Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets did ma’ right with a perfect sweep in yesterday's writeup! Hartenstein was not close to 10 rebounds. Aaron Gordon made his second three early in the third quarter and cashed the +350-player prop. The Denver Nuggets took the lead late in the first quarter and never looked back, winning by eight points.

The three bets with four wagered units returned a 7.2-unit profit! After Meat Loaf Saturday and a sweep yesterday, my NBA predictions have now won five of the last six wagers. The best news is that there are three more wagers today!

 

 

 

NBA Picks & Predictions: Monday, 5/13

There are four teams playing in two games today. The Boston Celtics play the Cleveland Cavaliers beginning at 7:00 PM ET. Jayson Tatum returns back to the column, but which prop will it be? 

The Oklahoma City Thunder play the Dallas Mavericks with a 9:30 PM ET start time. There are two bets in this match, both being NBA props. The Bet of the Night is one of them and happens to be a double-unit hammer.

 

 

 

Thunder vs. Mavericks Prediction: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander O30.5 Points (-120 on Bet365) *2 UNITS

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was everyone’s favorite snub for MVP, yet he has been average throughout the playoffs. His average in this series is 31 points per game and the Oklahoma City Thunder are down 1-2 against the Dallas Mavericks. The Thunder will need more from their leader in order to win on the road.

The American Airlines Center was rocking as advertised in Saturday’s column, and the Mavericks were able to gain the upper ground against the first-seeded Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points which is enough for this bet but was not enough to beat the Mavericks. 

He will need to drive more, get to the free throw line more, and have several field goal attempts. Oddly enough, the one game he did not score 31 points is the game the Thunder won. The Thunder have a chance to earn back home court advantage and it starts with Gilgeous-Alexander.

If Oklahoma City loses this game, they will be down three games to one against two excellent playoff closers. Kyrie Irving is currently perfect in close out games with 13 wins in 13 games. Luka Doncic has won his last three close out games and they are a lethal backcourt when they can win a series.

Gilgeous-Alexander is well aware of this and knows his young teammates will be leaning on him tonight. He will likely spend most offensive possessions with the ball in his hands. Controlling the pace and offensive rhythm of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Look for Gilgeous-Alexander to score his series average or more in such an important game and our NBA predictions Bet of the Night.

 

 

 

NBA Props & Best Bets Today, 5/13

Fantasy Alarm has passed on Jayson Tatum the past two games to see how he would play. The first was one of his worst playoff games, and Saturday was his best game of the 2024 playoffs. Tonight, we bet on his point total to be under 27.5 in what should be an intense game.

To cap off today’s NBA picks, it’s a ticket that was nearly the Bet of the Night, and two units are recommended for this bet as well. P.J. Washington has been more than the ‘X-factor’ for the Dallas Mavericks; he has been The Man.

 

 

 

Celtics vs. Cavaliers Prediction: Jayson Tatum U27.5 Points (-110 on Bet365)

The Celtics were able to reestablish home court advantage with a win in Game 3 and are looking to make a statement win tonight. Currently, no team has won three games in the second round, and the Celtics can be the first to do so.

However, the Cleveland Cavaliers have shown a lot of fight in the 2024 playoffs, and they have a wonderful opportunity to even the series. Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse will be pumping with their season hopes on the line. Jayson Tatum is no stranger to loud fieldhouses though, nor is he a stranger to my NBA best bets.

He led the Boston Celtics to their best performance of this series with 25 field goal attempts. That was his most since a March 25th loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He was in complete domination mode, and very few teams stand a chance when he is at that level. His 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists were all his high marks in this series. 

The Cavaliers could (and should) put more pressure on Boston’s leader tonight. In doing so, Tatum will happily go back to a high effort facilitator and restore confidence in his teammates' scoring. A 20+ point game is more than achievable, but Cleveland’s improved defensive play, the possible return of Jarrett Allen, and the fact that Tatum won’t have 25 field goal attempts indicate 28 or more points will be difficult to achieve.

 

 

 

Thunder vs. Mavericks Prediction: P.J. Washington O2.5 Threes Made (-105 on Bet365) *2 UNITS

Washington has been the leading point scorer in the last two Dallas victories. His play has been second to none in the last two games, as Dallas continues to display that they made the best trades this season. He has been a mismatch throughout the playoffs, defensively for the Los Angeles Clippers and offensively for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Washington has a great sense of manifestation as well. He made a checklist when in high school that included becoming a McDonald’s All-American, playing at the University of Kentucky, making the NBA Rookie team, and to play for the Dallas Mavericks. He has achieved all of that, as one unmentioned goal is on every NBA player's checklist.

Why Dallas you may ask? Because he grew up in Frisco (North Dallas) and wanted to play for the team that inspired him as a youth… in particular, the 2011 NBA Champion Mavericks. Now, Washington has an opportunity to help Dallas establish a three-to-one lead in the Western Conference Semifinals. His scoring is a big part of it.

Washington has become Dallas’ leading point scorer the past two games with excellent rhythm from behind the three-point line. He has four or more successful three-point attempts in three of the last four games. Washington has attempted 23 three-point attempts in the last two games and made 12 attempts. 

The fact that this line is still near even odds with only three threes to go through the net is interesting. That is why a double-unit wager is suggested, as three threes could happen in the first half. Washington is playing in front of friends and family, so I like for him to keep his rhythm going in Game 4 to finalize my NBA predictions. 

 

 

 

Thanks for checking out my top NBA picks today! Remember to visit Fantasy Alarm for all your fantasy sports and betting needs.

Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy

*All odds accurate at time of writing and NBA bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise