The NBA’s Convention Finals are set, with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder taking up the Minnesota Timberwolves within the Western Convention and the New York Knicks dealing with the Indiana Pacers within the Japanese Convention.
After a semifinals that noticed the likes of Boston, Cleveland, Golden State and Denver go down, what could be anticipated in these two collection? And what are the bets to make?
NBA betting specialists Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander present the bets they like most for every collection.
Odds are up to date as of publication. For up to date odds go to ESPN BET
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Favourite bets for the collection
Timberwolves +1.5 video games (+140). I am going into this collection feeling that it’s at the least a toss-up that might go both manner, and at most a transparent Timberwolves benefit. So I really like having the ability to get the Timberwolves plus 1.5 video games for plus cash. The Timberwolves had a gradual begin to the season, seeming to wish time to regulate to the blockbuster commerce that despatched Karl-Anthony Cities to New York in change for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. However regulate they did, they usually caught fireplace down the stretch. Since March 1, together with the playoffs, the Timberwolves are 25-6, neck-and-neck with the Thunder (28-6) for the perfect within the league. The 2 groups have cut up the season collection 2-2 in every of the final two seasons, additional emphasizing how evenly matched they’re. For the Timberwolves to be getting each video games and plus cash makes this a powerful worth play. — Snellings
Collection Complete video games underneath 5.5 (+115). Many have been stunned when the Mavericks blew proper via the Timberwolves final season for a berth within the NBA Finals. Minnesota received one recreation. OK, so the Thunder did not precisely roll over the Nuggets, however this can be a totally different matchup. The Thunder can rating and positively will defend Anthony Edwards properly. Throw some cash on the Thunder doing what Dallas did final season and making this a fast collection win. — Karabell
Actual Collection Complete video games: Thunder up 2-1 after three video games (+110). Threading the needle right here ends in plus odds for an actual prediction of the collection after three video games. Based mostly on actual collection odds, the expectation is a 4-1 collection favoring the Thunder. Have you ever heard that story earlier than? It is as a result of that was the context for the Denver collection, as properly. This is not a slight to an superior Oklahoma Metropolis crew, moderately the truth that common season dominance does not all the time show congruent with playoff outcomes. I’ve no expectation of an upset, however I do count on the primary video games of this collection to incorporate a collection of changes and new appears. — the Timberwolves will take one of many first three video games. — McCormick
Actual Collection Complete 5 video games (+220). Minnesota rolled previous a Lakers crew just about with out anybody enjoying protection (apart from LeBron James) and a Warriors crew that misplaced Stephen Curry. The Thunder have but to exert their full powers apart from a number of random video games in these playoffs, however I believe all of it modifications towards Minnesota. If you wish to hit a house run, I like a sweep at +450, however giving the Wolves at the least one recreation is a safer play. We should always know if the concept of this being matchup for the Wolves is true midway via Recreation 1. — Alexander
OKC Thunder 4-2 (+425). The Thunder’s elite protection, anchored by Luguentz Dort and Alex Caruso, will problem the Timberwolves’ scorers on each possession. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the perfect participant within the collection, and Oklahoma Metropolis’s depth — together with its expertise from a tricky second-round battle with the Denver Nuggets — offers them the sting. Chet Holmgren’s rim safety and hometown motivation might be the X-factor. Thunder in six. — Moody
Favourite prop bets
Julius Randle most complete factors within the collection (+1800). Randle has scored 29 and 31 factors in his final two playoff video games, respectively, and has scored at the least 24 factors in every of his final 4. The Thunder will seemingly attempt to cease Edwards however could be keen to let Randle shoot as a lot as he desires. If that’s the case, the payoff may be very engaging at +1800 — and he is presently on fireplace. — Alexander
250 or extra complete factors in any recreation this collection (+300). Rooting for scoring is enjoyable. Successful is extra enjoyable, thus why unders can show savvy so usually. This mentioned, it seems like at the least one recreation, as a result of that is all it takes, will flip into an offensive opus. A recreation that goes to extra time or simply has some wide-open, relentless transition that drives the rating to pinball ranges is all we’d like. It is a three-to-one wager for a motive, but it surely’s additionally a enjoyable one. — McCormick
Chet Holmgren most complete rebounds within the collection (+275). Holmgren dominated the glass towards the Nuggets in a dynamic that might be just like this spherical: Isaiah Hartenstein battles the opponent’s huge middle (Rudy Gobert/Nikola Jokic), whereas Holmgren crashes the boards towards the opponent’s shorter energy ahead (Randle/Aaron Gordon). Holmgren averaged 11.7 RPG over the past six video games towards the Nuggets, and if he maintains an identical tempo towards the Timberwolves he’d have a legit shot to win this prop at stable plus-money. — Snellings
New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
Favourite bets for the collection
Pacers +1.5 video games (-175). The Pacers have been the perfect crew within the Japanese Convention through the playoffs, with an 8-2 document towards two robust opponents within the Cavaliers and Bucks, however they have been enjoying wonderful basketball for for much longer than that. The Pacers have been certainly one of 4 groups within the NBA (Thunder, Celtics, Cavaliers and Pacers) to win greater than 70% of their video games in calendar 12 months 2025, going 34-14 down the stretch. Their type of play is extraordinarily efficient, with a crew filled with shooters and defenders that may be equally efficient enjoying quick as within the half courtroom. The Knicks received two of three towards the Pacers within the common season and are enjoying properly within the playoffs themselves, however the Pacers are at the least co-favorites in my eyes and robust worth with the added 1.5 video games. — Snellings
Actual Collection Complete 7 video games (+175). It is a basic rivalry with a storied historical past that sits near even all through playoff historical past. And I simply have a sense that this one shall be a collection for the ages and can go seven video games. In reality, numerous us shall be disenchanted if it does not. The Knicks get the sting due to house courtroom, however the Pacers have by no means been fearful of enjoying at Madison Sq. Backyard. — Alexander
Knicks win collection 4-3 (+350). The Knicks maintain the sting in physicality, reboundin, and playoff-tested toughness. With Mitchell Robinson wholesome and dominating the glass, New York can management possession and create elite second-chance alternatives. Jalen Brunson is the perfect participant within the collection, whereas versatile defenders like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are gifted sufficient to disrupt the Pacers’ stars. Although Indiana has ample depth, the Knicks’ offensive expertise and defensive prowess give them the benefit. The Knicks’ grit, rebounding and expertise ought to carry them to win a grind-it-out collection. — Moody
Actual Collection Complete 7 video games (+175). Let’s take a second to mirror on this angle: the shortest odds on this actual collection menu video games performed is seven. What does this imply? It means nobody actually is aware of. At the very least there is no such thing as a confidence emitting from each those that set the market and those that wager the market. If there have been, we might see one crew have robust odds to complete this in 5 – 6 video games. If you happen to aren’t sufficiently old to have watched the Pacers-Knicks battles from the mid-to-late Nineties, the hope is that this collection replicates even a fraction of indelible moments gained from competitors. The Pacers need to dash. The Knicks need to grind. This might be particular. — McCormick
Favourite prop bets
Jalen Brunson to attain 40+ factors in any recreation within the collection (-110). Brunson wanted to attain extra within the Detroit collection to maintain the Knicks alive, and he might want to do that once more versus Indiana. In reality, it’s simple to see how Brunson averages greater than 30 PPG on this collection. Let’s take the simple manner out and assume he tops 40 at the least as soon as right here. — Karabell
Josh Hart to document probably the most complete rebounds within the collection (+700). Whereas I consider Cities will find yourself profitable this, I do not just like the -1000 odds. Hart is the next-best wager at +700, and he could be the perfect rebounding guard within the league. With averages of 8.7 boards towards Detroit and eight.3 towards the Celtics, he has a slugger’s likelihood of out-rebounding KAT for the Knicks. — Alexander
Jalen Brunson to attain 50+ factors in any recreation (+725). This man has 18 profession video games of at the least 40 factors and three profession video games with at the least 50 factors — all of which have are available in a Knicks jersey. The tempo. That is the important thing. The Knicks will do their finest to make this their combat; a half-court grind that reduces variance. The Pacers will do their finest to make this a dash to 150 factors. Not often does a collection this deep belong to at least one fighter. Think about the Backyard when the tens column hits 5. There shall be a recreation that’s curated by the Pacers, and that recreation may see Brunson take his scoring to absurd heights that, for him, truly aren’t that preposterous. —McCormick
Karl-Anthony Cities to attain probably the most complete factors within the collection (+600). Cities has been wonderful towards the Pacers this season. Of their three matchups, Cities averaged 30.3 PPG with at the least 21 factors in every recreation and a season-high of 40. Whereas Brunson is clearly the main scorer of the Knicks, he has had extra problem towards the Pacers this season, averaging 22.3 PPG. Brunson is the deserved favourite to guide the collection in factors, however Cities has a legit likelihood and much more juice at 6-to-1 odds. — Snellings
