It might as well be Christmas for NBA odds bookies and bettors alike as two Game 7’s in the conference semifinal stage of the playoffs are scheduled for Sunday.
In the East, the No. 2 Boston Celtics pushed things to a seventh game against the defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks, who have had their hands full with Jayson Tatum and Co.
Out West, the NBA’s best team during the regular season, the Phoenix Suns, are looking to get back to the conference final for a second-straight season.
But Luka Doncic and the No. 4 Dallas Mavericks have had quite their say in this series.
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NBA odds, picks: May 15
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Game 7 (Series tied 3-3)
- Watch on ABC
You really can’t find more of a closely-contested series than this one right here.
Jayson Tatum went off with 46 points in Game 6 to force the winner-take-all scenario — even more impressively doing so in Milwaukee.
He shot 17-of-32 from the field and 7-of-15 from three-point range.
All the while, he outdueled Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who poured in 44 points of his own in the loss.
If recent history means anything, we should have a doozy of a Game 7 on our hands.
Games 3, 4, and 5 were decided by an average of just over four points and Milwaukee hasn’t won a game by more than three points since Game 1 of this series.
Now it comes down to which superstar can carry their team the furthest?
The Pick:
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns, 8 p.m.
- Game 7 (Series tied 3-3)
- Watch on TNT
Things have been awfully straightforward in this series between the Suns and Mavericks in that the home team has won each game.
The last three games haven’t been necessarily close, either.
Game 4 saw the Mavericks beat Phoenix in Dallas by 10 before Phoenix romped the plucky underdogs by 30 in Game 5.
Doncic and the Mavs came up with quite a reply on Friday night, though, as they took down Phoenix 113-86 to force Game 7.
This is why you play for homecourt advantage for the playoffs.
The Suns have everything to play for — and there is virtually zero pressure on Dallas — considering they had the best record in the NBA this season.
Should make for some fun theater.
The Pick:
