The New York Knicks are suddenly rolling this postseason. The Knicks have won six in a row and haven’t been tested during most of that winning streak.
As a result, the Knicks are -140 to make it to the NBA Finals. Their chances of winning the finals aren’t that great, with the Oklahoma City Thunder clear favorites at -160 to win a second straight title.
In Saturday playoff action, the Oklahoma City Thunder try to make it seven in a row this postseason while the Detroit Pistons try to deal a massive blow to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a pair of Game 3s.
This story will be updated throughout the second round as the odds change with the results for every game.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers
Pistons lead series 2-0
Game 3: 3 p.m. ET, Saturday
Series odds: Pistons -400, Cavaliers +300
The Pistons won both games at home to start this series and neither game was all that different. In both, the Pistons led most of the way, but didn’t create big separation and finished with 10-point victories.
Cleveland is now 0-5 on the road this postseason. The good news for the Cavaliers is that they are 4-0 at home and have two home games coming up.
Cade Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists in the win (and the best plus-minus of the game at plus-13 if you’re into that stat). Even 31 points from Donovan Mitchell weren’t enough to keep Cleveland in it. James Harden was 3-for-13 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.
Harden is the epitome of Cleveland’s home-road splits this playoffs. At home, he is averaging 22.8 points per game while shooting 12-for-28 (42.9 percent) from 3-point range. On the road, he is averaging 17 points per game while shooting 7-for-31 (22.6 percent) from beyond the arc. It’s not unusual to play better at home, but that is a drastic difference.
Cleveland is favored at home in Game 3 by 4.5 points, and it feels like a must-win.
No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers
Knicks lead series 3-0
Game 4: 3:30 p.m. ET, Sunday
Series odds: Knicks -8000, 76ers +2200
Philadelphia had lost six straight playoff series to the Boston Celtics so that first round victory must have felt good for 76ers fans. However, that success hasn’t led to anything since.
The 76ers lost Game 3 at home and are now in an 0-3 hole to the Knicks. Whether or not Philly can win Game 4 as a slight underdog, it feels like the series is over.
Joel Embiid returned for Philadelphia after missing Game 2, but was not a major factor. He was held to 18 points. Kelly Oubre Jr., of all players, led the 76ers with 22 points in a 108-94 loss.
Tyrese Maxey and Paul George both had zero free throw attempts and the Knicks had twice as many trips to the free-throw line (32-16).
Western Conference
No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers
Thunder lead series 2-0
Game 3: 8:30 p.m. ET, Saturday
Series odds: Thunder -5000, Lakers +1800
Rinse and repeat. The Thunder didn’t blow away the Lakers until the final five or so minutes, but in the end, it was another comfortable win for Oklahoma City.
The Lakers led at halftime, granted by only one, but the Thunder still won Game 2 by 18 and led for the last 18 minutes of the game.
The closest game for OKC this postseason was a nine-point win that closed out the sweep of Phoenix last round. Both wins over the Lakers have been by 18.
The Suns and this version of the Lakers are not real title contenders, but Oklahoma City is still dominating them like it should. Unless Luka Dončić makes a miraculous recovery and is immediately at 100 percent, this series is a mismatch.
At least Austin Reaves finally looked back in form with a 31-point night on 10-for-16 shooting. Perhaps the fact that Reaves was that good and LeBron James had 23 points, six assists and three steals and the Lakers still lost by 18 is the best demonstration of the disparity between these teams.
The Thunder are favored by 8.5 points on the road in Game 3. Yikes.
No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves
Spurs lead series 2-1
Game 4: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sunday
Series odds: Spurs -900, Timberwolves +600
The young Spurs are facing playoff tests and coming out the other end of them so far.
In the first round, it was Victor Wembanyama’s concussion. The Spurs lost Game 2 in the first round when he got hurt, but won on the road without him in Game 3 and then won the series in five games upon his return.
This round, the Spurs dropped the first game at home to Minnesota. Now, the Spurs lead 2-1 after winning Game 3 in Minnesota 115-108.
It’s not the dominance the title-favorite Thunder have displayed, but the Spurs aren’t running into a playoff roadblock yet either.
With respect to Stephon Castle’s 12 assists, this game was all about Wembanyama for San Antonio. He poured in 39 points with 15 rebounds and five blocks. That was enough to overcome a classic Anthony Edwards game (32 points, 14 rebounds, six assists).
The Spurs are now huge favorites to advance and are even favored on the road in Game 4 by 4.5 points.