Thursday May 23rd Best Betting Picks & Predictions: NBA & NHL Playoffs

The NBA’s Final Four is fire (as the kids say) and causing all kinds of anxiety.

Regarding their team’s heavy-favorite status before the series, Boston Celtics fans have to be thinking, “I dunno about this.”

The Celtics’ miraculous escape in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference finals series against the Indiana Pacers had to bring some doubt, and Thursday’s Game 2 should be a banger (same kids).

The NHL boasts a streaking team, the Dallas Stars, and a dynamic, explosive offense, the Edmonton Oilers, as Game 1 faces off in Big D on Thursday night.

Finally, a guy who was sidelined with shoulder inflammation returned to reduce any swelling in his ERA and looks to continue that trend.

We’re pretty sure we know what to do.

Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics

The Pacers were really good from 3-point range, hitting 13 of their 35 attempts; the Celtics made 15 of their 45 tries in Boston’s 133-128 overtime win.

Why do we lead with that stat?

This was no 3-point fluke assault. Indiana is healthy and every bit the competitive group the peripheral NBA fans saw Tuesday night.

Seven Pacers played 25+ minutes, all hit 5+ field goal attempts and all scored in double figures.

The Celtics starters logged heavy minutes, led by Jayson Tatum (36 points/12 rebounds/four assists), Jrue Holiday (28/7/8) and Jaylen Brown (26/7/5).

They were lucky, too (Brown’s tying 3-pointer).

Indiana found good looks and made shots (53.5 percent), and, equally important, looked unfazed by the riotous TD Garden home crowd.

Look for slightly better defense on both sides and for Holiday to continue his roll.

Pacers two-leg parlay with some cushion: Pacers +12.5 with UNDER 233.5 at -105 (DraftKings).

Celtics’ Jrue Holiday OVER 24.5 points+rebounds+assists -118 (FanDuel).

Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars

Great offenses, great defenses and intriguing goalie situations highlight the Western Conference final series between the Oilers and Stars.

Edmonton was first in the NHL’s  expected goals metric this season. That’s carried over, too. They are first during the postseason.

The Oilers put up points, but if cynics want to ding them for anything, it’s their depth – especially against this Dallas team that rolls four competent lines and wears down the opponents.

And Stars goalie Jake Oettinger is really good.

(Oilers fan shrugs)

That means the trigger men – Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard especially – have to make the most of their minutes.

We’re aiming to find plenty of shots tonight, along with a puck-line padding for Edmonton, a guard against another big effort from Oettinger.

Two-leg parlay: Oilers +1.5 goals with Draisaitl OVER 2.5 shots on goal at +120 (DraftKings)

Stars’ Jake Oettinger OVER 25.5 saves in regulation -106 (FanDuel)

Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox

The Orioles can’t be happy about dropping two games Wednesday in St. Louis.

The last-place White Sox have dropped five of six and send Mike Clevinger to the mound while Baltimore counters with Grayson Rodriguez.

Clevinger is not awful, but hasn’t completed five innings in any start this season.

Rodriguez came off the IL to silence the Seattle Mariners through six innings, allowing no runs and just one hit.

The Orioles’ hitters can wear out most pitchers, so look for Baltimore to rout the Sox.

Orioles -1.5 at -135 (BetMGM).