NBA Expert Picks: Make Or Break Game For Dallas? (5/20/22)
ScoresAndOdds NBA betting expert Derek Farnsworth breaks down his expert picks and predictions for Friday, May 20th. Make sure to use our BetMGM promo for a $1000 free bet!
| Playoff Betting | Running Totals |
| Series Bets: | 9-2 |
| Series Props | 3-4 |
| Series Profit/Loss | +0.53 units |
| Against The Spread Bets | 38-32-1 |
| Against The Spread Profit/Loss | +2.4 units |
| Total Profit/Loss | +2.93 units |
Happy Friday everyone!
It didn’t take long to realize I wasn’t going to need a trip to the cashier with my Heat bet last night. While they jumped out to a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, that was quickly erased by the Celtics, who put together one of their most complete games of the playoffs. They made 20 three-pointers on 50% shooting, they only committed nine turnovers, and their defense was incredible. I’m sure the Heat will make adjustments and we are still early in the series, but the Celtics look like the team to beat this season.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors: Expert Pick & Prediction
Game 2 could be a make or break game for the Mavericks. I sound like a broken record, but the Warriors have one of the most amazing streaks in NBA playoff history – they have won a game on the road in 25-straight series. If we assume that continues in this series and the Mavericks aren’t able to pick up a win tonight, this series could be over in four or five games.
As we saw in the second round, we shouldn’t put too much stock into a single game of basketball. If we did, we would have crowned the Suns in that series after the first game or two. With that said, the Mavericks reliance on the three-pointer could come back to haunt them in this series. After the second round, Dallas was second in the playoffs in turnovers and first in the playoffs in three-pointers made per game.
It just so happens that the strengths for the Mavericks are also the strengths for the Warriors’ defense. During the regular season, Golden State forced the seventh most turnovers and held their opponents to the lowest three-point percentage in the league. They have more depth, they have more playoff experience, and they are playing at home in front of a raucous crowd. It would be nice to see a close game since we haven’t had one in a while, but I like the Warriors in another rout tonight.
- ATS Pick: Golden State -6, DraftKings