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)

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.

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)

European Tour 5- European Darts Grand Prix Day 2 Picks (Saturday 18th April)

The top Seeds are all due out on Saturday when the Second Round of this European Tour 5 event is played across two Sessions.

There are some good looking matches set to head out and the fans are in for a fun day with plenty of home players also in action.

Kevin Doets to win & most 180s v Jermaine Wattimena: This is a clash between two friends, but Kevin Doets has been getting the better of Jermaine Wattimena in recent meetings.

Kevin Doets is clearly in the stronger form over the last month, and he can build on that with the superior scoring likely to be a factor.

The maximums have been coming thick and fast for Doets and that could be a key to getting past Wattimena again.

Wessel Nijman - 1.5 legs v Ryan Searle: You can never dismiss the chances of a World Championship Semi Finalist, but Ryan Searle would be the first to admit that Wessel Nijman is playing the best darts on the floor this year.

He has taken a couple of heavy losses to the young Dutchman over the last twelve months and Ryan Searle may struggle to make his Seeding count in this one.

The consistency of Wessel Nijman can see him find a way to come through without the need to be dragged into a final Leg decider.

Josh Rock to win & most 180s v Keane Barry: Any player who has a win under their belt ahead of the Second Round at any European Tour event is to be respected.

Keane Barry has played some solid darts in 2026, but there are real signs that Josh Rock is warming up with his Premier League form improving.

Outside of that tournament, the Northern Irishman has produced much stronger results consistently and Josh Rock could have too much scoring for Keane Barry in the last match of the Afternoon Session.

Gerwyn Price to win & over 2.5 180s v Dave Chisnall: He did not look at his best in Rotterdam on Thursday, but another couple of days should have seen Gerwyn Price move through the illness that kept him out of both Players Championship tournaments earlier this week.

He was scoring well enough on Thursday, but Luke Littler had a bit too much.

This is unlikely to be the case from an inconsistent Dave Chisnall and Price should have too much for the opponent in this Second Round.

The only risk with adding at least 180s to be scored by Gerwyn Price is that Chisnall has been playing poorly enough to fall away without pushing the Welshman too deep.

Nathan Aspinall to win & most 180s v Jeffrey de Zwaan: After winning European Tour 4, a well rested Nathan Aspinall can make a solid start to the next big event he has entered.

His maximum hitting has not been an issue over the last several months, but Aspinall can be wasteful on the doubling, which has prevented him from having deep runs at the Majors.

Jeffrey de Zwaan should be respected, but he has been in mixed form over the last couple of months and the higher Ranked player can complete the Match Double in this Second Round match.

Joe Cullen v Gian van Veen: The latter is playing in the Premier League, but Gian van Veen has not been playing at his best over the last month.

He is still a quality operator and is rightly favoured, but Joe Cullen has a habit of lifting his game against the better players and looks a big price for the upset.

Recent form has not exactly been inspiring, but Joe Cullen is a streaky player and looked in decent shape in the First Round.

Of course he is going to have to be better if he is to upset one of the top players on the Tour, but Cullen has beaten Gian van Veen in each of the last four meetings- two of those were played last year and the World Number 32 could find a way in this best of eleven Leg format.

MY PICKS: Kevin Doets to Win & Most 180s @ 2.40 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Wessel Nijman - 1.5 Legs @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Josh Rock to Win & Most 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Most 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Joe Cullen @ 3.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

European Darts Grand Prix: 1-3, - 2 Units (4 Units Staked, - 33.33% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2026 (Thursday 16th April)

There may have been plenty of matches scheduled on Wednesday, but enough doubt around the majority of them meant a single selection was made.

Rafael Jodar came through some tough moments to earn his straight sets win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli for the second time in this clay court season and Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the Barcelona tournament means all eyes will be on the other young Spaniard who is now beginning to make headlines.

He will have to wait until Friday before the Quarter Final matches begin, but Thursday is all about completing the Second Round matches across the various tournaments being played this week.

Once again a number of matches have come close to being selected, but ultimately have not quite convinced enough and that means going with two selections from the ATP Munich event.

Francisco Cerundolo - 3.5 games v Botic van de Zandschlup: The move into the clay court season means there is limited samples of how players are performing, but some are more comfortable on the red dirt compared with others.

The World Number 19 Francisco Cerundolo is one of the more comfortable clay courters and tends to take in the South American Golden Swing in between the Australian Open and the big hard court events in North America in March. That was the case again in 2026 and Cerundolo does win plenty of matches on the clay, which is a solid reason behind his overall World Ranking mark.

A title has been won on the surface earlier this year, but Francisco Cerundolo suffered a relatively early loss in the opening tournament played on the European clay courts.

A comfortable win in the First Round against a Lucky Loser has taken Francisco Cerundolo through to this Round and he is the right favourite in this match.

You have to have respect for the early clay court form shown by Botic van de Zandschlup who reached the Semi Final in Budapest and who has another win under his belt here in Munich. However, it should also be noted that the 30 year old has yet to face anyone Ranked higher than World Number 60 on the surface and his numbers in recent years suggest the current level is unlikely to be sustained through the two big Masters events coming up before the French Open.

This is a player that has been pretty reliant on his serve, but that cannot be the case on the clay courts and that is where Francisco Cerundolo should have the edge.

He has won the two previous meetings between the players and both on the hard courts in 2025.

Francisco Cerundolo did not drop a set in either of those two matches and his confidence on the red dirt should make sure he is in a position to move into the Quarter Final behind another strong win against this opponent.

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 games v Gabriel Diallo: The most consistent Grand Slam success produced by Alexander Zverev has been at the French Open and he was leading Carlos Alcaraz in the Final of that Slam two years ago before eventually being beaten in five sets.

There is no doubt that Alexander Zverev will be heading to Paris as one of the favourites, although at the same time most would have Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner significantly shorter prices in the outright markets.

Yet another defeat to the new World Number 1 at the Monte Carlo Masters underlines the challenges that face Alexander Zverev when it comes to finally winning a Grand Slam. The feeling remains that the window has closed barring unexpected defeats for the top two players in the world, but Zverev cannot think like that and the Semi Final run in Monte Carlo is a reminder of his qualities.

Alexander Zverev is expected to have too much for Gabriel Diallo in this Second Round contest in Munich, especially as the World Number 37 has had limited success on the surface.

He took advantage of a Lucky Loser spot to enter the main draw at the Madrid Masters in 2025 and Gabriel Diallo reached the Quarter Final at that ATP 1000 event. However, Diallo will have to accept that he was given a pretty kind draw and the Canadian was just 3-5 on the clay court outside of that run in Madrid.

Opening defeats in Bucharest and Monte Carlo will have done little for the confidence and Gabriel Diallo beat a Qualifier Ranked outside the top 200 in the First Round here in Munich.

Suffice to say that this Second Round match is a significant step upwards and Gabriel Diallo was well beaten by Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open back in January. That was a First Round match played on a surface that would suit Diallo more than the clay courts here in Munich and it may be a tough ask to stick with the top Seed in this ATP 500 tournament.

MY PICKS: Francisco Cerundolo - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Weekly Update: 1-0, + 0.91 Units (1 Unit Staked, + 91% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2026 (Wednesday 15th April)

The clay court season has gotten underway earlier this month, but a decision was made to skip making any Tennis Picks at the Monte Carlo Masters.

There are plenty of big events to be completed before we get to the French Open at the end of the month and there are three 500 level events this week in Barcelona, Munich and Stuttgart with some big names on both the ATP and WTA Tour in action.

It should be remembered that there are still plenty of clay court specialists out there and those have to be respected, while some top names are much more comfortable on the faster surfaces rather than the red dirt.

We have already seen another meltdown from Daniil Medvedev last week in Monte Carlo, while some of the top American names are skipping some of this part of the season knowing they are much more dangerous when it comes to the hard or grass courts. Others that are playing become vulnerable to the upsets that the layers may not always price up as they should and so there is a lot of consideration given to a number of factors that can change the selection.

Taking note of the kind of clay court tournaments coming up is also important- the Madrid Masters plays very different to the other clay events and the French Open and tends to throw up many more upsets than most events at this time of the season. Conditions tend to see the ball fly that much quicker through the air and the surface so that may be another event which needs to be watched, rather than having multiple selections made, but that is something to consider when the tournament comes around next week.

A decent start to the season took a knock in March with the Indian Wells and Miami Masters both getting the better of the selections.

Overall we have to be happy with where the numbers currently stand, but building momentum towards the French Open is important and that is the focus over the next six weeks until the second Grand Slam of the season gets underway.

Rafael Jodar - 4.5 games v Camilo Ugo Carabelli: After the retirement of Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz has become the poster boy for Spanish Tennis, but there is another Rafael making his way up the World Rankings.

19 year old Rafael Jodar may not have made the early waves of Alcaraz, but he is operating at a career best World Number 55 after winning the title in Marrakech earlier this month. A Wild Card has been handed to him to take his place in this ATP 500 event in Barcelona and the same can be expected at the ATP 1000 event in Madrid and Rafael Jodar could make significant leaps in the World Rankings right through the French Open.

He has played well on the hard courts as well as the more natural clay and that makes this teenager someone to keep an eye on.

Veteran Jaume Munar was dismissed in the First Round very comfortably and Rafael Jodar is a pretty significant favourite in this match up against Camilo Ugo Carabelli.

The 26 year old Argentinian is the World Number 43 and like many of his compatriots, Camilo Ugo Carabelli is very comfortable on the red dirt. Earlier this season he won a Challenger event in Argentina and later reached the Quarter Final at the ATP 250 tournament held in Buenos Aires.

Early losses in Rio de Janeiro and Santiago will have been a disappointment during the South American Golden Swing, but Camilo Ugo Carabeli reached the Semi Final in Marrakech to boost confidence.

That run was ended by Rafael Jodar as they prepare to meet for a second time on the clay this month, and the real test for Camilo Ugo Carabelli is whether he can find a way to get his teeth into the Jodar serve. It was a problem in Marrakech with Ugo Carabelli creating just 2 Break Points in a straight sets defeat as he struggled to make an impact on either the first or second serve return.

While only a small sample, Rafael Jodar's serving in his six clay courts matches in 2026 has been really impressive and he has backed that up by keeping the pressure on opponents with his return.

If Camilo Ugo Carabelli can get his first serve rhythm going, he can be dangerous and put some pressure on the younger player. However, the second serve can be a real weakness and Ugo Carabelli was broken four times when these players met in Morocco.

Winning just three games again is unlikely, but Camilo Ugo Carabelli may struggle to still cover this spread set for the Second Round match in Barcelona.

MY PICKS: Rafael Jodar - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Season 2026: 93-80, + 9.20 Units (238 Units Staked, + 3.87% Yield)

European Tour 4- German Darts Grand Prix Day 2 Picks 2026 (Sunday 5th April)

The middle day of the European Tour events sees the big Seeds enter the tournament and that means a lot of Second Round action to be completed across two Sessions.

At the German Grand Prix, that middle day is a Sunday rather than a Saturday and the tournament looks a wide open one without the current top two in the World Rankings and Gerwyn Price.

We have already had a number of upsets through the First Round and so the big names that have travelled to Germany have to be careful- once again there have been plenty of complaints about issues getting into Europe for this event, which may see more players pull out of events going forward, but those problems crossing the border will feel much more troubling if players do not make use of the open tournament and at least make it through to the final day.

Jermaine Wattimena-Niels Zonneveld over 5.5 180s: These two compatriots have played one close match on the European Tour this season that lasted ten Legs and a similar distance should see plenty of maximums being hit.

The layers are finding it hard to separate Jermaine Wattimena and Niels Zonneveld in the outright market and you can make a case for both.

The former has not had the most consistent season, but had a solid Players Championship outing last Monday and Jermaine Wattimena remains dangerous. He will certainly feel he can get the better of Niels Zonneveld if the World Number 39 is not able to produce a stronger performance than the one he had on Saturday, although Zonneveld continued to pile in the maximums.

Niels Zonneveld can go a long way to covering this total maximum mark on his own, but Jermaine Wattimena is capable when he finds his rhythm and clearing the 5.5 line may be the best approach to take.

Danny Noppert to win & most 180s v Ritchie Edhouse: The consistency at hitting the maximums has helped Danny Noppert take his game to the next level and that power scoring can see him edge past Ritchie Edhouse in the Second Round.

2026 has been an inconsistent year on the Tour so far for Ritchie Edhouse.

While he has fought through to Qualify for a couple of European Tour events, he has not really put together any solid form at the Players Championship. The opening win here will have given Edhouse confidence and he deserves respect as a former European Champion when he surprised a lot of people in 2024.

Backing that up has been difficult and Danny Noppert should find a way past him back into another Finals Day at one of the European Tour events this season.

Luke Woodhouse-Kim Huybrechts over 5.5 180s: He may have entered the German Grand Prix as the World Number 59, but there have been some signs that Kim Huybrechts has rediscovered some of his best form on the oche.

He was a strong winner in the First Round and has put together some decent results on the floor, although not quite pushing into contention to win an event.

The 6-3 win over Peter Wright may have been easier with stronger finishing, but Kim Huybrechts smashed in four maximums in those nine Legs and he has been a big scorer in the past.

Luke Woodhouse is another that finds plenty of maximums and this could be a good Second Round match with the Belgian being underrated as a significant underdog.

Both players will be looking for the strong scoring to put themselves in a position to have enough goes at a double to earn the victory and they are more than capable of covering this 5.5 180s line as long as the match is not a blowout.

The expectation is that we will see at least nine Legs and that could see the two players have enough time to surpass this mark.

Josh Rock to win & most 180s v Ryan Joyce: The Premier League has been challenging for Josh Rock, but he has picked up at least one win in each of the last two Nights.

He may not Qualify for the Play Offs, but that will have helped Josh Rock's confidence nad there have been some better signs about the performances being produced in that tournament setting.

It should be noted that Rock has largely played pretty well outside of the Premier League this season and he should be able to produce the most maximums in this contest with Relentless.

Ryan Joyce will be steady and he will believe in his doubling- that has always been a strength and so Josh Rock will have to be a little wary about this opponent.

However, Joyce had been struggling a little bit prior to the First Round win on Saturday and an improving Josh Rock should complete the Match Double.

Nathan Aspinall to win & most 180s v Ricardo Pietreczko: The home fans are going to be right behind Pikachu, but Nathan Aspinall's scoring power gives him the real edge in this contest.

It will be really important to not get engrossed in Ricardo Pietreczko's antics, nor getting involved with the crowd and so there is going to be some mental pressure on Nathan Aspinall in this one.

He has not been happy about issues he has had getting to Germany, while The Asp has not been playing at his very best over the last three weeks. Some of the draws have landed him in some tough spots, which is the case again here, but Pietreczko has also been struggling for form.

Ricardo Pietreczko had lost five matches in a row before edging out Ian White in a last Leg decider in the First Round- being able to win in that manner will give him belief, but Nathan Aspinall may have too much scoring for the home player and that can give him every opportunity of still be playing here on Monday.

Martin Schindler to win & over 1.5 180s v Brendan Dolan: There are big expectations on Martin Schindler, but the start to the 2026 season has largely been disappointing.

He will feel confident in this Second Round match up against Brendan Dolan- Martin Schindler beat him 6-1 earlier this year and has won the last four against Dolan.

However, Martin Schindler will know that the home fans are expecting a deep run in this tournament.

Last year he did have some solid European Tour outings, but Schindler has won one match in the previous three events already played this season. He will want to start putting some consistent results together and that begins by seeing off a Brendan Dolan who has been struggling for consistency of his own since Players Championship 5 in late February.

Martin Schindler is still a solid maximum hitter and he will need those scores to put himself in a position to be playing on the last day at home and it does feel like he has enough to win this match.

MY PICKS: Jermaine Wattimena-Niels Zonneveld Over 5.5 180s @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Danny Noppert to Win & Most 180s @ 2.30 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Woodhouse-Kim Huybrechts Over 5.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Josh Rock to Win & Most 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Most 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Martin Schindler to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

German Darts Grand Prix Update: 1-1, - 0.39 Units (2 Units Staked, - 19.50% Yield)

European Tour 3- Belgium Darts Open Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 21st March)

The Belgium Darts Open continues on Saturday with the entirety of the Second Round played across two Sessions and the big names have now entered the tournament.

After issues crossing the border, some of those names have been complaining about getting to European events and the Tour could suffer if top players decide it is more hassle than it is worth.

It is unlikely with the prize money on offer, but there have been frustrations on social media and you would hope that those can be channeled in a positive way.

The opening day of the European Tour 3 event went as well as hoped with both selections returning winners, but it is a long weekend and Saturday is looking a busier day.

Hopefully there is some momentum behind the selections after a decent Night 7 at the Premier League too, but nothing can be taken for granted.

Martin Schindler v William O'Connor: There are better displays to come from Martin Schindler who has been struggling for consistency in the first three months of the 2026 season.

He would have been incredibly disappointed to have been dumped out in the Second Round in Germany last week, but Schindler is a solid competitor on the European Tour and can make amends in Belgium.

William O'Connor was a comfortable First Round winner on Friday, but had lost five of the previous seven matches played.

This will be close considering the recent level of Martin Schindler, but the expectation is that he can dig in and produce an important win.

Damon Heta to win & over 1.5 180s v Daryl Gurney: We know how good Damon Heta can be, but he has had a rough few months on the Tour.

His run to the European Tour 2 Semi Final last weekend will have given Heta a boost and especially as he came through a very competitive Quarter Final against a home player.

Scoring is going to be key to make sure the Australian remains in front of Daryl Gurney who has picked up enough wins to still be full of belief, even without a noted deep run at a recent tournament.

Crushing Ian White 6-1 in the First Round will give Daryl Gurney plenty of confidence, but Damon Heta beat him twice on the floor last season and can use that performance in Germany to spark another solid run.

Danny Noppert to win & both players over 1.5 180s v Luke Woodhouse: He may have been far from his best in beating Ricky Evans last week, but Danny Noppert reminded everyone of the consistently strong level being produced week to week when coming up short against Gerwyn Price.

A win over Luke Humphries has already been secured and the Dutchman is one of those players who will feel aggrieved about missing out on the Premier League, but who is more than capable to be invited into that tournament in 2027.

You have to expect Danny Noppert to be tested by Luke Woodhouse, but the latter has not really kicked on as hoped.

Both are solid maximum hitters- Luke Woodhouse had four in his 6-1 loss to Chris Dobey last week- but the edge is with Danny Noppert who has won seven of the last eight matches against this opponent.

Nathan Aspinall to win & most 180s v Ryan Joyce: One of the players that were complaining about the time it was taking to get through passport control ahead of the Belgium Darts Open was Nathan Aspinall and he will be keen to have a strong impact at the tournament to make it worth his while.

The Asp is unfortunate to not be playing in the Premier League this season, but results over the last month have not been the best.

Some of the draws have been unkind to him, but Aspinall will not be looking to make excuses in Belgium.

He is most definitely the heavier scorer compared with Ryan Joyce, but the latter is very dangerous with his doubling and so it should be a competitive match.

However, Ryan Joyce has really been struggling with his form over the last several weeks and he was beaten twice by Nathan Aspinall in 2025.

Maximum hitting is a strength for Aspinall and he can use that power scoring to ensure he has enough cracks at a double to edge past Relentless.

Luke Humphries to win & most 180s v Dirk van Duijvenbode: This should be a maximum filled contest when two of the most prolific 180 hitters on the Tour face one another in the Second Round.

Another Semi Final defeat at the Premier League means Luke Humphries continues to struggle to find the consistency he is expecting from himself, but the performances remain at a very good level.

Scoring has been much improved with his new flights, but doubling continues to be an issue and Humphries will have to clear that up in this Second Round match.

In a lot of situations, his scoring will allow him to pull clear and get through Legs, but that is not going to be the case against Dirk van Duijvenbode if the Dutchman is near his best.

The latter played well in Germany last weekend and has added a First Round win here, but Dirk van Duijvenbode can sometimes feel the pressure when being hit with the scoring power that someone like Luke Humphries can provide.

He remains dangerous and the maximum hitting power can blow away this selection, but the expectation is that Luke Humphries wins and his own power hitting has been evident in 2026.

Josh Rock to win & most 180s Kim Huybrechts: For the second time in three nights, Josh Rock is going to have to expect the crowd are going to be heavily in support of his opponent.

The Premier League nightmare continued in Dublin when Rock was blown away by Gerwyn Price, but the crowd did him no favours.

At least Josh Rock can say he has been producing much better darts outside of the Premier League setting and he may be able to edge past home favourite Kim Huybrechts in this Second Round match to conclude the days play.

He has dropped down to World Number 61 after a difficult time on the Tour, but Kim Huybrechts has put some decent form on the board in recent weeks.

The Belgian averaged over 100 in beating Nico Springer in the First Round and that will have given him a huge boost in confidence, but this may be a step too far right now for Kim Huybrechts and Josh Rock can use some superior scoring to edge through to Sunday.

MY PICKS: Martin Schindler @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Damon Heta to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Danny Noppert to Win & Both Players Over 1.5 180s @ 2.37 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Most 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries to Win & Most 180s @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Josh Rock to Win & Most 180s @ 2.87 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Belgium Darts Open: 2-0, + 2.20 Units (2 Units Staked, + 110% Yield)