We will have the first elimination game of the NBA conference finals tonight, followed by the second one tomorrow.
The Thunder, up 3-1 and favored by 8.5, will try to close out the Timberwolves in OKC (8:30 ET, ESPN).
After defeating the Knicks 130-121 (and covering the -2.5) on Tuesday night, the Pacers will have a chance to advance to the NBA Finals. Indiana is up 3-1 but a 5-point underdog in NY for Game 5 on Thursday.
VSiN.com senior editor Zach Cohen is optimistic about Minnesota’s prospects, at least enough to cover the number in Game 5.
It’s going to take the full focus of the Timberwolves in order to make this a game, and they’re going to need to play with the belief that they can win three in a row. I’m not sure that doing so against this Oklahoma City team is possible. But I do think Minnesota is plenty capable of winning a road game in this series, and there are a lot of numbers that back that up.
Dan Karpuc has four player props for your consideration.
>Do your own homework with VSiN’s prop analyzer.
Steve Makinen will post his Analytics Report later this morning.
>Matchup page with Makinen’s estimated score.
>Check for selections in the KillerSports NBA Playoff Challenge after 7:30 p.m. ET.
Cup redo?
We’re a couple of wins from a rematch in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Oilers defeated the Stars 4-1 to take a 3-1 series lead on Tuesday night.
The defending champion Panthers, up 3-1 and -122 favorites, will try to close out the Hurricanes tonight (8 ET TNT).
VSiN hockey analyst Jonathan Davis will post his picks later this morning.
>Matchup page with Makinen’s estimated score.
The Scheffler factor
Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion and +300 favorite in this week’s Memorial Tournament at Murfield.
So VSiN golf analyst Wes Reynolds does something a little different this week, offering his Best Bets to win as well as for the “without Scheffler” market.
As always, I like to look at Wes’ longest shot:
Matt Fitzpatrick (60-1 at Bet365 OR 40-1 without Scheffler market at FanDuel): Fitzpatrick just posted his last top 10 anywhere since last year’s Memorial with a T-8 at the PGA Championship two weeks ago, so it is difficult to say that Fitz is back just yet. However, he is better equipped for events where the scoring is not as low, like the Memorial. He finished fifth here last year, ninth in 2023 and third in 2020.
Wes, Matt Brown and Kelley Bydlon share their modeling ingredients and their picks for the Memorial on the Long Shots golf betting podcast.
>>Listen.
>>Watch.
Wes promises some U.S. Women’s Open picks for our Golf Picks page, so keep an eye on that if you are so inclined.
MLB futures
With MLB about one third through the season, Mike Somich has three futures bets for your considerationl.
Greg Peterson already has filed his top plays for today.
Josh Appelbaum and Steve Makinen will post their Best Bet contributions later this morning.
Quick Hits
Tennis: Zach Cohen posts his Best Bets daily during the French Open on our tennis page the day before. He and Gill Alexander have their plays on the tennis picks page. (Gill sent me his picks for today at about 8:30 p.m. PT if you are wondering.)
Horse Racing: 1/ST BET handicapper Jeremy Plonk finds some races he likes today at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa.
College Football: DraftKings Sportsbook bookmaker Matt Grill goes through the Week 0 and 1 early lines and tells Tim Murray which ones have moved the most on the VSiN College Football Betting Podcast.
College Baseball: As I mentioned in yesterday’s newsletter, VSiN regular Matt Grissom of College Baseball Insiders will publish preview guides before the regionals, super-regionals and CWS. Look for the first one late tonight or early Thursday.
