Free NBA Expert and Computer Picks For Every Game May 20, 2026
SA
@
OKC
Wed, May 20 • 8:30 PM ET
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander o28.5 Points Scored (-105)
The Thunder are deep. It is one of their greatest assets. They have the personnel to better stagger Gilgeous-Alexander into the minutes Wembanyama rests, and there should be more minutes without Wembanyama after that double-overtime effort on Monday. Such a stagger will immediately boost Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting; his 7-of-23 showing in Game 1 was ugly yet still yielded 24 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander o28.5 Points Scored (+104)
I really don’t think we should overthink this one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a back-to-back MVP and one of the best scorers in basketball, and the Oklahoma City Thunder need him more than ever down 0-1 in the series. This total is sitting at 28.5 points, well below the 30.5–32.5 range we usually see for SGA, largely because Oklahoma City didn’t need his scoring against the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous round. In Game 1, he shot just 7-for-23 but still consistently got to his mid-range spots. He simply missed shots he normally makes. I also expect Mark Daigneault to run actions that pull Victor Wembanyama away from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as a help defender. I price the Over 28.5 points at -155.
CLE
@
NY
Thu, May 21 • 8:00 PM ET
Jarrett Allen o19.5 Points and Rebounds (-112)
The New York Knicks are susceptible inside, as we saw versus Joel Embiid in Round 2, and the Cleveland Cavaliers must make a focused effort on getting Jarrett Allen touches – especially against smaller forwards. Allen can also put up points from offensive rebounds and snatched six of his seven boards on that end. He generated 17 rebounding chances in Game 1 yet walked away with only one defensive rebound. Projections call for 13+ points and 10+ boards Thursday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers can crush the New York Knicks inside with Jarrett Allen. He’s often drawing smaller forwards and projections for Game 2 call for 13+ points and 10+ rebounds. With Evan Mobley guarding Karl-Anthony Towns in the high post, Allen is free to protect the paint and send shots back.
Sharp NBA bets and market edges - available only to subscribers.
Covers’ NBA analysts have over 25 years of experience making smart basketball picks from the season’s opening tip to the NBA Finals.
We find the best NBA odds and share our picks and NBA best bets for the biggest games of the basketball season — right here on this page.
Our picks are researched and analyzed by experienced sports bettors looking for an edge to get the best value from their NBA betting
Making smart NBA picks means looking beyond the favorites. Our free expert NBA picks will include a wide variety of bet types and markets.
NBA point spreads even the odds between two teams, offering bettors as close to an even pick as possible. Our analysts research stats, matchups, injuries, and more to give you the best edge possible before making your NBA point spread bet.
Covers’ analysts make NBA Over/Under picks throughout the basketball season. Betting on NBA Over/Unders means choosing whether you think the combined total score of a game will be Over or Under a specific total set by oddsmakers.
Betting on the NBA moneyline means picking which team will win a game outright. While less common than picking the spread, or a prop, our analysts will always look for high-value NBA moneyline picks if they feel it’s the best bet.
There’s always value in NBA props. Our team scours through game, team, and player props to try and find opportunity and value. From player points to total threes made, expect well-researched NBA prop picks from Covers.
Covers’ consensus NBA picks highlight the odds and predictions that our vibrant community of bettors and players are making. Try our picks on with our free NBA contests for a chance at prizes and more.
If you’re ready to bet on NBA picks, you first need to find the right sportsbook. The best NBA betting sites offer secure banking, best odds, bonuses, and reliable customer service.
Covers’ staff of sports betting fans also offers a wide array of free picks for the NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA basketball, and NCAA football.
Covers NBA picks generally release on game day. Some significant matchups like playoff games release in the days leading up to the game.
Covers provides free NBA picks covering many markets, including point spreads, totals, moneylines, player props, and more.
Established in 1995,
All Picks
NFL
NCAAF
MLB
NBA
NCAAB
NHL
CFL
WNBA
Golf
World Cup
