Friday May 24 Best Sports Betting Picks & Predictions For Mavericks vs. Timberwolves & More

Everybody's watching this Dallas Mavericks-Minnesota Timberwolves series. At least that's what the record ratings from Game 1 indicate.

And we're here for it.

There's a natural zig-zag to consider Friday night. But do we go there?

A classic Cubs-Cardinals matchup features an international sensation against a guy with a great mustache ... now that's a handicapping tool.

Finally, Game 2 of the NHL's East showdown brings another chance to score.

Dallas Mavericks at Minnesota Timberwolves

Check your bingo cards: Who had Kyrie Irving as the most reliable, professional player on the court in Game 1 of the 2024 Western Conference finals?

Do we dare lean Dallas for Game 2?

Depending on Irving and Luka Doncic is one thing, but rookie Dereck Lively II has produced at a much higher rate than expected. He led all players in Game 1 with a +19 in his 27 minutes of action.

The Mavs were 37-for-62 (a tick under 60 percent) on two-point field goal attempts, so the Wolves will be adjusting.

Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Conley were a combined 14-for-43 from the field, but we're optimistic that the hangover from the exhausting series win over the Denver Nuggets is gone and the transition game will click Friday night.

"Zig-zag" and "desperate team" trends plus the money (total handle was backing the Wolves at 70 percent Friday morning) favor Minnesota.

And more "Slo-Mo" Kyle Anderson. He averaged 4.2 assists during the regular season and we think the coaching staff sees him as an increasingly viable option. So we'll fade Conley's assists, too, for a nice plus-money attempt.

Timberwolves -2.5 at -186 (FanDuel)

Same-game parlay: Kyle Anderson OVER 2.5 assists with Mike Conley UNDER 6.5 assists at +298 (DraftKings)

Florida Panthers at New York Rangers

The Rangers were defeated 3-0 in Game 1, but the game was much closer than the final score would indicate.

Sounds like a loser's lament?

Nah. 

New York hit the post more than once, and now has plenty of video to diagnose what Florida did to them -- only 24 shots on goal -- to neutralize the Rangers' attack.

No doubt that Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has the inside track to being the most valuable guy on the ice. With his Game 1 shutout, he moved to 9-3 during the 2024 playoffs. His goals-against average is a tiny 2.17.

Feeling a Rangers rally to tie this series, but we'll take a little cushion and rely on New York's ability to fire more shots on goal.

Two-leg parlay at -145 (FanDuel): Rangers +1.5 with total goals OVER 3.5 

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky OVER 24.5 saves at -130 (BetMGM)

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals

Similar to the Pirates' Paul Skenes this year, and the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani in previous years, Shota Imanaga is a must-watch pitcher.

The Cubs' rookie standout is unbeaten in five decisions, has an ERA of 0.84 and doesn't seem the least bit fazed by the growing attention.

Chicago is a middling baseball team, but turns excellent with Imanaga on the mound. The right-hander leads all of baseball with a WAR (wins over replacement player) of 3.0 entering Friday.

His pitching opponent, Miles Mikolas, had been awful at home prior to his most recent start (five innings, one run allowed) against Boston.

He grabs another home start, aims to keep it rolling – and the Cubs offense is nothing special.

Three-leg parlay at -115 (FanDuel): First five innings UNDER 5.5 runs with Imanaga 4+ strikeouts with Mikolas 3+ strikeouts.