The NBA Conference Semifinals are delivering drama in waves. Teams that steamrolled through the first round are suddenly finding the hardwood much harder, with lopsided matchups taking center stage. The Philadelphia 76ers, after a grueling seven-game victory over the Boston Celtics, were swept by the New York Knicks. Out West, the Los Angeles Lakers—fresh off an upset over the Houston Rockets—now find themselves down 3-0 to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
But not every series is one-sided. The Minnesota Timberwolves evened things up against the San Antonio Spurs, 2-2, with a 114-109 win that had a little bit of everything. The game took a turn when Victor Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter for a Flagrant Foul 2 after elbowing Naz Reid. It’s the kind of playoff intensity that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
If you’re looking to make some smart plays this postseason, here are tonight’s best bets. (New to BetOnline.org? New players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.)
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Thunder lead 3-0)
The Thunder are looking to close out a sweep at Crypto.com Arena, and they’re playing like the West’s top team for a reason. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 23 points and nine assists in Game 3, but the real story was Ajay Mitchell, who posted a postseason career-best 24 points and 10 assists. Chet Holmgren added 18 points and nine boards. For L.A., Rui Hachimura led with 21 points (hitting 5-of-8 from deep), while LeBron James chipped in 19 points and eight assists. Luke Kennard and Austin Reaves added 18 and 17, respectively. Still, without Luka Dončić, the Lakers were outscored 74-59 in the second half. With the Thunder’s firepower showing no signs of cooling, expect them to keep the pressure on.
Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Pistons lead 2-1)
The Pistons are another young squad loaded with talent, and they’re looking to push their series lead to 3-1 in Game 4 at Rocket Arena. Cade Cunningham has been the engine, but Detroit’s depth is making the difference. The Cavaliers will need to find an answer fast if they want to avoid falling into a deep hole.
Stay locked in—these playoffs are just getting started.