NBA Playoffs Best Bets: Back the Knicks and Timberwolves
TJ Inman
Host · Writer
We are now in the thick of round two in the NBA Playoffs, as each second-round series is two games deep. Friday night features a pair of desperate situations as the Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets need wins to avoid going behind 3-0.
Here are SportsGrid’s site picks for Friday night’s second-round action.
Dunk on the sportsbooks tonight! Grab SportsGrid’s NBA picks, NBA props, and NBA SGPs.
7:00 p.m. ET – New York at Indiana
Spread: Indiana (-7) | Moneyline: New York (+235) | Total: 223
Where to Watch: ESPN | Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
The Indiana Pacers trail the New York Knicks 2-0 after a pair of competitive games in Madison Square Garden. The series flips to Indianapolis, and the pair clash tonight in a pivotal Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Knicks will be without forward OG Anunoby, and Jalen Brunson is banged up, so a very short Knicks rotation will need to find a new contributor or two. Despite trailing 2-0 in the series, the Pacers are favored by seven points tonight as their tempo and pace on offense seems to find a new gear in front of their partisan crowd.
The SportsGrid model sees value in taking the better team that is getting points. Despite the injuries facing the Knicks, the model has placed a four-star projection on New York +7 with a projection of the Pacers winning this game but only by four points. The model also has a three-star projection for the total going under 223 and finishing at 221.2.
SportsGrid’s Bets: New York Knicks (+7) | SportsGrid Projections: 4-stars
More Friday night NBA picks: Top Player Props
9:30 p.m. ET – Denver at Minnesota
Spread: Minnesota (-4.5) | Moneyline: | Total: 204.5
Where to Watch: ESPN | Location: Target Center
The reigning NBA Champions were totally outclassed at home in Games 1 and 2. Minnesota was the more physical team in both games, and Denver is now facing a 2-0 deficit and a near must-win game on the road at the Target Center. Minnesota gets big man Rudy Gobert back in the lineup, and the Timberwolves are playing with a ton of confidence behind leader Anthony Edwards. After getting embarrassed in Game 2, Denver will certainly bring their best performance and increased intensity, but the SportsGrid model is confident that Minnesota will push the Nuggs to the brink.
Bookmark our NBA Injuries Page for the latest news on player injuries and return timeframes.
The model has a four-star projection on this game going over the total of 204.5, finishing at a total of 207 points. There is a three-star projection on the Timberwolves winning this game by six points, covering the 4.5-point spread.
SportsGrid Best Bet: Over 204.5 | SportsGrid Projections: 4-stars
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