NBA Playoffs Betting Picks: Game 3 Predictions & Best Bets

The first round of the NBA Playoffs continues tonight with Game Three for the Knicks-Hawks, Cavaliers-Raptors, and Nuggets-Timberwolves. The underdogs were the NBA best bets for two of the three in Game Two. Will that be the case for Game Three?
We’ll answer that question with today’s NBA Best Bets picks.

New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Knicks had Game Two won. They were up by 12 going into the fourth quarter and just needed to maintain the status quo to seal the victory. Instead, a combination of solid defense by Atlanta and poor shooting by the Knicks when it mattered most led to an improbable Atlanta comeback. But can the Hawks do it again?

I wouldn’t count on it. Yes, the Hawks made the right plays at the right time to steal a win in New York and should bring some momentum into this game. But the Knicks have one of the best defenses in the NBA. It broke down in the fourth in Game Two, but I wouldn’t count on that to do so again.

My Pick: Knicks ML at -110 (DraftKings)

New York will bounce back from those fourth-quarter mistakes that cost them Game Two. It will be tougher playing in Atlanta than at home, and the Knicks are not a great road team (22-19). But I’d still take the Knicks to bounce back and win this one outright.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors

It has been a rough go for the Raptors in this series against the Cavs as they lost both games in Cleveland (126-113 and 115-105). The Cavaliers’ dynamic trio of playmakers ( Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley) has simply been too much for the Toronto defense to handle.

The Raptors seemed to figure out a way to put more pressure on Mitchell in the second half of Game Two. If they can keep it up at home, it may mean Mitchell doesn't have another 30+ point night. But it will also turn Mitchell into more of a distributor, meaning bigger nights for Mobley and Harden.

My Pick: Cavaliers -2.5 at -115 (DraftKings)

Toronto will play a better game at home, but Cleveland has too many scoring threats for them to handle. The Raptors will hit a few more 3-pointers and make it a better game, but the Cavs will cover the small spread.

Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

Denver’s defense has been a concern to me all season long. Usually, it doesn’t mean much since they have more than offense on most nights to cover it. But that was certainly not the case in Game Two as they were outscored in the fourth quarter, 29-21, sealing a five-point win for Minnesota.

Anthony Edwards is still hobbled and will not be the same scoring threat he was in the regular season. But I expect Nikola Jokic and Jamaal to be out for blood and looking to make up for losing at home. However, while I expect more on offense, I’m not confident they can improve on defense.

My Pick: OVER 233.5 at -108 (DraftKings)

Denver played a surprisingly good defensive game in Game 1, but reverted to their regular-season norm in Game Two. I expect a similar effort in Game Three. With the Timberwolves now the home team, their offense will be more productive, but so will Jokic and Murray.

This is anyone’s game to win, but either way, it will be a high-scoring one.