The second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs begins tonight, and we have two intriguing matchups on the schedule.
The New York Knicks visit the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden, while we have a battle of MVP favorites in Oklahoma City.
Check out my favorite NBA picks for Monday, May 5, and my three-leg parlay for the action.
Today's best NBA Playoff parlay: May 5
Celtics moneyline
Nuggets/Thunder Over 226
Thunder moneyline
Pick #1: Celtics moneyline
The Boston Celtics roll into this series after taking down the Orlando Magic in a physical five-game series. Boston is, of course, the defending champion and has a target on its back. However, the Celtics are still the team to beat, and they went 4-0 against the Knicks during the regular season.
While we could certainly hammer the spread since the Celtics covered in three of those games, I see the moneyline as a safer bet. Their most recent matchup was in early April, and it ended 119-117 in favor of Boston in overtime.
The New York Knicks will put up a respectable fight in Game 1, but the C’s will prevail at home, where they are 31-13 on the season.
Pick #2: Nuggets/Thunder Over 226
This Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series brings a battle between the MVP front runners in SGA and Nikola Jokic. While Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to win it, we’re still in for a treat as the superstars go to war in the second round.
Recent matchups between Denver and Oklahoma City have been very high scoring. The total is 226, and three consecutive meetings have comfortably hit the Over. In fact, all of them easily surpassed 230 points.
I’m going to follow the trends and hammer the Over again here.
Pick #3: Thunder moneyline
The top seed out of the Western Conference heads in as a heavy 9.5-point favorite and -425 on the moneyline. The spread doesn’t offer a ton of value because the Nuggets have actually won two of the last three against the Thunder. The moneyline isn’t the best price, but OKC has won two of its previous three home meetings against Denver.
The Thunder are an elite team overall, whether on the road or at home. That being said, it’s hard to ignore their record at the Paycom Center. They were 35-6 on their floor during the regular season and didn’t lose a single game there in the opening round in a sweep over the Grizz.
Perhaps Denver will keep things competitive, but I have no doubts Oklahoma City will leave with a Game 1 victory.
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