The NBA playoffs are always wild, wacky and filled with knife-thick drama. With players putting everything on the line in an attempt to bask in championship glory, naturally, the pressure-packed games are tremendously fun to wager on. As a result, the sportsbooks offer many creative ways to enhance the action. What is Brad’s SGP play in Mavericks-Timberwolves Game 5? Check out his lean below.
The pick — SGP: Luka Doncic 25+ points, Karl-Anthony Towns 15+ points, Mavericks +12.5 alt spread, UNDER 220.5 alt total (+130, BetMGM)
- BetMGM offer: $1500 in Bonus Bets paid back
Leave the brooms in the closet. Dress up prim and proper and focus on using your manners, Luka. A gentleman's sweep in the Western Conference finals is entirely achievable for Dallas on Thursday at Target Center.
Of course, the local whiteout is vehemently against it. Heck, so is Boston. The resting Celtics, who are waiting patiently for their NBA Finals opponent, are hoping Minnesota makes history. No NBA playoff team — in 154 tries — has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
Nunca. Zero. Zilch.
How is this debt-ridden bettor playing Game 5? Peruse the legs below.
Luka Doncic 25+ points. The Don is averaging 22.5 shots and 31.5 points in the West finals. He’s Mr. Everything for the Mavericks. In an elimination game, he’s sure to rise to the occasion. Keep in mind he’s scored at least 25 points in six straight games. Slam-dunking the argument: Minnesota has given up an appreciable 1.098 points per possession in the postseason.
Karl-Anthony Towns 15+ points. Well, well, well, look who finally showed up to the playoff party. Relentlessly lambasted by virtually anyone with an opinion due to his underperformance, KAT bared his claws in Game 4 and gashed the Mavs for 25 points. Shooting a blistering 9-for-13 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from three, he logged his highest scoring output since hanging 27 on the Nuggets in Game 2 of the West semifinals. Was it a blip or the start of more buckets to come? This wagerer is siding with the latter. Towns’ likely 30-plus minutes should result in another positive gain. He has reached 15 points in three of four games against Dallas.
Mavericks +12.5 alt line. It won’t be easy for Dallas to march on, especially in enemy territory. That’s precisely why this fraidy cat is jacking up the standard +4.5 line. Every game in this series has featured high-pressure plays in crunch time. The margin of victory in each? Three, one, nine and five points. With the Mavs and Wolves ranking No. 5 and No. 3, respectively, in playoff net rating, it’s unlikely a blowout occurs.
Game UNDER 220.5 alt total. Unless overtime royally screws us — it’s where UNDERS go to die, after all — no sweat should apply on the alt total. The number has comfortably landed south of the proposed total in three of four series games. With both squads ranking outside the top eight in pace among postseason teams, they should each finish somewhere in the low 100s. However, knowing our luck, a quadruple-OT 190-189 ABA game breaks out.
NBA postseason record: 11-24, -11.38 units