🏀 Who has the Game 5 Edge?

We've got a double dose of Game 5s to look forward to this evening, with playoff action returning to New York and Denver. And with both series knotted at 2 games apiece, the stakes don't get much higher. Who has the edge? 🍿 (3 min read)

Author

Kyle Trapp
May 14, 2024

Tuesday NBA Preview

Time and time again, the NBA playoffs remind us that momentum is a fickle thing, and no series is over til the buzzer sounds on that fourth win. Just ask the Timberwolves and Knicks, who have both watched their 2-0 leads evaporate 😬

  • This time last week, the Nuggets’ chances of a repeat looked awfully bleak. The Wolves dominated in Game 2, the series was headed back to Minnesota, and it seemed fairly likely that Jamal Murray would be hit with a suspension for his antics on the bench…

  • …but the league decided otherwise. Murray didn’t miss either of the Nuggets’ two road wins, and if his play over that span is any indication, his miserable showing in Game 2 was just an aberration 👇

Aaron Gordon also deserves some serious love for his performance Sunday (27 points on 92% from the field 🤯), and it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t give the 3x MVP his flowers as well. Jokic’s casual dominance is such a treasure 💪

Simply put, the Nuggets team we saw in Minnesota looked an awful lot like the one that cruised to an NBA title last season. But on the other hand, the Wolves looked nothing like the team that won its first six playoff games this year 🤔

  • Anthony Edwards is the exception. Premature comparisons aside, the 22-year-old superstar continues to shine on the big stage, with 44 points in Sunday night’s losing effort

  • He can’t do it alone though. The high-priced big man duo of KAT and Gobert combined for just 22.5 PPG across the two home defeats, and that won’t cut it if you want to take down the reigning champs 🤷🏻‍♂️

The series returns to Ball Arena in Denver tonight for Game 5; check out how the lines are looking 👇

  • Spread: Nuggets -4

  • Moneyline: Nuggets -180, Timberwolves +152

  • Over/Under: 205.5

  • When: 10:30PM on TNT

Before that matchup out west tips off, we’ve got another Game 5 on the east coast, in a series that’s also looking a lot more interesting as of late. The Knicks-Pacers playoff rivalry returns to the Garden tonight, and ahead of this one all eyes will be on the injury report 🤕

  • That’s nothing new for the Knicks, who have been down several key contributors all throughout the postseason. OG Anunoby has already been ruled out for the contest, and whether you’re a New York fan or not, you’ve likely already heard how much better the team is when he’s on the court 😤

The Pacers don’t have a clean bill of health either, and has been the case for a good chunk of the playoffs, star point guard Tyrese Haliburton finds himself questionable to play due to a variety of ailments. He did look especially banged up in the press conference after Sunday’s game…

  • But I’d expect him to suit up once again tonight. After a slow start to the playoffs, he’s been in prime form lately with nearly 30 PPG over his last three, so Indiana certainly needs him if they want to steal one on the road 😏

The Knicks will surely be hungry for revenge after getting trounced by 32 points the last time these two teams took the court. It was an off night across the board for the trio known as the Nova Knicks, but we haven’t seen too many of those lately 💪

Can they bounce back tonight in front of the New York faithful? Oddsmakers are expecting a tight one; here’s how the lines are shaping up 👇

  • Spread: Knicks -2.5

  • Moneyline: Knicks -138, Pacers +118

  • Over/Under: 215.5

  • When: 8PM on TNT

Trivia Question: Who won the series the last time the Knicks and Pacers met in the playoffs?

For My Parlay Gurus

A series doesn’t truly start until…a home team wins? It’s been all about the visitors in Nuggets-Wolves, but I think the host finally gets it done tonight as Denver wins their third straight. I’ll stick with the home squad in the early matchup as well — check out this parlay 👇

  • Knicks ML vs. Pacers: -138

  • Nuggets ML vs. Timberwolves: -180

$100 on this bet would win you $168 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win an Overtime hoodie*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: The Knicks and Pacers last met in the second round in 2013, with Indiana advancing in six games

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