🏀 Boston Celtics 109 – New York Knicks 102

Why the Celtics are projected to win:

• Momentum from Game 3: Boston bounced back with a commanding 115–93 victory in Game 3, showcasing a balanced offensive attack. Five players scored between 15 and 23 points, with Payton Pritchard leading the way. Derrick White contributed 17 points, 5 rebounds (including three offensive), 2 assists, a steal, and a key block on Jalen Brunson, stabilizing the team’s performance. [source: CelticsBlog]
• Three-Point Shooting: The Celtics shot 50% from beyond the arc in Game 3, hitting 20 three-pointers. This perimeter efficiency stretches the Knicks’ defense and creates driving lanes for players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. [source: Posting and Toasting]
• Injury Report: Boston remains relatively healthy, with only Sam Hauser listed as questionable due to a right ankle sprain . The Knicks have no players on the injury report . [sources: Athlon Sports, Fox Sports 1300]

Challenges for the Knicks:

• Offensive Struggles: New York managed only 93 points in Game 3, with Jalen Brunson’s performance declining compared to the previous series against the Pistons. OG Anunoby’s scoring has also dipped, totaling just seven points combined in Games 2 and 3 after a 29-point outing in Game 1. [source: New York Post]
• Karl-Anthony Towns’ Shooting: While Towns contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds in Game 3, his three-point shooting has been off, hitting just 1-of-7 shots from beyond the arc in the series. [source: New York Post]

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🏀 Minnesota Timberwolves 103 – Golden State Warriors 95

Why the Timberwolves are projected to win:

• Anthony Edwards’ Health: Edwards is fully recovered from the ankle scare he sustained during Game 2 and will play without limitations in Game 4. [source: The Times of India]
• Defensive Prowess: Minnesota’s defense has been effective, holding the Warriors to under 100 points in two of the first three games. Their ability to limit Golden State’s scoring opportunities is a significant factor in this projection.

Challenges for the Warriors:

• Stephen Curry’s Absence: Curry remains sidelined with a Grade 1 hamstring strain suffered in Game 1. He’s expected to miss at least a week, likely ruling him out for the next few games of the series. [source: The US Sun]
• Offensive Adjustments: Without Curry, the Warriors’ offense relies more on players like Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins. However, the team has struggled to maintain offensive efficiency, scoring 97 points in Game 3 and 93 in Game 2.