The NBA’s Convention Finals are set, with the Oklahoma City Thunder taking over 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 might 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 cryptocurrency odds go to ESPN BET
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Favourite bets for the collection
Timberwolves +1.5 video games (+140). I’m going into this collection feeling that it’s not less than a toss-up that might go both manner, and at most a transparent Timberwolves benefit. So I 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 Towns to New York in alternate 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 robust worth play. — Snellings
Sequence Whole video games beneath 5.5 (+115). Many had been shocked 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 nicely. Throw some cash on the Thunder doing what Dallas did final season and making this a fast collection win. — Karabell
Precise Sequence Whole video games: Thunder up 2-1 after three video games (+110). Threading the needle right here ends in plus odds for a precise 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 nicely. This is not a slight to an superior Oklahoma Metropolis workforce, relatively the fact that common season dominance does not at all times 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 to be like. — the Timberwolves will take one of many first three video games. — McCormick
Precise Sequence Whole 5 video games (+220). Minnesota rolled previous a Lakers workforce nearly with out anybody enjoying protection (apart from LeBron James) and a Warriors workforce that misplaced Stephen Curry. The Thunder have but to exert their full powers apart from just a few random video games in these playoffs, however I feel all of it modifications in opposition to Minnesota. If you wish to hit a house run, I like a sweep at +450, however giving the Wolves not less than one recreation is a safer play. We should always know if the concept of this being an excellent matchup for the Wolves is true midway via Sport 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 troublesome second-round battle with the Denver Nuggets — provides 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 not less than 24 factors in every of his final 4. The Thunder will probably attempt to cease Edwards however may be keen to let Randle shoot as a lot as he desires. In that 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. Profitable is extra enjoyable, thus why unders can show savvy so usually. This stated, it appears like not less than 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 want. It is a three-to-one wager for a motive, nevertheless it’s additionally a enjoyable one. — McCormick
Chet Holmgren most complete rebounds within the collection (+275). Holmgren dominated the glass in opposition to the Nuggets in a dynamic that might be just like this spherical: Isaiah Hartenstein battles the opponent’s huge heart (Rudy Gobert/Nikola Jokic), whereas Holmgren crashes the boards in opposition to the opponent’s shorter energy ahead (Randle/Aaron Gordon). Holmgren averaged 11.7 RPG during the last six video games in opposition to the Nuggets, and if he maintains the same tempo in opposition to the Timberwolves he’d have a legit shot to win this prop at strong 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 workforce within the Japanese Convention through the playoffs, with an 8-2 document in opposition to two robust opponents within the Cavaliers and Bucks, however they had been enjoying wonderful basketball for for much longer than that. The Pacers had been one in every of 4 groups within the NBA (Thunder, Celtics, Cavaliers and Pacers) to win greater than 70% of their video games in calendar yr 2025, going 34-14 down the stretch. Their fashion of play is extraordinarily efficient, with a workforce stuffed with shooters and defenders that may be equally efficient enjoying quick as within the half court docket. The Knicks received two of three in opposition to the Pacers within the common season and are enjoying nicely within the playoffs themselves, however the Pacers are not less than co-favorites in my eyes and robust worth with the added 1.5 video games. — Snellings
Precise Sequence Whole 7 video games (+175). This can be a traditional rivalry with a storied historical past that sits near even all through playoff historical past. And I simply have a sense that this one will probably be a collection for the ages and can go seven video games. The truth is, a variety of us will probably be disenchanted if it does not. The Knicks get the sting due to dwelling court docket, however the Pacers have by no means been afraid 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 proficient 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
Precise Sequence Whole 7 video games (+175). Let’s take a second to replicate 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 least there isn’t any confidence emitting from each those that set the market and those that wager the market. If there have been, we might see one workforce have robust odds to complete this in 5 or 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. The truth is, 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 not less than as soon as right here. — Karabell
Josh Hart to document essentially the most complete rebounds within the collection (+700). Whereas I consider Cities will find yourself successful this, I do not just like the -1000 odds. Hart is the next-best wager at +700, and he may be the perfect rebounding guard within the league. With averages of 8.7 boards in opposition to Detroit and eight.3 in opposition to the Celtics, he has a slugger’s probability 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 not less than 40 factors and three profession video games with not less than 50 factors — all of which have are available in a Knicks jersey. The tempo. That is the important thing. The Knicks will do their greatest to make this their battle; a half-court grind that reduces variance. The Pacers will do their greatest to make this a dash to 150 factors. Hardly ever does a collection this deep belong to at least one fighter. Think about the Backyard when the tens column hits 5. There will probably be a recreation that’s curated by the Pacers, and that recreation may see Brunson take his scoring to absurd heights that, for him, really aren’t that preposterous. —McCormick
Karl-Anthony Cities to attain essentially the most complete factors within the collection (+600). Cities has been wonderful in opposition to the Pacers this season. Of their three matchups, Cities averaged 30.3 PPG with not less than 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 in opposition to the Pacers this season, averaging 22.3 PPG. Brunson is the deserved favourite to guide the collection in factors, however Cities has a legit probability and much more juice at 6-to-1 odds. — Snellings