Rome Masters Tennis Picks 2026 (Sunday 10th May)

After a decent start to the clay court season, the decision had been made to miss the Madrid Masters and resume Tennis Picks at the Rome Masters in the last big event before the French Open.

There have already been some upsets in the early days at this tournament, but Jannik Sinner will be heading to Paris as the player to beat on the Men's side of the draw.

We could have another wide open second Grand Slam as far as the WTA players are concerned, but this is the last chance to lay down a marker for Paris with some big names still fighting through the draw.

The season totals have been updated below and there are two selections from the Sunday tennis in the Italian capital.

Iga Swiatek - 6.5 games v Elisabetta Cocciaretto: The first point you have to make is that the home player is not going to lose this match to Iga Swiatek having won a single game, as was the case right here in Rome last year. That was a devastating Second Round performance from the multiple time French Open Champion, but Elisabetta Cocciaretto may be more prepared by what she is going to be facing and will be looking to use the home crowd to push her forward.

There has not been a lot of positive clay court form to call upon, but a couple of wins in the main draw in Rome will have given Cocciaretto some belief, even if she is well aware that this is a big step upwards in terms of level of opponent.

Iga Swiatek will go into the French Open as one of the favourites, but she will be looking for a strong run in Rome after some inconsistent results of her own during this portion of the Tour.

Three wins and two losses on the clay courts may mean Iga Swiatek is in danger of heading to Paris a little undercooked, although the numbers have been solid and some of her main rivals at the next Grand Slam have also had their issues.

The serve is always a strong part of the Iga Swiatek game- if she is serving well, the rest of her tennis seems to flow and the numbers in the five clay court matches this season have been decent enough. The World Number 3 has also been having strong success on her return in the limited sample of matches played and Iga Swiatek may still have enough to cover this spread, even if it is not expected to be as one-sided as when these two players met last year.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto did take a set from Jessica Pegula in Charleston earlier this year, but this is a big step up compared with recent level of opponents and that should play out on the scoreboard in favour of the higher Ranked player.

Alexander Zverev - 3.5 games v Alexander Blockx: He started the season having to Qualify for the Australian Open, but there is every chance that youngster Alexander Blockx will be Seeded when Wimbledon rolls around at the end of June.

Even as recently as the Monte Carlo Masters, Blockx was playing in the Qualifiers, but his run to the Madrid Masters Semi Final means the Belgian has pushed his way into World Number 36.

That run was ended by Alexander Zverev, who was eventually beaten by Jannik Sinner, and it is going to be tough for the younger player to change the scoreline.

Alexander Blockx does have a serve that can keep him in matches, but the clay courts are always tougher to impose that shot alone and in Madrid it was Alexander Zverev who had the bigger serve by some margin.

The experience is also an edge and Alexander Zverev has long been very comfortable on the clay courts and two of the three defeats on the surface this year have been against the World Number 1.

While the numbers are impressive, there is also a feeling that Alexander Zverev has room for improvement and he will be looking to peak at the French Open beginning at the end of the month and not at this stage of the clay court season. He will be expecting a bit more out of the serve and will feel there is more pressure he can exert on the return, but Zverev did more than enough to get the better of Alexander Blockx at the last tournament and can frank that form.

Respect has to be given to Alexander Blockx for the confidence he would have earned from some of the upsets produced during the clay court season, but he may not have had enough time to make the adjustments for this match up.

MY PICKS: Iga Swiatek - 6.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Alexander Zverev - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 William Hill (1 Unit)

Season 2026: 97-82, + 10.54 Units (244 Units Staked, + 4.32% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2026- Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois (Saturday 9th May)

The biggest weekend of the 2026 Boxing season did not disappoint the fans and instead has set up some big opportunities for those involved.

Some are already thinking ahead to a Naoya Inoue vs Bam Rodriguez Super-Fight, but Junto Nakatani pushed The Monster in a high quality contest and there will be plenty of voices calling for a rematch.

It is a situation where the loser has actually raised his profile further and both fighters can either look forward to seeing each other again before the end of the year or earning a big purse in another fight before turning back to each other in the first half of 2027.

Many hours later, David Benavidez impressed in crushing Gilberto Ramirez to win yet another World Title in yet another Division.

The Mexican Monster has long called for a bout against Canelo Alvarez, but that ship looks to have sailed and instead the likes of Dmitry Bivol and Jai Opetaia look like the kind of names that could be tempted into a mega-fight.

David Benavidez is likely going to have his pick of opponents, although those suggesting he should move to Heavyweight and challenge Oleksandr Usky may be pushing him too far ahead (in terms of weight, not of the obvious qualities that Benavidez possesses).

May continues with a huge fight in the Heavyweight Division- it may not make the noise around the world as it will in the United Kingdom, but the winner of the Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois main event will be a World Champion and in a position to Unify if the World Titles continue to fracture away from Oleksandr Usyk.

Queensberry Promotions have put together a solid undercard in support of the top of the bill in Manchester and it is likely going to be a really good night for those in attendance.

Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois

One is a former World Champion and the other is going to be brining the WBO World Title into the ring, but, along with Ken Norton, is the only Title Holder in this Division who has never won a World Title fight.

Fabio Wardley is the Champion after being upgraded to full Title Holder after Oleksandr Usyk failed to fulfil his mandatory, but he would have much preferred to have had that WBO World Title on the line when he was beating Joseph Parker.

The background story is fascinating and Wardley has already overachieved, but he will take some big confidence from the way he has continued to step up.

Opening up his career with a Points win, Fabio Wardley has Stopped the next 19 opponents faced with the only blemish being the Draw with Frazer Clarke, which was wiped out impressively in the rematch. Following up with wins over Justis Huni and Joseph Parker has only continued the surge, but this is another step up in class.

Daniel Dubois is another big puncher and his three losses have been against Joe Joyce and Oleksander Usyk (twice).

Some will have questioned the manner of the first two of those losses, but the Fifth Round Stoppage against Usyk last year was emphatic and ended a strong run of form that Daniel Dubois had put together.

There was nothing wrong with his character and heart in beating Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua, but questions remain and this is a bout where both fighters will have to dig deep.

In reality we have seen Fabio Wardley dig and scrap even when fights have been turning against him and he carries his power very late.

That makes him dangerous, although he cannot afford to be tagged with some of the shots that have been allowed against the likes of Huni and Parker who simply do not hit as hard as Daniel Dubois.

Fabio Wardley's power is clear to see, although it does feel like Dubois' ability to take some shots is a little underrated- he's not granite, but the idea that Wardley could walk through fire all of the time has been proven to be a fallacy, which Joe Joyce found out to his cost.

It is a Heavyweight World Title fight that excited me as soon as it was announced and it would be stunning if there were not the fireworks that will be expected.

You can imagine both fighters being a little cautious of the power the other brings into the ring, but the first big contact could see things open up dramatically.

The Champion deserves nothing but respect for how far he has pushed his career, but Daniel Dubois has long felt like a fighter just below the very elite in the Heavyweight Division.

Fans of Daniel Dubois will want to see him make an early dent in Fabio Wardley, if only to build confidence within the ring when Dubois becomes his most dangerous.

I just can't shake the kind of shots Wardley has taken from lesser punchers than Daniel Dubois and for a fighter learning on the job, that is unlikely to be much different in this one.

Maybe he does have a really special chin, but Daniel Dubois has shown he can be a clinical finisher when he has his man in trouble and the feeling is that the former Champion can win a firefight that should entertain all who tune in.

There is a deep undercard that has been put together by Queensberry and some of those names are in a position to move onto really big nights if they can win, and win impressively.

Bakhodir Jalolov has long been touted as a potential World Champion in the Heavyweight Division and some even think he could soon be an opponent for Moses Itauma.

There is some uncertainty as to how long this fight is scheduled for, but Jalolov has been put in a showcase spot and should win early.

Fighters like David Morrell and Jack Rafferty are expected to win, but the opponents will give them something to think about.

Out of the two, Morrell should showcase his experience in fighting at a much higher level than Zak Chelli and he may be able to end the contest by breaking down the British fighter.

Jack Rafferty is in for a tough introduction to this weight class against Ekow Essuman and that looks like a potential upset with the ability of the latter to outwork opponents. Dropping back down to a domestic level should help The Engine and he may yet have another big night in the locker.

MY PICKS: Daniel Dubois to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Bakhodir Jalolov to Win Between 1-5 @ 2.00 Coral (2 Units)

David Morrell to Win Between 6-10 @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Boxing 2026: 13-27, - 13.42 Units (59 Units Staked, - 23.25% Yield)

European Tour 6- Austrian Darts Open Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 9th May)

It is a game of inches on the board and that has been the feeling around some of the narrow slips in the first four months of the Darts Picks.

More of the same was on display on the opening Day of the Austrian Darts Open and there is a sense that I am overcomplicating matters.

There is still a long season ahead and the next couple of months are incredibly busy on the Tour before the Ranking events get underway again. Some momentum is needed to just settle things down and that has to begin on Day 2 of the European Tour 6 event being played this weekend as the Seeds get into the mix.

The Second Round is played across two Sessions on Saturday before the tournament is concluded on Sunday.

Mike De Decker to win & most 180s v Ryan Joyce: There is no ignoring of the fact that Relentless Ryan Joyce is a dangerous opponent with his finishing of the highest quality.

That does build pressure on opponents to make sure they are doubling out as they would expect, but you do have a sense that the heavier scoring of Mike De Decker can put him in a position to win this match double.

Ever since he was ignored for the Premier League last year, De Decker has struggled for consistency on the Tour.

We have seen more of that in 2026, but he remains a solid player and the maximum hitting shoud land his favour in this Second Round match.

Everything will come to the doubling and the anticipation is that Mike De Decker has enough chances to find his way through to the final day.

Ryan Searle-Kevin Doets over 5.5 180s: Two players who are very capable at hitting the big scores should be able to combine for at least six in this Second Round match.

Of course there is always a concern that one could run away from the other, but Ryan Searle looked to be rounding into some decent form earlier this week.

On the other side, Kevin Doets continues his very strong form that could see him Seeded for these European Tour events sooner than later and this looks a match that should go at least nine Legs, which will give the players enough time to surpass this total set.

Ross Smith-Niels Zonneveld both over 2.5 180s: Another big maximum potential Second Round match follows on from the Searle-Doets contest.

There is no denying the capabilities of Niels Zonneveld and Ross Smith when it comes to pounding in the big scores and it is another contest that is expected to go at least nine Legs.

Time is the biggest factor when it comes to these totals and you do need both players to be producing enough quality to make sure those Legs are played.

Chris Dobey-Kim Huybrechts both over 2.5 180s: These two players met on the European Tour in March and both players combined for seven maximums, which ended 4-3 in favour of Kim Huybrechts.

Ultimately it was Chris Dobey who progressed and this final match of the Afternoon Session has the makings of another quality contest.

Both players are looking to push up the World Rankings over the course of the year and there have been some really positive signs for both.

The edge is rightly with Chris Dobey, but Kim Huybrechts should be able to push him all the way and this could be another maximum-filled contest.

James Wade & Wessel Nijman to win: The Evening Session has a number of quality matches and there looks to be room for a couple of upsets.

However, these two players should be able to get the better of Mensur Suljovic and Niko Springer respectively, even if the crowd is firmly going to be siding with the underdog.

James Wade will respect some of the floor performances produced by Suljovic over the last week, but he has found a way to get past the Austrian in recent head to head. Experience of the style should be a huge help and James Wade has played at a consistent level that may be too much for the home favourite.

Doubling him up with Wessel Nijman who has moved into a Seeded spot and who has obliterated the competition on the floor in Players Championship events all season is the play for the Evening Session.

Wessel Nijman will have a real respect for Niko Springer and the quality the latter can throw, but the Dutchman has been in imperious form and reached the Semi Final of the last European Tour event he played. Earlier this week he added yet another Players Championship to his collection and he should have enough to find a way through to the Third Round.

MY PICKS: Mike De Decker to Win & Most 180s @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ryan Searle-Kevin Doets Over 5.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith-Niels Zonneveld Both Over 2.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chris Dobey-Kim Huybrechts Both Over 2.5 180s @ 2.37 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade & Wessel Nijman @ 2.04 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Austrian Darts Open: 0-4, - 4 Units (4 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

NBA Playoffs 2026- Second Round Picks Game 1-4 (Monday 4th May-Monday 11th May)

NBA Playoffs- Second Round Game 1-4 Picks

Outside events meant not having the same time as I would have expected to put the NBA Picks on the pages, but that does not mean that the Playoffs have been ignored.

Watching the New York Knicks power past the Atlanta Hawks as they did in the First Round has certainly raised hopes that the team can finally win the Eastern Conference again, while the upset produced by the Philadelphia 76ers over the Boston Celtics cleared the path to the Finals for a second season in a row.

It might have been even better for the Knicks if both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons had dropped Game 7s in the First Round, but those teams are alive and the winner will be a threat.

Over in the West, it feels like we are still on course to see the Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs Series that everyone would have been hoping to be set for the Western Conference Finals.

Out of the two teams, the Spurs have more to do with the Series against the Minnesota Timberwolves potentially problematic as the Denver Nuggets found out in the First Round.

It should mean an interesting week to open these Second Round Series, while a new thread will be created for any Series that moves into Game 5 and beyond.

Friday 8th May

New York Knicks @ Philadelphia 76ers Game 3 Pick: The run of blowout wins may have come to a conclusion in Game 2 of this Second Round Series, but the New York Knicks may take more out of the battling win than some of the previous victories. Being able to show you can dig in and win ugly when needed is never a negative achievement and instead will bolster the Knicks to push through and come out of the other side when games are tight and competitive.

Ultimately it has always been said that a blowout counts the same as a single point win and the New York Knicks have to be travelling to the Philadelphia 76ers feeling really good about being in a 2-0 lead.

It is Playoff time though and rarely do things happen smoothly at this stage of the season.

One of the key figures powering this Playoff run is OG Anunoby, but he suffered an injury late in Game 2 that leaves his participation as questionable when Game 3 is played on Friday. The Knicks may believe they can find a way to get through this Second Round Series without Anunoby and then give him ample time to prepare for the Eastern Conference Finals, but that looks like it will be a game time decision.

Replacing his production is not going to be easy, especially with the match up problem it has posed for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Miles McBride could be the beneficiary of any absence as far as Anunoby is concerned, and it is his Defensive talents that could help in continuing to slow down Tyrese Maxey. Josh Hart is another doubt for the New York Knicks as they look to return home with at least an opportunity to close the Series out back at Madison Square Garden next week.

Injuries have always been making a big impact in the post-season of US Sports and the Philadelphia 76ers will have little sympathy for the New York issues considering they played Game 2 without Joel Embiid. The status of their best player remains questionable for Game 3 with little time between these opening games in the Second Round Series and being without Embiid will put pressure on Tyrese Maxey and Paul George.

There was a feeling that the 76ers missed an opportunity to steal home court from the Knicks in Game 2 as they fell away Offensively in the Fourth Quarter of a tight game.

It remains one of the issues that the 76ers may struggle to overcome with too much reliance on the two players when Joel Embiid is on the sidelines- VJ Edgecombe has shown he can step up and should benefit from playing at home, but this is an Arena that could have plenty of noise for the New York Knicks, despite urges from the Philadelphia players to supporters to not sell their tickets to road fans.

The uncertainty around some of the key names does make it a tougher game to call, but the 'under' may be the play here.

The total was not surpassed in Game 2 as both teams showed off some of the Defensive talents and the potential absences of the likes of Anunoby and Embiid will have an impact on the Offensive schemes.

When one team is leading 2-0 in the Second Round of recent Playoffs, the under has been dominating with a 15-4 return from the last nineteen times we have seen this spot come up.

The layers are not finding it easy to separate the teams on the spread, which is a surprise considering how much stronger the New York Knicks have looked. The assumption is that the spread is designed with a feeling that the OG Anunoby will sit out and so the under is the play in Game 3 with a line that is similar to the one that failed to be overcome in Game 2.

San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves Game 3 Pick: There will not have been too many surprised faces to see the San Antonio Spurs bounce back from a disappointing Game 1 loss in the manner they did in Game 2 of this Second Round Series.

However, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be pretty confident returning home knowing they earned a split from the opening two games and have taken home court away from the higher Seeded team.

They showed plenty of grit and character to come out of the First Round Series against the Denver Nuggets, despite injuries racking up, and Anthony Edwards will likely be grateful that he did not have to play extended minutes in Game 2. At the moment the Timberwolves are using Edwards from the bench as he continues to manage a knee injury that many felt would keep him out of action for two weeks instead of going through the rigours of Playoff Basketball, but Anthony Edwards continues to show he is a leader for the team.

It was his impact from the bench that helped the Timberwolves win Game 1 and they may be ready to make more use of Anthony Edwards in this one.

The Timberwolves will be aware that they won two of the three regular season meetings with the San Antonio Spurs and that they are unbeaten in seven at home against this rival.

Jaden McDaniels will be needed to steer clear of the foul trouble that limited his time on the court in Game 2, but there is a togetherness about this Minnesota Timberwolves team that continues to see them outperform expectations set for them.

At the same time you cannot ignore the fact that the San Antonio Spurs are favourites in the Series and they have been asked to lay plenty of points in this Game 3 on the road.

There was a nice balance to the way they played in Game 2 on both sides of the court and the Spurs will feel that the momentum is now behind them.

However, this is a Timberwolves team that have turned things around when factors are working against them in the First Round and an experienced group can give the Spurs as good as they get in Game 3.

Road favourites of at least 4.5 points have not had the most productive time covering in the Second Round of the NBA Playoffs in recent years, while those teams who have scored at least 127 points in a single game have covered in only 33% of the time they next go out on court.

Minnesota have won all three home Playoff Games this season and the record against the San Antonio Spurs will give them and the fans genuine belief they can pull the upset.

With key players likely feeling refreshed returning home at 1-1 in the Series, the Timberwolves may have another upset in them.

Saturday 9th May

Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers Game 3 Pick: Both of these teams made heavier weather than expected of First Round Series and had to come through a Game 7 at home to finally earn the Seeded position into the Second Round.

Out of the two, the Detroit Pistons came closest to exiting the NBA Playoffs when trailing by over 20 points in Game 6 against the Orlando Magic and already down 3-2 in the Series- in fact they had been 3-1 behind after four games, but the Pistons rallied and eventually came through with three straight wins and that momentum has guided them into a 2-0 lead in this Second Round Series.

Cade Cunningham continues to play at a high level, but it has been important that the Pistons have found a way to get some of the role players performing next to the superstar name on the roster. This has been the key to the Pistons finishing with the top Seed in the Eastern Conference, but Cunningham has made it clear that his team cannot afford to look too far ahead and have to use the First Round Series as a tale of caution about how quickly things can unravel in the post-season.

However, the Detroit Pistons have to be pretty confident with how they have been playing to make it five Playoff victories in a row and they have put the Cleveland Cavaliers in a tough spot.

There is plenty of experience in the Cleveland rotation though and the Cavaliers will also be aware that they have lost all five road games played in the post-season so far... The reason they are still playing competitive basketball is because they won all four home games against the Toronto Raptors and they do have a chance to get back to 2-2 in this Series with home advantage on their side over the next three days.

Beating the Raptors at home and doing the same against the Detroit Pistons is going to be a different test, but Cleveland have to remain confident knowing how they have played here. Donovan Mitchell looks to have come alive again, but the key for the Cavaliers is finding a way to get others out supporting him, namely James Harden who has long be criticised for coming up short in the biggest Playoff moments.

The pressure is going to be building on the Cavaliers knowing how they have performed on the road and even earning one win in this Series looks like it could be tough.

Dropping one of the next two games and having to win twice on the road may be beyond them and that can make it difficult for any team.

The fact here is that Cleveland have not matched up well with the Detroit Pistons this season and have lost four of the last five between the teams since blowing out the Pistons in the first meeting back in October. The Cavaliers lineup feels much different now and they are likely going to be pushed all the way in this Game 3, even though Cleveland should be respected for the comfortable margins of wins they have produced at home in the First Round.

Again, that was against Toronto and not the top Seed in the Eastern Conference and so taking the points with the road team here looks to be the play.

Home favourites of less than 8.5 points have been very good to back in the NBA Playoffs Second Round, which gives pause for thought, but the Cavaliers will need to come out with strong intensity if they are going to blow past the Pistons.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers Game 3 Pick: There are some suggestions that the Los Angeles Lakers will have Luka Doncic back for Game 3 of this Second Round Series, but the team are only talking about being given a fair shake from the officials.

Frustrations boiled over on the court, after the game and then in the press conference with suggestions that the Oklahoma City Thunder are getting away with a lot of fouls on the Defensive side of the court. There has also been a long criticism of some of the 'flopping' that seems to accompany a few of the Thunder players when anyone whistles by them and the Lakers are hoping that things will change.

There will be some pressure on the officials when the Series shifts to the City of Angels for two games- the home fans are not going to want to see LeBron James 'clobbered' and only getting to the foul line five times, while they will also be extremely loud whenever a Thunder play hits the floor.

Perhaps that will create a bias in some of the calls made, but the Lakers know that it is going to be extremely challenging to get back into this Series even if Doncic is able to give them a lift.

He is not expected to be at 100% and the likes of LeBron James and Austin Reaves are trying to contribute as much as possible, but this Oklahoma City team have just found the right moments to put a run together and effectively blitz through the first two games.

They swept the Phoenix Suns in the First Round and that will have given the Thunder confidence, while they would love to earn some rest before the Western Conference Finals by ending this Series as soon as possible. There is a depth in the Thunder rotation, which showed up again in the Game 2 win, and Oklahoma City look like they are going to have a bit too much for the Lakers.

You can almost guarantee the Lakers will come out with huge energy and will be desperate to get back into the Series by taking command of Game 3 as quickly as possible, but youth and energy is on the side of the defending Champions.

Big road favourites have not been very successful in the Second Round of recent NBA Playoffs, but the Thunder have won all six meetings against the Los Angeles Lakers this season and all by at least 9 points.

Twelve months ago, teams were able to give Oklahoma City some real tests, but this Lakers team need the officials to play ball if that is going to happen in this Series.

They have not been completely outplayed, but the Lakers have struggled to slow the momentum when the Oklahoma City Thunder have been able to get on a roll and that could be the case again on Saturday as the top Seed in the Western Conference moves to the brink of reaching the Conference Finals again.

Sunday 10th May

New York Knicks @ Philadelphia 76ers Game 4 Pick: The NBA Playoff experiences of the past would have gotten the New York Knicks ready to weather an early storm from a desperate Philadelphia 76ers team.

They were put under pressure early with Joel Embiid back in the starting rotation for the home team, but there were plenty of Knicks fans in the building for Game 3 and they will have kept the motivation very high for the New York players.

After weathering the storm, the New York Knicks began to make use of the match up advantages they have had in the first three games of the Series- OG Anunoby sat out, but that did not stop the Knicks from largely doing what they wanted, while the underrated Defensive unit turned the screw on the 76ers 'Big Three'.

The bonus was winning when the second units entered the court and the New York Knicks have moved into a 3-0 lead and will be convinced they are not going to be the first team in NBA history to lose in the Playoffs from that position.

Completing the Series win on Sunday would be a benefit for the Knicks in being able to give key players plenty of rest before the Eastern Conference Finals are set to begin.

Once again there has to be some expectations that the 76ers are going to throw everything at the Knicks in their bid to avoid the sweep in front of the home fans. Teams that have been behind in the Second Round of the Playoffs when Game 4 comes around have had successes against the spread, but Philadelphia have to find a way to combat what has been relatively comfortable approaches used by the Knicks.

It may be asking too much for a group of players that looked pretty devastated after the Game 3 defeat, while teams that have won that outing have backed it up very well in Game 4 in recent Second Round Series.

This is a close out spot and in recent seasons, teams have been better at doing that on the road with some authority than they have been at home and the New York Knicks may be able to do that on Sunday.

San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves Game 4 Pick: The slow start in the First Quarter of Game 3 will have bothered the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they gave San Antonio Spurs a real challenge before coming up short.

Home court once again belongs to the San Antonio Spurs, but there is a real pressure on the home team to bounce back and make sure they return to Texas at 2-2 rather than being on the brink of elimination.

So much went right for the Timberwolves in Game 3, but they struggled to create open looks against Victor Wembanyama and that resulted in a poor conversion rate, despite having a lot more efforts from the field compared with the road team.

Anthony Edwards was back in a starting role and he looked about as healthy as could be hoped, but the Coaching staff have to find a way to turn the momentum back towards the Timberwolves.

You have to expect changes to the starting rotation and the Timberwolves must come quicker and with more intensity right from the outset and see if they can put some pressure back on the San Antonio Spurs.

Much like the New York Knicks, the Spurs will be looking to back up a Game 3 win, but this is going to be a tough ask with the Minnesota Timberwolves yet to lose belief in their own ability.

Picking a side looks like it is going to be tough, but there has been enough effort on the Offensive boards to believe there will be second chance opportunities here and that will put the Defensive players under some pressure.

A few more Free Throws for the home team could also help and putting these factors together, this looks like a third game in a row where the total line can be surpassed.

The under has been a big player in the Second Round of recent NBA Playoffs, but those have usually been in cases with a larger total than the one set for Game 4 of this Western Conference Series. Both teams have shown they can get something positive going Offensively and the lack of rest between games at this stage of the season means the Defensive players are being tested and that may give those with an Offensive mindset an opportunity to take over.

MY PICKS: 08/05 Philadelphia 76ers-New York Knicks Under 214 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

08/05 Minnesota Timberwolves + 4.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

09/05 Detroit Pistons + 4.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

09/05 Oklahoma City Thunder - 8.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

10/05 New York Knicks - 1 Point @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

10/05 Minnesota Timberwolves-San Antonio Spurs Over 218.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Second Round Update: 1-1, - 0.09 Units (2 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

First Round: 15-17, - 3.28 Units (32 Units Staked, - 10.25% Yield)

European Tour 6- Austrian Darts Open Day 1 Picks 2026 (Friday 8th May)

It is not a big surprise that some of the Premier League participants have decided to skip this European Tour event in a bid to remain fresh as the Premier League comes to a conclusion.

The absence of the likes of Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries will feel like it has created an open tournament, but there are some big names in quality form taking part over the weekend.

Day 1 is an opportunity for players to put a solid win on the board before going into the Day 2 Sessions against Seeded opponents and there are plenty of First Round matches to get through over two Sessions to open this tournament on Friday.

Kevin Doets to win & most 180s v Chris Landman: These two split two matches on the Tour last year, but Kevin Doets looks to have pushed on another level.

He won a Players Championship event earlier this week after reaching a couple of Semi Finals at those floor events in the previous week, while Doets has been putting together some solid form on the European Tour as well.

Chris Landman has been a bit more streaky and deserves his respect, but the power scoring of the Dutchman should be enough to see him win this match and the maximum count on the way through to the Second Round.

Joe Cullen - 1.5 legs v Robert Owen: You cannot always be sure what you are going to get from Joe Cullen, but he may just have enough in the locker to beat Roberto Owen in this First Round match.

Some decent runs were put together at the two Players Championship events earlier this week and Joe Cullen is familiar with the European Tour setting.

Ignoring some of the wins that Robert Owen has produced over the last couple of weeks would be a huge mistake- he has beaten the likes of Beau Greaves, Josh Rock and Danny Noppert on the floor. That is a level that makes him dangerous, but The Rock Star has been in decent form of his own and has the kind of scoring that can see him push clear.

Dirk van Duijvenbode to win & most 180s v Madars Razma: A four match losing run to this opponent was ended by Dirk van Duijvenbode earlier this week on the floor at Players Championship 13.

That can be franked in this opening Round at the Austrian Darts Open having had a stronger showing at Players Championship 14.

The Dutchman should always be the bigger maximum hitter of the two, but Madars Razma is a very capable player and will need to be respected.

Recent form has not been the most positive though and that can hold back Razma and allow Dirk van Duijvenbode to bull his way into the Second Round behind the heavier scoring power.

Micahel Smith to win & most 180s v Ian White: The Bully Boy is still throwing erratic darts, but he reached the Players Championship Final a couple of weeks ago and that will have reminded Michael Smith of the obvious qualities he has.

Two losses in three matches since that run at Players Championship 11 will have slowed some of the momentum, but veteran Ian White has been in poor overall form himself.

Ian White did Qualify for this event, but that was at the start of April and he has lost eight of the last twelve matches since then.

He can be a dangerous scorer, but so can Michael Smith when he does find some rhythm and the latter is going to need that to come to the fore in his bid to make the Second Round.

MY PICKS: Kevin Doets to Win & Most 180s @ 1.61 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Joe Cullen - 1.5 Legs @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Dirk van Duijvenbode to Win & Most 180s @ 1.66 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michael Smith to Win & Most 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 57-83, - 14.43 Units (137 Units Staked, - 10.53% Yield)

Premier League Darts Night 14 Picks 2026 (Thursday 7th May)

Three Nights remain on the Premier League tour before half of the field is eliminated and the pressure is on.

Two players have already Qualified for the Play Offs- both Jonny Clayton and Luke Littler deserve their spots at the O2 Arena having already produced over 30 points in the Premier League regular season.

A double digit gap then develops to Gerwyn Price, but he looks like he is a couple of wins away from joining Littler and Clayton, but that is when things become really interesting.

Michael van Gerwen is 4th, but he is only a couple of points clear of both Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries and there is a big opportunity for the latter two players on Night 14.

That is because the current top four are all in one half of the bracket, while Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen will be confident of adding at least two more points to the total. That would really build some momentum towards a top four finish, especially if Michael van Gerwen is to lose early, but of course both van Veen and Humphries have to deal with the pressure that they are currently under in their own bids for a Play Off place.

Gerwyn Price to win & both players over 1.5 180s v Jonny Clayton: There has been a number of close, competitive defeats to Gerwyn Price, but Jonny Clayton continues to find it difficult to get over the hump and beat his compatriot.

He does have one win over Price in the Premier League, but a couple more losses have been added to the head to head since then.

This is a tournament and format that Jonny Clayton loves and that has to be respected, as well as his continued strong scoring.

However, Gerwyn Price is a bit more desperate and continues to play strong stuff all around.

The last four Premier League efforts have been disappointing, but The Ice Man can find a way past his mate in this one and likely in a quality match where both do hit a couple of maximums on the time spent at the oche.

Luke Littler-Michael van Gerwen over 6.5 180s: The last couple of clashes between these players have produced some eye-catching numbers and this Quarter Final could be another.

The crowd are going to be on the side of the Dutchman with Littler's connections to Manchester United well known.

However, that has tended to fuel Luke Littler and the World Number 1 is usually pretty sharp on the maximum hitting.

Michael van Gerwen has found some heavy scoring against Littler in the last couple of matches and he will be disappointed to have lost the last three Premier League meetings. None have been in blowouts and these two players can put together at least nine or ten Legs, which will give them an opportunity to cover this total line set for the maximums.

Luke Humphries to win & both over 1.5 180s v Josh Rock: The extremely slow start to the Premier League was always going to be too much for Josh Rock to overcome, but he has at least shown what he is about over the last few weeks.

With three weeks left, Josh Rock still has a chance of avoiding finishing bottom of the pile and that has to give him some motivation.

He will be taking on the home favourite on Night 14 when going into the lion's den in Leeds against Luke Humphries, but Josh Rock has shown he can give as good as he gets in recent Premier League outings. Last week he pushed Luke Littler and he can do the same to a desperate Humphries who needs to rack up a few wins to avoid exiting the tournament before the Play Offs.

It would be a huge disappointment for the defending Champion to exit the 2026 Premier League in that manner, but Luke Humphries is still performing at a really good level. It is the doubling that has let him down, but Humphries can showcase a bit more scoring power than Josh Rock in winning this match, although both producing a couple of maximums en route is likely.

Gian van Veen to win & 1+ 100 Checkout v Stephen Bunting: Both of these players have been going through a bit of a rough patch, but Gian van Veen has shown signs of coming through that period.

He played well on Night 13 before losing to Luke Humphries in the Semi Final and van Veen has to be feeling healthier now.

Stephen Bunting's chances of reaching the Play Offs have all but faded as he continues to suffer too many early defeats, but he is dangerous and can produce the heavy scoring that will give him chances.

The superior finishing has come from Gian van Veen and combination finishing is something he is renowned for.

You can make the case for Bunting to do that too and so a single 100+ checkout in this match can be doubled up with an improving Gian van Veen to pick up two priceless points in what could be a pivotal night in the race for a place at the O2 Arena later this month.

MY PICKS: Gerwyn Price to Win & Both Over 1.5 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler-Michael van Gerwen Over 6.5 180s @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Both Over 1.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen to Win & 1+ 100 Checkouts @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 55-81, - 14.58 Units (133 Units Staked, - 10.96% Yield)

NBA Playoffs 2026- First Round Game 5-7 (Monday 27th April-Sunday 3rd May)

The First Round Series have provided plenty of drama and there are at least two Game 6s to be played in the Eastern Conference, while teams like the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets will be looking to push Series at least that far, even from 1-3 deficits to overcome.

Injuries are a crucial factor at this time of the season and we have seen a number of those really changing the narrative not only around the First Round Series to be played, but potentially much further into the Playoffs.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are reeling with both Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo expected to miss significant time and they will be looking to find a way past the Denver Nuggets. That likely means a Second Round Series against the San Antonio Spurs, who have just had Victor Wembanyama return from a concussion,

It might be the kind of situation that would suit the Spurs- if the Timberwolves can upset the Nuggets and move through, it is a more comfortable Series anyway, but a shorthanded Minnesota would be something San Antonio are really comfortable in facing before a potential Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City Thunder,

And if a healthier Los Angeles Lakers team moves into the Second Round, the Western Conference Bracket may actually shift in favour of the San Antonio Spurs.

Over in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics are doing what they do best and look to be cruising through to the Second Round.

They have a big chance to finish the First Round Series in Game 5, while the likes of the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers are all due to play a Game 6 at the minimum.

And that is if the Pistons are going to find a way to turn around a 1-2 deficit and make it through to the next Round.

Selections from the remainder of the First Round Series will be placed here as the Series come to a close, but those will begin on Tuesday after the Denver Nuggets were set as a big favourite to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves that have been ravaged by injury.

However, my concern is that the role players have a couple of big efforts in them to find a way to help the Timberwolves move through this Series.

If they are blown out, Minnesota might be set at a tempting line to cover as what is expected to be a home underdog in Game 6, but that is going to be answered following the Monday Game 4.

Tuesday 28th April

Philadelphia 76ers @ Boston Celtics Game 5 Pick: The return of Joel Embiid will have given the Philadelphia 76ers a lift and there was nothing wrong with his performance in Game 4.

Unfortunately for Embiid and his team, the Boston Celtics have not changed the approach taken and that means bludgeoning the 76ers from the three point distance.

Over the last few seasons, it has become clear that the Celtics will be happy to live and die by the three pointer with the full belief in the shooters and making those plays often enough to win games and, ultimately, Series. That looks unlikely to change and this Game 5 really comes down to whether you believe the 76ers can either restrict the Boston Celtics from finding their rhythm or, more likely, whether Philadelphia can find enough shots to keep up.

Nothing we have seen from this Series suggests anything other than another comfortable win for the Boston Celtics and they can come through Game 5 with another big win and a cover of the spread set.

Portland Trail Blazers @ San Antonio Spurs Game 5 Pick: Victor Wembanyama was back, but the San Antonio Spurs perhaps lost some focus in the first half of Game 4 as they looked to take control of this First Round Series.

There must have been words exchanged at half time because the Spurs came out with a lot more intensity in the second half and they crushed the Portland Trail Blazers at both ends of the court.

Home teams have tended to dominate Game 5s when it comes to the wins, but the cover rate is below 50%.

However, the Spurs are the second team liked in that spot and that is because they look like they are now settled into the post-season and the Portland Trail Blazers may struggle to be competitive enough at both ends of the court.

Respect has to be given to the Trail Blazers for the intensity, grit and determination taken into this season, the Play In Tournament and into this Series, but they are short of the required quality to match this deep Spurs team. Experience will give Portland plenty to take into the next season, but this one could come to a close as soon as Tuesday and the San Antonio Spurs may just end up pulling away as they have in the last couple of road wins to take control of this Series and for a place in the Western Conference Second Round.

Sunday 3rd May

Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons Game 7 Pick: You do have to wonder if the Orlando Magic are going to regret going absolutely ice-cold from the field in Game 6 of this First Round Series just when it looked like they were going to eliminate the top Seed in the Eastern Conference. This side of the bracket could have become wide open if the Magic and Toronto Raptors are able to upset higher Seeds, but both have to win a Game 7 on the road.

A couple of minutes into the Third Quarter of Game 6 at home, the Orlando Magic led the Detroit Pistons by 24 points.

For whatever reason, Orlando began to struggle and the fightback from the Detroit Pistons must have overwhelmed them as a 42-10 run turned things around.

The Magic finished with just 79 points in Game 6 having scored 62 early into the Third Quarter and the key in this one is making the adjustments to slow down the flow if things begin to work against them again. They have already won on the road at the Detroit Pistons in this Series, while one of the defeats was only by a 7 point margin and that should give the Magic some confidence, even if they have to shake off what happened in the last game.

For the Number 1 Seed, the situation will feel much more manageable having overcome staring into the abyss in Game 6 and using the home fans is so important. The Pistons have some Playoff experience and they will certainly take heart in the fact that the favourites have tended to win Game 7 in the First Round of the Playoffs.

Franz Wagner's absence will favour the Pistons, who have won both games he has missed in the First Round Series, but Orlando have to believe they showed enough physicality to give the Detroit Pistons trouble.

In saying all that, the collapse in Game 6 is the one that can stick with a team for a long time and that does make it harder to trust the Orlando Magic with little time to recover mentally and physically.

All of the pressure is on the Detroit Pistons, even now, and that could help the road team who many will believe have missed their best chance to eliminate this top Seed.

The Pistons will likely find a way to win, but the Magic are being given a lot of points in this Game 7 and the underdog is 11-8-1 against the spread in recent games in this situation.

Toronto Raptors @ Cleveland Cavaliers Game 7 Pick: The manner of the opening two defeats in this First Round Series suggested the higher Seeds were right in identifying the Toronto Raptors as one of the weaker teams that could be faced in the opening Playoff Series.

The Cleveland Cavaliers may certainly have believed that, but it is the Raptors who have won three of the next four games to force a Game 7.

They were without Brandon Ingram in Game 6, but that did not stop Toronto and they forced Overtime and ultimately outlasted Cleveland to hold serve and force this Game 7 on the road.

If they want to progress, the Raptors have to be the first in this Series to win a road game.

Confidence won't be an issue, even if Ingram is unable to suit up again, and the Toronto Raptors have to believe they have shown enough about how well they are matching up in the Series. They have fewer adjustments to make as we reach the decider in this Series and all of the pressure is on the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is something that the Raptors have to look to exploit.

After signing Donovan Mitchell to a big contract and then trading for James Harden, it is clear that the Cavaliers are all in on this season and losing in the First Round of the Playoffs will lead to massive questions to answer. Both players have had moments, but you can feel the pressure that is building on both and that is also leading to more pressure on the role players to step up.

Being at home should give the Cavaliers enough of an advantage to find a way through, but they are giving plenty of points to a team that have the momentum.

Like the other Game 7 being played on Sunday, the Cavaliers will know favourites have tended to win these deciders in First Round Series, but they are just 8-11-1 against the spread.

After the two opening 'blowouts', the Raptors have covered in the last four in a row and they can do that again in Game 7 even if they are ultimately eliminated.

MY PICKS: 28/04 Boston Celtics - 11.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

28/04 San Antonio Spurs - 11.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

03/05 Orlando Magic + 9.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

03/05 Toronto Raptors + 8 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

First Round Update: 15-17, - 3.28 Units (32 Units Staked, - 10.25% Yield)