The Denver Nuggets are looking for the sweep of the LA Lakers here in game four of their best of seven Western Conference series. The Lakers were in a must win spot in game three and came out like gangbusters leading the Nuggets 33-23 after one quarter. However, the Nuggets chipped away at that lead in quarter two with a 26-20 win and trailed at halftime, 49-53. It was the third quarter where the Nuggets flexed their muscles with a 34-22 margin. They never looked back as the teams played even in the fourth quarter and the Nuggets won, 112-105. Aaron Gordon had 29 points and Nikola Jokic added 24 more. The Nuggets are the Pro version of the Connecticut Huskies. Both are running roughshod over their opponents and looking for repeat Championship seasons. The Lakers missed 15 of their first 16 3-point shots in game three with over a 33-minute drought between three-point makes. Davis and James where excellent for the Lakers and they still lost. The Lakers blew that 20-point lead in game two and a 10-point lead here in game three. Can they do anything to beat these Nuggets? I don't think so. The Nuggets are just too tough and they will get the sweep here tonight. Play Denver.

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.

The Knicks and Sixers continue their best of seven game series here today from Philadelphia. The Sixers finally got a win in game three, 125-114. The Knicks led at half but a big second half by Sixers star Joel Embiid led to the come from behind and much needed win by Philly. They shot a blistering 54.7% from the field and 48.4% from the 3-point arc. The Knicks could also be without their center Mitchell Robinson who hurt his knee and is listed as questionable for today's contest. Embiid may do even better today if Robinson can't go. He scored 50 points in the Sixers game three win. The loss of Robinson could be huge here today for the Knicks as he's been dominant on the boards. Without him in game three's second half, the Sixers took over on the boards. This looks to be a close game here on Sunday and as such I'm taking the UNDER as both teams will likely slow the pace. Play the UNDER.

The Oakland A's and Baltimore Orioles conclude their three-game set here on Sunday. the teams have split the first two games with the A's winning on Friday, 3-2 and the O's on Saturday, 7-0. The Orioles have jumped into a first place tie in the AL East with the NY Yankees both teams three games ahead of the Red Sox. The O's have the best run differential in the division with a +35. Albert Suarez will start today for the Orioles with his 1-0 mark in two starts. He's been great thus far, allowing seven hits and NO RUNS over his 11 2/3 innings of work. Despite no fan base in Oakland, the A's are actually in third place in the AL West with a 11-17 record, 4.5-games back of the Mariners. They do have the worst run differential in the division with a -44. The A's will start their Ace Paul Blackburn here today. Blackburn is 2-1 in his five starts with a 2.03 ERA and 0.968 WHIP. He suffered his first loss last outing at the Yankees where he went six innings and allowed five hits and four runs. That was the most runs he's allowed this year. Still, both starters are excellent and I'm going with the UNDER here today.