Now that NBA players have decided to continue with the playoffs, this weekend should be a great one for awesome sports action! Let’s get to it!
Top Sports Events for This Weekend
- When: Saturday, Aug. 29 – Sunday, Aug. 30
NBA Playoffs | Saturday, Aug. 29
Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz vs Denver Nuggets
Dallas Mavericks vs L.A. Clippers
Both Jazz-Nuggets and Mavericks-Clippers are if necessary Game 7s. We must wait to see what happens on Friday before handicapping those two.
The NBA figures to play all Wednesday and Thursday canceled games on Friday. They could push things out to Saturday and Sunday. Still, the Celtics and Raptors will throw down this weekend at least once.
Once firm dates are set, handicap Celtics-Raptors knowing Boston went 3-0 SU in the 3 regular season contests.
MLB | Saturday, Aug. 29
L.A. Dodgers at Texas Rangers
Oakland A’s at Houston Astros
Washington Nationals at Boston Red Sox
Dodgers vs Rangers is an interesting matchup because Lance Lynn starts for Texas. Nats versus Red Sox is also a cool game. Boston sends Nathan Eovaldi to the mound.
The most important MLB game on Saturday, though, is Oakland versus Houston. The A’s are 4 ½ games ahead of the Astros. So, any game they can make up on Oakland is big.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
Philadelphia Flyers vs New York Islanders
Vegas Golden Knights vs Vancouver Canucks
Both series, Flyers versus Islanders and Golden Knights against Canucks, are tied 1-1 heading into NHL Friday’s matches. The New York Islanders have looked especially strong. After dominating the Flyers in Game 1, they fought back to force overtime in Game 2.
The Canucks beat Vegas 5-2 in Game 2. Hockey analysts have doubted Vancouver all season. Here they are, though, in the conference semifinals tied 1-1 with the favorite to win the Stanley Cup.
Soccer | Saturday, Aug. 29
MLS Soccer
English FA Community Shield
Major League Soccer has a full slate of games on Saturday, including MLS Is Back Tournament winner Portland taking on Real Salt Lake.
The top soccer match on Saturday, though, is the English FA Community Shield battle between Arsenal and Liverpool.
The new English Premier League Season kicks off on September 12. That’s in about two weeks. Watch the English FA Community Shield to get an idea on whether the Reds, that’s Liverpool, can dominate in 2020-2021 the way they dominated in 2019-2020.
UFC Fight Night | Saturday, Aug. 29
Smith vs Rakic
Anthony Smith battles Aleksander Rakic in the main event at this Saturday’s UFC Fight Night. Check out current UFC odds on MyBookie.
- Anthony Smith +205 / Aleksander Rakic -265
Four awesome other bouts are on the main card: Robbie Lawler vs Neil Magny, Ji Yeon Kim vs Alexa Grasso, Ricardo Lamas vs Bill Algeo, and Magomed Ankalaev against Ion Cutelaba.
Pay attention to Anakalaev. He could be UFC’s next star.
Boxing | Saturday, Aug. 29
Jose Ramirez vs Viktor Postal
On Saturday night, WBC and WBO Super Lightweight title holder Jose Ramirez battles Viktor Postal.
Ramirez is one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, which is why he’s more than a -650 favorite. Postal is 31-2, though. If anything, expect this boxing match to be entertaining.
Tennis | Saturday, Aug. 29
Western & Southern Open Women’s Final & Men’s Final
Noami Osaka looks to be on her way to a victory at the Western & Southern Open. Make sure to pay attention to the women’s final on Saturday whether Osaka plays or not.
Over on the men’s side, Novak Djokovic is a huge favorite to take home the hardware. Novak takes on Roberto Bautista on Friday. If Djokovic beats Bautista, he’ll throw down against Milos Raonic or Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday.
Flushing Meadows is not only the home of the Western & Southern Open, but it’s also the home of next week’s U.S. Open. So, whomever plays well at the W&S should have a hot racket next week.
NASCAR | Saturday, Aug. 29
Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway
Night racing at Daytona. Does it get any better? Not if you’re into stock car racing.
Again, last year’s Cup winner Kyle Busch isn’t one of the favorites to take this weekend’s race. Check out NASCAR odds on the top five choices.
- Denny Hamlin +800
- Kevin Harvick +1000
- Brad Keselowski +1000
- Joey Logano +800
- Ryan Blaney +900
Kyle is the seventh choice at +1400. Sixth choice is Chase Elliott at +1200.
Formula 1 Racing | Sunday, Aug. 30
Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton heads to Belgium a -225 favorite. After Hamilton, the F1 odds jump to +350 on fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.
Hamilton has won 4 of the last 5 grand prix races, which explains the short odds. If you like anyone other than Lewis, including top Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, you’ll get an unbelievable price.
Leclerc is offering +8000 to win.
NBA Playoffs | Sunday, Aug. 30
Orlando Magic vs Milwaukee Bucks
Portland Trail Blazers vs L.A. Lakers
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets
Don’t expect Magic vs Bucks or Blazers vs Lakers to happen on Sunday. Both are scheduled Game 7 matchups. The Bucks are up 3-1 against Orlando while the Lakers are up 3-1 versus Portland.
Thunder against Rockets could happen, though. The two squads are tied 2-2. As we expected, Oklahoma City has played like a viable underdog contender for the NBA Championship.
MLB | Sunday, Aug. 30
New York Mets at New York Yankees
Oakland A’s at Houston Astros
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
We’ve also added A’s – Astros to our list of top MLB games for Sunday. The A’s hope, maybe, beyond hope, that Sean Manaea gets it together. They’ll need Manaea in the postseason.
On Wednesday, the Braves won a couple of double-headers versus the Yankees. Atlanta has a 4-game lead over the Phillies. This is another big NL East matchup.
Mets – Yankees is always entertaining. Yankee ace Gerrit Cole steps to the mound. Cole is 4-1. But, his ERA is just 3.51, meaning NYM has a shot.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs | Sunday, Aug. 30
Boston Bruins vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Dallas Stars vs Colorado Avalanche
Boston beat Tampa 3-2 in Game 1. Since then, it’s been all Lightning. Tampa Bay dominated the Bruins 7-1 to take Game 3. The Lightning could close out Boston in this Game 5.
The NHL always seems to provide an upset-minded Stanley Cup contender. This hockey postseason, that team could be the Dallas Stars. The Stars beat the Avalanche 5-3 and 5-2 in the first two games. Colorado won Game 3 6-4.
Will Colorado assume dominance? Or, will Dallas continue to surprise?
Have a great weekend!