NBA Expert Picks and Best Bets | May 6

The first round of the NBA playoffs officially wrapped up on Sunday, so fans can focus on the conference semifinals starting on Monday. While there are just two games on Monday’s schedule, that has allowed the USA Legal Betting team to focus more of its attention on each game. It should also give you more time to explore the latest sportsbook promos and find some great bonus opportunities related to the NBA playoffs. In the meantime, allow us to share our three favorite picks for Monday’s playoff games.

Pacers +6 | -110 at bet365

Obviously, there will be a lot of support for the Knicks coming out of New York sportsbooks. but they were just 1-2 against the spread as favorites in the first round. Plus, all four of their wins in that series came by seven points or less. That isn’t likely to change in this round against an Indiana team that just eliminated the Bucks. Keep in mind the Knicks barely pulled out a couple of those wins, which is why we think six points is too much for New York to cover.

Keep in mind the Pacers won two of their three games with the Knicks during the regular season with their one loss coming by just four points. Indiana also had a winning record against the spread as a road underdog and is coming off an impressive series win against the Bucks. The Knicks probably have more to prove at this point than the Pacers, which is why we’ll happily take Indiana and the points.

Timberwolves +5.5 | -110 at BetMGM

Speaking of having something to prove, that must be Denver’s mindset after a loss in Game 1. Despite that loss, the line from BetMGM grew from four points in Game 1 to 5.5 points in Game 2. While we understand that oddsmakers are expecting the Nuggets to have a strong bounce-back game, we’re not convinced that will be the case. Denver is now just 1-4 against the spread in the playoffs as a favorite.

If the T-Wolves managed to win Game 1, they can surely stay within five points in Game 2. Minnesota’s strategy of bombarding Nikola Jokic with different big men defending him worked, so the T’Wolves will stick with that tactic. While they can’t count on getting 43 points from Anthony Edwards in every game, he’s shown that he's not far behind Jokic with regard to being the best player on the floor in this series. That should be enough to keep the T’Wolves close in this game if they don’t pull off another win.

Under 207 | -113 at BetRivers

The over/under number fans will find at Colorado sportsbooks is even lower than Game 1. However, we’re still going to stick with the under. Minnesota’s focus on big men to open the series combined with Denver’s loss should lead to another low-scoring game. Neither team will be that upset with a slow pace, which is why we’ll stick with the under.

As mentioned, Edwards scored 43 points in Game 1 while Jokie managed to score 32 points. Yet, the two teams still combined for just 205 points. Both stars will have a hard time matching or exceeding those numbers in Game 2. That means both the T’Wolves and Nuggets could struggle to reach 100 points, keeping this game under 207 total points.