NBA Best Odds This Week: May 19-25

After a lopsided Game 7 in Oklahoma City and a semifinal round with no shortage of drama or intrigue, we have finally reached the Conference Finals in the NBA Playoffs.

Four teams look to stamp their ticket to the NBA Finals with just four more wins to go, and each of the four teams has more than a few arguments to support why they could win the NBA Championship.

Despite having a 68-win team in the fold, the race to be crowned champions feels more wide open than ever. Let’s dive into each series and preview the betting odds for Game 1 in each respective matchup.

Note: Odds were correct at the time of writing.

NBA Odds This Week

We hope you cherished the days with 2-3 basketball games a night, because the field has been whittled down to four teams, and with that, just one game per night.

Here’s a look at where the betting odds for each series opener sit at the start of the week.

Matchup	Betting Line	Moneyline	Total
T’Wolves at Thunder (Game 1)	Thunder -7.5	T’Wolves +245 Thunder -300	215.5
Pacers at Knicks (Game 1)	Knicks -4.5	Pacers +162 Knicks -194	223.5

NBA Matchups to Watch

Well, it will be very easy to pick the must-see matchups in the NBA for the next few weeks, because the rest of the season is must-see at this point.

The fun tips off on Tuesday night, when the Thunder host the T’Wolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, while the Pacers visit Madison Square Garden to take on the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday.

T’Wolves at Thunder (-7.5) at FanDuel – May 20

A captivating seven-game series against the Nuggets ended with a blowout victory by the 68-win Thunder and a date in the Western Conference Finals with a Timberwolves team that is looking to get over the hump after falling in five games to the Mavs in last season’s matchup.

On paper, one would have to consider the Thunder, with their depth that includes the future 2025 MVP and one of the best home-court advantages in the sport, as the heavy favorites to reach the NBA Finals.

However, this is a Wolves team that is red hot right now and seemingly playing their best basketball of the season at the perfect time. Do not discount the Wolves and their ability to potentially steal a game in OKC, just like they did on February 24 as 11.5-point underdogs.

This feels like a real defining moment in the career of Anthony Edwards. Can he will the Wolves past the best team left standing? This will be a fascinating series.

Games This Week:

Game 1: Tuesday (May 20)
Game 2: Thursday (May 22)
Game 3: Saturday (May 24)

Pacers at Knicks (-4.5) at FanDuel – May 21

The only thing missing from this series will be the NBA on NBC intro, because this series feels like a flashback to 2000, when these two old rivals squared off in their last Eastern Conference Finals matchup.

The Pacers went on to win that series before bowing out to the Lakers in six games, in what was the first of three consecutive titles for the Shaq and Kobe era.

The Pacers would prefer not to spawn another dynasty this season.

Just like the Wolves out West, the Pacers have pulled out some incredible wins en route to winning both of their first two playoff series in five games.

However, the Knicks have suddenly slayed their personal Goliath, and the excitement level in the Big Apple hasn’t been this high in 30 years. They conquered the mighty Celtics and will certainly want revenge against the team that ended their season last go-around.

The Pacers’ tempo and depth against a grind-it-out Thibs team that leans heavily on Jalen Brunson will be an incredible watch and one that could go the distance. 

Games This Week:
Game 1: Wednesday (May 21)
Game 2: Friday (May 23)
Game 3: Sunday (May 25)

NBA Best Bets This Week – May 19-25

After breaking down each conference finals matchup, we have to have some action on each game right? Here are my best bets for Game 1 of the Conference Finals. 

T’Wolves (+7.5) at Thunder – FanDuel (May 20)

It feels a little silly to fade the Thunder after they just steamrolled the fighting Nikola Jokics, but I am a believer in Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While the loss of Stephen Curry surely helped the Wolves cruise past the Warriors, I believe the outcome of that series would have been the same, and we saw what they did to the Lakers. Clearly, the Thunder are in an entirely different category of their own, but the Wolves have the personnel that could give OKC some trouble.

I think the Wolves catch the Thunder sleeping a bit, coming off the high of their Game 7 blowout, and they keep this game within the number, maybe even stealing it outright.

Betting Trend of Note: The Thunder are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games against the T’Wolves

Pacers (+4.5) at Knicks – FanDuel (May 21)

I get it, the Knicks are a tremendous story for the NBA. The NBA is simply a better product when the Knicks are competitive. 

I just think we need to stop sleeping on this Indiana Pacers team. Or maybe Vegas can keep doing so because oh my goodness did I make a lot betting on the Pacers against the Cavs. 

Anyway, besides the point.

The Knicks could very well be the team of destiny, or the Celtics might have just pissed their legs twice before falling down 3-1 in the series and losing their top scorer for (at least) the next 12 months. We’re going to find out sooner than later. 

I think the Pacers have more depth and play at a pace that could tire out the Knicks short rotation. Call me crazy but I think this is a bad matchup for the Knicks. 

Jalen Brunson could very well make me look very dumb, but give me the Pacers to cover and win outright. 

Betting Trend of Note: The Pacers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games.