Two NBA heavyweights are set to trade blows as both the Eastern and Western Conferences continue to take shape as we head towards the playoffs.
The best best are in after hitting three from four on what was a profitable Monday.
Phoenix @ Cleveland
May 5th 9:00am
Phoenix Suns travel to Cleveland with a spring in their step on the back of four consecutive victories.
The Suns improved their record to 46-18 following a 123-120 victory over Oklahoma City thanks to a 32-point display from Devin Booker.
Cleveland will have its work cut out for it when it attempts to cause what would be one of the upsets of the season if it is to win this game.
Colin Sexton may be the man to match it with Booker but after that it really falls away from a form and talent perspective.
Granted, the Cavaliers do have an extensive injury list and coming up against a Suns team, who is now ranked first in the Western Conference, will be a bridge too far.
Expecting the Suns to make two from two in the three-game series against Cleveland but the Cavs can cover the spread.
Suggested Bet: Cleveland Cavaliers +12.5 point spread at $1.89
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Cleveland Cavaliers +12.5 point spread
Leg 2. C. Sexton over 23.5 points
Leg 3: Total points scored under 219.5
Combined odds = $5.75
Brooklyn @ Milwaukee
May 5th 9:30am
The Milwaukee Bucks host the Brooklyn Nets in the third and final meeting between these teams this season.
The Nets won the first matchup 125-123 on January 18th, but the Bucks won the second meeting 117-114 on Sunday in Milwaukee behind a season-high 49 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
This game will have significant playoff seeding implications as the Nets are just one game behind the 76ers for first place in the Eastern Conference while the Bucks are just 2.5 games behind the Nets for the second seed.
A win would go a long way to keep the Nets’ hopes of being the number one seed or the Bucks’ hopes of being the two seed alive.
While the Nets have thrived as an underdog this season, it’s hard to side against the Bucks’ chances of winning and covering the spread as the Nets remain without Harden.
The Nets have two of the best tough shot makers in the league in Durant and Irving, but the Bucks will be able to consistently get higher quality looks against the Nets’ defence.
Suggested Bet: Milwaukee Bucks -1.5 point spread = $1.91
Suggested Same Game Multi:
Leg 1: Milwaukee Bucks -1.5 point spread
Leg 2: G. Antetokounmpo under 29.5 points
Leg 3: Total points scored under 242.5
Combined odds = $7.5
Dallas @ Miami
May 5th 10:00am
It’s an interconference matchup of teams that are trying to improve their standing in their respective playoff pictures in South Beach.
The Dallas Mavericks are on the road as they make the trip to face the Miami Heat Tuesday night.
Dallas comes in off a 111-99 home loss to Sacramento in their most recent game Monday.
Miami ran away to a 121-111 road win over Charlotte in a battle of teams playing the second game of a back-to-back situation on Monday.
In the all-time regular-season series, the Heat owns a 36-32 advantage between the teams but it was Dallas earning a 93-83 home win in the first matchup this season on January 1.
Predicting the Heat to get the job done.
Suggested Bet: Miami Heat -3.5 point spread at $1.90
Golden State @ New Orleans
May 5th 10:00am
The New Orleans Pelicans hope to bounce back from a 41-point Steph Curry performance on the back half of their doubleheader with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
There was plenty of shaking and baking on Sunday as Curry danced around the court and lit up the Pelicans’ struggling defence.
Zion Williamson’s 32-point lone-hand display for the Pelicans wasn’t nearly enough to save New Orleans from a 123-108 collapse.
The Pelicans shot horrendously from three-point territory only managing to hit five of 25 attempts from beyond the perimeter compared to the 17 drained three-point efforts out of 44 for the Warriors.
A shooting accuracy of 53.4% is what the Warriors went at from a field goal perspective with the Pelicans only managing to go at 43.3%.
Efficiency is what proved the difference on the night and if the Pelicans are to avoid a repeat of affairs then their shooting needs to be polished.
Prepared to forgive the Pelicans and back them in at home.
Suggested Bet: New Orleans Pelicans -1.5 at $1.90
