NBA Best Bets Today, 5/26: Expert Picks, Predictions, & Props - WCF
Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets had a perfect sweep yesterday in what was a thrilling game 3. The Indiana Pacers led for most of the game, but the Boston Celtics completed the 18 point comeback. Both bets came down to the last seconds of the game, the point total went over with under one minute left.
The most impressive play of the game was Jrue Holiday stealing the ball with less than six seconds, in a one point game, and getting free throws in return. As mentioned yesterday J. Holiday is the X factor for the Celtics, and if he doesn’t steal the ball, the Pacers likely score and win the game.
Instead Holiday went to the free throw line, made both of his free throws, and got us off the hook on a teased down bet. We teased it down to the exact point total, and it cashed. Holiday had 8 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, and it was a sweat, but he came through just in time to be successful
Tyrese Haliburton’s line was voided, and the +458 odds became +174, still excellent odds with a teased down line. Riding a two win streak, Fantasy Alarm now sets its eyes on today’s matchup.
NBA Picks & Predictions, 5/26: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks Game 3
The Minnesota Timberwolves are in a do or die situation today at American Airlines Center. The Dallas/Ft. Worth sports faithful are having one of the best sports years ever. The Texas Rangers won their first world series, the Dallas Stars won last night (at American Airlines Center) and are tied 1-1 in the NHL Western Conference Finals, and the Dallas Mavericks are up 2-0 and have two home games on dock. Only winning it all can exceed the excitement they are currently experiencing.
Dallas has all the momentum, the collective winning energy, and unless the Minnesota Timberwolves play either pissed off or with pride, they will get blown out tonight. So as opposed to taking the spread or moneyline in what should be another tightly contested game, the Bet of the Night takes a different angle.
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks Game 3 Prediction: Dallas Mavericks Over 104.5 Points (-115 on Draftkings Sportsbook)
The Dallas Mavericks have been on a tear in the Western Conference Finals. Their game plan is to stay close, knowing that their offense is better than the Timberwolves defense. The Mavericks also know that the Timberwolves can not pull away from them, nor have the defensive backcourt to prevent Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving from getting to their spots.
In doing so they have scored over 104.5 points in both games, and should do it again tonight. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been major scorers for the Dallas Mavericks, while Daniel Gaford, Dereck Lively II, PJ Washington, and Derrick Jones Jr. have been doing the dirty work of playing defense and grabbing rebounds.
On the road, in front of one the highest fan capacity arenas in the NBA, and a possibility to go down 0-3 is not an ideal situation for the Timberwolves. Particularly against the 2023-24 scoring leader and a Head Coach (Jason Kidd) that has experienced numerous Conference Finals as a player and coach.
Jason Kidd has delivered for the Mavericks organization since they drafted him in 1994. He recently had his contract extended and for good reason. He has his fingers all over the successful teams of this decade. Including two championship teams.
This is his second Western Conference Finals appearance as head coach for the Mavericks. He led the Mavericks there, and lost to the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. He also was an impactful assistant coach for the 2020 NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers, able to get the best out of an older Lebron James. He drafted the 2021 NBA Finals MVP, Giannnis Antetokounmpo, and pushed the Bucks to do so when he was their Head Coach.
Now Kidd is getting the best version of Kyrie Irving we have ever witnessed. He produced arguably the best scoring tandem (not just backcourt) the NBA has ever seen in Doncic and Irving. Kidd drafted Dereck Lively II who has been an X factor for the Mavericks, and he pushed the front office to pursue PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford before the trade deadline. Should they win it all, those mid-season moves could go down as one the best decisions of all-time.
The expression in sports goes ‘players win games and coaches lose them’. It’s a way of stating that coaches make a game plan and players execute it. When the execution yields the desired results, to the players the credit goes. Kidd has set this team up for success against the Timberwolves who have not been able to stop the Mavericks offensive game plan. Look for more of the same tonight.
Bet on DAL over 104.5 points at DraftKings Sportsbook today!
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks Same Game Parlay: Luka Doncic 2+ Three Pointers Made, Daniel Gafford Over 5.5 Rebounds, Dereck Lively II Over 7.5 Rebounds (+300 on Bet365 Sportsbook)
After a successful same game parlay yesterday, Fantasy Alarm seeks to do it again on this holiday weekend. Today’s parlay is three fold with three Dallas Mavericks players needing to go over. They are Luka Doncic, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II.
Doncic’s two or more three's made is almost a ‘gimme’, but even the league’s leading scorer can have a rough scoring night. Don’t plan on it tonight, as his point line is set at 30.5. Doncic’s teased down threes were added to the parlay to juice the odds, +300 is essentially an even (+100) per fold.
Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II alternate playing center and give maximum effort while on the court. It has been another brilliant Jason Kidd strategy that is paying off big time in the playoffs.
Doncic praised Lively II with the Inside the NBA crew after game 2 stating ‘he don’t play like a rookie… great minutes’. It is true too, Lively II has 23 points, 20 rebounds, and 3 assists coming off the bench for the Mavericks. He has played 27 minutes in each game which is more than starter Gafford. It has led to games of 9 and 11 rebounds which is why his over is recommended tonight.
Despite being the starter, Gafford has played just 21 minutes in each game of the series. Even though he plays less minutes he has scored more points, 26. He has 14 rebounds in the series and five or more rebounds in each game of the series. Although a slight gamble, the thought is the Timberwolves miss more field goals at American Airlines Center. This should allow Gafford to get six or more rebounds.
Dallas has ended both games with more rebounds than Minnesota, and that is not an accident. The Mavericks front court is simply out playing the Timberwolves front court. Minnesota looks fatigued and mentally drained at times, and their two best players have not shown up. They are a difficult team to predict and that is why the bet is on the more stable Mavericks players. Put a unit down to gain three.
- Bet on our Timberwolves at Mavericks Same Game Parlay (+300) at Bet365 Sportsbook today!