NBA Playoffs Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday (4/29)
There are four games on tonight’s NBA slate for the last time this year. Let’s make it count with my two favorite NBA best bets for tonight’s slate.
My analysis is below.
Tuesday’s Best NBA Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers
With Damian Lillard on the shelf for the remainder of the playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks are in tricky territory. The Bucks are in a must-win spot, on the road, where they’ve already lost two games in the playoffs. Lillard missed Game 1 and only played six minutes in Game 4 - the Pacers outscored the Bucks 246-201.
Ultimately, the Pacers got everything they wanted on offense in Game 4. The Pacers shot above 60% from the field and hit 46.2% from downtown on the road. They also shared the ball so much better, earning 11 more assists than the Bucks, while adding eight more rebounds in that game.
Indiana has also been super balanced on offense. The entire starting five scored in double figures. This time, it was Myles Turner who led the team with 23 points. On the other hand, Tyrese Haliburton secured 17 points with 15 assists and eight rebounds. Yet, most of the NBA thinks he’s the most overrated player in the NBA.
That clearly isn’t the case. He’ll lead the Pacers to a series win against the Bucks tonight. Milwaukee is all but finished without Lillard available. Also, the team chemistry certainly isn’t there. When Lillard was on the ground in pain, only Brook Lopez ran over to make sure he was alright.
Pick: Pacers -7.5 (-112)
Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks
The Detroit Pistons weren’t “robbed” of a win against the New York Knicks in Game 4. However, the final play of the game was likely a foul, and the Pistons should’ve been at the foul line to take the lead in the final seconds.
That said, this series has been extremely physical, and many fouls weren’t called, especially in Game 4. We’ve got to cut the refs some slack. They don’t have instant replay, slow-motion replays or still shots when making a live call.
With that out of the way, there’s no way the Pistons fold after Game 4. The Pistons lost two consecutive games by one possession and will be just as physical in Game 5, even in front of the Knicks’ home crowd. The defense held New York to just 37.4% from the field in Game 4, and only a couple of circus shots from Karl-Anthony Towns helped save the Knicks in that game.
I’ll take the Pistons and the points.
Pick: Pistons +5.5 (-108)