It’s busy in the NBA playoffs tomorrow, as we have four games on the menu, mixed with two Game 3s and two Game 4s. In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons and Magic will meet at the Kia Center in Orlando, and the Hawks will host the Knicks at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. In the Western Conference, the Thunder visit the Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center, while the Timberwolves host the Nuggets at the Target Center.
The top-seeded Pistons and Thunder plan to put their foot down against their eighth-seeded counterparts, with the former plotting a 2-1 series lead and the latter gunning for a 3-0 edge. As for the Knicks and Nuggets, they are aching to bounce back after dropping Game 3.
Today, SBOTOP previews all four of these important matches, and we’ll also drop our recommended NBA 2026 odds for our punters.
Detroit Pistons @ Orlando Magic
The Pistons restored order in Game 2 by smothering the Magic on Wednesday. In the 98-83 victory, the East’s top seed broke the game wide open by outscoring Orlando 38-16 in the third period.
As always, Cade Cunningham took care of the scoring, pumping in 27 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists on 11-for-19 shooting from the field in 37 minutes. Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren, Duncan Robinson, and Isaiah Stewart added 16, 11, 10, and 10 points. Jalen Suggs had a team-high 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the Magic, while Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Desmond Bane added 18, 12, and 12 in the losing effort.
The Pistons could easily win Game 3 (and the rest of the series). However, the Magic will fight tooth and nail to make this as ugly as possible, hence our recommended bet of going for the Unders again.
Betting tip – Under 213.50 @ 1.95
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Phoenix Suns
The Thunder annihilated the Suns in Games 1 and 2 at their home floor. Games 3 and 4 could be closer because they’re on the road, but the defending champions should see this through nonetheless.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently won the league’s Clutch Player of the Year award. The reigning league MVP had 37 points (game-high), five rebounds, and nine assists on 13-for-25 shooting from the field in 38 minutes in Game 2. He also received support from Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Ajay Mitchell, who contributed 19, 19, and 14 points.
Oklahoma City are concerned with Williams, who aggravated his hamstring injury in the third period. The team will likely rest the star forward, per the NBA 2026 news, which will open up more minutes for Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, Alex Caruso, and Aaron Wiggins.
Dillon Brooks had 30 points, six rebounds, and five three-pointers to lead the Suns in the losing effort. Phoenix will need more from Devin Booker, who had 22 points and blasted the referees during his postgame interview, incurring a $35,000 fine.
Betting tip – Oklahoma City Thunder Asian Handicap -9.50 @ 2.05
New York Knicks @ Atlanta Hawks
For the second straight game, CJ McCollum has come up clutch for Atlanta, helping them secure a 2-1 series lead.
In the 109-108 Game 3 victory last Thursday, McCollum hit the game-winning midrange jumper over Miles McBride to give the Hawks the lead for good, especially after a late Jalen Brunson turnover. The 34-year-old veteran finished with 23 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks on 8-for-19 shooting. Jalen Johnson had a team-high 24 points, and Jonathan Kuminga and Nickeil Alexander-Walker – the winner of this year’s Most Improved Player award – had 21 and 14 points.
OG Anunoby had 29 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and four three-pointers on 9-for-16 shooting in 37 minutes to lead New York, while Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Miles McBride added 26, 21, and 15 points. The Knicks will need more from Mikal Bridges, who had zero points and four turnovers.
Betting tip – Under 214.00 @ 2.00
Denver Nuggets @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves are up 2-1 against the floundering Nuggets, following a 113-96 win on Thursday, as they flexed their defensive steel. Ayo Dosunmu was their top scorer with 25 points, three rebounds, and nine assists off the bench on 10-for-15 shooting, and Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and Rudy Gobert added 20, 17, 15, 15, and 10 points.
Nikola Jokic had 27 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the losing effort, but his efficiency has dropped this series, mainly due to Gobert’s elite defensive coverage. Denver certainly need some of their injured players back, including Aaron Gordon (calf).
Betting tip – Under 229.00 @ 1.95
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE BASKETBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
