NBA – 1st Round Playoff Picks – Tues, 29th April

nba playoffs picks

*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 5 (Indiana leads 3-1)

Team Trends:

  • Pacers have covered the line in each of their last 6 playoff home games
  • Pacers have won each of their last 6 playoff home games
  • Bucks have lost each of their last 8 playoff road games
  • Six of the Bucks’ last 7 playoff road games have gone over
  • Bucks have lost the 1st quarter in each of their last 7 road games

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
GAME 1 MIL 98 @ IND 117
GAME 2 MIL 115 @ IND 123
GAME 3 IND 101 @ MIL 117
GAME 4 IND 129 @ MIL 103

PICKS ATS

SPREAD POINTS RESULT
IND OVER
-8.5 221.0
NBA PLAYER PROP BETS - CLICK TO OPEN

Player Props:

  • Aaron Nesmith has made 3+ threes in 4 of his last 5 home games vs. winning teams
  • Pascal Siakam has made 2+ threes in each of the Pacers’ last 4 home games vs. Bucks
  • Andrew Nembhard has made 3+ threes in 4 of the Pacers’ last 5 playoff home games
  • Tyrese Haliburton has recorded a double-double in each of the Pacers’ last 9 home games vs. winning teams
  • Tyrese Haliburton has recorded 12+ assists in 4 of his last 5 games vs. Bucks
  • Andrew Nembhard has recorded 4+ assists in each of his last 10 playoff home games
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo has recorded 10+ assists in 5 of his last 7 appearances with Damian Lillard out
  • Pascal Siakam has scored 20+ points in 7 of the Pacers’ last 8 games vs. Bucks
  • Tyrese Haliburton has scored 21+ points in 5 of his last 6 games vs. Eastern Conference opponents
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo has scored 31+ points in each of his last 7 road appearances
  • Bobby Portis has scored 20+ points in 3 of the Bucks’ last 4 playoff games as underdogs
  • Bobby Portis has recorded 10+ rebounds in 4 of his last 5 road games vs. Eastern Conference opponents
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo has recorded 17+ rebounds in 3 of his last 4 playoff games when facing elimination

The Pacers will have the chance to close out their Eastern First Round series when they host the Bucks for Game 5 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday night. Indiana took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a dominant 129-103 win in Game 4, snapping a four-game road losing streak in Milwaukee.

The Pacers were highly efficient inside the arc, shooting 72.7% (32-of-44) on two-point field goals, while the Bucks managed just 42.3% (22-of-52). Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with a 17-point, 15-assist double-double, and Myles Turner added 23 points. Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists for Milwaukee in a losing effort.

The Bucks face elimination and a major setback with Damian Lillard suffering a significant Achilles injury in Game 4. For Indiana, Bennedict Mathurin is listed as questionable heading into Tuesday’s potential series-clincher.

PICK – OVER 221.0 TOTAL POINTS


DETROIT PISTONS @ NEW YORK KNICKS

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

East 1st Round – Game 5 (New York leads 3-1)

Team Trends:

  • Knicks have won the first quarter in 15 of their last 17 games
  • Knicks have won each of their last 4 games vs. Pistons
  • Pistons have lost 17 of their last 18 playoff games
  • Six of the Knicks’ last seven games as favourites against the Pistons have gone over

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
GAME 1 DET 112 @ NYK 123
GAME 2 DET 100 @ NYK 94
GAME 3 NYK 118 @ DET 116
GAME 4 NYK 94 @ DET 93

PICKS ATS

SPREAD POINTS RESULT
NY OVER
-5.5 213.5
NBA PLAYER PROP BETS - CLICK TO OPEN

Player Props:

  • Tobias Harris has made 2+ threes in each of his last 4 Game 5s of an Eastern Conference First Round series
  • Mikal Bridges has made 2+ threes in 7 of his last 8 playoff appearances
  • Cade Cunningham has recorded 10+ assists in 4 of his last 5 appearances
  • Jalen Brunson has recorded 8+ assists in 4 of the Knicks’ last 5 playoff games
  • Jalen Duren has recorded 2+ assists in each of his last 11 appearances
  • OG Anunoby has scored 15+ points in 10 of his last 11 appearances with the Knicks as favourites
  • Cade Cunningham has scored 31+ points in 4 of his last 5 road appearances vs. teams that held a winning record
  • Tim Hardaway Jr. has scored 19+ points in 3 of the Pistons’ last 4 games as road underdogs
  • Karl-Anthony Towns has scored 23+ points in each of his 8 previous appearances after playing 40+ minutes in the Knicks’ last game
  • Tobias Harris has scored 15+ points in 4 of the Pistons’ last 5 games vs. Knicks
  • Jalen Brunson has scored 30+ points in each of the Knicks’ last 8 Eastern First Round games
  • Josh Hart has scored 10+ points in each of the Knicks’ last 9 playoff home games
  • OG Anunoby has recorded 4+ rebounds in each of the Knicks’ last 9 home games
  • Ausar Thompson has recorded 4+ rebounds in 12 of his last 13 appearances
  • Mikal Bridges has recorded 4+ rebounds in 10 of his last 11 playoff appearances vs. Eastern opponents
  • Cade Cunningham has recorded 6+ rebounds in each of his last 5 appearances
  • Tobias Harris has recorded 6+ rebounds in each of his last 9 appearances with his team as an underdog against the Knicks

The Knicks will look to advance to the second round when they host the Pistons in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference First Round series at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The Knicks escaped with a narrow and controversial 94-93 win in Game 4, taking a 3-1 series lead.

New York’s edge came from beyond the arc, shooting 15-of-33 (45.5%) from three-point range compared to Detroit’s 7-of-29 (24.1%). That perimeter shooting helped the Knicks overcome a 48-32 deficit in points in the paint. Jalen Brunson led the charge with a 32-point, 11-assist double-double, while Karl-Anthony Towns added 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 threes.

Cade Cunningham delivered a triple-double for Detroit—25 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 4 blocks (tying a career high)—but the Pistons now face elimination and haven’t won a playoff game at Madison Square Garden since 2002.

PICK – NEW YORK -5.5


ORLANDO MAGIC @ BOSTON CELTICS

TD Garden, Boston, MA

East 1st Round – Game 5 (Boston leads 3-1)

Team Trends:

  • Magic have covered the line in each of their last 9 games following a loss
  • Celtics have won each of their last 8 playoff home games
  • 8 of the Celtics’ last 10 playoff games have gone under

WIN/LOSS

TEAM W L HOME ROAD
ORL 41 41 22-19 19-22
BOS 61 21 28-13 33-8

SEASON POINTS AVERAGE

TEAM PPG OPPG DIFF TOTAL
ORL 105.4 105.5 -0.1 210.9
BOS 116.3 107.2 +9.1 223.5

Here is the full updated season series table:

SEASON SERIES

DATE RESULT
Dec 24, 2024 BOS 104 @ ORL 108
Jan 18, 2025 ORL 94 @ BOS 121
Apr 10, 2025 BOS 76 @ ORL 96
GAME 1 ORL 86 @ BOS 103
GAME 2 ORL 100 @ BOS 109
GAME 3 BOS 93 @ ORL 95
GAME 4 BOS 107 @ ORL 98

PICKS ATS

SPREAD POINTS RESULT
BOS UNDER
-11.5 199.0
NBA PLAYER PROP BETS - CLICK TO OPEN

Player Props:

  • Kristaps Porzingis has made 2+ threes in 5 of his last 6 home appearances after playing under 30 minutes in the previous game
  • Derrick White has recorded 4+ assists in 20 of his last 21 appearances
  • Paolo Banchero has recorded 4+ assists in each of his last 7 road appearances
  • Franz Wagner has recorded 4+ assists in each of his last 7 appearances as an underdog
  • Jayson Tatum has recorded 8+ assists in 3 of his last 4 playoff series closeout games
  • Kristaps Porzingis has scored 15+ points in 14 of his last 15 games after playing under 30 minutes in the previous game
  • Jaylen Brown has scored 22+ points in 10 of his last 11 home games after playing 40+ minutes
  • Jayson Tatum has scored 31+ points in 3 of his last 4 playoff appearances
  • Wendell Carter Jr. has scored 11+ points in 4 of his 5 previous games at TD Garden
  • Paolo Banchero has scored 30+ points in each of his last 5 road games vs. East opponents
  • Franz Wagner has scored 20+ points in each of his last 9 games vs. winning teams
  • Derrick White has scored 16+ points in each of the Celtics’ last 7 Eastern Conference First Round games
  • Derrick White has recorded 4+ rebounds in each of the Celtics’ last 6 playoff home games vs. Eastern opponents
  • Paolo Banchero has recorded 9+ rebounds in each of his last 4 road appearances
  • Jaylen Brown has recorded 6+ rebounds in 5 of his last 6 games vs. the Magic
  • Wendell Carter Jr. has recorded 11+ rebounds in 4 of his last 5 appearances as an underdog vs. Eastern opponents
  • Jayson Tatum has recorded 13+ rebounds in 3 of his last 4 playoff games vs. Eastern opponents

The Celtics have the chance to close out their Eastern First Round series when they host the Orlando Magic for Game 5 at TD Garden on Tuesday night. Boston took a 3-1 series lead with a 107-98 win in Game 4 at Kia Center.

The Celtics made their mark at the free throw line, shooting 30-of-32 (93.8%) compared to Orlando’s 14-of-20 (70.0%). Their perimeter defense also proved crucial, holding the Magic to just 8-of-30 (26.7%) from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum led the way with a dominant 37-point, 14-rebound double-double.

Boston enters Game 5 on an eight-game home winning streak in the playoffs, while Orlando will aim to snap a six-game postseason road losing streak. Jrue Holiday remains out for the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown is listed as questionable.

PICK – UNDER 199.0 TOTAL POINTS


DENVER NUGGETS @ LA CLIPPERS

Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

West 1st Round – Game 5 (Series tied 2-2)

Team Trends:

  • Nuggets have failed to cover the line in 9 of their last 10 home games vs. winning teams
  • Clippers have won their last 5 games following a loss
  • Each of the Nuggets’ last 6 playoff games have gone under

WIN/LOSS

TEAM W L HOME ROAD
DEN 50 32 26-15 24-17
LAC 50 32 30-11 20-21

SEASON POINTS AVERAGE

TEAM PPG OPPG DIFF TOTAL
DEN 120.8 116.9 +3.9 237.7
LAC 112.9 108.2 +4.7 221.1

Here is the full updated season series table:

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
GAME 1 LAC 110 @ DEN 112 (OT)
GAME 2 LAC 105 @ DEN 102
GAME 3 DEN 83 @ LAC 117
GAME 4 DEN 101 @ LAC 99

PICKS ATS

SPREAD POINTS RESULT
DEN UNDER
+2.5 208.5
NBA PLAYER PROP BETS - CLICK TO OPEN

Player Props:

  • Jamal Murray has made 3+ threes in 7 of his last 8 home games vs. Clippers
  • James Harden has made 3+ threes in 7 of the Clippers’ last 8 games vs. winning teams
  • Nikola Jokic has made 2+ threes in 9 of his last 10 games vs. Clippers
  • Michael Porter Jr. has made 2+ threes in 9 of his last 10 First Round home games
  • Nikola Jokic has recorded a triple-double in 5 of the Nuggets’ last 6 home games vs. winning teams
  • Jokic has recorded 12+ assists in 3 of the Nuggets’ last 4 home games
  • Harden has recorded 10+ assists in 5 of the Clippers’ last 6 road games vs. the West
  • Jamal Murray has recorded 6+ assists in each of his last 6 home games
  • Aaron Gordon has scored 25+ points in 3 of his last 4 home games vs. the West
  • Ivica Zubac has scored 16+ points in each of the Clippers’ last 9 games
  • Michael Porter Jr. has scored 15+ points in 9 of his last 11 First Round home games
  • Kawhi Leonard has scored 27+ points in 4 of his last 5 road games vs. winning teams
  • Nikola Jokic has scored 26+ points in each of his last 11 home games
  • Kawhi Leonard has recorded 6+ rebounds in 9 of the Clippers’ last 10 playoff games vs. Nuggets
  • Ivica Zubac has recorded 12+ rebounds in each of the Clippers’ last 4 road games vs. winning teams
  • Aaron Gordon has recorded 6+ rebounds in each of his last 8 home games vs. Clippers
  • Christian Braun has recorded 6+ rebounds in 4 of the Nuggets’ last 5 games
  • James Harden has recorded 6+ rebounds in 4 of the Clippers’ last 5 road games vs. winning teams
  • Nuggets have won the first quarter in 8 of the Clippers’ last 9 road games

The Nuggets and Clippers head back to Ball Arena for Game 5 of their Western First Round series, now tied 2-2. Denver secured a thrilling 101-99 win in Game 4 at Intuit Dome, snapping a four-game road skid against the Clippers.

The key difference came on the offensive glass, where Denver outscored L.A. 22-14 in second chance points, including Aaron Gordon’s game-winning dunk at the buzzer. Nikola Jokic powered the Nuggets with a monster 36-point, 21-rebound double-double, while Ivica Zubac stood out for the Clippers with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists.

The Nuggets have now won 10 of their last 11 games when Jokic grabs 15 or more boards. Russell Westbrook remains questionable for Denver heading into a pivotal Game 5 on their home floor.

PICK – DENVER +2.5


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