*These NBA Playoff picks are done the morning of game day, adjust picks should spreads and lineups change.
ORLANDO @ CLEVELAND
EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND – GAME 2
CLEVELAND LEADS 1-0
TEAM TRENDS
- The Cavs have won their last 9 Game 2s in Eastern First Round series.
- The Cavs’ last 8 playoff games have gone Unders.
- The Cavs have failed to cover 13 of their last 14 games after a win.
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| CLE | 48 | 34 | 26-15 | 22-19 |
| ORL | 47 | 35 | 29-12 | 18-23 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOT.AV. |
| CLE | 112.6 | 110.2 | +2.4 | 222.8 |
| ORL | 110.5 | 108.4 | +2.1 | 218.9 |
SEASON MATCHUPS
TIED 2-2
| GAME 1 | CLE | ORL | 97:83 |
| 23.02.24 | CLE | ORL | 109:116 |
| 23.01.24 | ORL | CLE | 99:126 |
| 12.12.23 | ORL | CLE | 104:94 |
| 07.12.23 | CLE | ORL | 121:111 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| CLE | OVER | CLE |
| -5.5 | 202.5 | 96-86 |
THE RUB
The Cavs look to maintain their home court advantage as they host the Magic for Game 2 of their Eastern First Round series at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday night.
Cleveland took the first game of the series 97-83, capitalizing on their efficiency inside the three-point line where they shot 54.9% on two-point field goals, compared to Orlando’s 40.8%. The Cavaliers also controlled the boards, outrebounding the Magic 54 to 40.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs’ effort with 30 points and three steals, while Jarrett Allen notched 16 points and 18 rebounds. Cleveland’s strong performance continues a trend of home success, having won 5 of their last 6 games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Orlando faces challenges on the road, where they have suffered five straight losses. As the series progresses, the Magic will need to find answers to Cleveland’s inside game and rebounding prowess to even the series.
PLAYER TRENDS
- Max Strus scored the first basket in the last 3 Magic vs. Cavs games.
- Donovan Mitchell had 5+ assists in 12 of his last 13 games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
- Donovan Mitchell scored 28+ points in 11 of his last 12 games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
- Gary Harris scored 8+ points in 9 of his last 10 road games against the Cavs.
- Caris LeVert got 4+ rebounds in 9 of his last 10 playoff games.
- Jarrett Allen achieved a double-double in 7 of the Cavs’ last 8 home games.
- Franz Wagner got 6+ rebounds in his last 4 road games against Eastern teams.
- Darius Garland scored 18+ points in 6 of his last 7 home games vs. the Magic.
- Jarrett Allen scored 16+ points in 5 of his last 6 home games vs. the Magic.
- Wendell Carter Jr. scored 10+ points in 6 of his last 7 games vs. the Cavs.
- Paolo Banchero had 6+ assists in 4 of the Magic’s last 5 games.
- Jalen Suggs had 4 rebounds in each of the Magic’s last 3 games as underdogs.
PICK – OVER 202.5 TOTAL PTS 
PHILADELPHIA @ NEW YORK
EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND – GAME 2
NEW YORK LEADS 1-0
TEAM TRENDS
- 12 of the Knicks’ last 13 games have gone Overs.
- The Knicks have won their last 6 games.
- The 76ers have covered the spread in their last 6 games following a loss.
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| PHI | 47 | 35 | 25-16 | 22-19 |
| NY | 50 | 32 | 27-14 | 23-18 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOT.AV. |
| PHI | 114.6 | 111.5 | +3.1 | 226.1 |
| NY | 112.8 | 108.2 | +4.6 | 221.0 |
SEASON MATCHUPS
NEW YORK 3-1
| GAME 1 | NY | PHI | 111:104 |
| 13.03.24 | NY | PHI | 106:79 |
| 11.03.24 | NY | PHI | 73:79 |
| 23.02.24 | PHI | NY | 96:110 |
| 06.01.24 | PHI | NY | 92:128 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| NY | UNDER | NY |
| -5.0 | 208.5 | 104-101 |
THE RUB
The 76ers and Knicks will play Game 2 of their Eastern First Round matchup at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. The Knicks took the series opener 111-104 at MSG on Saturday.
The game was won and lost on the offensive boards, with New York pulling down 23 compared to Philadelphia’s 9, leading to a 28-8 advantage in second chance points.
The second units were also important, with New York’s bench outscoring Philadelphia’s 42-7. Josh Hart led the way for New York, recording a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid provided 29 points and six assists despite a knee scare in the second quarter. The Knicks extended their winning streak to six while snapping Philadelphia’s at nine.
Embiid is questionable due to ongoing knee issues.
PLAYER TRENDS
- Donte DiVincenzo scored 17+ points in each of his last 6 games after scoring in single digits previously.
- Bojan Bogdanovic scored 12+ points in 20 of his last 22 playoff games.
- Josh Hart scored 16+ points in 4 of the Knicks’ last 5 games.
- Josh Hart recorded 12+ rebounds in 4 of the Knicks’ last 5 games against the 76ers.
- Isaiah Hartenstein recorded 4+ assists in 4 of his last 5 home games.
- Jalen Brunson scored 35+ points in 6 of the Knicks’ last 8 games.
PICK – NEW YORK -5.0
LA LAKERS @ DENVER
DENVER LEADS 1-0
WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND – GAME 2
TEAM TRENDS
- The Nuggets have won their last 9 games against the Lakers.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in 10 of their last 11 Western First Round games as underdogs.
- Each of the Nuggets’ last 4 playoff games has gone Unders.
- The Lakers have won the first half in each of their last 7 road games.
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| LAL | 47 | 35 | 28-14 | 19-21 |
| DEN | 57 | 25 | 33-8 | 24-17 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | TOT.AV. |
| LAL | 118.0 | 117.4 | +0.6 | 235.4 |
| DEN | 114.9 | 109.6 | +5.3 | 224.5 |
SEASON MATCHUPS
DENVER 3-0
| GAME 1 | DEN | LAL | 114:103 |
| 03.03.24 | LAL | DEN | 114:124 |
| 09.02.24 | LAL | DEN | 106:114 |
| 25.10.23 | DEN | LAL | 119:107 |
PICKS ATS
| SPREAD | POINTS | RESULT |
| DEN | UNDER | DEN |
| -7.0 | 224.0 | 101-99 |
THE RUB
Denver will host the Lakers for Game 2 of their Western First Round series at Ball Arena on Monday night, following a Nuggets win in the opener, 114-103.
This win extends Denver’s streak against the Lakers to 9-straight wins.
Three-point shooting was a big part of Denver’s success, with the Nuggets hitting 15 of 42 attempts (35.7%) from beyond the arc, overshadowing the Lakers’ 8 for 29 performance (27.6%).
Another key to Denver’s win was their control of the offensive boards, grabbing 15 rebounds to the Lakers’ six. Nikola Jokic came up big, notching a double-double with 32 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Davis stood out for the Lakers with of 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
As the series progresses, the Nuggets look to maintain their home court advantage where they have won 5-straight, while the Lakers aim to overcome this setback and halt Denver’s dominance in this matchup.
PLAYER TRENDS
- Nikola Jokic scored the first basket in the last 3 Nuggets-Lakers games.
- Rui Hachimura scored 16+ points in his last 6 games after scoring in single digits the game before.
- Michael Porter Jr. got 8+ rebounds in the last 6 Nuggets-Lakers games.
- Jamal Murray dished out 8+ assists in his last 6 playoff games.
- Aaron Gordon grabbed 7+ rebounds in his last 5 playoff games.
- Nikola Jokic scored 32+ points in his last 4 home games against Western teams.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 12+ points in his last 4 games against the Lakers.
- Anthony Davis grabbed 14+ rebounds in his last 4 playoff games.
- LeBron James scored 27+ points in 4 of his last 5 games.
- Austin Reaves scored 17+ points in 4 of his last 5 playoff games against the Nuggets.
- D’Angelo Russell had 6+ assists in 11 of his last 16 road games.
PICK – DENVER -7.0
