Betting The NBA Playoffs: Expert Picks, Odds and Predictions (5/7/22)

ScoresAndOdds NBA betting expert Derek Farnsworth breaks down his best bets for the NBA playoffs on Saturday, May 7, 2022. Use our Caesars promo code for $1100 in free bet insurance!

We ended up going 1-1 last night, but ran a little bad with injury luck. I always write these betting previews the evening before each slate and at the time, it didn’t sound like Joel Embiid was going to suit up. Those are the breaks of making bets well in advance of games; I’m sure we’ve had just as many good breaks as bad ones. The Sixers played their most complete game of the series and won by a pretty decent margin. They are firmly back in the series, especially if they can win Game 4 at home. 

The Mavericks predictably bounced back in a big way in Game 2. The Suns couldn’t sustain their all-world pace on the offensive end of the floor and the supporting cast really showed up for the Mavericks at home. Jalen Brunson, Maxi Kleber, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Reggie Bullock all had their best individual performances of the second round. As I always say, more playoff basketball is never a bad thing. 

Let’s dive into tonight’s NBA playoff slate.

Free NBA Betting Picks For Today

Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks – 3:30 PM ET

Series: TIED 1-1

We can’t gleam much from the first two games in this series, as they were polar opposites. The Bucks held the Celtics to 89 points in Game 1 and won by 12 points, then the Celtics held the Bucks to 86 points in Game 2 and won by 23 points. If we look at the statistics as a whole, Milwaukee has been better offensively, they have had the edge on the glass, and they have taken better care of the ball. The Celtics have been better defensively and have shot the ball a little better. 

We now head back to Milwaukee for an important Game 3. The Celtics will be looking to take back control of the series and the Bucks will be looking to head into Game 4 with a chance to take a 3-1 lead. I don’t have a strong take on today’s game, as I generally side with the team playing their first home game of the series. However, Khris Middleton is still out for Milwaukee and the Celtics are expected to have Marcus Smart back in the lineup. If they can play the defense that they are capable of, they should have a chance to win this one in the fourth. 

• ATS Pick: Boston +2, BetRivers

Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors – 8:30 PM ET

Series: TIED 1-1

The Grizzlies had a rough start to Game 2 with Dillon Brooks being ejected for a hard foul against Gary Payton. It’s sad to see that type of play end someone’s playoffs, but Payton could return to the lineup in a couple of weeks if the Warriors are able to advance out of this series. Ja Morant had himself an amazing fourth quarter and was the difference in that game, leading his team to a win with 47 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. The series is now tied at one game apiece. 

The stats in the first two games were fairly even across the board, but now we shift back to San Francisco for Game 3. The Warriors didn’t lose a home game in the first round and my prediction at the start of the series was that they wouldn’t lose a home game in the second round. If that’s the case, the Warriors will win this series in six games or fewer. When this team gets on a run at home, there’s really nothing opponents can do other than burn through their timeouts. It doesn’t help that the Grizzlies will be without Brooks for this one, as he has been suspended one game for that flagrant foul. Give me all the Warriors in this one and I don’t mind messing around with some of the alternate lines.

• ATS Pick: Golden State -7, PointsBet