NBA predictions: Friday playoff picks as Lakers, Celtics look for road wins

Over the last four seasons, the Celtics have routinely suffered inexplicable playoff losses, often due to ice-cold 3-point shooting nights. Most of the time, they've bounced right back, and you would expect them to do so again on Friday. Just as the Sixers had extra motivation in Game 2, the Celtics will be juiced up heading into Philadelphia with a chance to regain control of the series. Pick: Celtics -7.5

Rockets vs. Lakers Game 3 prediction

The general consensus after Game 1 of this series was that Luke Kennard's output wasn't sustainable and the Rockets would look much better with Kevin Durant in the lineup. Well, Durant returned for Game 2 and the Rockets still lost, in part because Kennard again went off. Now, the Rockets return to Houston for Game 3 down 2-0, and Durant is back on the injury report due to an ankle injury and Austin Reaves -- out since April 2 with an oblique injury -- has been upgraded to questionable.

No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 series deficit, so this is essentially a must-win game for the Rockets, who are nearly double-digit favorites. That is a massive line for a team that's failed to reach 100 points in either of the first two games, has 39/29/72.7 shooting splits for the series and appears out of ideas on offense. The Rockets should win this game, but they've shown absolutely no reason to trust them to win by double digits. Pick: Lakers +9.5

Spurs at Trail Blazers Game 3 prediction

This series completely flipped early in the second quarter of Game 2 when Victor Wembanyama drove to the basket, got tripped up and slammed face-first into the ground. He was diagnosed with a concussion shortly after leaving the game, and the Trail Blazers pulled off a late 14-point comeback to even the series at 1-1. Now, as the action shifts to Portland with Wembanyama's status for the remainder of the series up in the air, the Trail Blazers have a chance to take control of the matchup.

Wembanyama is officially listed as questionable for Friday and did travel to Portland with the Spurs, but it would be a surprise if he's cleared to play in Game 3. Assuming that Wembanyama is out, that would obviously be a major blow to the Spurs. During the regular season, San Antonio was 50-14 when Wembanyama played and 12-6 when he did not -- the difference between a 64-win pace and a 54-win pace. The Spurs are still a very good team without him, but they're much more vulnerable, particularly against a Trail Blazers team that lives in the paint. Pick: Trail Blazers +2.5