*These NBA tips and player prop picks are done the previous game day. Adjust selections should spreads and lineups change.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS @ INDIANA PACERS
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
East 1st Round – Game 1
Team Trends:
- Grizzlies have failed to cover in 13 of their last 15 home games.
- Mavs have lost 9 straight road games vs. teams with winning records.
- 11 of the Grizzlies’ last 12 games as favs vs. Mavs have gone under.
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| MIL | 48 | 34 | 27-14 | 20-20 |
| IND | 50 | 32 | 29-11 | 20-20 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| MIL | 115.5 | 113.0 | +2.5 | 228.5 |
| IND | 117.4 | 115.1 | +2.3 | 232.5 |
SEASON SERIES
| DATE | RESULT |
| Nov 23, 2024 | MIL 129 @ IND 117 |
| Jan 1, 2025 | IND 112 @ MIL 120 |
| Mar 12, 2025 | MIL 114 @ IND 115 |
| Mar 16, 2025 | IND 119 @ MIL 126 |
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| MIL | OVER | IND |
| +5.5 | 224.5 | 117-98 |
Milwaukee and Indiana will open their playoff series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
It’s a quick rematch from last postseason, when the Pacers eliminated the Bucks in six games during the first round. That result pushed Indiana’s all-time playoff series record against Milwaukee to 3-0.
The Bucks took this season’s regular season series 3-1, though the teams split their two games in Indianapolis. Giannis Antetokounmpo was a standout across those matchups, averaging 30.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists.
Damian Lillard also featured in all four games, contributing 18.3 points and 9.3 assists per game. However, Lillard will be sidelined to start this series due to a blood clot issue, putting more pressure on Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee’s supporting cast.
PICK – OVER 224.5 TOTAL POINTS
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS @ DENVER NUGGETS
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
West 1st Round – Game 1
Team Trends:
- Clippers have won 8 straight games.
- Nuggets have gone under the total in 7 of their last 8 playoff games at Ball Arena.
- Clippers have won the 1st half in 7 straight.
- Nuggets have failed to cover in 12 of their last 14 home games.
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| LAC | 50 | 32 | 30-11 | 20-21 |
| DEN | 50 | 32 | 26-15 | 24-17 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| LAC | 112.9 | 108.2 | +4.7 | 221.1 |
| DEN | 120.8 | 116.9 | +3.9 | 237.7 |
SEASON SERIES
| DATE | RESULT |
| Oct 27, 2024 | DEN 104 @ LAC 109 |
| Dec 2, 2024 | LAC 126 @ DEN 122 |
| Dec 14, 2024 | DEN 120 @ LAC 98 |
| Jan 9, 2025 | DEN 126 @ LAC 103 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| LAC | OVER | DEN |
| +2.5 | 224.5 | 112-110 (OT) |
The postseason tips off for the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday afternoon at Ball Arena.
The two sides last clashed in the playoffs back in the 2019-20 second round, where Denver famously rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to advance. Overall, they’ve split their two playoff matchups 1-1. This season’s four-game regular season series also ended evenly at 2-2, even though Kawhi Leonard didn’t feature in any of the games.
James Harden played a major role in the Clippers’ wins, averaging 31.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 13.5 assists, while Norman Powell chipped in with 27.8 points per game across the series. Interestingly, the Nuggets went just 1-2 against the Clippers this season in games where Nikola Jokic was in the lineup.
PICK – LA CLIPPERS +2.5
DETROIT PISTONS @ NEW YORK KNICKS
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
East 1st Round – Game 1
Team Trends:
- Knicks have won the 1st quarter in 13 straight games
- Pistons have lost 14 straight playoff games
- 6 of the last 7 meetings at MSG have gone over
- Pistons have failed to cover in 7 straight road games vs. winning teams
- Knicks have covered in 7 straight vs. road teams with winning record losses.
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| DET | 44 | 38 | 22-19 | 22-19 |
| NY | 51 | 31 | 27-14 | 24-17 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| DET | 115.5 | 113.6 | +1.9 | 229.1 |
| NY | 115.8 | 111.7 | +4.1 | 227.5 |
SEASON SERIES
| DATE | RESULT |
| Nov 2, 2024 | NYK 128 @ DET 98 |
| Dec 8, 2024 | DET 120 @ NYK 111 |
| Jan 14, 2025 | DET 124 @ NYK 119 |
| Apr 11, 2025 | NYK 106 @ DET 115 |
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| DET | OVER | NY |
| +7.5 | 220.5 | 123-112 |
The playoffs get underway for the Knicks and Pistons at Madison Square Garden.
These longtime rivals haven’t faced off in the postseason since the 1991-92 first round, when New York claimed the series in five games. Across three playoff meetings, the Knicks lead 2-1. In the current season, however, Detroit took control of the rivalry, winning the regular season series 3-1—including two victories at MSG.
Cade Cunningham starred for the Pistons with an average of 30.8 points across those four games, while Jalen Brunson shined in New York’s lone win, dropping 36 points. This marks Detroit’s return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018-19, and the team will be aiming to snap a painful drought—having not won a single playoff game since 2007-08.
PICK – OVER 220.5 TOTAL POINTS
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES @ LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
West 1st Round – Game 1
Team Trends:
- Lakers have covered in 10 of their last 11 home games vs. Western opponents
- Favourites have won the last 14 games between the Lakers and Timberwolves
- Last 4 matchups between the teams have gone under
- Lakers have won the 1st half in 6 straight playoff games
- 4 straight meetings between these teams have gone under the total
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| MIN | 49 | 33 | 25-16 | 24-17 |
| LAL | 50 | 32 | 31-10 | 19-22 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| MIN | 114.3 | 109.3 | +5.0 | 223.6 |
| LAL | 113.4 | 112.2 | +1.2 | 225.6 |
SEASON SERIES
| DATE | RESULT |
| Oct 23, 2024 | MIN 103 @ LAL 110 |
| Dec 3, 2024 | LAL 80 @ MIN 109 |
| Dec 14, 2024 | LAL 87 @ MIN 97 |
| Feb 28, 2025 | MIN 102 @ LAL 111 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| LAL | UNDER | MIN |
| -4.5 | 216.5 | 117-95 |
The postseason opens for the Lakers and Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena.
These teams last met in the playoffs during the 2003-04 Western Finals, where the Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals in six games.
Historically, the Lakers lead their postseason head-to-head 2-0. This season, their four-game regular season series ended in a 2-2 split, with both sides holding serve at home. Since acquiring Luka Doncic, the Timberwolves have faced the Lakers just once, a February matchup that saw L.A. win 111-102, with Doncic shooting just 6-of-20 from the floor.
Minnesota will be eyeing payback after Doncic and the Mavericks knocked them out of last year’s playoffs.
PICK – UNDER 216.5 TOTAL POINTS
