NBA Picks & Predictions: Monday (5/4)
The NBA playoffs continue on Monday night with a pair of games. The Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks begin their Eastern Conference Semifinals series at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock, while the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs tip off their Western Conference Semifinals series at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN/Peacock. Let’s build our bankroll with our best NBA picks & predictions for Monday, May 4th.
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Monday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
Philadelphia 76ers (+245) at New York Knicks (-300) | O/U 212.5 (-110/-110)
The 76ers, against all odds, recovered from a 3-1 series deficit, including a pair of road victories, to oust the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in seven games in the first round.
The Sixers have also covered three in a row, while going 5-1 against the spread (ATS) in the past six outings, while the Under is 6-2 in seven postseason games and their Play-In Round win over the Orlando Magic on April 15. As an underdog, the 76ers are 5-2 ATS this postseason, too.
Philadelphia C Joel Embiid has played four games, and he is leading the team with 28.0 points per game (PPG) and 9.0 rebounds per game (RPG), while adding 7.0 assists per game (APG), which is also tops on the team. G Tyrese Maxey is right on his heels with 26.9 PPG, 6.6 APG and 4.9 RPG, while adding 1.0 steals per game (SPG).
The Knicks were in quite the tussle with the Atlanta Hawks in the first four games, down 2-1 after Game 3. However, the alarm clock went off in Game 4, a 114-98 win and cover as 1.5-point favorites in the Dirty South. It returned to Madison Square Garden with a 126-97 win as 6.5-point favorite as the Over (214.5) cashed, and the Knicks embarrassed the Hawks 140-89 as 3.5-point favorites in Game 6, clinching the series, while the Over (214.5) again cashed.
Knicks G Jalen Brunson went for 26.3 PPG and 6.2 APG in the first six postseason games, while F OG Anunoby went for 21.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.2 APG, and 1.2 blocks per game (BPG). C Karl-Anthony Towns was good for 18.7 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 6.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.7 BPG, too, showing off New York’s outstanding depth.
These teams met four times in regular season, with the road team going a perfect 4-0 SU/ATS in this meetings. The Over-Under split 2-2, including 1-1 in both venues. New York won 138-89 in the most recent meeting in Philly on Feb. 11, cashing as a 2.5-point favorite while the Over (224.5) connected.
These teams haven’t met in the postseason since 2024, when New York topped Philadelphia in six games in the first round. Prior to that, the teams hadn’t met since the Opening Round of the 1989 playoffs, when the first round was a best-of-5 series. New York swept that series. The last time the 76ers showed the Knicks the door in the playoffs came in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 1983, a 4-0 series sweep.
We’re going to take the Knicks to get the job done in Game 1, but you can’t take them on the moneyline risking three times your return. And nearly four buckets is quite a lot of points. Let’s back the Sixers with the points. As far as the total is concerned, the lean is to the Over, based on New York’s explosive offense lately.
Picks: Knicks -7.5 (-108) & Over 212.5 Points (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves (+490) at San Antonio Spurs (-670) | O/U 217.5 (-106/-114)
The Timberwolves surprised the Denver Nuggets in six games, and it was even more surprising considering they were able to clinch despite F Anthony Edwards being on the shelf for the final two wins due to a knee injury. He is nursing a bone bruise and a hyperextended left knee, and he is out for the start of this series. The thinking is that he might be ready by Game 3, when the series shifts to the Twin Cities.
The Spurs were dropped in Game 2 at home against the Portland Trail Blazers, but they used that stunning loss as a wake-up call, and a springboard, rattling off three striaght wins and covers by at least 12 points. The Under went 4-1 in the five-game series, too.
Minnesota is meeting San Antonio in the postseason for the first time since 2001 in the Opening Round. The Spurs won that best-of-5 set in four games, and it also lost 3-1 in the Opening Round in 1999 to San Antonio in the only other series meeting. This will be the first-ever best-of-7 set between the organizations.
These teams met three times in the regular season, with Minnesota winning two of three meetings, while also going 2-1 ATS, as the Over has cashed in two of those outings, too. Minnesota is 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in the past six meetings since Dec. 15, 2024.
While the Timberwolves are again without Ant Man, they proved they can win without him. However, while they’re not going to win Game 1 outright, catching more than 13 points in any playoff game is a ton of points. And, let’s go with the Over in this series opener, too.
Picks: Timberwolves +13.5 (-114) & Over 217.5 Points (-106)
Joe Williams is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Joe, check out his archive and follow him @winwithjoe