NBA predictions: Friday playoff picks as Lakers, Celtics look for road wins
The 2026 NBA playoffs will proceed Friday with a triple-header of pivotal Game 3s. Can the Boston Celtics bounce again on the road after a shock defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers? Do the Houston Rockets have any hope as their collection with the Los Angeles Lakers shifts again to Texas? And how will the San Antonio Spurs fare towards the Portland Trail Blazers if Victor Wembanyama is unable to play?
Ahead of Friday’s motion, let’s take a look at every sport and make some predictions.
NBA video games at this time: April 24 playoff schedule
Odds through FanDuelall instances ET
- Game 3: Boston Celtics (-7.5) at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 pm — Prime Video
- Game 3: Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets (-9.5), 8 pm — Prime Video
- Game 3: San Antonio Spurs (-2.5) at Portland Trail Blazers, 10:30 pm — Prime Video
76ers vs. Celtics Game 3 prediction
The Sixers might have given up after getting crushed by 32 factors in Game 1, however they responded with an excellent efficiency in Game 2 to even the collection and steal homecourt benefit. But was their profitable method on Tuesday replicable? They obtained 30 factors from rookie VJ Edgecombe and shot 19 of 39 (48.7%) from 3-point vary, whereas the Celtics shot 13 of fifty (26%) from behind the arc. In NBA historical past the Celtics’ 13 3s have been the fewest of any staff with 50 or extra makes an attempt in a playoff sport.
Over the final 4 seasons, the Celtics have routinely suffered inexplicable playoff losses, usually as a consequence of ice-cold 3-point taking pictures nights. Most of the time, they’ve bounced proper again, and you’ll count on them to take action once more on Friday. Just as the Sixers had further motivation in Game 2, the Celtics can be juiced up heading into Philadelphia with an opportunity to regain management of the collection. Pick: Celtics -7.5
Rockets vs. Lakers Game 3 prediction
The basic consensus after Game 1 of this collection was that Luke Kennard’s output wasn’t sustainable and the Rockets would look significantly better with Kevin Durant within the lineup. Well, Durant returned for Game 2 and the Rockets nonetheless misplaced, partially as a result of Kennard once more went off. Now, the Rockets return to Houston for Game 3 down 2-0, and Durant is again on the harm report as a consequence of an ankle harm and Austin Reaves — out since April 2 with an indirect harm — has been upgraded to questionable.
No staff in NBA historical past has come again from a 3-0 collection deficit, so that is basically a must-win sport for the Rockets, who’re practically double-digit favorites. That is an enormous line for a staff that is failed to achieve 100 factors in both of the primary two video games, has 39/29/72.7 taking pictures splits for the collection and seems out of concepts on offense. The Rockets ought to win this sport, however they’ve proven completely no motive to belief them to win by double digits. Pick: Lakers +9.5
Spurs at Trail Blazers Game 3 prediction
This collection utterly flipped early within the second quarter of Game 2 when Victor Wembanyama drove to the basket, obtained tripped up and slammed face-first into the bottom. He was recognized with a concussion shortly after leaving the sport, and the Trail Blazers pulled off a late 14-point comeback to even the collection at 1-1. Now, as the motion shifts to Portland with Wembanyama’s standing for the rest of the collection up within the air, the Trail Blazers have an opportunity to take management of the matchup.
Wembanyama is formally listed as questionable for Friday and did journey to Portland with the Spurs, however it will be a shock if he is cleared to play in Game 3. Assuming that Wembanyama is out, that will clearly be a serious blow to the Spurs. During the common season, San Antonio was 50-14 when Wembanyama performed and 12-6 when he didn’t — the distinction between a 64-win tempo and a 54-win tempo. The Spurs are nonetheless an excellent staff with out him, however they are much extra weak, significantly towards a Trail Blazers staff that lives within the paint. Pick: Trail Blazers +2.5
