NBA Playoffs 2026- Conference Finals Game 1-4 (Monday 18th May-Monday 25th May)

We are going to be down to the final four teams in the NBA once Game 7 of the Second Round Series between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers is played on Sunday night.

That does mean that the Western Conference Finals will begin first rather than the Eastern Conference Finals and Game 1-4 are played on alternate days.

All NBA fans have to be excited about the Western Conference Finals- the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs could build up a real rivalry over the next several years with two young rosters filled with some incredible talent.

The winner of the Western Conference Finals will be expected to be set as favourites in the NBA Finals, but the New York Knicks have produced some of the best basketball of this year's Playoffs and will certainly have something to say about that.

Twenty-seven years have passed since the Knicks last reached the NBA Finals and fifty-three since New York last won a NBA Championship, but they have won seven Playoff games in a row and mostly in supremely confident fashion.

Nothing can be taken for granted against whoever they face in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Knicks are going to be favourites and it is up to this team to manage the huge expectations that have been placed on their shoulders.

NBA Playoffs 2026- Conference Finals Game 1-4

Monday 18th May

San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1 Pick: This is the Western Conference Finals that fans would have wanted to see and the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to be favourites to move through to another NBA Finals.

They have breezed through the Playoffs without dropping a game, but this is going to be a significantly tougher Series.

However, that ability to make comfortable progress has meant the Oklahoma City Thunder are well rested and they are also expecting to have Jalen Williams available in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The depth of the Thunder has been a huge advantage over the rivals faced in the Playoffs so far, while Oklahoma City have been allowed to play with real physicality and that has seen them dominate the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.

Both of those teams were shorthanded, but that is not going to be the case in the Western Conference Finals and the San Antonio Spurs have to believe their own depth helps them match up well with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs may not have the MVP of the League on the roster, but they will believe Victor Wembanyama is the best player on the court all the same. Using the depth to keep themselves competitive when Wemby has to be given a rest is the key for the Spurs, and it remains an important factor that San Antonio won four of the five regular season meetings between the teams.

There has been nothing wrong with the Oklahoma City Defensive unit, but recent games have been tougher for them even if they should be stronger at home. They are going to need to play well on this side of the court against a San Antonio team that have been very strong Defensively and used that to wear down the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Second Round Series.

Some will like the fact that the Spurs have not lost a lot of rhythm by playing in the Second Round until Friday, but the Oklahoma City Thunder showed that rest will not bother them. You would expect the Thunder to find their rhythm at home pretty quickly, but the defending Champions will also want to make an early statement against a team that gave them so much trouble in the regular season.

This is the shortest spread that the Thunder will have faced in the post-season at home in 2026, but that is the kind of respect that the San Antonio Spurs.

In saying that, the Spurs may still feel they are being overlooked by having this many points given to them and the road team can be backed in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, which has all of the signs of being one that could potentially go all the way.

Tuesday 19th May

Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks Game 1 Pick: Twenty-seven years have passed since the New York Knicks last reached the NBA Finals and multiple generations have failed to see the team win the NBA Championship.

After what had been something of an inconsistent regular season and falling 2-1 behind in the First Round of the NBA Playoffs, the Knicks have found some of their best basketball. The momentum has grown as they have not only won seven straight Playoff games, but the Knicks completely overwhelmed the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers and fans will believe they won't have many better opportunities to reach the NBA Finals.

Last year the season ended in the Eastern Conference Finals after a Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers, but injuries had held the team back and the Knicks look to be heading into the 2026 Conference Finals in much better shape.

OG Anunoby missed some time in the Second Round sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers, but he has been back in full practice with the team giving him a big chance of recovering with the rest days they have had between Series. Karl-Anthony Towns is playing about as well as he ever has in the NBA, while Jalen Brunson is expected to enjoy this match up.

The Knicks have been underrated Defensively, while the three point shooting has been at historically strong levels in the previous two Rounds as the team have rallied together and found a really good rhythm.

One of the only concerns for the fans is that the long layoff between the end of the Second Round Series and the start of the Eastern Conference Finals could work against New York.

However, the Cleveland Cavaliers will come into the Conference Finals having had to dig in to beat the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 and that is the second Series in the post-season that has gone all the way. Donovan Mitchell stepped up to lead the Cavaliers into the Eastern Conference Finals, which is also the first time Mitchell will have been that far in the Playoffs, but the key starters who have all been so important for Cleveland have already had a lot of minutes in the post-season.

This is a Series that is also going to feel very different for the Cavaliers- this time they are facing an opponent that will believe they can match the Offensive firepower on the other side of the court. After seeing the barrage of three pointers that the Knicks have been connecting on, the pressure will be on Cleveland to find the energy to get out to those shooters, while a returning Anunoby gives the Knicks the kind of Defensive length and intensity to put plenty of pressure on the Cavaliers.

Big favourites and Game 1 home teams have struggled in recent Conference Finals Series, but in recent situations where the Number 3 Seed has been favoured by at least 3.5 points, those teams have tended to cover.

A number of adjustments are going to have to be made by the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals compared with what has come before, but this feels a tough spot for them with a day of rest between Game 7 of the Second Round Series and this opening contest.

It is a big spread, but the New York Knicks have a lot of momentum that could carry into the Eastern Conference Finals and they may find some three point shooting rhythm to cover at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

Wednesday 20th May

San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2 Pick: These two Western Conference rivals are expecting to battle one another for the next several years at the very top of the NBA and Game 1 suggests the Western Conference Finals could be an epic affair.

Double Overtime was needed before the San Antonio Spurs eventually prevailed thanks to a monster game from Victor Wembanyama.

For all intents and purposes, the Spurs fans will know the team have already achieved all they would have wanted from the first two games of the Series, but the players will feel there is an opportunity to really take control of this Conference Finals. Another win on the road would put the Spurs in a very strong position before returning home and they have shown they have what it takes to beat the defending Champions time and time again throughout this season.

Game 1 was won without De'Aaron Fox, who has to be considered Questionable for Game 2, but Wemby put the team on his back and had a big moment to level things up in the first Overtime played. His 41 Points alone would impress, but adding 24 Rebounds along with 3 Blocks and 3 Assists underlines the impact Victor Wembanyama had on the game as he became the youngest player to ever have at least 40 Points and 20 Rebounds in a Playoff game.

Asking for more of the same may be too much, but the San Antonio Spurs will feel Victor Wembanyama is the most impactful player on the court even if he did not win the MVP.

The player who did, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, produced an inefficient 24 Points in Game 1 as the Spurs crowded him, but that did mean the Oklahoma City Thunder had multiple open looks that were missed. Some will believe that is down to the fact they have won all eight Playoff Games and so had a lot of rest between the end of the Second Round Series and Game 1 of the Conference Finals, but you have to think the Thunder are confident that the shooters will be better when those looks come up again.

Oklahoma City's regular season record against the Spurs will put them under some pressure, but they are the defending Champions and a response is expected.

Once again they are being asked to cover a big spread, which has not been a good position for favourites in the Conference Finals, but teams playing after a loss are 34-19-1 against the spread at this stage of the post-season.

Big favourites have struggled in the Conference Finals, but Number 1 Seeds have a 21-14 record against the spread when favoured by at least 6.5 points and this Thunder team have the experience and the quality to find a way to bounce back.

The Spurs covered as a big underdog, but that has not always been a good spot for the Number 2 Seed in the Conference Finals and those teams being given at least 5 points are now 7-16 against the spread.

Opposing the Spurs is not easy considering how they have matched up with the Thunder all season, but Oklahoma City may be facing a team that could soon turn their attention to 'holding serve' at home having already stolen home court advantage away. If that is going to happen, Game 2 looks the spot and the Thunder should be a little more efficient with the looks they missed out on last time out, which should see them edge past this spread line set.

Thursday 21st May

Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks Game 2 Pick: Most of the attention is going to be focusing on the New York Knicks after putting together a historic comeback that will have fans believing destiny is with them as they bid to return to the NBA Finals for the first time in twenty-seven years.

They were 22 points behind with less than eight minutes remaining and no one would have given the Knicks a shot at recovering.

Instead the team rallied to force Overtime and overwhelmed the Cleveland Cavaliers to produce the biggest comeback in the history of the New York Knicks as far as the post-season goes, while also being the second biggest deficit clawed back in the Fourth Quarter of any Playoff game in the last thirty years.

The number crunchers gave the Knicks a 0.1% chance of winning with a little over half of the Fourth Quarter remaining, but somehow it is New York who have a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Jalen Brunson put the team on his back and could not miss, but there were also key contributions from three point shooters who had been ice cold for the first three Quarters. Some of that is clearly down to the big gap between games, but the Knicks found their rhythm just in time and all of the momentum is with a team that have won eight straight Playoff games.

Credit has to be given to New York for the fight shown, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are rightly going to be facing criticism.

James Harden was exposed time and time again on the Defensive side of the court as the Knicks turned up the heat, which also impacted his level on the Offensive side as he was worn down. Donovan Mitchell had been playing really well, but drifted out of the game as the Cavaliers looked for someone to take control, although he has played down an injury concerns.

And Head Coach Kenny Atkinson has had to face the critics having failed to use his Timeouts in a bid to at least curtail the Knicks run in the Fourth Quarter when almost everyone else would have used them, even just to slow the clear momentum shift.

Adjustments will have to be made by the Cavaliers, but they have responded to adversity throughout these Playoffs and that makes them dangerous- yes, they did lose two in a row at the Detroit Pistons to open the Second Round Series, but the Cavaliers won road games in Game 5 and Game 7 to show they can come through difficult, hostile environments.

However, there has to be a concern about the way things went at the end of Game 1 and the relative lack of recovery time before the teams face off again in Game 2 at The Garden.

Open shooters will have to be more clinical with those opportunities, while Mitchell cannot allow himself to become a non-factor as he did in the second half of the Fourth Quarter and in Overtime in Game 1.

The challenge for the Cavaliers is knowing that this New York Knicks team had been completely out of sync for so long in Game 1 that they should have won on the road, while now they are dealing with a team that did find rhythm with their shots. The three point shooting has been eye-catching in this Playoff run, but the Knicks have so much room for improvement from the Tuesday efforts that they feel very, very dangerous if the Cavaliers do not come out with a point to prove.

Big favourites have found it tough in the Conference Finals, while teams playing after a loss have bounced back effectively, which are both trends favouring the road team.

Game 2s have tended to be very good for home teams after a win with those putting together an 8-5 run against the spread and the New York Knicks have to believe the manner of the opening win is going to have a hangover effect on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

It is imperative the Knicks come out fast and use the emotion of the crowd to get on top of the Cavaliers as early as they can and, if they can do that, they should have a better shooting day with some of the looks they saw in Game 1 to believe they can win and take a 2-0 lead in the Series with a cover of the spread line set.

Friday 22nd May

Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs Game 3 Pick: They did what they needed to during a two game road business trip to Oklahoma City, but it has come at a cost for the San Antonio Spurs.

De'Aaron Fox was already missing and another primary ball-handler in Dylan Harper suffered an injury in the Third Quarter of Game 2, which ultimately tipped things in favour of the defending Champions. Turnovers killed the San Antonio Spurs with Stephon Castle being most guilty and they are going to be desperate to have at least one of Fox or Harper available for Game 3 as the Western Conference Finals shifts to San Antonio for the next two in the Series.

Every team needs players who can bring the ball up the court and create plays and San Antonio are no different- after the Double Overtime win in Game 1 behind a monster game from Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs best player was not as influential a factor in Game 2 and some of that is down to the inability of those outside of De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper being able to set the tempo with turning the ball over.

Turnovers have long been situations from which the Oklahoma City Thunder shine and most would have expected a big response from this group after losing Game 1.

Shai-Gilgeous Alexander had a really efficient day from the field, even if his flopping on almost every shot taken is beginning to be noted more and more, while the intensity of the team meant they were not outgunned on the boards for a second time in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder were out-Rebounded in Game 2, but by a 4 board margin rather than the 21 more recoveries earned by the Spurs in Game 1.

It wasn't a perfect night for the Thunder, who may have lost Jalen Williams to another injury, while there have been plenty flagging up some of the physical, rough-housing the officials either missed or ignored against Victor Wembanyama.

On San Antonio's home court, those calls may end up trending in favour of the Spurs and it does make Game 3 that much more interesting for viewers.

In recent years, the Conference Finals have seen the zig-zag theory working really well with teams coming off losses producing strong numbers in the next game. The San Antonio Spurs will be hoping another day of recovery will help them here and you would expect De'Aaron Fox to suit up having been a game-time decision on Wednesday.

That will help, as will a few more positive calls from the officials, but this Oklahoma City Thunder deep have showcased the kind of depth they have.

Number 2 Seeds have been solid backs when favoured in Conference Finals games, while it should also be noted that Number 1 Seeds have not performed well as small favourites or underdogs, which is what the Oklahoma City Thunder have been set as in this important Game 3 battle.

Instead of picking a side, it may pay for this one to end up surpassing a total that has moved up a couple of points compared with Game 2.

That opening Double Overtime Game 1 has sapped some early energy and we saw signs of that in Game 2, while the officials may be more on top of some of the physicality we have seen where obvious fouls were not being called. Those have been highlighted nationally and it could be a Game 3 where whistles are more frequent, which in turn leads to drawn out Quarters as teams head to the Foul Line.

Three point shooting was more efficient in Game 2 as the Defensive players perhaps struggled to get out to those spot up shooters with tired legs recovering from the opening outing in the Western Conference Finals.

If that continues, this line may still be a touch low and it should be stated that Conference Finals games where the total has been set between 209 and 216 points have now finished with an 'over' in twenty-five of the last thirty-six occasions that has happened, including in Game 2 of this Series.

Turnovers lead to quick points too and the Spurs could be guilty of that again, but the home team are also showing they can break down this Oklahoma City Defensive scheme and this total may end up being surpassed in a Game 3 that really feels like it is finely balanced.

MY PICKS: 18/05 San Antonio Spurs + 6.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

19/05 New York Knicks - 6.5 Points @ 1.83 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

20/05 Oklahoma City Thunder - 6.5 Points @ 2.00 William Hill (1 Unit)

21/05 New York Knicks - 6 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

22/05 San Antonio Spurs-Oklahoma City Thunder Over 216 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Conference Finals: 3-0, + 2.74 Units (3 Units Staked, + 91.33% Yield)

Second Round: 5-8, - 3.45 Units (13 Units Staked, - 26.54% Yield)

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

NBA Playoffs 2026- Second Round Picks Game 5-7 (Tuesday 12th May-Monday 18th May)

The First Round produced a number of tough, gruelling Series, but it has been a different story in the Second Round.

My New York Knicks have continued to impress and have swept past the Philadelphia 76ers to reach the Eastern Conference Finals again and the experiences from last year are expected to help this team.

For most of the fans, the NBA Finals has to be the minimum aim and winning the NBA Cup earlier in the season raised expectations- the performances in the Playoffs have been even more impressive since falling 2-1 behind in the First Round and seven straight wins means the Knicks will be confident whether they play the Detroit Pistons or the Cleveland Cavaliers, which is a Series that is definitely reaching Game 5.

The Western Conference Series between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves is the only one that is definitely going to need a Game 6, at least at the time of writing.

A long Series likely benefits the Oklahoma City Thunder, even if they are forced into a Game 5 in their own Series against the Los Angeles Lakers, but they should be awaiting the winner of the other Second Round Series in the West and the defending Champions still look the team to beat.

The selections from Game 5-7 of the Second Round Series still being played will be placed in this thread and then a new thread will begin this weekend when the Conference Finals are hoping to begin.

Tuesday 12th May

Minnesota Timberwolves @ San Antonio Spurs Game 5 Pick: Playoff Games are always going to have factors that can determine the outcome of a contest, which are almost impossible to predict for the watching fans.

One is clearly injury related- losing a big name in the middle of a Playoff Game and within a Series can tip things one way or the other very quickly.

The other is teams beginning to get fed up of one another and a growing dislike leading to ejections.

Without a doubt, Game 4 of this Western Conference Series will have been massively impacted by the Victor Wembanyama ejection in the Second Quarter.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took advantage by attacking the rim and using their bigger players inside the paint as they rallied for a win over the San Antonio Spurs. Players in Timberwolves uniform admitted that the absence of Wemby on the court helped them game plan much more effectively and the momentum is back with Minnesota, even if they have to replicate Game 1 and win one on the road.

The expectation is that the League is not going to suspend Victor Wembanyama for another game, but will see the relatively early ejection in Game 4 as being enough punishment.  Even without him on the court, the San Antonio Spurs showed some of the depth on the roster with other stepping up and that will mean the Number 2 Seed should still be operating with a lot of confidence.

Head Coach Mitch Johnson was highly critical of the physicality the officials are allowing the Timberwolves to play with and he refused to blame Victor Wembanyama, although privately you have to expect him to try and make sure his superstar remains as composed as possible. The Timberwolves are going to feel they have found a chink in the armour of the Spurs' best player and you have to expect them to throw bodies at him again and hope to reel in another mistake.

Minnesota also have to be really happy with the level that Anthony Edwards is producing and it is important for the road team to find a way to get the supporting cast going on the road.

The last time they played in this building, Head Coach Chris Finch stated his team had been 'punked' and it is crucial for the Timberwolves to come out with real intensity.

You have to expect a fired up crowd, but more worrying is going to be the focus and threat of Victor Wembanyama who is going to want to dominate and make up for the error of judgment he had in Game 4.

Standing in the way of that is never an easy decision with superstars routinely making it their whole focus to bounce back when they feel they have not had their best outing or let their teammates down.

It is easy to see a situation in which the Spurs come out hard and fast and blow Minnesota away, but three of the four games have been highly competitive and the Timberwolves have won here already in this Series. They will need to make some adjustments to deal with the Wemby presence, but Minnesota have to be excited by what Anthony Edwards is bringing onto the court and that could see them keep this one competitive.

Big home favourites have not been the best to back in recent NBA Playoff Second Round Series, while those favoured by at least 5.5 points in Game 5 are on a run of 12-19 against the spread.

Any home team favoured by at least 8.5 points are now on a run of 11-23 against the spread in the Second Round (3-2 against the spread this season) and, while there are a couple of solid trends that land in favour of this angry San Antonio team, the Timberwolves can make use of the amount of points being handed to them in this Game 5.

Wednesday 13th May

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons Game 5 Pick: Momentum is back with the Cleveland Cavaliers after holding serve twice at home, but they still have to do something they have not managed to do in the post-season to this point... Win on the road.

Six wins have been produced at home having taking Game 3 and Game 4 against the Detroit Pistons, but the two earlier road losses means the Cavaliers have lost all five road Playoff games played.

Simply put, the Cavaliers will not be able to progress without beating the Pistons at least once on the road and they have an attempt at doing that in Game 5.

Donovan Mitchell came alive in the second half of Game 4 to swing things back in favour of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he will need some of the teammates to step up in these road atmospheres. It has long been a feature of the Playoffs that players have had vastly different experiences when playing at home and on the road, but that is especially the case for the role players who try and aid the superstar.

The Cavaliers have struggled in the main and the losses have piled up, but they will feel they have found a formula for success in the last two games at home and building on that is the key.

For the top Seed, two road losses in relatively close contests will hurt, but the Detroit Pistons have to believe there are 'easier' adjustments to be made when returning home.

The bench stepped up in Game 4, but the starters all had their problems and that should be easier to clean up in front of the home fans.

Cade Cunningham does need to see one or two of the other starters to pick up their level, but he will be encouraged by the support of the bench and the Detroit Pistons should feel more comfortable at home.

Perhaps more importantly, the officials are less likely to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere as the Pistons have felt they have been in the two road defeats.

Head Coach JB Bickerstaff made his feelings clear about what he felt was home officiating by mentioning the huge disparity in the Free Throw numbers awarded in Game 4 and it was clear that made a difference in the outcome of a close game. He even mentioned the fact that he feels the whistles against his team have become more frequent because of comments made by Cleveland Head Coach Kenny Atkinson, but the home crowd are going to be on top of the officials in this one and that could even things up.

If they are even on the Free Throw attempts, you have to give the Detroit Pistons a slight edge.

Defensively they have shown they can slow down this Cleveland team for long enough to hold them off and the Pistons are in a decent enough spot as a relatively small home favourite in Game 5.

It should also be noted that teams who lost Game 4 by at least seven points have bounced back in recent years to produce a 19-7 record against the spread in Game 5 and the Detroit Pistons can remind all about their prospects by winning and covering to take a lead in this Second Round Series with two games left to play.

Friday 15th May

Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers Game 6 Pick: Much like the Orlando Magic in the First Round Series, there is now going to be a question about the top Seed Detroit Pistons and how much they have left to battle back after blowing a big lead in Game 5 of this Second Round Series.

With time running down at the end of the Fourth Quarter and with a 9 point lead, the Detroit Pistons had to have felt that they were about to take a 3-2 lead in this back and forth Series.

Instead they went ice cold from the field and allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to not only rally to force Overtime, but then continue the momentum early into that period to take a lead that they were able to manage to the end of the game.

And just like that, the Cavaliers have won on the road for the first time in the Playoffs and return home on Friday with an opportunity to book their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

All of the momentum is with the Cleveland Cavaliers who had 15 fewer shots than the Detroit Pistons in Game 5, but once again dominated the number of Free Throws being taken. The Cavaliers have rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in this Second Round Series and all of the adjustments have to be made by the Detroit Pistons.

The four key starters of the Cavaliers all had big outings in Game 5, but the team also had a big impact off the bench from Max Strus- the real concern for the Pistons was going to be trying to match the Offensive power Cleveland has on the court and that has proven to be the difference.

Cade Cunningham did all he could to help his team, but the other four starters had just 47 points combined to add to the 39 he was scoring himself. There was a hope that Jalen Duren would eventually produce his regular season form in the post-season, but he has continued to struggle and there is now a real question for the Pistons to answer about his suitability to start Game 6.

Something has to change for the Pistons if they are going to force a Game 7 back at home this weekend, but it is a big ask.

Underdogs have played well in Game 6 in recent Second Round Series, but three losses in a row have shifted all momentum to the lower Seed who will feel this is their one big opportunity to progress to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Top Seeds set as underdogs have a losing record in recent Second Round Series in that spot and the Pistons are 0-2 against the spread in that situation within this one.

The Pistons have shown all season how good they can be, but this may go down as a learning experience in the post-season and the Cleveland Cavaliers have the firepower to close things out in front of the home fans.

San Antonio Spurs @ Minnesota Timberwolves Game 6 Pick: Everyone was expecting a big reaction from Victor Wembanyama after his Game 4 ejection, but seemingly the memo was not read by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Another slow start cost them Game 5 and Wembanyama had a dominant impact to help the San Antonio Spurs take a 3-2 lead in this Second Round Series and look to close things out as soon as Friday.

Winning on the road is never easy, but the Spurs have done that once already in this Series and were beaten in the other outing in Minnesota when Wemby was ejected before the end of the first half.

Close out spots have tended to be more comfortable for road teams and the Spurs look to have the momentum to make sure they can do that here and avoid the pressure on a Game 7. Instead they will want to make sure they are as energetic as they can be for what is looking like becoming a top Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Timberwolves are going to have something to say about that and the extra day between games for the first time in this Series can only help them as they look to make some adjustments. Having that time for Anthony Edwards to rest his knee can only be a positive, but the Timberwolves need to find some solid, consistent support for the best player on the roster, much as San Antonio did in Game 5 to back up Victor Wembanyama.

Role players do tend to find things a bit more comfortable at home, while the Minnesota fanbase is going to be right behind a team that have earned Playoff upsets before and have the experience of overcoming the odds.

It certainly makes the Timberwolves dangerous, but the San Antonio Spurs have an experience of the atmosphere that is going to be facing them and they will feel they have been the better team in the Series since dropping Game 1. Having players like De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle producing some quality basketball without Wemby in Game 4 will only have given the Spurs that much more confidence and they have it within themselves to win for a second time on the road.

As mentioned, Game 6 of the Second Round Series have leaned in favour of the underdog, but like the Eastern Conference Series that has played out this far, the feeling is that the favourite in Game 6 may have broken the back of the Series with a Game 5 win.

Big road favourites have not always been the best to back in the Second Round Series, but those teams are 2-2 against the spread in 2026 and one of those defeats was Game 4 of this Series, which shifted significantly after the Wemby ejection.

Assuming he keeps his cool, Victor Wembanyama can erase memories of that Game 4 by leading the Spurs to a big win and a place in the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017 when they were swept by the Golden State Warriors.

Sunday 17th May

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons Game 7 Pick: This has been an incredibly difficult Second Round Series to call and even when you think you have gotten to grips with it, something changes the narrative.

It really felt the big Game 5 comeback and win in Overtime had given the Cleveland Cavaliers all of the momentum in the Series with three straight wins behind them and a home game to earn a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers had not lost a home game in the post-season, but they were blown away by the top Seeded Detroit Pistons who have won an elimination game for the fourth time already in the 2026 Playoffs.

The Cavaliers also played a Game 7 elimination game in the First Round, but that was at home and this is going to be a tough spot for an experienced team.

Experience can also mean previous poor experience and that is the case for Donovan Mitchell who has been the focus of some of the criticism for the Game 6 defeat on Friday night- he has never been part of a team that has missed the Playoffs, but Mitchell has yet to reach the Conference Finals in either the East or West, while he has been on a team that has lost six straight Game 6s after the defeat at home.

James Harden was brought into Cleveland for situations like this, but Donovan Mitchell has long been the key for the Cavaliers and he has to have a big outing if the Number 4 Seed are going to earn the spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.

All of the questions will be posed for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Detroit Pistons are trying to downplay the pressure that may still be on their shoulders.

The team continue to suggest the 2026 Playoffs are an experience builder, but they will be extremely disappointed if they were to lose the last two home games and fail to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

Winning on the road in the manner they did on Friday has to give the team belief, while Cade Cunningham will be very happy to see a couple of key starting teammates find some form. The Pistons know what they are going to get from Cunningham, but the likes of Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson have to ride the momentum of Game 6 and bring some of that Offensive firepower into this deciding contest.

Doing that will put the Pistons in a strong position as they continue to show up Defensively and that may be the key in Game 7 on Sunday.

Favourites have struggled in Game 7 of recent Second Round Series, but the team that have won Game 6 have a 10-3 record against the spread in this 'winner takes all' game.

You have to expect a big reaction from the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Detroit Pistons should have beaten them here in Game 5 and they may do just enough to do that in what should be a tense, loud atmosphere in the home Arena.

MY PICKS: 12/05 Minnesota Timberwolves + 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

13/05 Detroit Pistons - 3.5 Points @ 1.90 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

15/05 Cleveland Cavaliers - 3.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

15/05 San Antonio Spurs - 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

17/05 Detroit Pistons - 4.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Second Round Update: 5-7, - 2.45 Units (12 Units Staked, - 20.42% Yield)

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

Monday 11th May

Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers Game 4 Pick: They were poised to become the third team holding a 3-0 lead in the NBA Playoffs Second Round Series, but a big James Harden bucket helped the Cleveland Cavaliers hold off the Detroit Pistons and bring themselves back into this Eastern Conference Series.

No team in NBA history has recovered from 3-0 behind in a best of seven Playoff Series, but hosting Game 4 with an opportunity to level things up before heading back to Detroit will have everyone feeling better.

Of course there is still some real pressure on the Cleveland Cavaliers knowing a defeat on Monday would mean having to win three games in a row and twice in Detroit to move into the Eastern Conference Finals.

They will be hoping that James Harden can back up the hot shooting of Donovan Mitchell, but the Cavaliers will also appreciate that a lot had to go right for them in Game 3. They had a huge lead at half time, but the Detroit Pistons ground them down and had all of the momentum with time running out in the Fourth Quarter, although ultimately coming up short.

Out of the two teams, there has been a bit more efficiency from the Pistons, while they have the size and intensity around the boards to win those Rebounding numbers and offer the team a chance of earning the road upset. They will regret the Second Quarter when falling into a big hole, but the Pistons have shown enough to believe that small adjustments can be made to turn the tables after a game in which they may feel a big opportunity slipped past them.

Recent Second Round Playoff trends have shown Game 4 to be a time when the Game 3 winner has pressed home the advantage, while those leading in the Series have struggled against the spread. Those are all factors moving against the Detroit Pistons, but the layers have shrunk the line in this one and that is the kind of respect that has been earned by the top Seed in the Conference.

Instead of picking a side, backing this game to hit the under may be the better approach.

Both teams have shown they can pick up the Defensive intensity and games played after a margin of victory less than double digits have a strong lean towards the 'under' play.

Prior to Game 3, the under had come out on top twice in a row and this may end up being another scrap between these rivals, which ends up seeing the Defensive units make enough stops to prevent this total being surpassed.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Los Angeles Lakers Game 4 Pick: The story of this Second Round Series has felt very similar in each of the three games played so far- the Los Angeles Lakers have hung around for a while and caused problems, but the consistency of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the younger legs have seen them put together enough runs to produce comfortable victories.

That was how Game 3 played out and the Lakers are now on the brink of elimination after the excitement of mid-season about what was being put together.

Injuries are always a factor, but losing Luka Doncic is a monster blow for the Lakers and he is almost certainly going to be missing in Game 4. LeBron James and Austin Reaves are doing what they can, but the lack of a third member of the status of Doncic has made it really difficult when the Lakers run into some cold patches, while the turnovers continue to haunt them.

There has been little wrong with the scheming as the Lakers have managed to slow Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

However, Ajay Mitchell has stepped up into his current role and Chet Holmgren continues to be a real nuisance, while the depth of this Thunder team is underrated.

Wins by 18, 18 and 23 points means the Oklahoma City Thunder have won all seven Playoff games played in this post-season run and they will be keen to end this Series as soon as Monday.

You have to anticipate one last big gasp from the Lakers in the bid to at least force a Game 5 back on the road, but they put in a big effort on Saturday and were still unable to play clean enough for long enough to steal a game away from the Thunder. Outside of a perfect performance and a distracted Oklahoma City team, it is really difficult to see the Lakers putting enough together to avoid another big defeat.

Road favourites of 4.5 points or larger have not had an easy time in recent Second Round Playoff Series, but the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have both covered in that spot.

The Thunder hit a total in Game 3 which has usually meant the next game has been a struggle to cover and this is a big line, but all of the momentum is with the defending Champions and they should be able to put the runs together to eventually pull clear of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Favourites and Game 3 winners both have solid covering records against the spread when it comes to Game 4 and it is tough to see how the Series shifts for the Lakers having seen what we have in the opening three games.

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)

11/05 Cleveland Cavaliers-Detroit Pistons Under 213 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

11/05 Oklahoma City Thunder - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Second Round Update: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

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