This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go Over the total. 

The Rockets scored 122 points in an upset win over the Warriors in their season opener, but then went on to score less than 110 points in each of their next seven games. They come into tonight's home game against the Cavs off a season high 137 point performance against the Jazz (one of the top defensive teams in the league). James Harden scored a career high 56 points, and was 7-of-8 from three-point range. The Rockets lead the league in three-point attempts, as well as made three-point shots. This could spell trouble for a Cleveland team that ranks dead last in the NBA in three-point defense. They have allowed opponents to average almost 42 percent from beyond the arc. The Rockets average over 44 attempted three-point shots per game. Cleveland has been just brutal on defense, even in the games they have recently won. Opponents have scored 110 points or more in each of the Cavs last nine games. That includes the Bulls, Nets, and Hawks (the three bottom teams in the Eastern Conference). Cleveland is 2-10 ATS in the last 12 meetings at Houston, including a 117-112 loss in Texas last year. They have gone over in each of their last five games versus Western Conference teams.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Lakers are 5-5, and the hype continues to build. They say showtime is back, but is it really? LA will play it's next four games on the road, after playing seven of 10 at home. Rook PG Lonzo Ball is getting mixed reviews, but one thing is for sure, his shot still needs plenty of work. The #2 overall pick is just 6-of-28 from the field in his last two games, hitting just one of 11 three-point attempts. The young Lakers will face the NBA's #1 ranked scoring defense, as the Celtics are holding opponents to just over 94 points per game. Boston has won nine straight since opening the season with back to back losses, and I don't expect a let down here at home in such a high profile game. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last seven head to head meetings, and Boston has gone under in four of it's last five versus Western Conference teams. I think the total here looks a bit too high.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on [email protected] to go Under the total.

The Jazz defeated Portland by a score of 112-103 last week. That game was tied 94-94 at the end of the fourth quarter, but overtime pushed the total over the number. Here is what I said prior to the game: "The Jazz are still the best defensive team in the NBA, and they are 4-0 at home so far. Their last home game was a 104-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks. They trailed Dallas 53-44 at halftime, but they took over in the third quarter, allowing the Mavs to score just 15 points. They might have let their guard down early in that game, but they likely know they need to concentrate for a full four quarters here against the Blazers." They have since lost to Houston and Toronto, going over the total now in three straight. The result is a higher total for tonight's home game against Philly. The under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these two teams, and the listed total was under 200 in each of the last six of those games.

Take Under.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz have won three straight, and they are 5-0 at home. They rank 2nd in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing under 95 points per game. They haven't allowed 95 points (in regulation) in any of their last three games. The Jazz host Toronto tonight, and the Raptors are in a tough spot, playing their final game of a six game road trip to the West Coast. They had won back to back games in LA and Portland, before getting blown out in Denver. They gave up less than 100 points in wins over the Lakers and Blazers, but allowed over 100 points in three quarters against the Nuggets. The Jazz are 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games playing on 1 days rest, and the under is 7-2-1 in Jazz last 10 games following a straight up win. The Raptors have failed to reach the total in 23 of their last 31 road games. I predict the Jazz win a defensive battle here at home.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz are still the best defensive team in the NBA, and they are 4-0 at home so far. Their last home game was a 104-89 win over the Dallas Mavericks. They trailed Dallas 53-44 at halftime, but they took over in the third quarter, allowing the Mavs to score just 15 points. They might have let their guard down early in that game, but they likely know they need to concentrate for a full four quarters here against the Blazers. Portland has won two of three road games, holding opponents to under 100 points in both those victories. The Blazers have been solid defensively so far, holding opponents to 98.3 points per game, the 6th best in the league. These two teams have played three times in 2017, going under in all three of those games. The Blazers failed to reach 90 points in each of their two games at Salt Lake City during that span. The under is 5-2 in Utah's last seven home games, and Portland has failed to reach the total in seven of their last nine when coming off a double-digit loss.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not the same team they were a year ago. So far this season they've been far better defensively, holding opponents to just 96.5 points per game. They play a tough road game at Milwaukee tonight, and the Bucks have won three of their last four. These teams played twice last year, and both games went under the total. In fact, neither of those two games saw a combined 200 points. The under trend goes back several seasons, with seven of the last nine head to head meetings going under the total. Russell Westbrook scored just 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting in a 101-69 win at Chicago on Saturday. He's really been shooting poorly from the free throw line this season, hitting just over 60 percent. In fact both these teams are below league average in free throw percentage, and the Thunder rank 25th overall in that category. The Bucks have gone under in six of their last eight home games, and they've failed to reach the total in four straight home meetings versus Oklahoma City.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz are missing Gordon Hayward, and coming into tonight's home game against Dallas they rank 29th in the league in scoring averaging just 94.5 points per game. The good news is, they are 3-0 at home, and they are still one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. The Jazz rank 2nd overall in opponent's scoring average, allowing just 93.8 points per game. They have allowed just 87.6 points per game at home. The Mavericks are winless on the road, and they rank 25 in the NBA in scoring, averaging just over 99 points per game. The Jazz have failed to reach the total in five of their last six home games, and the under is 5-0-1 in Utah's last six overall. These two teams have gone over the total in five of the last six head to head meetings, but two of those games went to overtime. The total for tonight's game is also higher than it was in five of the last six meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

10*

 This is a 5* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. The Rockets scored 122 points in a shocking upset win over the Warriors in their season opener, but they have averaged less than 100 points in three games since. It's likely no coincidence that PG Chris Paul has not played since injuring his knee in the win over the Warriors. His replacement Eric Gordon scored a team high 27 points in a loss to the Grizzlies on Monday, but the offense looked out of sync. Houston attempted a whopping 38 three point shots, hitting just nine (23.7%). The Sixers are coming off a 97-86 win over the Pistons in Detroit. Philly has lost three of four games so far, and has scored an average of less than 100 points per game. These teams have gone over the total in seven of the last 10 head to head meetings, but the total for tonight's game is higher than it was in any of those previous meetings. The Rockets have gone under in four straight versus Eastern Conference teams.  Take UNDER.  GL,  

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Warriors will host Houston in their season opener, and the total for this game is sky high. These teams have gone under in six of the last seven meetings, and I don't expect that the offense will be firing on all cylinders this early in the year. That is especially true for James Harden, who finished the pre-season going 1-for-18 from beyond the arc in his last two games. He failed to score 20 points in four of the Rockets last five pre-season games, despite playing starters minutes. Keep in mind the last meaningful game he played was a 114-75 home loss to the Spurs in the Western Conference Semi Finals. He scored 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting, leading many to speculate that he threw the game. Then there is the NBA's change to the "James Harden Rule", which will prevent him from getting as many unearned points as he has in past seasons. The Rockets have lost five of their last six visits to Oracle Arena, and they have averaged under 95 points per game in those losses. While the over is 5-1 in the Warriors last six home games, the number here is higher than it was for any of those six contests.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on [email protected] to go UNDER.

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Cavs will play the Warriors in a rematch of last year's NBA Finals. In fact this is the third straight season that Cleveland will face the Warriors in the Finals, and over the past two seasons they have played 13 NBA Finals matches. Not one of those games saw more than 216 combined points. During the regular season these teams played three times, and went under in all three games. Despite these trends, a matchup between two teams that each ranked in the top five in scoring has the bookmakers opening with another enormous total for Game 1. Both these teams have put up impressive points totals in these playoffs, but they've also been dominant on defense. The Warriors have gone over in six straight, but the total for this game in far higher than it was in any of those previous contests. So far in these playoffs neither the Warriors or the Cavs have truly been in a position where they need to battle for a full 48 minutes. This is the Finals, and the stakes are high. Don't expect to see easy buckets and mental lapses on the defensive side of the ball. LeBron's legacy is at stake here, and while he just passed MJ to become the all time playoff scoring leader, I've been more impressed with his defense so far in this post-season.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total .

The last time these two teams played in Boston, the total fell short of an inflated number. I cashed in on that game, and here is what I said before tip off: "The Celtics only scored 39 points in the first half of Game 1, and the game ended up going over the total by just one bucket. The bookmakers have set a higher total for Game 2, and I am expecting a more competitive game from Boston. These two teams had gone under in six straight meetings in Boston prior to Game 1. The Cavs aren't expecting much of a challenge here from the Celtics, but their performance in the series opener appeared to be a statement directed toward the Warriors. We could see them take their foot off the gas here in Game 2. Cleveland won Game 1 by a 13 point margin, and the difference was made up at the free throw line. The Cavs attempted a whopping 35 free throws, scoring 28 points. The Celtics attempted just 18 free throws, scoring just 10 points. I would think those numbers would even out a little here in Game 2. There were plenty of "easy buckets" in the last game, and I expect to see Boston play a little harder on defense down the stretch in this game." The situation is a little different here in Game 5, as the Celtics are now facing elimination. The Cavs previously closed out Toronto and Indiana, and both of those elimination games saw fewer than 212 points.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Cavs scored 130 points in Game 2 of this series, and with Isaiah Thomas out for the rest of the playoffs, Boston isn't likely to play any better defensively in Cleveland. The Cavs might suffer a bit of a let down, but if the do it's likely going to be on defense. They held the Celtics to just 31 points in the first half of Game 2, and it might be a tough ask to bring that kind of defensive intensity again here in Game 3. Boston scored 55 points in the second half of Game 2, and that was with Isaiah Thomas in the locker room. The Cavs have gone over in all four home games in these playoffs, and the over is 7-3 in Cavaliers last 10 games playing on 1 days rest. The total for the last game was roughly seven points higher, but with Boston's leading scorer out, the bookmakers have adjusted with a much lower number here. I think it looks like an over-correction.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Celtics only scored 39 points in the first half of Game 1, and the game ended up going over the total by just one bucket. The bookmakers have set a higher total for Game 2, and I am expecting a more competitive game from Boston. These two teams had gone under in six straight meetings in Boston prior to Game 1. The Cavs aren't expecting much of a challenge here from the Celtics, but their performance in the series opener appeared to be a statement directed toward the Warriors. We could see them take their foot off the gas here in Game 2. Cleveland won Game 1 by a 13 point margin, and the difference was made up at the free throw line. The Cavs attempted a whopping 35 free throws, scoring 28 points. The Celtics attempted just 18 free throws, scoring just 10 points. I would think those numbers would even out a little here in Game 2. There were plenty of "easy buckets" in the last game, and I expect to see Boston play a little harder on defense down the stretch in this game.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Warriors were held to just 42 points in the first half of Game 1, and they trailed by 20 points heading into the third quarter. They went on an 18-0 run following the injury to Kawhi Leonard, and outscored San Antonio 71-49 in the second half. The Spurs couldn't stop Steph Curry and Kevin Durant without Leonard, and that might be a preview of how this series is going to go if Leonard is unable to play after suffering another ankle sprain. Golden State also scored 24 points at the free throw line, and that's one more reason to expect a lot of scoring here in Game 2. These two teams have gone over in three of the last four meetings, and the over is 8-2 in Spurs last 10 road games. The Warriors have gone over in five of their last seven overall.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Rockets made an incredible 22 three-point shots in a blowout victory in Game 1 at San Antonio, but the Spurs bounced back with a 121-96 win in Game 2. Both of those games went over the total, and I expect another high scoring game here in Game 5. Here is what I had to say prior to the last game in this series: "The Spurs suffered their worst lost in history in Game 1 of this series versus Houston, but they have responded with back to back wins to take a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4. LaMarcus Aldridge struggled in the series opener, but he was great in Game 3, scoring 26 points with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. These teams played close gamed during the regular season, with three of the four decided by just a two point margin. The bookmakers have made the Rockets a six point favorite on Sunday, and the total is hovering around 212. San Antonio has seized the momentum, and their defense was impressive holding Houston to just 36.4 percent shooting in the last game. The Rockets are likely to be a lot better in tonight's must win game, and that should push the total higher than Game 3. The Spurs have gone over in six of their last seven road games, while Houston has gone over in six of their last eight following a double-digit home loss"

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Warriors swept the Blazers in the first round, and they have a chance to sweep the Jazz here in Game 4 in Salt Lake City. They scored more points in Game 4 against Portland than they did in any of the previous three games in that series, and I expect to see a high scoring game here in Utah tonight as well. Both these teams have played hard on defense so far, but with the Jazz trailing 0-3, we could see both teams ease up a little. I bet the over in Game 2, and here is what I said prior to that game: "The Warriors scored an average of 119 points per game in a four game sweep in their first round series versus Portland. That's well above the 115.9 points per game they averaged while leading the league in scoring during the regular season. The Jazz were the league's top defensive team this year, but they gave up an average of 97.7 points per game in a seven game series versus the Clippers in the first round, slightly more than their regular season average of 96.8 points per game. So much for the traditional logic that scoring goes down in the playoffs. Both these teams have a history of playing high scoring games in the playoffs. The Warriors have gone over in five of their last six Conference Semifinal games, while the over is 6-0-1 in Utah's last seven in the second round of the playoffs. The oddsmakers have set a low number here, and I think the value is on a play on the over."

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Warriors shot just 24.1 percent from three-point range in Game 1, and the total fell short of the number (206.5). We see an even lower number here in Game 2, and I expect the sharp shooting Warriors to be just a bit more accurate from long range in tonight's game. Here is what I said before the series started: "The Warriors scored an average of 119 points per game in a four game sweep in their first round series versus Portland. That's well above the 115.9 points per game they averaged while leading the league in scoring during the regular season. The Jazz were the league's top defensive team this year, but they gave up an average of 97.7 points per game in a seven game series versus the Clippers in the first round, slightly more than their regular season average of 96.8 points per game. So much for the traditional logic that scoring goes down in the playoffs. Both these teams have a history of playing high scoring games in the playoffs. The Warriors have gone over in five of their last six Conference Semifinal games, while the over is 6-0-1 in Utah's last seven in the second round of the playoffs. The oddsmakers have set a low number here, and I think the value is on a play on the over."

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Rockets destroyed the Spurs in Game 1 of this series, winning by a score of 126-99 at San Antonio. They hit a whopping 22 three-point shots, and held the Spurs to 36.9 percent shooting. It's gut check time for the Spurs, and I expect Popovich to have his team ready to fight here in Game 2. The Spurs should step up their defensive intensity, and this game should be a lot closer than the series opener. During the regular season these teams went under in all four meetings, and all of those games were decided by six points or less. Houston has played low scoring games when in the role of underdog on the road. The under is 10-2-1 in the Rockets last 13 road games versus a team with a winning home record. The Spurs are probably the best coached team in the league, and that's one reason why they almost always respond after a double-digit home loss. The Rockets can expect this game to be a lot tougher than Game 1.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

We've seen some low scoring games between the Bucks and the Raptors in this Eastern Conference quarterfinals series, but Game 5 in Toronto was a bit of a shootout. The Raptors hit 57.7 percent from the field and went 12-of-27 from beyond the arc in a 118-83 victory. The previous two games in Milwaukee were low scoring, and I expect to see another defensive battle here tonight. The Bucks held Toronto to just 77 points on 33.8 percent shooting in Game 3, and the Raptors held Milwaukee to just 76 points 37 percent shooting in Game 4. These two teams have failed to reach the total in seven of the last 10 meetings, and the under is 8-1 in Raptors last nine road games versus a team with a winning home record. Toronto has trended toward lower scoring games on the road, going under in 19 of their last 26 away from Air Canada Center. The Bucks on the other hand play lower scoring games at home, going under in eight of their last 11 at the Bradley Center.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Warriors won Game 1 of this series by a score of 121-109, easily going over the total of 220. Game 2 was a lower scoring battle with the Warriors winning 110-81. The series shifts to Portland, and I am expecting a shootout in Game 3. These two teams met in the second round of last year's playoffs, and after a high scoring opener, they went under in Game 2. The Blazers won Game 3 by a score of 120-108, and I'm expecting tonight's game to follow that same script. The Blazers have gone over in six of their last seven home meetings with Golden State, and the one game that went under was a 113-11 Warriors win, falling shot of the total of 224.5. Tonight's total is far lower than it was in any of the last six meetings in this series. The Blazers averaged 109.9 points per game at home this season, while the Warriors averaged 213 points per game on the road. Both teams like to play a similar style, and we should see plenty of scoring here in tonight's pivotal Game 3.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

After back to back unders in the first two games in this series, I don't think there's any reason to expect a different result when the series shifts to Utah. Here is what I said prior to Game 2: "The Jazz upset the Clippers in Game 1, holding LA to 95 points on 44.4 percent shooting. Utah led the NBA in opponent's scoring average during the regular season, allowing just 96.8 points per game. Game 1 of this series fell well short of the total, and it was the fourth time in Utah's last five games at LA that the total landed below the number. Utah has also gone under in four of it's last five road games. The Clippers are an above average defensive team, and here in a "must win", they should step up the intensity. DeAndre Jordan ranks third in the NBA averaging three blocks per game, and he blocked three shots in Game 1. Playoff basketball is often a lot more defensive than the style of play seen during the regular season. That is evidenced by the fact that the Jazz have gone under in five straight Conference Quarterfinals games, and LA has failed to reach the total in five of their last seven in the first round of the playoffs."

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz upset the Clippers in Game 1, holding LA to 95 points on 44.4 percent shooting. Utah led the NBA in opponent's scoring average during the regular season, allowing just 96.8 points per game. Game 1 of this series fell well short of the total, and it was the fourth time in Utah's last five games at LA that the total landed below the number. Utah has also gone under in four of it's last five road games. The Clippers are an above average defensive team, and here in a "must win", they should step up the intensity. DeAndre Jordan ranks third in the NBA averaging three blocks per game, and he blocked three shots in Game 1. Playoff basketball is often a lot more defensive than the style of play seen during the regular season. That is evidenced by the fact that the Jazz have gone under in five straight Conference Quarterfinals games, and LA has failed to reach the total in five of their last seven in the first round of the playoffs.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Spurs put on a defensive clinic in Game 1 of this first round series versus Memphis, holding the Grizzlies to just 39.2 percent shooting in a 111-82 home win. That game still went over the total of 190, and the total for tonight's game is even lower than it was in Game 1. I expect Memphis to battle back here in Game 2, and they should be a little better offensively. The Grizzlies trailed by just three points at the half in Game 1 (52-49). They only managed to score 33 points in the second half, but the Spurs didn't slow down at all. San Antonio hit 10-of-19 three-point attempts, and shot 53.2 percent from the field. While these are two of the top defensive teams in the NBA, the bookmakers may be overcompensating for that with a total that is far lower than it was in any of the five meetings in this series this season. The Spurs have gone over in four of their last five overall, while the Grizzlies have gone under just once in their last five games. 

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Warriors won 15 of their final 16 games this season, and during that span they scored at least 110 points 11 times. Golden State swept the season series, and they scored an average of 125 points in the four regular season meetings versus Portland. Both these teams love to shoot the ball from long range, and that normally translates into plenty of scoring. The Blazers have seen the total go over in nine of their last 12 visits to Golden State, and the over is 18-6 in the last 24 meetings overall in this series. The total for today's game is lower than it was in all four of the regular season games between the two teams. Kevin Durant sure looked healthy in the regular season finale, scoring 29 points, hitting 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Both teams averaged over 12 made three-pointers per game in April, so expect to see a shooting clinic here in Game 1.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Pacers will be a nine point underdog on the road in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series versus Cleveland tonight. Indiana finished the season with five straight wins, and they played some strong defense in those games. Both these teams did more than their fair share of scoring during the regular season, and because of that we see a high total in Game 1 here in the playoffs. History tells us that playoff basketball is a different animal, with more focus on defense. That is evidenced by the fact that Indiana has gone under in eight of it's last nine Conference Quarterfinals games, while the Cavs have gone under in five of their last seven first round games. Last year Cleveland swept the Pistons in the first round, and three of those four games saw fewer than 200 points.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

It's common knowledge that scoring goes down in the NBA Playoffs, due to an increased emphasis on defense in meaningful games. We will see two teams battling to make the playoffs in Indiana tonight when the Pacers host the Bucks. Milwaukee is sitting in fifth place, but is just two games up on the ninth place Pacers. Indiana is tied with Miami for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, and that makes this game a must win for the Pacers. They are coming off a huge win over Toronto on Tuesday, holding the Raptors to just 39 points in the second half of a 108-90 victory. I expect to see a similar effort here at home tonight. The Bucks have gone under in six of their last eight road games, and 15 of their last 22 overall. Indiana has failed to reach the total in 10 of it's last 14 when coming off a win.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The surging Milwaukee Bucks have won 10 of their last 12 overall, climbing all the way to sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. They have been playing great defense during that stretch, holding opponents under 100 points in eight of those 10 wins. They host the 5th place Atlanta Hawks tonight, and they only trail the Hawks by one game. This game is key for both teams, and with massive playoff implications, expect both teams to bring it on defense. The Hawks have lost five straight, and haven't scored more than 100 points in any of those games. Leading scorer Paul Millsap has missed the last three games with a knee injury, and will not play in Milwaukee. Atlanta has failed to reach the total in seven of it's last eight road games, while the Bucks have gone under in four straight at home.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Denver Nuggets are one of the league's highest scoring teams, ranking 3rd in the NBA in scoring. Their scoring average is significantly higher at home though, and they face a tough road game tonight in Indiana. The Pacers are a solid 25-10 at home, and they haven't allowed an opponent to score more than 100 points in five straight home games. They sit seventh in the Eastern Conference Standings, and with only 2.5 games separating them from the 8th, 9th and 10th place teams, they need to keep winning games. The Pacers improved defense has caused them to cash in lately for under bettors. They've failed to reach the total in 12 of their last 16 overall, and the under is 6-2 in Pacers last 8 games playing on 1 days rest.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Pistons are tied with Chicago, and both teams trail the eighth place Heat for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They play on the road at Orlando tonight, and we should see a hard fought battle. Detroit lost to the Bulls by a score of 117-95 on Wednesday, but they had held opponents under 100 points in four straight games prior to that. The Magic really struggle offensively, ranking 29th in the NBA in scoring. The Pistons are one of the league's top defensive teams, and given the high stakes here I expect them to make life very difficult for the home team. The Magic rank dead last in the NBA in three-point shooting, and the Pistons are just slightly better ranking 27th. Only the Miami Heat shoot the ball for a lower percentage from the free throw line than the Pistons, and the Magic aren't much better ranking 27th.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Spurs host the Grizzlies in a "Grudge Match" in San Antonio tonight, looking to avenge a pair of losses in this series earlier this season. Memphis won at home by a score of 104-96 on Saturday, and the Grizzlies held the Spurs to a season low points total in an 89-74 win at San Antonio in February. These two teams rank 2nd and 3rd in the NBA in opponent's scoring average, and only one of the last seven meetings in this series has seen more than 200 points combined. The total for this game is far higher than it was in nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. This game has massive playoff implications, with a possible first round playoff matchup looking likely. The total has gone under in four of the Grizzlies last five visits to San Antonio, and history should repeat itself here tonight.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Spurs are coming off back to back losses, and they return home to play bottom feeders Sacramento tonight. The Kings have been a good bet when visiting San Antonio in recent seasons, going 6-1 ATS in their last seven. They are going to have their work cut out for them tonight though, with an injury depleted lineup facing the NBA's #2 ranked defense. The Spurs are normally very stingy when coming off a loss, and they've gone under in seven of their last 10 versus losing teams. These teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last seven meetings in this series, and the Kings have gone under in six of their last seven road games. The under is 11-4 in Sacramento's last 15 overall. I expect this game to be a blowout, with the reserves coming off the bench in the fourth quarter. It's going to be difficult for the Kings to contribute enough points to push the total over.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

It's difficult not to notice that teams heading toward the post-season are starting to tighten up defensively. Both the Raptors are the Pacers are jockeying for playoff position in the Eastern Conference, and tonight's game will be meaningful for both teams. Indiana has failed to reach the total in nine of it's last 10 overall. During that span the Pacers have held opponents under 100 points eight times. The Raptors have gone under in seven of their last 10, and their offense has suffered with PG Kyle Lowry out of the lineup. These two teams have a history of playing low scoring games. They've gone under in eight of the last 10 meetings, and tonight's total is higher than it was in any of the previous eight meetings between the two teams. The Pacers have gone under in 13 of their last 16 road games.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

As the playoffs get closer, competitive teams tend to step it up defensively. That's been the case for both the Celtics and the Timberwolves of late. Boston is trying to catch the Cavs for first place in the East, while the Wolves are still 3.5 games back of the eighth place Nuggets in the West. Boston has not gone over the total for 10 straight games, while Minnesota has failed to reach the total in eight of it's last 10. This will be the second meeting between these teams this season. Boston won the first meeting 99-93 at Minnesota. The Celtics last home game was a 100-80 win over the Bulls, holding Chicago to 37.9 percent shooting. The Bulls scored just 26 points in the first half (not quarter) of that game. The under is 13-3-3 in Celtics last 19 overall.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

We all know that scoring drops dramatically in the NBA Playoffs in comparison to the regular season. When two post-season contenders meet late in the season, these games have major playoff implications. That will be the case when the Thunder host the Spurs on Thursday, looking to snap a four game losing streak. The Spurs are certainly taking this game seriously, as evidenced by the fact that they sat their starters in last night's win over Sacramento. That game went over the total, but the Spurs had gone under in seven of their previous eight games. These two teams have failed to reach the total in seven of the last 10 meetings, and of the three games that went over, two of those saw less than 213 points. The total for tonight's game is significantly higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings in this series. Oklahoma City lost at San Antonio by a score of 108-94 earlier this season, and the Thunder shot just 35.3 percent from the field in that game.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Clippers are in Minnesota tonight, and this is a big game for two teams that are trying to improve their playoff position. The Wolves are trying to catch Denver, sitting three and a half games back of the eighth place Nuggets. The Clippers are a game and a half back of the Jazz for fourth place in the West. This is the time of year when we see an increased emphasis on defense, and teams still in the hunt should be battling hard for ever single possession all night. That's resulted in a trend of low scoring games for Minnesota, who have gone under in five of their last six overall. During that span they allowed 100 points only once, in a 142-130 loss at Houston. Previous meetings in this series have trended over, but tonight's total is higher than it was in seven of the last eight. The Clippers lost at home to Minnesota by a score of 104-101 in the last meeting.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Raptors host the Celtics in their first game back after the All Star break, and this is a huge game for both teams. Boston sits four games clear of Toronto in second place in the Eastern Conference, and the Raptors are just half a game up on 5th placed Atlanta. Toronto limped into the break as losers of 11 of their last 15. During that span they failed to score 100 points six times. I would expect both teams to be a little rusty following a week off, and I don't think either team will be giving up any easy buckets. Toronto ranks in the Top 10 in the NBA in opponent's scoring averaging, allowing just 104.3 points per game. The addition of big man Serge Ibaka at the trade deadline certainly isn't going to hurt. Tonight's total is higher than it was in nine of the last 10 meetings in this series, and four of the last five have gone under. The Raptors have gone under in six of their last eight overall, with the two exceptions coming in games against Western Conference teams.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Utah Jazz are coming off an embarrassing 88-72 home loss to the Clippers. The Portland Trailblazers are coming off a home loss to Atlanta, shooing just 35.9 percent from the field and scoring just 97 points in regulation. The two teams will meet in Utah tonight, and we should expect to see a defensive battle. Utah is a heavy favorite, and the Jazz have a history of locking in defensively off a big home loss. They've gone under in nine of their last 10 following a double digit home loss. The total for tonight's game is far higher than it has been in recent meetings. In fact each of the last 10 meetings in this series saw a number below 200, dating back to 2014. The Jazz will be desperate to end a three game losing streak, and that should mean a heavy emphasis on defense. Two of Portland's last three visits to Utah have failed to go over 200 points, and none of the three went over the total listed for tonight's contest.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Pelicans are coming off a 122-106 win at Minnesota, and they shot 60 percent from the field in the victory. They play Sunday in Sacramento, and the Kings aren't the best defensive team in the NBA. Sacramento scored 65 points in the second half to come from behind and beat the Hawks 108-107 in overtime on Friday. They've scored an average of 107 points while wining three of five games during their current home stand. These two teams have gone over in three of the last four meetings, and the Kings have gone over in seven straight games coming off a win. The Pelicans have gone over in nine of their last 12 overall, mostly due to the fact that they give up an awful lot of points. Opponents have averaged over 112 points over their last five games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Kings have won three of their last four games, scoring an average of over 110 points per game during that span. They are Philly to play the Sixers tonight, and Philly has lost back to back games, giving up over 120 points in each of those losses. The Sixers appear to have cooled off after a 10-3 run prior to Friday's home loss to the Rockets. James Harden went off for 51 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in that game. I think we could see another half hearted effort on defense tonight, and DeMarcus Cousins could pile on the points. Cousins scored 35 points in a win at Charlotte Saturday, and he's averaged over 30 points per game in his last five. The Kings have been having their way with opponents from the Eastern Conference, and they've covered the spread in five straight on this road trip. The Sixers have gone over in five straight, and the over is 9-3 in their last 12 when playing the second game of a back to back. 

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go over the total.

The Kings appeared to be well on their way to a third straight victory last night in Indiana, leading by double digits in the fourth quarter. They couldn't hang on though, eventually losing by a score of 115-111 in overtime. They might not have much left in the tank here on their second game of a back to back in Charlotte. The Hornets though have lost three straight, giving up an average of 110 points per game in those losses. This will be their second game in as many nights, and third game in four nights. Recent games between these two teams have been high scoring, the over is 4-1 in the last five head to head meetings. The total for tonight's game is lower than it was in the last two meetings, and I don't expect to see a lot of effort here on defense from two teams that might not make the playoffs. The Hornets have gone over in 13 of their last 17 when playing their second game of a back to back, and the over is 8-3 in their last 11 home games versus the Kings.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz are coming off back to back losses, failing to score 100 points in both of those games. They are one of the lowest scoring teams in the NBA, averaging just 99.4 points per game (28th). It has been their defense that has helped them win 16-of-24 at home. They rank #1 in the NBA in points allowed, giving up just 95.5 points per game. They are likely to put even more emphasis on defense tonight, looking to get back on track against a struggling Lakers team. LA has failed to score 100 points in back to back losses at Portland and Dallas. They scored just 73 points, suffering their worst ever loss at Dallas on Sunday (122-73). They've lost seven of the last eight meetings in this series, and they've scored an average of just 82 points while losing their last three visits to Utah. The Jazz have gone under in five straight following a loss, and the under is 11-5-2 in their last 18 home meetings versus the Lakers.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The New York Knicks are just 2-6 on the road this season, and they have failed to cover in nine of the last 10 in this series with the Heat. New York's 15th ranked offense is averaging 5.5 points fewer on the road than it does at home. The Heat are one of the worst offensive teams in the NBA, ranking 28th overall, averaging just 97.1 points per game. Miami's defense though is ranked 6th in the NBA, holding the opposition to an average of 98.8 points per game. The Heat are coming off a 99-92 loss at Portland, failing to reach the total for the fifth time in their last 10 games. These two teams have failed to reach the total in four straight meetings, and tonight's total is higher than it was in any of the previous 10 meetings. Putting it in perspective, neither team has scored 100 points in the last four meetings, and the Knicks haven't reached the century mark in any of the previous 10 meetings.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

Portland is one of the highest scoring teams in the NBA, averaging over 110 points per game. They've scored an average of more than 121 points while winning two of three during this current home stand. They give up an awful lot of points as well, ranking 29th in the NBA allowing opponents to average more than 113 points. The Miami Heat are not known for their offense, but they come into Portland off back to back road wins at Denver and Utah. The Heat shot 51.2 percent in a 111-110 win at Utah on Thursday. These two teams have gone over the total in nine of the last 13 meetings, and the over is 12-1 in Portland's last 13 home games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Lakers are coming off a 113-80 loss to Toronto last night, shooting just 34.4 percent from the field. Playing on the road on back to back nights against one of the league's best defenses in Memphis tonight, I expect another poor showing offensively for LA. The Grizzlies are coming off a 95-94 win over Orlando, and they've failed to reach 200 points in four straight home games. Injuries to DeAngelo Russell and Nick Young haven't helped the Lakers, and LA has failed to reach the total in five straight. Memphis has it's own injury concerns, as they've been without Mike Conley, Zack Randolph and Vince Carter. The Grizz have gone under in four straight at home versus teams with a losing record, and that's a trend I expect to continue tonight.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Atlanta Hawks have lost three straight, scoring an average of just 87 points in those losses. They will be a favorite in Phoenix tonight, facing a Suns team that has won just once in it's last five games overall. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five straight meetings dating back to 2014, and tonight's total is significantly higher than it was in any of the last four meetings. The Hawks are one of the league's top defensive teams, holding opponents under 100 points per game on average. The under is 19-7 in their last 26 road games, and they've failed to reach the total in 21 of their last 29 versus Western Conference teams. The Suns have failed to reach the total in seven of their last 10 versus Eastern Conference teams.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Lakers will be shorthanded when they face the Bulls in Chicago tonight, already missing starting PG DeAngelo Russell, they could be without Nick Young who suffered a strained Achilles in the loss to New Orleans last night. These teams have gone over the total in each of the last four meetings, but we see a higher total in tonight's game than in any of those previous contests. The Bulls are one of the league's top defensive teams, holding opponents to an average of just 99 points per game. These teams have failed to reach the total in nine of the last 12 meetings at the United Center, and Chicago has held opponents to an average of 95.8 points while winning four of five home games this season.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Raptors have scored over 110 points in nine of their last 11 games overall. They scored a whopping 122 points in a blowout win over Philly last night, and they host a banged up Memphis team here tonight. Memphis is already missing Zack Randolph, Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, and could be without Vince Carter here in Toronto. The Grizzlies have a reputation for being one of the league's toughest defensive teams, but I don't like their chances of slowing down the Raptors with a depleted lineup. The over is 9-2 in Toronto's last 11 overall, and they've gone over in seven of their last 10 home games. These two teams have failed to reach the total in five straight meetings, but two of the last three times they met, the total was over 200.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

The Pistons will play their second game in as many nights on the road at Boston tonight. They 112 points in an upset win over the Hornets in Charlotte last night, and they were 12-of-28 from three point range in the victory. These teams have failed to reach the total in each of the last four meetings, but the listed total was over 200 in all four of those games. Tonight's number looks a little too low, and I am expecting the Pistons to be competitive, with a little momentum coming off an impressive performance. The Celtics are also coming off an impressive showing, scoring 112 points and hitting 11-of-27 from three-point range at Miami on Monday.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Jazz are the top defensive team in the NBA, holding opponents to an average of just 92.8 points per game. They are coming off their most impressive victory of the season, holding the Hawks to just 68 points in a 95-68 home win on Friday. They are in Minnesota tonight, and the T-Wolves have lost four of their last five. Minnesota ranks 19th in the NBA scoring an average of 103.1 points per game, but has been held to less than 100 points in four of it's last five games. These two teams have gone under in three of the last four meetings, and the one game that went over saw just 193 total points. This is a big game for the Jazz, who sit just a half game back of Oklahoma City in the Northwest Division standings. Minnesota sits dead last in the division, and the T-Wolves have gone under in seven straight versus Northwest Division teams.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

After both the first two games of this series failed to reach the total, the bookmakers adjusted with a much lower number for Game 3 in Cleveland. The pace of play in the first two games should have resulted in a higher score, but Cleveland just kept on missing shots. The Cavs shot 52.7 percent from the field in Game 3, and they were 12-of-25 from three point range. Still the total for Game 4 remains much lower than it was in the first two games, and I think after three straight lob-sided games, we might finally see a competitive contest here in Game 4. Surely the Splash Sisters have to be better, and they have plenty to prove after going a combined 4-of-16 from beyond the arc in Game 3. The over is 6-0 in Cavaliers last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

After cashing in on a heavy under trend this post-season, I decided to switch things up with a play on the over in Game 1. It didn't work out, with the Splash Brothers shooting just 8-of-27 combined, totaling only 20 points. The Cavs were brutal, shooting just 38.1 percent in a 104-89 loss. Cleveland missed a lot of easy put-backs and layups that you would have expected them to hit. Heading into Game 2, we see that the bookmakers have adjusted with a total that is 3-4 points lower than it was in Game 1. We know Curry and Thompson are going to be better than they were in Game 1, and I expect Cleveland to play a bit better as well.  The Warriors have failed to reach the total in four of their last five overall, but three of those games saw enough points to go over tonight's total. 

Take OVER. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total. 

The playoffs have been very profitable for The Iceman so far, and much of the success has come with totals. Those who have followed would know that The Iceman plays a lot more unders than he does overs, but he's changing things up here in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While he Warriors failed to reach the total in five of their seven games in the Western Conference Final, only two of those games saw fewer points than the total here for Game 1. When these two teams met in the Finals last year, we saw tight, low scoring games. The series opener went just over, only because of overtime. Things have changed here in 2016, with a healthy Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, these Cavs can score with the best of them. The Warriors certainly are the best of them, averaging 111 points per game in the playoffs. The Cavs come in averaging 107 points per game. The Warriors didn't play particularly well against the Thunder, but with Klay Thompson making 11 three-pointers in Game 6, and the Splash Bros hitting a combined 13-of-23 from downtown in Game 7, they survived. I think if they play that way against the Cavs they could be in for a tough series. 

Take OVER. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Warriors have won back to back games to force a Game 7 at Oracle Arena, but neither of those wins were particularly convincing. They trailed 53-48 at halftime in Game 6, and they have trailed at the half in three of the last four games in this series. The only thing that saved them from elimination in Game 6 was the red hot shooting from Klay Thompson, who hit 11 three-pointers. If the Warriors are counting on Thompson (not Curry) to carry the load here in Game 7, they could be in trouble. 

The Thunder have really turned up the defensive intensity in the playoffs, not just in this series, but also in their semi finals series versus San Antonio. Steven Adams continues to own the boards, and he had three blocks in Game 6. These teams have failed to reach the total in five of the last six meetings at Golden State, and the Warriors have failed to reach the total in eight of their last 11 Conference Finals games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.  

The Warriors are down, but not out. After getting throttled in back-to-back games in Oklahoma City, they face elimination once again, but this time on the road. Steph Curry said after Game 4: " this is not how we're going to go out." Head coach Steve Kerr insists that Curry isn't injured, but then goes on to say that "it's the playoffs, everyone is a little banged up". 

Curry was 2-for-10 from beyond the arc in Game 4, and 3-for-11 in Game 3. He's only averaged 24 points per game in the series, well below his regular season average of 30.1 PPG. We've seen three of the first four games in this series fall well below these inflated totals, and we only saw a combined 85 points in the second half of Game 4. In an elimination game, I expect both teams to go all out on defense from start to finish. The Warriors haven't taken a lead to the locker room at halftime in any of their road games in these playoffs.
Despite scoring 31 points in Game 5, Curry was just 3-for-8 from beyond the arc. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

After three of the last four games in this series went under, the bookmakers adjusted with a much lower total for Game 6 in Toronto. I think this was an over-correction, and this of all games looked like one that should see more scoring. Sure enough Game 4 went over (105-99). None of the three games in Clevleand were close, but I expect a better effort from a confident Raptors team here in Game 6. The Raptors should continue to play well, behind the solid play of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, and the dominance on the boards by "Big Business" (Bizmack Biyombo). Many betters will be taking the Cavs to close out the series, but I think the better bet is on the total. The trends show that the over is 7-3 in the Cavs last 10 road games, and 12-6 in their last 18 Conference Finals games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Warriors are down, but not out. After getting throttled in back-to-back games in Oklahoma City, they face elimination at home in Game 5 tonight. Steph Curry says: " this is not how we're going to go out." The Warriors are asked to cover a bunch of points here, and I just can't bring myself to bet on a team that has already displayed an inability to stop Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Head coach Steve Kerr insists that Curry isn't injured, but then goes on to say that "it's the playoffs, everyone is a little banged up". 

Curry was 2-for-10 from beyond the arc in Game 4, and 3-for-11 in Game 3. He's only averaged 24 points per game in the series, well below his regular season average of 30.1 PPG. We've seen three of the four games in this series fall well below these inflated totals, and we only saw a combined 85 points in the second half of Game 4. In an elimination game, I expect both teams to go all out on defense from start to finish. These teams have failed to reach the total in five straight meetings at Oracle Arena, and the Thunder have gone under in four straight road games. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

After the first three games of this series went under, the bookmakers adjusted with a much lower total for Game 4 in Toronto. I think this was an over-correction, and this of all games looked like one that should see more scoring. Sure enough Game 4 went over (105-99). None of the first two games in Clevleand were close, but I expect a better effort from a confident Raptors team here in Game 5. The Raptors should continue to play well, behind the solid play of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, and the dominance on the boards by "Big Business" (Bizmack Biyombo). Many betters will be taking the Cavs to bounce back after a pair of losses, but I think the better bet is on the total. The trends show that the over is 8-3 in Cavaliers last 11 home games vs. a team with a winning road record, and 12-5 in their last 17 Conference Finals games.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go OVER the total.

After the first three games of this series went under, the bookmakers have adjusted with a much lower total for Game 4 in Toronto. I think this is an over-correction, and this of all games looks like one that should see more scoring. None of the first three games were close, but I expect the Cavs to respond after an embarrassing loss in Game 3. The Raptors should continue to play well, behind the solid play of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, and the dominance on the boards by "Big Business" (Bizmack Biyombo). Many betters will be taking the Cavs to bounce back after a double-digit loss (the Zig Zag Theory), but I think the better bet is on the Cavs to simply be more competitive, thus pushing the total over. The trends show that the over is 9-3-1 in Cavaliers last 13 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total 1st half.

Do you remember when the Thunder upset the Warriors in Game 1? Perhaps the Warriors convincing 118-91 win in Game 2 has made us forget about how well the Thunder have played. Oklahoma City returns home with the series tied 1-1, and they are an underdog in Game 3. We've seen the Warriors deal with their fair share of adversity in this post-season, and they've made a habit of playing poorly in the first half on the road. They trailed at the half in both of their games in Portland, and they failed to get to the locker room with a lead at the half in both road games in their first round series versus Houston . 

Steph Curry continues to make incredible shots night in and night out, but after dropping 40 points on the Blazers in Game 4, he's been held under 30 points in three straight. He's admitted his knee is still not 100%, and he injured his elbow late in Game 2. You could see his elbow was quite swollen while he was sitting on the bench in the third quarter, and the injury was on his shooting arm. 

When the Warriors visited Oklahoma City in the regular season, they went to halftime trailing 57-46. That's well short of the number for the first half of Game 3. These teams have failed to reach the total in four of the last five meetings, and the Warriors have gone under in six of their last seven Conference Finals games.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Warriors got off to a great start in Game 1, but they struggled in the second half allowing Oklahoma City to come from behind to record the upset. Stephen Curry still isn't 100%, and he was just 1-of-1 from the field in the fourth quarter. The Warriors have a habit of slow starts to games, and I really think these teams will struggle to reach this enormous number in the first half of Game 2.

Steph Curry returned to action in Game 4, and he scored 40 points (a record 17 in overtime) en route to a 132-125 victory. He made his first three-pointer in the third quarter, and he did the bulk of his scoring after that. After seeing so many high scores in Golden State's series versus Portland, the bookmakers have come out with an astronomically high total for Game 2 of the Western Conference Final. 

While there were several high scoring games in the Thunder's series versus San Antonio, not one of those games saw enough points to reach the total in tonight's game. In fact the Thunder held the Spurs to 100 points or less in five of the six games. It's not going to be easy to duplicate that success against the Warriors, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another close game at Oracle Arena. 

Take UNDER .

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Cavs have been unstoppable so far in these playoffs, but they come into Game 1 versus the Raptors off a long layoff. It's been nine days since they closed out the Hawks in a four game sweep in the Eastern Conference Semi Final. Game 4 of that series failed to reach 200 total points, as have five of Cleveland's last seven games in these playoffs. The Raptors are also trending toward the under, with six of their seven games against the Heat failing to reach a total of 200 points. Toronto finished the regular season with the NBA's 3rd best defense, allowing opponents to average just over 98 points per game. The emergence of center Bizmack Biyombo may make them even tougher, and they held the Heat to an average of 93.7 points in their last series. Biyombo isn't as much of a scorer as the injured Jonas Valancunias, but he's a dominant defender and an excellent rebounder. The Raptors have gone under in eight of their last nine on the road, and Cleveland has failed to reach the total in six of it's last seven when playing on three or more days of rest. The Cavs could be a little sluggish to start tonight's game, given the nine day layoff. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder shocked everyone with a stunning upset win in their second round series versus San Antonio. As impressive as they have looked, I still think they're going to be in way over their heads in the Western Conference Final. The Warriors had some ups and downs in their series versus Portland, but in the end they were able to overcome slow starts, closing out the Blazers in five games. 

Steph Curry returned to action in Game 4, and he scored 40 points (a record 17 in overtime) en route to a 132-125 victory. He made his first three-pointer in the third quarter, and he did the bulk of his scoring after that. After seeing so many high scores in Golden State's series versus Portland, the bookmakers have come out with an astronomically high total for Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. 

While there were several high scoring games in the Thunder's series versus San Antonio, not one of those games saw enough points to reach the total in tonight's game. In fact the Thunder held the Spurs to 100 points or less in five of the six games. It's not going to be easy to duplicate that success against the Warriors, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Golden State struggle to shake off the rust coming off a layoff. The Warriors came out flat a few times in their series versus Portland, and it could take a while to get going in Game 1. 

Take UNDER .

GL, 

Jesse Schule 

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.  

It's rare to see The Iceman change strategy in the middle of a playoff series, and even after just missing the under in Game 5, he's firing right back with "under" in Game 6. The officials are clearly giving the Heat the benefit of the doubt on every close call, and Toronto is really going to struggle to score with a banged up DeMar Derozan and and DeMarre Carroll. Bizmack Biyombo has been great, but he doesn't pose as much of a threat as the injured Jonas Valancunias. 

Patrick Patterson started at PF in Game 5, and he scored just eight points on 3-of-12 shooting. He's having a terrible series, shooting just .335 and averaging just six points per game. The Heat could be without Loul Deng in Game 6, and Hassan Whiteside remains sidelined with a knee injury. Toronto has failed to reach the total in eight straight road games, and 10 of it's last 13 overall. The under is 8-2 in Miami's last 10 overall. 

Take MIA. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total.

The Raptors blew a late lead in Game 4 in Miami, and they return home deadlocked at 2-2 in their series versus the Heat. Coming off such a tough loss, I expect Toronto to come out strong with a big first half in Game 5. Both teams have lost their starting center, but Toronto is in far better shape with Bizmack Biyombo scoring 13 points and pulling in 13 rebounds in 31 minutes in Game 4. The Raptors are also getting big minutes off the bench from Cory Joseph and Terrence Ross, who combined to score 28 points in the loss at Miami. With DeMar DeRozan battling a thumb injury, the pressure is on Kyle Lowry to carry the load. He scored 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting in Game 3, but he fouled out with just 10 points in Game 4. Expect a bounce back performance from the Raptors PG at home tonight. Four of five games in this series have gone to overtime, and still the total has gone under in each of the last three games. The Heat have gone under in eight of their last nine overall, and Toronto has failed to reach the total in 10 of it's last 12.

Take UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on [email protected] to go UNDER the total. 

The Raptors are back in the driver's seat after winning Game 3 in Miami, and they have to be encouraged by the play of Kyle Lowry. Their star PG has broken out of a slump, scoring 33 points on 11-of-19 shooting in the last game. He's going to need to carry the load with DeMar DeRozan banged up, and Jonas Valanciunas sidelined with an ankle injury. Toronto's center had been dominant in this series, scoring 55 points and pulling in 38 rebounds in 2.5 games. His replacement Bizmack Biyombo is also an excellent defender, but is nowhere near as dangerous offensively. Still this leaves the Raptors in better shape than Miami, who will really miss Hassan Whiteside. We've seen a trend of close, low scoring games so far in this series, with all three decided by six points or less. Two of the three games went under, with the only exception being Game 1, when Kyle Lowry hit a miracle shot from half court to force overtime. The Raptors have failed to reach the total in seven straight on the road, and the Heat have gone under in seven of their last eight overall. 

Take UNDER. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule