The 2023-24 NBA regular season is over and we have turned the page to the NBA Playoffs. Throughout the postseason, Jonathan Von Tobel will continue to provide you with his exceptional coverage of the greatest league in the world. Just click here for all of his content. However, all of my picks will be featured in this daily column, which will combine my NBA best bets and NBA player props. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the playoff games on Sunday, May 5th. Also, check out our NBA Playoffs Betting Hub for all of our series previews and additional postseason content.
We also put together an NBA Playoffs Betting Primer with in-depth analysis for everything you’ll see the next couple of weeks.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on May 5
NBA Best Bets Today – May 5
Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers – 1:00 pm ET
Since losing two lopsided games in Cleveland to start the series, Orlando has been the much better team between these two. Over the last four games, the Magic have a net rating of +18.6 and a defensive rating of 97.9. Orlando has simply figured out how to defend this Cleveland team, and I think this ends with the Magic earning the first road victory of the series. Orlando came frighteningly close to doing that in Game 5, when the team lost 104-103 in a game that easily could have gone either way.
The Cavaliers are also a little banged up at the wrong spots here. Jarrett Allen is dealing with injured ribs right now, while Evan Mobley will be playing through a rolled ankle. Those are the two guys that will need to be ready to defend a bowling ball of a player in Paolo Banchero. And the reality is that Banchero’s presence makes it hard not to like the Magic here. We know Orlando can defend the perimeter at a high level, and being able to feature Banchero in isolation is a luxury on the other end of the floor. He should be able to finish at the basket or draw fouls regularly. That will be crucial in what should be a low-scoring game with a lot of nerves.
I also trust Jamahl Mosley a little more than I trust JB Bickerstaff. Mosley has pushed all the right buttons with this Magic team all year, and I don’t think the story ends here. And something tells me the oddsmakers feel the same way, as this game has the smallest spread we’ve seen between these two in Cleveland. But I’m rolling with the road team on the moneyline.
Bet: Magic ML (+148 – 2 units)
NBA Player Props Today – May 5
Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers – 1:00 pm ET
I took Jalen Suggs to go Over 3.5 rebounds in Game 6 and he responded with six boards in that game. Suggs has now had at least four rebounds in five of the six games in this series, so I don’t see any reason not to take him to do it again. This is a do-or-die Game 7 and Suggs is an intense player on a normal day. He should show up with some real ferocity and focus for this game, and I just can’t see him sitting this one out on the glass. Suggs is a very good rebounder for a guard and he’s averaging 8.2 rebound chances per game. That’s a really good number for a player with a total of 3.5, so I’m jumping on this and I’m not thinking twice about it.
Bet: Suggs Over 3.5 Rebounds (-143)
2023-24 Record: 350-378-3 (-8.70 units)
