Sports for the Easter basket

Easter Sunday means NASCAR Sprint Cup takes a rare week off. But other sports continue their marches.

The second weekend of the NBA playoffs starts Thursday with Game 3 from Philadelphia (against the Heat at 8 p.m.) and Portland (against Dallas at 10:30 p.m.) Friday, ESPN offers a pair of games starting at 7 p.m. - Celtics vs. Knicks, then Lakers at Hornets - while the Hawks play the Magic at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

Saturday, TNT has the afternoon doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. The Pacers host Chicago in Game 4 of that series, followed by the Mavericks at Portland. ESPN shows a pair of games, with the Spurs taking on Memphis at 7:30 p.m. then Thunder and Nuggets play at 10.

ABC has an Eastern Conference doubleheader on Sunday. The 76ers host the Heat at 1 p.m., then it's Celtics-Knicks. TNT has coverage starting at 7 p.m. with the Magic at Hawks, then the Lakers take on the Hornets.
Then it's a week of "if necessary, while the NHL enters the "if necessary" zone this weekend. Thursday, Versus starts coverage at 7 p.m. with Game 4 of the Canadiens and Bruins. Chicago made Game 5 necessary with a win Tuesday, and will face Vancouver Thursday in the nightcap.
Friday, it's necessary for Versus to find some programming - Detroit won in four straight. From the West Coast, the Predators go against the Ducks in Game 5. There's four games on the Saturday schedule. NBC shows the Capitals against Rangers in Game 5 at 3 p.m., with three other games on Versus - Lightning at Penguins at noon, Canadiens-Bruins at 7 p.m. and the Kings facing the Sharks at 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, Versus has Game 6 of the Flyers-Sabres series - if it makes it that far.
The NL Central battle between Cincinnati and St. Louis take centerstage this weekend, on FOX Saturday afternoon and ESPN Sunday night. FOX also shows the White Sox at Tigers and Braves-Giants, while TBS has the Dodgers at Cubs Sunday afternoon.
The Orioles face Minnesota Thursday on MASN, then the Yankees visit for the weekend.
The Nationals have a Thursday afternoon game in St. Louis on MASN, then head to Pittsburgh for a series with the Pirates on MASN2.
ACC baseball gets coverage on Comcast Friday, as Miami visits North Carolina at 7 p.m. Saturday, Virginia hosts N.C. State at 1 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe visits Middle Tennessee. ESPN2 offers Alabama against Florida Saturday at 8 p.m. and LSU-Vanderbilt battle Sunday at 3 p.m.
Since it's Easter weekend, the Nationwide Series goes it alone - racing from Nashville Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN.
The PGA tour heads to Hilton Head for the Heritage this weekend, with coverage of the final two rounds on CBS at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
D.C. United plays New York Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
MASN has Saturday lacrosse, with Yale visiting Georgetown at 1 p.m. Comcast has the ACC women's lacrosse championship at 1 p.m., followed by the men's title tilt at 3:30 p.m.
For an SEC softball doubleheader, it's Alabama vs. Friday Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 and Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.