NBA Playoffs Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (5/11)
There are two massive Game 4 matchups in the NBA on Sunday. Both the top-seeded team in the West and the East will be on the road, hoping to avoid massive 3-1 deficits in their respective series.
Let's take a deeper dive into both games for our best NBA bets.
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Sunday’s Best NBA Playoffs Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets
Much like last year, the Thunder are in danger of losing in the Western Conference semi-finals after a phenomenal regular season. After an explosive performance in Game 2, the Thunder’s offense was stifled in Denver as they managed to score only 104 points in an overtime loss. The Thunder shot a putrid 38.5% from the floor, including 25.7% from deep.
Oklahoma City has been one of the better shooting teams in the league, especially from deep, where they average 37.4%. Denver's defense was stout in Game 3, but on the year and in the first two games of this series, they're about league average in field goal percentage against.
Despite an atrocious shooting game from Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets were still able to score 113 points on the daunting Thunder defense. That's been a theme in this series as the Nuggets have averaged 112 points per game so far. With Jokic poised for a bounce-back shooting performance at home, I think they can even outperform that number.
The Thunder need to come out strong, and they'll need a better performance on the offensive end of the floor. I like the Nuggets to continue to do what has worked well for them this series, too. I expect a high-scoring game in a critical Game 4.
Pick: Over 227 Points (-110)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers
The Cavaliers could not have gotten healthy at a better time. With Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter back, the Cavaliers dismantled the Pacers on their home floor in Game 3 to the tune of a 126-104 blowout.
An otherworldly performance by Donovan Mitchell led the way with 43 points, but it was the dominance on the glass that won Cleveland the game. They racked up an 18-4 advantage on offensive rebounds in a game that Indiana outshot them. With Mobley and Jarrett Allen both in the lineup, Indiana doesn't have the size and strength to battle on the boards with Cleveland.
I expect both teams to have an improved shooting performance in Game 4. The teams combined to shoot just 42.8% from the floor and 29.9% from deep after averaging 48.3% and 34.8%, respectively, in the first two games.
With a better shooting performance, it should negate some of the Cavaliers' advantage on the glass, but likely not enough to make up for Indiana's lack of rebounding. I like another high-scoring game in Game 4 and for the Cavaliers to even this back up before heading home for a pivotal Game 5.
Picks: Cavaliers -4.5 (-112) & Over 230.5 Points (-115)