🏀 NBA Playoffs: Detroit and OKC take control
The Pistons and Thunder are up 2-0 in their second-round series after both won and covered Thursday night.
Per Dave Tuley, favorites improved to 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in the second round.
Friday’s NBA menu
Knicks (+1.5) at 76ers, 7 ET (Prime). Total: 213.5. NY 2-0.
Spurs (-4.5) at Timberwolves, 9:30 ET (Prime). Total: 215.5. Tied at 1.
👉 NBA player prop projections from Opta AI →
👉 Check standings & picks in the VSiN / KillerSports Challenge →
Per Dave Tuley, favorites improved to 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in the second round.
Friday’s NBA menu
Knicks (+1.5) at 76ers, 7 ET (Prime). Total: 213.5. NY 2-0.
Spurs (-4.5) at Timberwolves, 9:30 ET (Prime). Total: 215.5. Tied at 1.
👉 NBA player prop projections from Opta AI →
👉 Check standings & picks in the VSiN / KillerSports Challenge →
🧠 Zach Cohen’s NBA Report: Pistons, Thunder take 2-0 series leads
After acquiring James Harden, Cleveland had moments in which the team looked unstoppable offensively. However, the team was rather inconsistent down the stretch, and that carried over into the opening round of the postseason. The Cavaliers had an up-and-down series against the Raptors, winning in a Game 7 against a team that wasn’t all that good during the regular season and didn’t have Immanuel Quickley for the entirety of the series.
Well, somehow, Cleveland would kill for inconsistency right now. Because at the moment, this team is just flat-out bad.
The Pistons earned a 107-97 victory in Game 2, holding serve at home. Detroit also held Cleveland to 107.8 points per 100 possessions, which was right where things were in Game 1. In that game, which also ended in a 10-point Pistons win, the Cavs scored 107.4 points per 100 possessions.
The wheels have completely fallen off for a Cleveland team that scored 118.9 points per 100 possessions during the regular season. Perhaps returning to Rocket Arena in Game 3 will wake James Harden and Co. up. But this series was essentially pick’em at DraftKings Sportsbook before Game 1. Detroit is now -400 to advance.
In the other series, we saw another 18-point win for Oklahoma City, though Los Angeles did put up 107 points. However, much like in Game 1, this was a game in which the Lakers played well for 36 minutes, but they had absolutely nothing to show for it.
And unlike the other series, there’s little hope that returning home will change Los Angeles’ fortunes. The Thunder can sleepwalk through most of the game, ramp up the intensity for 5-10 minutes, and escape with a comfortable win.
Friday Night Games
Knicks-Sixers and Spurs-Timberwolves are the two most fascinating series we have in this round, so Friday should give us a tremendous evening of hoops.
Philadelphia hasn’t yet gotten on the board in the series against New York, but the Sixers will be hoping to do so in front of their awesome fanbase. Unfortunately, these teams are facing some major question marks in the health department.
The Sixers are still waiting to find out whether they’ll have Joel Embiid, while the Knicks could be without OG Anunoby. It’d be great to see both of those guys go, but you really never know. Keep an eye on the injury reports throughout the day. Once we receive updates, we’ll hit them on our live VSiN programming and make some changes over at VSiN.com.
In the other series, we’ll quickly learn a lot about both teams. After a road win in Game 1, the Timberwolves will be hoping to bounce back from an embarrassing effort in Game 2. Which of those games was more of a sign of things to come?
👉 Zach’s Friday best bets and player props →
👉 Watch Hardwood Handicappers →
👉 Listen to Hardwood Handicappers →
Well, somehow, Cleveland would kill for inconsistency right now. Because at the moment, this team is just flat-out bad.
The Pistons earned a 107-97 victory in Game 2, holding serve at home. Detroit also held Cleveland to 107.8 points per 100 possessions, which was right where things were in Game 1. In that game, which also ended in a 10-point Pistons win, the Cavs scored 107.4 points per 100 possessions.
The wheels have completely fallen off for a Cleveland team that scored 118.9 points per 100 possessions during the regular season. Perhaps returning to Rocket Arena in Game 3 will wake James Harden and Co. up. But this series was essentially pick’em at DraftKings Sportsbook before Game 1. Detroit is now -400 to advance.
In the other series, we saw another 18-point win for Oklahoma City, though Los Angeles did put up 107 points. However, much like in Game 1, this was a game in which the Lakers played well for 36 minutes, but they had absolutely nothing to show for it.
And unlike the other series, there’s little hope that returning home will change Los Angeles’ fortunes. The Thunder can sleepwalk through most of the game, ramp up the intensity for 5-10 minutes, and escape with a comfortable win.
Friday Night Games
Knicks-Sixers and Spurs-Timberwolves are the two most fascinating series we have in this round, so Friday should give us a tremendous evening of hoops.
Philadelphia hasn’t yet gotten on the board in the series against New York, but the Sixers will be hoping to do so in front of their awesome fanbase. Unfortunately, these teams are facing some major question marks in the health department.
The Sixers are still waiting to find out whether they’ll have Joel Embiid, while the Knicks could be without OG Anunoby. It’d be great to see both of those guys go, but you really never know. Keep an eye on the injury reports throughout the day. Once we receive updates, we’ll hit them on our live VSiN programming and make some changes over at VSiN.com.
In the other series, we’ll quickly learn a lot about both teams. After a road win in Game 1, the Timberwolves will be hoping to bounce back from an embarrassing effort in Game 2. Which of those games was more of a sign of things to come?
👉 Zach’s Friday best bets and player props →
👉 Watch Hardwood Handicappers →
👉 Listen to Hardwood Handicappers →
🏒 NHL Best Bets
Jonathan Davis will have his Best Bets later today.
Friday’s NHL menu
Canadiens (+114) at Sabres (-135), 7 ET (TNT). Total: 5.5. BUF leads 2-0.
Golden Knights (-112) at Ducks (-108), 10 ET (ESPN). Total: 6. Series tied 1-1.
👉 JD’s plays →
Friday’s NHL menu
Canadiens (+114) at Sabres (-135), 7 ET (TNT). Total: 5.5. BUF leads 2-0.
Golden Knights (-112) at Ducks (-108), 10 ET (ESPN). Total: 6. Series tied 1-1.
👉 JD’s plays →
⚾ MLB Best Bets
The Cubs are going for their 10th victory in a row as they head to Texas to play the Rangers.
With Ben Brown pressed into service for the depleted Chicago pitching staff, Greg Peterson is backing the underdog Rangers.
Greg’s picks: Rangers moneyline +115 and Under 9 runs (Greg projected Rangers -113, total 8.2).
👉 More best bets from Greg Peterson →
MLB betting analysis from Adam Burke, Zach Cohen, Josh Appelbaum and Steve Makinen will continue to filter in throughout the morning.
👉 More MLB coverage and picks →
With Ben Brown pressed into service for the depleted Chicago pitching staff, Greg Peterson is backing the underdog Rangers.
Greg’s picks: Rangers moneyline +115 and Under 9 runs (Greg projected Rangers -113, total 8.2).
👉 More best bets from Greg Peterson →
MLB betting analysis from Adam Burke, Zach Cohen, Josh Appelbaum and Steve Makinen will continue to filter in throughout the morning.
👉 More MLB coverage and picks →
⚾ MLB at the quarter pole
MLB has reached the quarter pole, and Gill Alexander checked in with Basewinner’s Mark Borchard to discuss ROI leaders, derivative stats and the best umpire trends for totals bettors.
👉 Listen to Beating The Book →
👉 Watch the video version →
👉 Listen to Beating The Book →
👉 Watch the video version →
🏇 Horse Racing
Mike Somich and Aaron Halterman break down Kentucky Derby takeaways and the fierce debate about whether the Triple Crown schedule should change.
👉 Listen to VSiN At The Track →
👉 Watch the video →
👉 Listen to VSiN At The Track →
👉 Watch the video →
🏀 WNBA opens tonight
The WNBA season opens tonight and Tyler Shoemaker weighs in with his thoughts on the awards markets.
👉 WNBA awards betting preview →
Tyler also will post his best bets later today.
👉 More WNBA coverage →
👉 WNBA awards betting preview →
Tyler also will post his best bets later today.
👉 More WNBA coverage →
🏈 College Football
Tim Murray breaks down the ACC on the VSiN College Football Betting Podcast, including an early look at Notre Dame-Miami.
👉 Listen to the podcast →
👉 Watch the video →
Tune in: The CFB Betting Podcast will be broadcast on all VSiN platforms tonight at 11 ET.
👉 Listen to the podcast →
👉 Watch the video →
Tune in: The CFB Betting Podcast will be broadcast on all VSiN platforms tonight at 11 ET.
