Category: NBA

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks Game 2: Target Julius Randle during hot streak

Thunder vs. Timberwolves picks

The Minnesota Timberwolves look to even the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night.

The pregame narrative: Julius Randle is a big reason why the Timberwolves have been so successful en route to the Western Conference finals. The Thunder, on the other hand, have an arsenal of options, and Jalen Williams has cemented himself as one of OKC’s most reliable ball handlers.

Check out my Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks on Randle and Williams for Game 2 on May 22.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks

Best Bet: Randle over 18.5 points (-125)

Anthony Edwards has been the topic of conversation for the T-wolves, while Randle has gone under the radar as a very efficient scorer in these playoffs:

  • 24.3 points per game
  • 52.2 FG% (39.3 3PT%)
  • 9-2 against this line

Despite losing Game 1 by 26 points, Randle was still able to get his. He scored 28 points on 9-of-13 shooting in 35 minutes of action.

OKC’s defence is the best in the league, but since Randle was one of two Timberwolves who shot above 50.0% in Game 1, Chris Finch should continue drawing up offence for the power forward.

Additionally, he shot above 50% in seven of 11 playoff games and should continue to roll as Minnesota’s second option behind Edwards.

Key stat: Randle has scored at least 16 points in all 11 playoff games. That gives him an incredibly reliable floor to work with against this modest total.

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Game 2 prop predictions

Williams over 10.5 rebounds/assists (-104): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the clear No. 1 ball-handler for the Thunder, but Williams has proven himself to be a solid secondary creator.

So far this postseason, the 6-foot-6 wing is averaging:

  • 5.7 assists/game
  • 5.6 rebounds/game

That equates to an average of 11.3 RA. Williams is 9-3 against this wager in the postseason.

Williams was on the court for 33 minutes in Game 1, which is below average for him and was a result of the Thunder’s massive lead.

He still managed to grab eight rebounds while dishing out five assists, clearing this line easily in the process.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks made at 9:18 a.m. ET 05/22/2025.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder SGP predictions Game 2: Back Anthony Edwards, fade Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at +300

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder continue their Western Conference finals series on Thursday night.

The pregame narrative: OKC outscored Minnesota by 30 in the second half of Game 1 and is a heavy favourite to head north with a 2-0 lead. The Timberwolves will look to get more out of their superstar Anthony Edwards after a quiet opener.

Check out my Timberwolves vs. Thunder SGP predictions for Game 2 on May 21, featuring plays on Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions

Parlay: Timberwolves +11.5 | Edwards over 6.5 rebounds | Gilgeous-Alexander under 32.5 points (+300)

Timberwolves +11.5 (-230): Minnesota was blown out for the first time this postseason on Tuesday, catching a 114-88 beating at Paycom Centre.

But I think this is a good spot for the T-wolves to rebound.

  • Chris Finch’s squad was 8-2 straight up and 10-0 vs. a +11.5 line before Game 1.
  • Minnesota is 11-7 ATS as a road underdog this year, losing those games by an average of just 0.3 points, according to Team Rankings.
  • OKC went 2-5 ATS against the Nuggets last round, a team similar to Minnesota in skill.

The Timberwolves had a lead heading into halftime of Game 1 and were ultimately outdone by an anemic shooting performance.

Edwards was a no-show from a scoring standpoint, making just 5-of-13 shots in the opener. I expect him to be more ball-dominant on Thursday and keep this one close.

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NBA SGP legs

Edwards over 6.5 rebounds (-148): I’ll keep backing Edwards on this market until he gives me a reason not to.

Minnesota’s top dog had a poor shooting performance in Game 1 but was active on the glass, gobbling up nine rebounds in 37 minutes of play.

This is what he’s done as a rebounder throughout the playoffs:

  • 8.1 rebounds/game
  • 6+ rebounds in 9 of 11 games
  • 7+ rebounds in 8 of 11 games

OKC is playing at the second-fastest pace (100.83 possessions per 48 minutes) this postseason, and more possessions for each team will lead to more rebounding opportunities for Edwards.

Gilgeous-Alexander under 32.5 points (-125): Fading the league’s top scorer is risky business, but I think it’s a fine move on Thursday.

SGA shot 10-of-27 against the Timberwolves in Game 1, doing most of his damage from the charity stripe (11-of-14, finishing the game with 31 points).

A lot of those calls were generous, to say the least, and I think the national dialogue on SGA’s foul-baiting should lead to a tighter whistle in Game 2.

And even if he continues to get calls, I can still get down with this number.

The Canadian has fallen under this number more often than not this postseason. He’s averaging 29.2 PPG and going below this mark in seven of 12 games.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions made at 3:00 p.m. ET 05/21/2025.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder SGP predictions Game 1: Look for Jalen Williams, Donte DiVincenzo to contribute

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions

The Minnesota Timberwolves are back in the Western Conference finals for a second consecutive year, and this time they’ll face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

The pregame narrative: OKC is a -360 favourite to win the series after going the distance with the Denver Nuggets in Round 2. The Thunder and Timberwolves split their season series, 2-2, winning once apiece at home and on the road.

Check out my Timberwolves vs. Thunder SGP predictions for Game 1 on May 20, featuring Jalen Williams and Donte DiVincenzo.

Bet on Canadians Gilgeous-Alexander & Dort in Game 1 SGP boost!

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions

Parlay: Timberwolves +11.5 | Williams over 4.5 assists | DiVincenzo over 1.5 threes (+340)

Timberwolves +11.5 (-225): Congrats on grinding out a seven-game series win, OKC. Your prize is one day of rest before the ravenous Timberwolves come to town.

Minnesota, which knocked out the Golden State Warriors in five games, will have a 5-1 advantage in terms of rest days entering the conference finals.

OKC is coming off a much tougher series, which includes three games played at Denver’s mile-high altitude since May 9.

  • The Thunder are 2-7 ATS in their past nine games. The Timberwolves are 8-2 ATS in the postseason.
  • Minnesota is 11-6 ATS as a road underdog this year, per Team Rankings.
  • The T-Wolves are 3-0 ATS vs. OKC since February, winning two of those games straight up as underdogs. Also, they didn’t have Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle for any of those games.

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NBA SGP legs

Williams over 4.5 assists (-122): I rode with Williams at this number in Game 7 against the Nuggets and he delivered, dishing seven assists in the victory.

He is now 9-2 against this prop in the playoffs, averaging 5.7 assists in those matchups.

During the regular season, J-Dub had 27 assists in four games against the Timberwolves, going 4-0 against this prop.

Williams bounced back as a scorer last time out, but he still only shot 37.5% from the field (23.7% from 3-point range) in the second round. Setting up teammates should remain a key element of his game.

DiVincenzo over 1.5 threes (-159): It’s been a rough postseason for DiVincenzo beyond the arc, but I still don’t think this is asking too much.

  • Despite shooting just 25.0% from deep in the playoffs, DiVincenzo is 5-5 vs. this prop.
  • He’s averaging 5.6 attempted 3s per game. That’s down from 7.1 3PA during the regular season, but it’s still a healthy volume for a number like this.
  • OKC allowed 39.6 attempted 3s per game to Denver. That was the second-most of the eight teams in the conference semifinals.

Including the regular season and playoffs, DiVincenzo has cashed this bet in 53 of 72 games (73.6%). That includes a 2-for-7 showing beyond the arc in his lone matchup against the Thunder.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions made at 9:10 a.m. ET 05/19/2025.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks Game 1: Back Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks

Two young superstars headline this year’s Western Conference finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The pregame narrative: The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder are heavily favoured to win Game 1 at home and this series as a whole. But Anthony Edwards has made a habit of turning up in big moments and has his Timberwolves in the WCF for a second-straight year.

Check out my Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks on Edwards and SGA for Game 1 on May 20.

Bet on Canadians Gilgeous-Alexander & Dort in Game 1 SGP boost!

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks

Best Bet: Edwards over 6.5 rebounds (-109)

Edwards can light it up as a scorer, we all know that. The dynamic guard averaged 27.6 PPG this season and is just under that mark in the playoffs.

But he’s struggled to get things going against the Thunder this year, averaging 22.3 PPG on 36.4% shooting in four games.

I’ll wait and see what Chris Finch’s game plan is before mulling over his point total.

One thing I am sure of is Edwards’ usage. The guard is playing 39.9 minutes per game this postseason and has been more than willing to compete for rebounds:

  • 8.0 rebounds/game
  • 6+ rebounds in 8 of 10 games
  • 7+ rebounds in 7 of 10 games

OKC has played at the second-fastest pace (101.18 possessions per 48 minutes) this postseason, and ranks ninth out of 16 teams in true shooting percentage (55.8%).

Plenty of possessions means plenty of shots — and plenty of rebounding opportunities for Edwards.

Key stat: Edwards is 4-0 against this line vs. OKC this season, averaging 9.3 per game.

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Game 1 prop predictions

Gilgeous-Alexander over 12.5 rebounds/assists (-104): SGA has blown by this line in his last three games against the Timberwolves.

  • Feb. 24: 10 rebounds, 8 assists
  • Feb. 23: 8 rebounds, 8 assists
  • Feb. 13: 8 rebounds, 9 assists

He hasn’t been nearly as reliable against this number in the playoffs, but he still averaged 6.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists against the Denver Nuggets last round (3-4 vs. this line, landing on 12 RA twice).

Gilgeous-Alexander ranks fourth in potential assists per game (16.1) this postseason, which NBA.com categorizes as a pass leading directly to a shot.

I was looking long and hard at taking the over on his 6.5 assist total at -150, but just can’t get down with that type of juice.

This feels like a solid alternative.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks made at 9:18 a.m. ET 05/20/2025.

Pacers vs. Knicks SGP predictions Game 1: Bet on Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Nembhard at +290

Pacers vs. Knicks predictions

The New York Knicks look to avenge last year’s postseason loss against the Indiana Pacers when the longtime rivals meet in the Eastern Conference finals.

The pregame narrative: New York is favoured to win this series, and Game 1, after besting the defending champion Boston Celtics in six games. Offseason acquisitions Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges add a new complexion to this matchup.

Check out my Pacers vs. Knicks SGP predictions for Game 1 on May 20, featuring Towns and Andrew Nembhard.

Pacers vs. Knicks predictions

Parlay: Pacers +10.5 | Nembhard 6+ assists | Towns 20+ points (+290)

Pacers +10.5 (-335): I would be shocked if the Knicks authored a blowout on Wednesday.

Rick Carlisle’s team has been a pain to play against on the road all season. The Pacers are 16-10 ATS as road underdogs, losing those games by an average of just 0.2 points.

  • New York is 2-10 vs. a -10.5 line this postseason. Five of its eight playoff wins have been by three or fewer points.
  • Indiana is 8-2 vs. a +10.5 line this postseason. It owns a +5.9 net rating on the road, which is third-best among all playoff teams.

And while the Knicks are in the conference finals, it’s fair to ask if they’re lucky to be here. They scraped by the Detroit Pistons with a trio of nail-biting wins before besting the Boston Celtics, who lost Jayson Tatum to an Achilles tear in Game 4.

Indiana, meanwhile, made light work of the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers after putting away the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks in five.

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NBA SGP legs

Nembhard 6+ assists (+112): Tyrese Haliburton gets a lot of shine as Indiana’s floor general, but his backcourt partner has been an integral part of the team’s success, too.

Take a look at what Nembhard has done this postseason:

  • 14.6 PPG
  • 50.5 FG%
  • 50.0 3PT%
  • 6.0 APG

The Canadian has been efficient across the board, and I want to tap into his ability as a passer in Game 1.

Nembhard has reached this milestone in five of his last six games and averaged 12.0 “potential assists” per game in the conference semifinals. That’s categorized as a pass leading directly to a shot.

He had at least four assists in all seven games against the Knicks last year, clearing this mark four times.

Towns 20+ points (-220): Towns wasn’t here when these teams met last year, and he could certainly be the difference between winning or losing this series.

The big man averaged 24.4 PPG this season and made a habit of torching Indiana.

  • Towns is averaging 29.0 PPG in his last 10 games vs. Indiana, going 9-1 against this line.
  • He averaged 30.3 PPG in three games agianst them this year (56.6 FG%, 46.7 3PT%).

Indiana has played at the third-fastest pace this postseason (99.27 possessions per 48 minutes), and I expect another high-scoring matchup on Wednesday.

Pacers vs. Knicks predictions made at 11:40 a.m. ET 05/20/2025.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks Game 1: Back Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks

Two young superstars headline this year’s Western Conference finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.

The pregame narrative: The Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder are heavily favoured to win Game 1 at home and this series as a whole. But Anthony Edwards has made a habit of turning up in big moments and has his Timberwolves in the WCF for a second-straight year.

Check out my Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks on Edwards and SGA for Game 1 on May 20.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks

Best Bet: Edwards over 6.5 rebounds (-106)

Edwards can light it up as a scorer, we all know that. The dynamic guard averaged 27.6 PPG this season and is just under that mark in the playoffs.

But he’s struggled to get things going against the Thunder this year, averaging 22.3 PPG on 36.4% shooting in four games.

I’ll wait and see what Chris Finch’s game plan is before mulling over his point total.

One thing I am sure of is Edwards’ usage. The guard is playing 39.9 minutes per game this postseason and has been more than willing to compete for rebounds:

  • 8.0 rebounds/game
  • 6+ rebounds in 8 of 10 games
  • 7+ rebounds in 7 of 10 games

OKC has played at the second-fastest pace (101.18 possessions per 48 minutes) this postseason, and ranks ninth out of 16 teams in true shooting percentage (55.8%).

Plenty of possessions means plenty of shots — and plenty of rebounding opportunities for Edwards.

Key stat: Edwards is 4-0 against this line vs. OKC this season, averaging 9.3 per game.

Game 1 prop predictions

Gilgeous-Alexander over 12.5 rebounds/assists (+100): SGA has blown by this line in his last three games against the Timberwolves.

  • Feb. 24: 10 rebounds, 8 assists
  • Feb. 23: 8 rebounds, 8 assists
  • Feb. 13: 8 rebounds, 9 assists

He hasn’t been nearly as reliable against this number in the playoffs, but he still averaged 6.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists against the Denver Nuggets last round (3-4 vs. this line, landing on 12 RA twice).

Gilgeous-Alexander ranks fourth in potential assists per game (16.1) this postseason, which NBA.com categorizes as a pass leading directly to a shot.

I was looking long and hard at taking the over on his 6.5 assist total at -150, but just can’t get down with that type of juice.

This feels like a solid alternative.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder prop picks made at 9:18 a.m. ET 05/20/2025.

Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks Game 1: Count on Josh Hart to do it all for New York

Pacers vs. Knicks picks

It’s been a while, but the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks are back on the same court for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

The pregame narrative: New York and Indiana haven’t met up since February, though they did duel in a seven-game playoff series last May. The Pacers came out on top last year, while the Knicks are favoured to be the victors this time around.

I’m targeting Josh Hart and Myles Turner in my Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks for Game 1 on May 21.

Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks

Best Bet: Hart over 27.5 points/rebounds/assists (-118)

Indiana has played at the fastest pace among all Eastern Conference playoff teams (99.27 possessions/game).

Boston, meanwhile, played at the second-slowest pace (91.68).

Why bring that up? Because I expect plenty of action in this Knicks/Pacers series, and the speed of the game matters for a market like this.

The Knicks scored 120-plus points in all three matchups against the Pacers during the regular season. Hart happened to ball out in each of those games:

  • Oct. 25: 20 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast
  • Nov. 10: 16 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast
  • Feb. 11: 30 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast

That’s 32 PRA or better in all three matchups against Indiana this season.

Three games isn’t a large sample, but we did see these teams square off in a seven-game playoff series just last spring.

Now we have a 10-game sample over the past 12-and-a-half months. In that time, Hart has averaged 15.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists (30.6 PRA) vs. Indiana.

He’s 7-3 against this prop in those 10 matchups, and two of the outliers were blowout road losses.

New York is a 4.5-point home favourite on Tuesday, and as long as the game doesn’t get away from either side, I love this prop for Hart.

Key stat: Hart is 6-3 vs. this prop in his past nine playoff games, and he’s coming off a triple-double in New York’s Game 6 win over Boston.

Game 1 prop prediction

Turner under 6.5 rebounds (-106): This line is a bit of a toss-up, as Turner averaged exactly 6.5 rebounds during the regular season.

In the playoffs, he’s 5-5 against this line — but his average has dipped to 6.0 RPG.

I prefer taking the under because Turner has cashed that side in four of his past six matchups against New York.

And I think 7-footer Mitchell Robinson, who didn’t face the Pacers at all during the regular season, can pose problems for guys like Turner around the rim.

In the Knicks’ second-round series, Robinson averaged 8.0 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game off the bench.

Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks made at 1:50 p.m. ET 05/19/2025.

Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks Game 1: Count on Josh Hart to do it all for New York

Pacers vs. Knicks picks

It’s been a while, but the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks are back on the same court for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.

The pregame narrative: New York and Indiana haven’t met up since February, though they did duel in a seven-game playoff series last May. The Pacers came out on top last year, while the Knicks are favoured to be the victors this time around.

I’m targeting Josh Hart and Myles Turner in my Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks for Game 1 on May 21.

Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks

Best Bet: Hart over 27.5 points/rebounds/assists (-113)

Indiana has played at the fastest pace among all Eastern Conference playoff teams (99.27 possessions/game).

Boston, meanwhile, played at the second-slowest pace (91.68).

Why bring that up? Because I expect plenty of action in this Knicks/Pacers series, and the speed of the game matters for a market like this.

The Knicks scored 120-plus points in all three matchups against the Pacers during the regular season. Hart happened to ball out in each of those games:

  • Oct. 25: 20 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast
  • Nov. 10: 16 pts, 10 reb, 6 ast
  • Feb. 11: 30 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast

That’s 32 PRA or better in all three matchups against Indiana this season.

Three games isn’t a large sample, but we did see these teams square off in a seven-game playoff series just last spring.

Now we have a 10-game sample over the past 12-and-a-half months. In that time, Hart has averaged 15.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists (30.6 PRA) vs. Indiana.

He’s 7-3 against this prop in those 10 matchups, and two of the outliers were blowout road losses.

New York is a 4.5-point home favourite on Tuesday, and as long as the game doesn’t get away from either side, I love this prop for Hart.

Key stat: Hart is 6-3 vs. this prop in his past nine playoff games, and he’s coming off a triple-double in New York’s Game 6 win over Boston.

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Game 1 prop prediction

Turner under 6.5 rebounds (-108): This line is a bit of a toss-up, as Turner averaged exactly 6.5 rebounds during the regular season.

In the playoffs, he’s 5-5 against this line — but his average has dipped to 6.0 RPG.

I prefer taking the under because Turner has cashed that side in four of his past six matchups against New York.

And I think 7-footer Mitchell Robinson, who didn’t face the Pacers at all during the regular season, can pose problems for guys like Turner around the rim.

In the Knicks’ second-round series, Robinson averaged 8.0 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game off the bench.

Pacers vs. Knicks prop picks made at 1:00 p.m. ET 05/19/2025.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder SGP predictions Game 1: Look for Jalen Williams, Donte DiVincenzo to contribute

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions

The Minnesota Timberwolves are back in the Western Conference finals for a second consecutive year, and this time they’ll face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

The pregame narrative: OKC is a -385 favourite to win the series after going the distance with the Denver Nuggets in Round 2. The Thunder and Timberwolves split their season series, 2-2, winning once apiece at home and on the road.

Check out my Timberwolves vs. Thunder SGP predictions for Game 1 on May 20, featuring Jalen Williams and Donte DiVincenzo.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions

Parlay: Timberwolves +11.5 | Williams over 4.5 assists | DiVincenzo over 1.5 threes (+290)

Timberwolves +11.5 (-209): Congrats on grinding out a seven-game series win, OKC. Your prize is one day of rest before the ravenous Timberwolves come to town.

Minnesota, which knocked out the Golden State Warriors in five games, will have a 5-1 advantage in terms of rest days entering the conference finals.

OKC is coming off a much tougher series, which includes three games played at Denver’s mile-high altitude since May 9.

  • The Thunder are 2-7 ATS in their past nine games. The Timberwolves are 8-2 ATS in the postseason.
  • Minnesota is 11-6 ATS as a road underdog this year, per Team Rankings.
  • The T-Wolves are 3-0 ATS vs. OKC since February, winning two of those games straight up as underdogs. Also, they didn’t have Rudy Gobert or Julius Randle for any of those games.

NBA SGP legs

Williams over 4.5 assists (-134): I rode with Williams at this number in Game 7 against the Nuggets and he delivered, dishing seven assists in the victory.

He is now 9-2 against this prop in the playoffs, averaging 5.7 assists in those matchups.

During the regular season, J-Dub had 27 assists in four games against the Timberwolves, going 4-0 against this prop.

Williams bounced back as a scorer last time out, but he still only shot 37.5% from the field (23.7% from 3-point range) in the second round. Setting up teammates should remain a key element of his game.

DiVincenzo over 1.5 threes (-182): It’s been a rough postseason for DiVincenzo beyond the arc, but I still don’t think this is asking too much.

  • Despite shooting just 25.0% from deep in the playoffs, DiVincenzo is 5-5 vs. this prop.
  • He’s averaging 5.6 attempted 3s per game. That’s down from 7.1 3PA during the regular season, but it’s still a healthy volume for a number like this.
  • OKC allowed 39.6 attempted 3s per game to Denver. That was the second-most of the eight teams in the conference semifinals.

Including the regular season and playoffs, DiVincenzo has cashed this bet in 53 of 72 games (73.6%). That includes a 2-for-7 showing beyond the arc in his lone matchup against the Thunder.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions made at 9:50 a.m. ET 05/19/2025.

Nuggets vs. Thunder SGP predictions Game 7: Back Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren at +290

Nuggets vs. Thunder predictions

The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder battle for a spot in the Western Conference final on Sunday.

The pregame narrative: Denver staved off elimination at home on Thursday but is a sizeable underdog to win Game 7 at Paycom Center, where OKC is 39-7 this year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captured the scoring title this season, and the Canadian is odds-on to score 30 points today.

Check out my Nuggets vs. Thunder SGP predictions for May 18, featuring Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren.

Nuggets vs. Thunder predictions

Parlay: Nuggets +10.5 | Gilgeous-Alexander 30+ points | Holmgren 8+ rebounds (+290)

Nuggets +10.5 (-167): Beating the Thunder at home is a tough ask, and I’m not sure the Nuggets can do it, even with a superhuman effort from Nikola Jokic.

But I do like Denver’s chances of keeping this one close for a few reasons:

  • The Nuggets are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
  • They have covered a +10.5 spread in 11 of 13 playoff games, including five of six games this series.
  • Denver is 12-9-1 ATS as a road underdog this season, losing those games by an average of just 3.3 points.

Oklahoma City had a historically efficient season, posting the second-best net rating of all time. However, its young core doesn’t have much playoff experience, while the Jokic-led Nuggets have been to and won the NBA Finals.

I can see the Thunder starting this game off slightly shaky, and this coming down to the wire.

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NBA SGP legs

Gilgeous-Alexander 30+ points (-165): One player I trust to fill the basket for OKC is Gilgeous-Alexander, which isn’t a hot take considering the Canadian averaged a league-best 32.7 PPG this year.

SGA has scored 30-plus points in all three home games this series, while shooting a combined 35-of-62 (56.4%) from the field.

Barring a blowout, which I don’t anticipate happening, Gilgeous-Alexander should get plenty of run and take around 20 shots. That type of volume puts us in good shape, especially considering SGA’s frequent trips to the free-throw line.

SGA has scored at least 25 points in 13 of his last 14 games against Denver, reaching this milestone eight times.

Holmgren 8+ rebounds (-278): Holmgren has stepped his game up as a rebounder this series.

  • The 7-foot-1 forward is averaging a team-high 10.8 rebounds per game against Denver’s imposing frontcourt.
  • He cleared this mark in five straight games, logging double-digit boards in four of them.
  • Holmgren is 8-2 vs. this milestone in the playoffs.

I like Holmgren’s chances of having another big night on the glass as long as he stays out of early foul trouble.

Nuggets vs. Thunder predictions made at 9:40 a.m. ET 05/18/2025.