The 2012 NBA playoffs are upon us, and before the action gets too hot, let us take a closer look at some of the premier first-round matchups on the horizon.
Saturday's incredible opening day of events helped determine which series fans will be tuning into from here on out, but there is at least one series that has yet to get underway that NBA die-hards like myself can't wait to check out.
Without further ado, here are my must-see first-round playoff series poised to go the distance this spring:
No. 7 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder
The defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks renewed their postseason rivalry with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night in an epic Game 1 which featured a game-winner from Kevin Durant with less than two seconds to play.
OKC's 99-98 win puts them a leg up on the Mavs in a rematch of last May's thrilling Western Conference finals. Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 to lead Dallas in Game 1 and will need to return to Finals MVP form if the Mavs are to escape the first round in 2012.
This series provides fans with a beautiful battle of great offense versus exceptional defense. The Mavs boast the second-best scoring defense of any Western Conference playoff team, while the Thunder have been one of the highest scoring offenses in basketball since acquiring Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Series TV Schedule (via NBA.com)
Game 1 - Oklahoma City won 99-98 (Thunder lead 1-0)
Game 2 - Mon. April 30, Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Thu. May 3, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4 - Sat. May 5, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 7:30 p.m., TNT/R
Game 5 * Mon. May 7, Dallas at Oklahoma City, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. May 10, Oklahoma City at Dallas, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Dallas at Oklahoma City ,TBD, TNT
* if necessary.
All times are Eastern.
TBD - To Be Determined
R - ESPN radio
No. 6 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers
Unlike the LA Lakers, the Denver Nuggets won't rely on one player so much as they will their collective unit. Denver must come to play on the glass in this series, otherwise Kobe Bryant and the Lakers could make relatively short work of them.
The undeniable X-factor for the Nuggets in this series though will be their strength playing away from home. Denver is 18-15 on the road this season; it's only the third time in franchise history that the Nuggets have finished the regular season with a winning record away from Denver.
That being said, the Lakers will be in for a long series against a team with virtually no stars, but instead a plethora of hardworking basketball players led by speedy point guard Ty Lawson.
Series TV Schedule (via NBA.com)
Game 1 - Sun. April 29, Denver at LA Lakers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 - Tue. May 1, Denver at LA Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Fri May 4, LA Lakers at Denver, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 - Sun. May 6, LA Lakers at Denver, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue. May 8, Denver at LA Lakers, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. May 10, LA Lakers at Denver, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Denver at LA Lakers, TBD, TNT
* if necessary.
All times are Eastern.
TBD - To Be Determined
R - ESPN radio
No. 6 Orlando Magic vs. No. 3 Indiana Pacers
The Orlando Magic made it very clear on Saturday night that the Indiana Pacers will have nothing easy in the first round of these 2012 playoffs. The Magic, who are without superstar Dwight Howard for the rest of the season because he's recovering from back surgery, played stingy second-half defense, allowing just 33 total points from the Pacers.
That game plan will be key for Orlando going forward in this series as well, especially considering that the Pacers are the third-highest scoring Eastern Conference playoff team, averaging nearly 98 points per game during the regular season.
Indiana will come roaring back in Game 2 without a doubt. The Pacers and Magic are both gritty squads, and this series promises to entertain well into the month of May.
Series TV Schedule (via NBA.com)
Game 1 - Orlando won 81-77 (Magic lead 1-0)
Game 2 - Mon. April 30, Orlando at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 - Wed. May 2, Indiana at Orlando, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4 - Sat. May 5, Indiana at Orlando, 2 p.m., ESPN
Game 5 * Tue. May 8, Orlando at Indiana, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. May 11, Indiana at Orlando, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 13, Orlando at Indiana, TBD
* if necessary.
All times are Eastern.
TBD - To Be Determined
R - ESPN radio
Follow Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more on the 2012 NBA playoffs.
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