NBA playoffs open with TV quadrupleheader Saturday

So, Jim Mora, can you believe the NBA and NHL playoffs are already here?

“What’s that? Ah — playoffs? Don’t talk about — playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs?”

That’s right, coach. The preliminaries are over, and it’s time for the NBA and NHL to start their marathon postseason tournaments. They’ll be playing until June, so sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Westgate Las Vegas has made the Cleveland Cavaliers 9-4 favorites to win the NBA title, followed by the Golden State Warriors at 5-2 and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs at 4-1.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who reportedly made a mind-boggling 77 straight 3-pointers in practice Tuesday, will try to stay hot against the New Orleans Pelicans at 12:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC (13)) in Game 1 of their first-round series. It’s the second game of a TV quadrupleheader.

LeBron James will lead the Cavs against the surprising Boston Celtics at noon Sunday (ABC (13)) in their playoff opener, which will kick off another TV quadrupleheader.The sixth-seeded Spurs will begin their title defense on the road at the Los Angeles Clippers at 7:30 p.m. Sunday on TNT (18).

The NHL playoffs started Wednesday and will continue with TV quadrupleheaders Friday and Sunday and a TV tripleheader Saturday — when the New York Rangers (6-1 favorites to win the Stanley Cup) will host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of their first-round series at 5 p.m. on NBC (3).

FRIDAY

NHL playoffs, Western Conference quarterfinals, Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators, Game 2 (6:30 p.m., NBCSP (38)): What will the Blackhawks do for an encore after erasing a 3-0 deficit en route to a 4-3 win in double overtime in Wednesday’s series opener?

BEST OF REST — MLB: Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers (10 a.m., MLBN (314)), Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (4 p.m., MLBN (314)), Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros (5 p.m., FSW (49)), Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants (7 p.m., Prime (50)); NHL playoffs: Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens, Game 2 (4 p.m., CNBC (35)), New York Islanders at Washington Capitals, Game 2 (4 p.m., NBCSP (38)), Western Conference quarterfinals, Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks, Game 2 (7 p.m., CNBC (35)).

SATURDAY

BEST OF REST — MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals or Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers (10 a.m., MLBN (314)), Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox (1 p.m., FS1 (329)), Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros (4 p.m., FSW (49)), New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (4 p.m., FS1 (329)), Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants (6 p.m., Prime (50)); NBA playoffs: Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors, Game 1 (9:30 a.m., ESPN (30)), Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls, Game 1 (4 p.m., ESPN (30)), Western Conference quarterfinals, Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets, Game 1 (6:30 p.m., ESPN (30)); NHL playoffs: Western Conference quarterfinals, Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, Game 2 (noon, NBC (3)), Winnipeg Jets at Anaheim Ducks, Game 2 (7:30 p.m., NBCSP (38)).

SUNDAY

BEST OF REST — MLB: Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox or Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals (10:30 a.m., MLBN (314)), Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros (11 a.m., FSW (49)), Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants (1 p.m., Prime (50)), Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals (5 p.m., ESPN (30)); NBA playoffs: Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks, Game 1 (2:30 p.m., TNT (18)), Western Conference quarterfinals, Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies, Game 1 (5 p.m., TNT (18)); NHL playoffs: Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Washington Capitals at New York Islanders, Game 3 (9 a.m., NBC (3)), Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators, Game 3 (4 p.m., NBCSP (38)), Western Conference quarterfinals, Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, Game 3 (noon, NBC (3)), Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames, Game 3 (7 p.m., NBCSP (38)); PGA Tour: RBC Heritage, final round (10 a.m., TGC (339), CBS (8)); NASCAR: Sprint Cup Series, Food City 500 (9:30 a.m., Fox (5)).

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33.