2023 NBA May 16 Betting Predictions
The NBA playoffs continue on Thursday with a couple of massive Game 5 matchups. First up, the Celtics will look to end their series against the Cavs with a victory at home. Meanwhile, the Mavs and Thunder are locked at 2-2, so Game 5 is huge for both teams.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (Celtics 3-1)
The Cavs are in a tough spot if they want to keep their season alive on Thursday. Jarrett Allen's nursing a rib injury, and Donovan Mitchell couldn't make it to Game 4 'cause of a calf thing. Now, Allen's probably gonna stay on the sidelines, but if Mitchell's a no-show again, Game 5 might just be the Cavs' last hurrah. Remember the last time they clashed in Boston? The Cavs took it home with a 24-point lead. So can they go from being the big dogs to getting a 16-point beatdown? We'll see on Thursday.
So, here's the scoop on Cleveland's recent performance: they've had a rough run. They're 3-6 against the spread (ATS) in their last 9 games and 3-6 straight up (SU) in the same stretch. Specifically against Boston, it's not looking great either, with a 2-5 SU record in their last 7 matchups. When hitting the road, things haven't been much better, with just 1 win out of their last 8 games. And when they face Boston away, it's even tougher, with only 2 wins out of their last 12 tries.
So, here's the lowdown on the Celtics – they're not really accustomed to nail-biters. Like, Game 4 was the first time they've been in a real close match since April 5th when they faced Sacramento during the regular season. You know, those clutch-time games, where it's all tense 'cause it's within five points in the final five minutes? Yeah, that's not their usual scene. If you're betting on them to seal the deal and clinch this series, it's probably gonna be in a total blowout. But here's the kicker – the odds folks? They've set this game at a point where sneaking in a backdoor cover ain't out of the question.
I think Mitchell will play with the Cavs season on the line so I like the Cavs to cover. They beat the Celtics in the last game at the TD Garden by 24 pts.
Stadium Record
Boston are 6-4 in their last 10 at home. Cleveland are 2-10 in their last 12 games.
Head to Head Record
It's 6-4 in the last 10 meetings.
Best Bet
Cleveland Cavaliers +15.5 = $1.83
Dallas Mavericks at Oklahoma City Thunder (Tied 2-2)
So, let's talk Mavs – they've been killing it on offence this NBA season, all thanks to their dynamic duo. They ranked 7th in scoring, dropping an impressive 117.9 points per game. Shooting-wise, they weren't too shabby either, landing 11th in total field goal percentage and 13th in three-point percentage at 48.1% and 36.9% respectively. Now, in the playoffs, they've been a tad quieter, averaging 105.7 points per game, shooting 44.8% from the field, and hitting 35.2% from beyond the arc.
Luka Doncic is the big cheese here, leading the team with 26.7 points per game, grabbing 9.6 rebounds, and dishing out 8.8 assists per game. The dude's basically carrying the team on his back. Defensively, they've had their struggles during the regular season, ranking 20th in scoring defence, allowing 115.6 points per game. But come playoff time, they've tightened up a bit, giving up 103 points per game, shooting 43.7% from the field, and allowing 36.5% from deep. Kyrie Irving's the theft master with 1.6 steals per game, and Derrick Jones Jr. is blocking shots left and right, tying for the lead with 1.5 blocks per game. So yeah, their defence is gonna be crucial, especially in this series against the Thunder.
The Thunder have been lighting up the scoreboard this year, mainly 'cause of their young guns. Sitting pretty at third in scoring offence, they're averaging a whopping 120.1 points per game. Shooting-wise, they're no slouches either, ranking third in total field goal percentage with a solid 49.9% and clinching the top spot as the best three-point shooting squad in the league at 38.9% from downtown. Now, in the playoffs, they've cooled off a tad but still pack a punch, averaging 106.1 points per game, shooting 46.1% from the field, and hitting 37.1% from deep.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's the head honcho here, dropping an impressive 29.5 points per game and dishing out six assists per game. Defensively, they've been rock solid, ranking 11th in scoring defence during the regular season, allowing 112.7 points per game. They've been locking it down even tighter in the playoffs, giving up just 96.6 points per game, with opponents shooting 41.1% from the field and 32.5% from beyond the arc. Jalen Williams leads the thievery brigade with 1.5 steals per game, while Chet Holmgren's been a monster on the boards, snagging 8.1 rebounds per game and swatting away three shots per game. They put the clamps on the Pelicans in the last round and they're doing a solid job against the Mavericks so far too.
I like the chances of another low scoring battle in Game 5. The Under is now 9-4 in the Mavs last 13 games and 6-1 when they're an underdog. Also, the Thunder are 5-1 against the Under and 4-1 against the Mavs.
Stadium Record
Oklahoma City are 7-3 in their last 10 at home. Dallas are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games.
Head to Head Record
In the last 10 meetings, the Thunder are 6-4.
Best Bet
