2025 NBA, NHL Playoffs best bets: Back big night from Anthony Edwards

Quite a lot of you already know me because the soccer man in the case of putting wagers. And sure, I performed within the NFL and love the league and college football, however I take pleasure in your entire spectrum in the case of sports activities.

Particularly in the case of playoff ball — or puck, in some circumstances.

Since we’re all watching the thrilling motion of the NBA and NHL Playoffs, I made a decision to do a little analysis and provide you with spots that I like essentially the most for Thursday’s video games.

Let’s have a look.

Warriors @ Timberwolves

The Wolves misplaced to the Warriors in Sport 1, changing into the fourth dwelling staff out of 4 to lose the primary sport of the collection. Nevertheless, in contrast to the Celtics, Cavs or Thunder losses, this sport was by no means shut after the primary quarter. 

The Wolves scored 31 first-half factors and completed with 88 whole. They shot 5-for-29 from 3, lacking their first 19 makes an attempt. They have been -10 in rebounds and -7 in assists. The Warriors did all of this with out injured famous person Steph Curry, who left the sport within the second quarter with a hamstring harm. He’s out for Sport 2 and probably past. 

I’d think about the Wolves are a proud staff, and it’s a great alternative to pounce — a staff taking part in with motivation towards a staff pleased to have gained Sport 1 with out its star. I’m taking the Wolves first half and first-half Over level whole. We are able to have a look at the Cavs in Sport 2 for the blueprint: an terrible taking pictures efficiency in Sport 1, adopted up by 61 first-half factors and an 11-point halftime lead.

PICK: Wolves (first half -6.5) to guide by greater than 6.5 factors at halftime 
Wolves (Over 52.5 first-half) to attain greater than 52.5 factors within the first half

I’ve written earlier than on my zigzag concept, the place you wager on a participant to go Over or Beneath to zag off the earlier efficiency. 

The very best alternative on this sport is taking Anthony Edwards Over 27.5 factors.

Edwards was close to a goose egg for factors within the first half of Sport 1. He completed with 23 factors on 9-for-22 taking pictures and simply 1-for-5 from 3. He shot practically 40% from 3 in the course of the common season and even simply making three of them in Sport 2 will assist get Over this level whole.

PICK: Anthony Edwards (Over 27.5) to attain greater than 27.5 factors

Steph Curry out for at the very least every week — can Warriors win with out him?

With Curry out of Sport 2, that will increase the time that Draymond Green will begin the offense within the half court docket. It’s a spot he’s snug with, and he’s proven to be an excellent passer and perceive the stream of his offense. He will probably be accountable for ensuring the offense is run easily, which ought to enhance his capability to tally assists. 

Within the final three video games, Inexperienced has seven, 5 and 6 assists, respectively. We all know Inexperienced’s rebounding is a should with the Warriors’ smaller lineup. Inexperienced has at the very least 10 mixed rebounds and assists in 4 of 5 playoff video games, with him going over 12 in two of these. 

This quantity was 10.5 for Sport 1, and it noticed Inexperienced get 14. So that they’ve added a tax of another stat. I’m nonetheless snug taking it.

PICK: Draymond Inexperienced (Over 11.5 REB/AST) to have greater than 11.5 rebounds and assists mixed

Hurricanes @ Capitals
Oilers @ Golden Knights

The NHL playoffs have been unbelievable theater, with a number of groups profitable in come-from-behind style in Sport 7s to advance to the second spherical. It’s a troublesome sport to wager on, with the bounce of a puck figuring out objectives, photographs on objectives, assists and sport outcomes. We’ve additionally seen some wonderful goaltending within the first video games of the second spherical. So the way in which I’ll play each of those video games on Thursday is to take the house staff off a loss to attain first. 

Getting into Wednesday, the staff off a loss has scored the primary objective in 24 of 36 playoff video games. And each the Capitals and Golden Knights scored first of their Sport 1 losses. Each should begin quick to get again into the win column.

PICK: Capitals (-110) to attain first
Golden Knights (-130) to attain first
Capitals/Golden Knights (+157) first-period objective

Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports activities. He performed eight seasons within the NFL for 5 totally different groups. He began at proper sort out for the College of Oregon for 3 seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 choice his senior 12 months. Comply with him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.

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