draws, with the Jimmy Butler-backed Warriors looking to go up 2-0 against the pugnacious and surprise second-seeded Rockets.

Viewing guide for Wednesday

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Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics

Celtics lead series 1-0

Series odds: Celtics -10000, Magic +2500

Seventh-seeded, not-a-game-over-.500 Orlando somehow led defending champion Boston on its parquet floor at halftime Sunday, only for the Celts to groove out in the third quarter and ultimately win by a comfortable 17 points. Boston might have to do it without Jayson Tatum in Game 2. Tatum is doubtful after an awkward fall from a hard foul in Game 1.

In the series opener, the offense let it fly along the perimeter (16-for-37 on 3s), as has been the case all year. The defense forced 15 turnovers and erased every Magician not named Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner. Derrick White had an ultra-efficient 30-piece and four of his teammates had at least three assists.

Banchero was thoroughly impressive in a tough road spot — 36 points, 4-for-7 on treys and three offensive boards. Wagner put up 23 points, but on a labored 24 shots. The only other Orlando player to take more than five shots was Wendell Carter Jr. (made two, missed four). Jamahl Mosley coaches a hardworking and cohesive defense, but the Magic’s slow pace and anemic outside shooting makes for a significant mismatch against the rangy reigning champs.

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Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavs lead series 1-0

Series odds: Cavs -5000, Heat +2200

This series is the inaugural playoff meeting between LeBron James’ first two franchises. Call it the Bron Bowl, or the Battle of Big Z, even, but Cleveland is the clear favorite in any rendering. The hosts breezed through Game 1 on Sunday afternoon, with the dynamic backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland combining for 57 points. Ty Jerome was a human heat check with the second unit, shooting 10-for-15 in 26 minutes and putting an out-of-reach game even further away from the countertop.

Miami’s serpentine season at least captured some dignity with back-to-back road wins during the Play-In. Playoff Erik Spoelstra deserves eternal respect throughout this sport, but the Heat look to be as out of their element as Theodore “Donny” Kerabatsos. Any chance at a Game 2 spoiler starts with a fearless Tyler Herro (21 points on 7-for-18 shooting in Game 1), all-world defender Bam Adebayo (two steals and a block Sunday) and sudden bench presence Davion Mitchell (temporary King of Atlanta).

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Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets

Warriors lead series 1-0

Series odds: Warriors -400, Rockets +310

Steve Kerr likened the opening game to grinding, tense and baggy late-90s ball. Squint just a bit and you’ll see young Cuttino Mobley picking up Larry Hughes in the halfcourt. Sunday’s nightcap ended with Golden State pulling a 95-85 road win, supported by Stephen Curry’s five 3s and another vintage Jimmy Butler postseason performance (25/7/6 with five steals to one turnover). Golden State’s defense disoriented Houston to unsightly 39.1/20.7/55 shooting splits.

Houston is fine to fight with rocks, or whatever Dillon Brooks has in his back pocket, and holding the streaking Warriors below 100 points is an accomplishment. Even if this team has overachieved and looks ahead of schedule, the Rockets won’t accept moral victories in late April — certainly not if they drop two straight at their place.

There are definitely some threads of hope for Wednesday: Houston cut its Game 1 deficit to four with less than three minutes left, and won the offensive rebounding margin by an overwhelming 22-6. In his first career postseason minutes, Alperen Şengün dropped 26 points on 11-for-18 shooting.

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(Photo of Stephen Curry: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)

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