It’s night 5 of the 2017/18 NBA Playoffs, here are our NBA picks for tonight’s games.
*Original betting lines and lineups taken game morning, adjust accordingly.
The original lines for each game are taken a couple of hours prior to the tip-off, so adjust your picks accordingly should a line change.
Tonight’s NBA Playoff Picks
Indiana @ Cleveland
- Eastern Conference – Game 2
- Indiana Lead Series 1-0
H2H Trends –
Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings.
Indiana are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland.
Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland.
Season Series
| GAME 1 | Cleveland | Indiana | 80 : 98 |
| 27.01.18 | Cleveland | Indiana | 115 : 108 |
| 13.01.18 | Indiana | Cleveland | 97 : 95 |
| 09.12.17 | Indiana | Cleveland | 106 : 102 |
| 02.11.17 | Cleveland | Indiana | 107 : 124 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Cleveland | 50 | 32 | 29-12 | 21-20 |
| Indiana | 48 | 34 | 27-14 | 21-20 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Cleveland | 110.9 | 109.9 | +0.9 |
| Indiana | 105.6 | 104.2 | +1.4 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Indiana | Over | Cleveland |
| +8.0 | 209.0 | 100-97 |
The numbers, history and legacy are on LeBron’s side but there is no doubt the Cavs team he is rolling with isn’t great. Its been a while since we have seen LeBron go playoff beast mode and may see it tonight if he feels his team is at risk of falling to 0-2.
Indiana have shown Cleveland this season they shouldn’t be underestimated with a 4-1 series record. The Pacers have been able to gain a big lead early and ride that throughout the game thanks to the emergence of Victor Oladipo. The Ghost of Anthony Bennett watches on.
Best Bet = Cleveland WIN
Utah @ Oklahoma City
- Western Conference – Game 2
- Oklahoma City Lead Series 1-0
H2H Trends –
Utah are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Oklahoma City.
Utah are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 21-8 in the last 29 meetings.
Season Series –
| GAME 1 | Oklahoma City | Utah | 116 : 108 |
| 24.12.17 | Utah | Oklahoma City | 89 : 103 |
| 21.12.17 | Oklahoma City | Utah | 107 : 79 |
| 06.12.17 | Oklahoma City | Utah | 100 : 94 |
| 22.10.17 | Utah | Oklahoma City | 96 : 87 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Oklahoma City | 48 | 34 | 27-14 | 21-20 |
| Utah | 48 | 34 | 28-13 | 20-21 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Oklahoma City | 107.9 | 104.4 | +3.4 |
| Utah | 104.1 | 99.8 | +4.3 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Oklahoma City | Over | Utah |
| -4.0 | 206.5 | 102-95 |
Playoff Thunder didnt disappoint in Game 1 with all three Superstars having solid performances. They really didn’t give much reason for us to shy away in Game 2.
The downside for the Jazz was rookie Mitchell and the rest of the line up all contributed but were unable to hold down the Thunder from half time onwards. Home court is tough in OKC, will have more luck in Salt Lake in Game 3.
Best Bet = Oklahoma City WIN
Minnesota @ Houston
- Western Conference – Game 2
- Houston Lead Series 1-0
H2H Trends –
Minnesota are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 14-4 in the last 18 meetings.
Minnesota are 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Houston.
Season Series –
| GAME 1 | Houston | Minnesota | 104 : 101 |
| 19.03.18 | Minnesota | Houston | 120 : 129 |
| 24.02.18 | Houston | Minnesota | 120 : 102 |
| 14.02.18 | Minnesota | Houston | 108 : 126 |
| 19.01.18 | Houston | Minnesota | 116 : 98 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Houston | 65 | 17 | 34-7 | 31-10 |
| Minnesota | 47 | 35 | 30-11 | 17-24 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Houston | 112.4 | 103.9 | +8.5 |
| Minnesota | 109.5 | 107.3 | +2.2 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Houston | Over | Houston |
| -10.5 | 214.0 | 102-82 |
Harden put up massive numbers, Towns hardly got a shot up, but the game was tight in the end and almost went into overtime after a Chris Paul brain snap.
Aside from Game 1, all regular season games were over 214.0 with a larger scoring output from both lineups.
Best Bet = Over 214.0
