May 5th Recap
May 5th Record: 2-0, +2.5u
May Overall Record: 9-6, +3.65u
*NBA Best Bet Winner(+1.5u): Grizzlies -3 @ Timberwolves
--I understand the T-Wolves have played better since getting Karl Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, and Anthony Edwards all on the floor together. But the reality is that this line was just too short. Sure, the Grizzlies only won by 4, but the point still stands. The Grizzlies were a buy-on team before their recent stretch of losing 4 of 5, and this is still a team that is virtually locked in for the play-in tournament. The T-Wolves are a fun team to watch, but at 20-45, what’s really motivating them to play a full 48 minutes of hard-nosed basketball? This was a great buy-low opportunity on the Grizzlies, and while they could’ve done a better job at closing this game out, a win is a win(and a cover is a cover). As expected, Ja Morant showed up to play tonight after getting ejected in New York on Monday night, and Desmond Bane came up extremely clutch with a pair of 3’s in the final minute. Don’t get me wrong: Minnesota is a much better team than their record indicates. But there was simply too much value on the Grizzlies side to stay away from this one tonight.
*NBA Winner(+1u): Knicks/Nuggets UNDER 216
--This game was pretty evenly matched for 3 quarters of this game, but thankfully the Knicks came out of the gates slow, scoring a measly 12 points in the 1Q. Both teams shot under 40% from the floor, and if it hadn’t been for Nikola Jokic’s 32pt-12rb night, this would have been much less of a sweat in the 4Q. Austin Rivers made up for the Nuggets’ lack of depth in the backcourt with a 25 point night(something I definitely wasn’t accounting for), but the lack of consistency from both teams’ offenses ultimately kept this one Under. The reality is that any New York Knicks game that has a total over 210 is going to be getting a serious look on the Under from me. They play with a lot of effort on the defensive side of the floor, but their offense is just not explosive at all. Combine that with the fact that they play at the slowest pace in the league, and you’re just going to see more Unders from this team than Overs. The Nuggets continue to find ways to win without their normal guard depth but have an upcoming back-to-back in Utah and then back home to face the Nets. Solid end to a much-needed bounce back night!