*These NBA tips and player prop picks are done the previous game day. Adjust selections should spreads and lineups change.
INDIANA PACERS @ CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
East Semifinals – Game 1
Team & Totals Trends:
- The Pacers have failed to cover in 9 of their last 10 road games after a win
- The Cavs have won their last 13 Eastern Semis games as favs
- Each of the Cavs’ last 4 home games have gone over
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| IND | 50 | 32 | 29-11 | 20-20 |
| CLE | 64 | 18 | 34-7 | 30-11 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| IND | 117.4 | 115.1 | +2.3 | 232.5 |
| CLE | 121.9 | 112.4 | +9.5 | 234.3 |
SEASON SERIES
| DATE | RESULT |
| Jan 13, 2025 | IND 108 @ CLE 93 |
| Jan 15, 2025 | CLE 127 @ IND 117 |
| Apr 11, 2025 | CLE 112 @ IND 114 |
| Apr 14, 2025 | IND 126 @ CLE 118 (OT) |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| CLE | OVER | |
| -8.0 | 229.5 |
Indiana and Cavaliers will open their Eastern Semi-final series at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The teams last met in the playoffs in the 2017-18 first round, where Cleveland edged Indiana in a seven-game series. The Cavaliers hold a 2-1 advantage across three all-time postseason meetings.
Indiana took the regular season series 3-1, including two road wins in Cleveland—though the Cavaliers were without Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in two of those losses. Cleveland enters this series after sweeping Miami in the first round, despite Garland appearing in only two games and remaining questionable for Game 1.
Indiana advanced by eliminating Milwaukee in five games, led by Tyrese Haliburton, who averaged 17.6 points and 11.6 assists in that series. The Pacers will look to carry that momentum into Cleveland as both teams chase a spot in the Eastern Finals.
PICK – CLEVELAND -8.0
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS @ HOUSTON ROCKETS
Toyota Center, Houston, TX
West 1st Round – Game 7 (Series tied 3-3)
Team & Totals Trends:
- The Rockets have won 11 of their last 12 Western First Round games at home
- 4 of the Rockets’ last 5 home games vs. the Warriors have gone under
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| GS | 48 | 34 | 24-17 | 24-17 |
| HOU | 52 | 30 | 29-12 | 23-18 |
SEASON POINTS AVERAGE
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOTAL |
| GS | 113.8 | 110.5 | +3.3 | 224.3 |
| HOU | 114.3 | 109.8 | +4.5 | 224.1 |
Here is the full updated season series table:
SEASON SERIES
\[su\_table]
| DATE | RESULT |
| Nov 3, 2024 | GSW 127 @ HOU 121 |
| Dec 6, 2024 | HOU 93 @ GSW 99 |
| Dec 12, 2024 | GSW 90 @ HOU 91 |
| Feb 14, 2025 | GSW 105 @ HOU 98 |
| Apr 7, 2025 | HOU 106 @ GSW 96 |
| GAME 1 | GSW 95 @ HOU 85 |
| GAME 2 | GSW 94 @ HOU 109 |
| GAME 3 | HOU 93 @ GSW 104 |
| GAME 4 | HOU 106 @ GSW 109 |
| GAME 5 | GSW 116 @ HOU 131 |
| GAME 6 | HOU 115 @ GSW 107 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| HOU | UNDER | |
| -2.5 | 205.5 |
The Warriors and Rockets will battle for a spot in the next round when they face off in Game 7 of their Western First Round series at Toyota Center.
Houston forced the decider with a 115-107 win at Chase Center on Friday, leveling the series at 3-3.
The Rockets controlled the paint, outscoring Golden State 42-32, and took advantage of mistakes with a 22-12 edge in points off turnovers. Fred VanVleet led the way for Houston with 29 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 6 threes, while Jimmy Butler paced the Warriors with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Houston enters Game 7 with a 7-1 record over their last eight games when VanVleet scores 20 or more.
PICK – HOUSTON -2.5
