Minnesota and Phoenix play game three of their best of seven series in the West conference 1st round. The Wolves took both games back in Minnesota and have put the Suns into a must win situation here on Friday. The Wolves coming off a 105-93 win over Phoenix as a 3.5-point favorite. Still, the Suns have owned a 7-3 record vs the Wolves their last 10 meetings. The Wolves dominated the first two games, winning by a 18.5 point average. They have allowed the Suns just 106.2 ppg, well below their 115.7 ppg average during the regular season. If there is one game the Suns need to get back to regular season for, it's this one. They can ill afford another loss and go down 0-3. I'll take the Suns here on Friday in a must win spot.

The Western Conference 1st round matchup has the Dallas Mavericks taking on the LA Clippers in game three of their series. The venue moves to Dallas here on Friday. The series is tied 1-1 and this game holds a key for both teams as they set the tone in this series. The Clippers dominated game one back in LA, 109-97, as a 3-point dog. Then they lost game two, 93-96, as a 1.5-point favorite. The Clippers were without star Kawhi Leonard for the first two games. However, he's been upgraded to questionable. Even if Leonard doesn't go they are still loaded with offense in the form of Paul George and James Harden. The Dallas Mavericks return home but will be dealing with a host of injuries. Tim Hardaway Jr who will miss this game. The Mavs have lived and died by the 3-point shot this year and without Hardaway that will put a dent in that average. Both teams could be missing key cogs here tonight, but Leonard could play. I'll take the points with Clippers to bounce back here in game three.

 The Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins begin their four game set here tonight. The Nats are coming off a three-game loss to the Dodgers at home where they were outscored 4-17 by LA. The Nationals dropped to 10-14 in the NL East but are five games ahead of last place Miami. They have a -22 run differential. Trevor Williams will start here today for the Nats with a 2-0 record in his four starts. He also has a nice 2.91 ERA and 0.970 WHIP. Williams coming off a no decision against the Astros where he went six innings and gave up just three hits and one run. Miami was swept by the Braves in their three game series, scoring just three total runs in the process and allowing 12 runs. The last place Marlins are 12.5 games back of division leading Atlanta and have a division worse -47 run differential. Only the Rockies have a worse run differential. Jesus Luzardo is 0-2 in his five starts with a 6.58 ERA and 1.423 ERA. The team is 0-3 in his home starts with a 5.87 ERA. Somehow the Marlins are around a 1.60 favorite here today. They are the worst team in the division and have a worse pitcher starting. Ok, I'll bite, give me the Nationals.

The St Louis Cardinals and NY Mets play game one of their three-game set here on Friday. The Cardinals are coming off a series vs the D'backs where they won two of three games. Still, they are slumping having lost five of their last seven games. The Cardinals are 11-14 and in last place in the NL Central, 5.5-games back of the Brewers. They also have the worst run differential in the division with a -26 number. They will send Miles Mikolas to the hill today. Mikolas has not been very good, posting a 1-3 mark in five starts and a 6.49 ERA. He's allowed 10 runs over his last 9 2/3 innings of work. The Mets salvaged the final game of a three game set at San Francisco with a 8-2 win on Wednesday. The Mets are 13-11 and in third place in the NL East, 4.5-games back of the Braves. They also have a +10 run differential. Jose Butto will toe the rubber for the Mets on Friday. Butto has no record after three starts. However, he's been very good with a 1.65 ERA and 1.041 WHIP. He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his starts. Moreover, he's allowed just two total runs over his last 10 1/3 innings of work with 15 KO's and six walks. Good price on the Mets at home here today. I'll take New York in this one.

The Western Conference first round continues here on Saturday as Oklahoma City travels to New Orleans to face the Pelicans in game three of their best of seven series. The venue moves to New Orleans after the Thunder took both home games for a 2-0 series lead. That includes their blowout win in game two, 124-94. The Thunder hit a blistering 59% from the field and 48.3% from the 3-point arc. Game three for the lower seed is a must win if they can't steal a game on the road in games one or two. That's the case here on Saturday. The Pelicans can ill afford to go down 0-3 in the series, which makes this a pretty much, must win spot. The Thunder are tied for 5th in the league in scoring offense as they average 109 ppg. The Pelicans didn't shot badly in game two, they just couldn't stop the Thunder. They need to find a way to slow the Thunder down and defend the perimeter better here on Saturday. Even though Williamson remains out here today, I'm taking the Thunder as they play their best to avoid a 0-3 series deficit. Play New Orleans.

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat play game three of their best of seven series. The venue now moves to Miami as the Heat stole home court with a win in game two at Boston, 111-101 on Wednesday. Tyler Herro led the way for Miami with 24 points and 14 assists. Miami hit a franchise record 23 3-point shots in the game. Miami rebounder after trailing by as many as 34 points in game one. But Boston star Tatum went down hard in that game one win after having a triple-double, the first of his playoff career. Tatum looked good in game two, but a 10-0 run by Miami propelled the Heat to a 82-70 lead in the third quarter. Boston could only cut that lead to six with three minutes to play and that was the closest they would get. The Celtics had the best regular season record in the NBA and home court throughout the playoffs. But now Miami has wrestled that away and must hold in game three. The Celtics are a huge 9.5-point road favorite here today. That means the oddsmaker not giving much respect to the Heat. I believe the Heat will put up a better game then what's expected of them. Sure Boston will come out angry and if the Heat can hold off the initial onslaught then I look for them to cover here on Saturday.

The Washington Nationals snapped a three game losing streak with a win on Friday over the Marlins, 3-1. The Nats improved to 11-14 and fourth in the NL East, 7.5-games back of the Braves. They also have a -20 run differential. Mitchell Parker looks to continue his excellent season for Washington as he takes to the hill. Parker is 2-0 in his two starts with a 1.50 ERA and 0.583 WHIP. He's coming off an excellent start and win over over the Astros where he allowed three hits and no runs over seven innings. In addition, Parker has 12 KO's on the season with NO walks. Meanwhile, Miami lost its fourth game in a row and seventh in their last 10 games. The Marlins have a MLB worst six wins this season to go with their 21 losses. They also have a -49 run differential. Edward Cabrera will make his third start of the season today. He's 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.455 WHIP. Cabrera has pitched well and has one of the team's six wins this season. I'm sticking with Washington here on Saturday.

The NY Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers play game two of their three game set here on Saturday. The Brewers took game one on Friday, 7-6 in 11 innings. Joey Ortiz drove in four runs including the game winner in the bottom of the 11th for the Brewers. The loss coupled with a Baltimore loss kept the two teams tied in the AL East for first place. The Yankees also have a +21 run differential this season. Carlos Rondon will toe the rubber for the Yankees here on Saturday. Rondon is 1-1 in his five starts with a 2.03 ERA and 1.313 WHIP. He's coming off a no decision vs the A's where he went seven innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. The win by the Brewers kept them in 1st in the NL Central, a half game ahead of the Chicago Cubs. They also have a division best +36 run differential. The Brewers will start Joe Ross today. Ross is 1-2 in his four starts with a 4.05 ERA and 1.550 WHIP. Ross rebounded from his poor outing vs the Padres where he gave up nine hits and seven runs over 4. 2/3 innings. He came back at Pittsburgh and while he suffered the loss he did go 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one earned run. Ross has not received the best support as his defense has allowed at least one unearned run behind him in his last three starts. I'm going to take the Yankees to even this series at 1-1 here on Saturday.