Photo: AP/Ben Margot

The 2019 NBA Playoffs come back in action on Wednesday night with a set of Sport 5s. The doubleheader, which will air on TNT and be live-streamed through their WatchTNT website and app, starts when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics in 8 p.m. ET. This is a potential elimination game for the C’s, who are on the edge of a collapse in the Eastern Conference semifinals and have lost three in a row. The final matchup of the evening will feature the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets, together with tip-off scheduled for 10:30 p.m. Both sides have done their job by winning their individual home games and are tied at 2-2, making tonight’s battle a key as this Western Conference semis series is coming to Oracle Arena.

Keep reading to discover more about these intriguing 2019 NBA Playoff games, including the complete program, updated odds and expert predictions from Jon Price of Sportbettime.com. You might check out the latest Playoff bracket that has the postseason results resulting in tonight, more and highlights from yesterday’s games. Wednesday’s Best NBA Playoffs Prediction: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets The Rockets looked to be in trouble after opening with two losses in Oracle Arena, but now have momentum on their side since the action shifts back to the Warriors house digs. Houston gritted an overtime victory in Game 3 and staved off a comeback attempt in the fourth quarter of Game 4 opening the door for a possible mad in Game 5. Oddsmakers still believe Golden State has exactly what it takes to turn it around opening the squad. Vegas is bullish on the company because the Los Angeles Lakers failed it in 2000-02, however, since the Warriors likelihood of winning a title this year have dropped the cheapest they’ve been all season, to -120. In accordance with Sportbettime.com. The franchise began out the postseason since -225 chalk to acquire a third straight championship and have been -275 at one stage during the campaign, but now are in real danger of being eliminated before the NBA Finals for the first time in a half a decade.

Credit James Harden for stepping up to battle this juggernaut, as the reigning league MVP is averaging an unbelievable 35.8 points throughout the series. He’s received great support from his teammates during Houston’s two recent successes, together with players such as Eric Gordon (30 points in Game 3) and P.J. Tucker (17 points and 10 rebounds in Game 4) making a concrete effect. Tucker has been especially crucial for the Rockets in their winning streak, as head trainer Mike D’Antoni is using the 6’6″, 245-pounder as a little ball centre to good effect.

Zach Lowe pointed out Tucker’s impressive +/- at the center position in This series and noticed that Houston was cleaning the glass nicely with him in the 5 despite the lineup lacking dimension: Warriors head coach Steve Kerr credited Houston’s efforts on the defensive end as a primary reason his team has been struggling, comparing some of the Rockets defenders into NFL linebackers (via CBS):

They’ve got a lot of linebackers. They are sturdy. We seem much more long and lean. But we have done and we have played all kinds of groups. Because they should everybody tries to be physical with us –  that is the best method to try and beat on us. Houston is quite physical.

Since Kerr took over as head coach, with occurred such as the regular season and playoffs, it has been uncommon for the Warriors to drop consecutive games – leading up to the most recent slide of the team. Golden State has generally responded well to these scenarios, having won all but one. If the staff can regain this time round, however, especially with key players battling through injuries that are mounting it remains to be seen. Even though they are expected to play in Game 5 veterans Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston are probably to be 100%, since Iguodala suffered a knee down the stretch and Livingston is nursing a sore hip. Even more concerning is the injury that sharpshooter Klay Thompson is currently dealing with, as it hurting his play in this series. The 29-year-old reach a very low point on Monday, scoring only 11 points on 33% shooting – and also an abysmal 16.7% from outside the arc – in 36 minutes. Thompson is the type of player that tends to step up if the Dubs want him but when he get his shot to fall and can not find his legs, his group could be in trouble tonight.

Drew Shiller emphasized a drama that he considers sums up Thompson’s play so far throughout the Western Conference semifinals: Kevin Durant has been one of the only players who has been constant for Golden State throughout the 2019 NBA Playoffs and he’ll probably once again will need to shoulder a huge load when the Warriors will win Game 5. KD is averaging 35.4 points a game during the postseason – up significantly from his 26.0 PPG average in the regular season – and hasn’t scored less than 29 points in this series against Houston. The former MVP is near unguardable at this juncture, but still will not be able to will his team to the Western Seminar alone. When the Warriors fell despite a 46-point excursion from Durant, that was apparent in Game 3. He followed that up with a 34-point showing in Game 4, but it wasn’t enough to get the work finished.

Because of inconsistent Golden State continues to be over the last two games in this series, especially, Jon Price is advising bettors to take the points tonight. They ought to have the ability to keep the score close enough tonight to pay the spread, Though the Rockets are still seeking their first road win in the series. They’ve discovered new life with their lineup and Houston will be the bet before the banged-up Warriors may find a way to conquer on it. The Rockets moneyline – that is currently set at +215 – is not a bad option for anyone seeking a payout that is larger, but it carries more danger in a game which will probably be determined by one or two buckets.