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00:00A quadruple header, that's four, of NBA playoff action tonight on a Tuesday around the association.
00:07Three games coming from the Eastern Conference and their opening round sets.
00:12All three of those, a series-clinching potential for the team that, of course, holds the 3-1 series lead
00:19and maintains home floor advantage in game number five tonight.
00:23The other fifth game, DRS, is perhaps our most competitive opening round set so far in the NBA playoffs.
00:30It has been wild. It has been crazy.
00:33We have seen overtime. We have seen a pure buzzer beater.
00:37And we see a series tied at two games all.
00:39That's in the Western Conference split, the 4-5 matchup.
00:43The Denver Nuggets back at altitude hosting the Los Angeles Clippers tonight.
00:47Again, both teams, two wins so far in this series.
00:51And yet, DRS, Denver returns home in game five, having taken game number four on the road in LA just a few nights ago.
01:01The Aaron Gordon put back the buzzer beater to give Denver the victory.
01:07And the Nuggets, winning a game in LA, now head home to Mile High, where they're a two-point home dog
01:14in game number five, reclaiming home court advantage.
01:18Does that number seem justified to you?
01:22It doesn't. And by the way, we might not have the graphic up.
01:25What is the current, or if you haven't been behind the scenes there,
01:27what's the current price here for the series as the favorite?
01:31You have it too, by the way. It's right there.
01:33There we go. All right.
01:34So we get the Clippers minus 164, which is absolutely ridiculous.
01:38I don't understand this because I'm just going back to the opening of the series.
01:42We were even at 0-0 with game number one in Denver.
01:46And the Nuggets were like a minus 117, something like that, up to minus 120 favorite.
01:51So now we're saying in a condensed series, which the last game you just saw the Nuggets win,
01:56so they saved off that 3-1 lead.
01:57Now it's 2-2.
01:58That it's way worse at this point.
02:00Like, what have we been watching in this series?
02:02I don't understand.
02:03And also, answer me this.
02:06You saw the previous game where you had a huge lead in the fourth quarter by the Nuggets.
02:10They gave that lead away and still won it.
02:12If the Nuggets won by 15-plus, are the Nuggets minus 164 to win the series?
02:16I'm very confused about the pricing overall of how we made our way to now.
02:21Because remember me being upset like, man, missed that game number three or game number four.
02:26I wanted to take the series price with the Nuggets before that because after the one.
02:29Now, granted, the price was higher.
02:31But now I'm like, oh, you know what?
02:33Lost that.
02:33The Nuggets are now probably favored at minus 150.
02:36No, it's the opposite.
02:37I can't make heads or tails of why we got this line.
02:41Do we know that Jokic is going to fall down the first quarter and sprain his ankle and be out the rest of the way?
02:45There's no way the price should be this high for a home court advantage and now a condensed best of three for the Clippers.
02:51I don't get it.
02:52The Nuggets need two home victories, which you would think at altitude home floor advantage should be possible.
02:59Denver is a home underdog tonight.
03:02DRS, just to try to make sense where these series odds have been, what it has meant for each and every individual game so far.
03:09Denver opened as an ever so slight outright favorite in this 4-5 split.
03:14But by the time we got to game one, now two weekends ago, despite the Nuggets being a 2.5, 3, 3.5 point home favorite for that opening game of this opening round set,
03:25LA was a minus 118 slight series outright favorite to win this first round playoff series.
03:33They lose game one in OT despite covering as that slight underdog.
03:38The Clippers were favored to win game two, but Denver, with the 1-0 series advantage, was now a series outright favorite.
03:47So for the second time in as many games, the team that was favored to win the individual game was the series underdog.
03:54That didn't really stack up.
03:56The Clippers take game number two in Denver, right?
03:58They go then home to LA with the series outright favored number in their way, and the series tied at a game apiece.
04:08The Clippers absolutely route Denver by 20-plus points in game number, by 30-plus points in game number three.
04:16This looks as though the Clippers might truly have the advantage.
04:20But Denver answers, despite blowing a 19-point fourth quarter lead, Denver ends up winning that game.
04:28And that's all that counts.
04:29And now the Nuggets regain home floor advantage.
04:32I'm not so sure why Denver is a home underdog tonight.
04:36I am certainly not sure why the odds look as that in the way they do.
04:41Donnie, what is the shortest price for us, the most likely duration of this series?
04:47Seven games in minus money.
04:50Who would have home floor advantage in a winner-take-all seventh game?
04:54Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
04:57Exactly.
04:57That's why it's just – and again, we are oddsmen.
04:59We look at the lines.
05:00It's like, man, you just better take the Clippers.
05:02That's such an outlandish line where the smartest man in the room probably is the odds maker.
05:05But I'm trying to buck that trend in this one.
05:07It just hasn't made sense.
05:08And this is coming from a guy that, like the Clippers, game number one to win this series.
05:12But now I look at the price points that I want to bet, and it's not the Clippers.
05:16I have a Clippers series outright bet.
05:18And I agree.
05:19More around the NBA next.
05:20We will have plenty more thoughts on the Clippers and the Nuggets entering game number five in a series tied at two all.
05:27Just a little bit later in the show, but DRS, a quadruple header of NBA playoff games on this Tuesday.
05:34That means four, and it starts early.
05:38So DRS is pretty fired up.
05:406 p.m. Eastern time in Indianapolis.
05:42Our three other games tonight, series-clinching potential in game fives.
05:48Let's start in Indy.
05:49The Pacers, an eight-point favorite against the Milwaukee Bucs.
05:52We got official confirmation yesterday that sadly and unfortunately for Dame and the Bucs, he suffered a ruptured Achilles in game number four.
06:01Not only, of course, is he out for the remainder of however long this playoff run lasts for Milwaukee, but his status for 2025-26 is certainly in doubt.
06:12So tonight's game five really could be the end of an era for the Bucs.
06:17It's a failed experiment of two seasons with Dame and Giannis in Milwaukee if it comes to a close tonight.
06:26The Pacers, an eight-point favorite DRS at home inside the game bridge field house.
06:30Do you give Giannis and the Bucs much of a chance to even keep this game close?
06:35Here's a tough one, and again, we look for correlations, which we think will make sense.
06:39We thought that the Houston Rockets, like there's no way they can win that basketball game if Jalen Green doesn't play well.
06:43He stunk.
06:44They actually still covered the spread, which was pretty impressive.
06:46You take a look at the Miami Heat game last night.
06:48Where would the correlation be in that one?
06:50Hey, look, if you're going to have any heart in this game, it better be in the first half here.
06:53And Tyler Hero slash Bam Adebayo better have great games.
06:56Tyler Hero was a minus 44 in that game.
06:58I don't expect that same type of output for Giannis Antetokounmpo because I think he truly is a dominant player.
07:03And no matter what happens around his team, his statistics will be there.
07:07So for me, looking at the point spread and saying, Donnie, you're confident that the Pacers can cover eight points.
07:12Not necessarily because I still think there is a DNA for the Bucs.
07:15It's like we're world champions.
07:16We won it a couple of years ago.
07:18I'm Giannis Antetokounmpo.
07:19I'm still a top five, top 10 player.
07:20And put this on my shoulders, I'll be able to ball out.
07:23You look at his price point here for his points prop at the FanDuel Sportsbook, Ben.
07:26It's 33 and a half.
07:28He could score 33 and a half in this game without Damon Lillard and then still get beat by double digits and go home.
07:33That's me.
07:34That's the correlation.
07:35Like, I'd rather just take Giannis and say, I know this guy, Ben, is going to shoot 25 times tonight.
07:41I know he's going to shoot 18 free throws.
07:43Can he make them?
07:44Sure.
07:44I know he's going to shoot three or four three-point shots.
07:46Can he drop a few of those?
07:47So my correlation tonight is not necessarily loving the Bucs.
07:50It's just that I know I'm not going to get a Tyler Hero performance tonight out of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
07:56I can trust the Greek freak tonight to get into the 30s or close to the 30s to give me a legitimate chance to hit his points prop in this one.
08:04That's the way I go.
08:05And also understand this.
08:06Some of the other bench guys better get involved as well because Damon Lillard, when he's healthy and playing 30-plus minutes, that's 15-plus shot attempts or more in a game.
08:14Those shots will now be able to be spread out.
08:16Is it a Bobby Portis?
08:17Is it a game that gets out of reach where still the bench players are playing in the late third quarter and fourth quarter?
08:21But for me, it's centered around Giannis.
08:23Giannis to be in the 30s, I would be shocked if he winds up with 25 or less in this game tonight.
08:30In the Pacers' three wins in this series, they have covered as a slight favorite in every one.
08:36They were about a six-and-a-half-point favorite, five-and-a-half-point favorite for game one.
08:40They won that game by 19 points.
08:43Of course, that was the only full game without Damian Lillard for Milwaukee so far in this series.
08:48They closed as only a four-point favorite in game number two.
08:52They won that game by eight despite Dame's return.
08:56Milwaukee did show some life, winning game number three by 16.
09:00But then, of course, with Damian Lillard getting injured early in the opening quarter in game number four,
09:06Indiana won that game by 26 points.
09:10The Pacers were a slight underdog.
09:12They won outright as a four-and-a-half-point dog in game four.
09:15This is an eight-point spread.
09:17It's by far the largest we've seen in favor of the Pacers in this series.
09:22DRS, I know Indiana's going to win this game.
09:25Can Milwaukee stay close?
09:27Maybe.
09:27But I completely agree with you.
09:29How about a Giannis reduced ever-so-slightly specific same-game parlay?
09:3430-plus points, 20-plus rebounds at minus 108.
09:39Might seem juicy.
09:40It's really not.
09:41Giannis is scoring.
09:42What?
09:4230-plus points and 20-plus boards.
09:4730-plus points, 12-plus rebounds.
09:49Did I say 20-plus?
09:50Oh, okay.
09:5112-plus rebounds.
09:51Yeah, I was like, whoa, that price was wild.
09:54Yeah, okay, good.
09:54Okay, yep, I could see it there.
09:57Yeah, at least 12 rebounds for Giannis and Dacumpo in all four games so far in this series
10:02against Indiana.
10:03At least 28 points in all four as well.
10:0634 or more in the first three games of this series.
10:10You know he is going to get to those numbers tonight.
10:12Can anybody else help him?
10:14We shall see.
10:15In large part, DRS, of course, Dame did not play in game one.
10:19Dame barely played in game number four after suffering the Achilles injury.
10:23The starters outside of Giannis, outside of Dame, combined for 15 points in game number four,
10:3114 points in game number one.
10:33Meanwhile, the Pacers have been incredibly balanced in all three wins in this series.
10:38Indiana has had six guys score in double digits.
10:43All right, next game up might be our most competitive of our game fives tonight in the Eastern Conference.
10:48The New York Knicks back inside Madison Square Garden looking to win the opening round playoff series
10:53for a third consecutive season.
10:56Five-and-a-half point favorite tonight against the Pistons.
10:58Detroit DRS has led in the fourth quarter in each of our two games so far inside the Mecca.
11:06Can they get it done again tonight to at least make this game close and maybe stave off elimination?
11:11It's, again, we're talking about the mental psyche of teams.
11:15Like the Miami Heat were obviously checked out by the time that game started in game number four.
11:19They got blasted right off the court.
11:20Also, we just talked about the Bucs and the Pacers series.
11:23We understand that Pacers have a pedigree of championships because why it's a championship?
11:27Because it's Giannis Antonekupo.
11:29But also understand this, human psychology as well.
11:31Dame goes down early in that last basketball game, tears his Achilles.
11:34You know you're not going anywhere here.
11:35So, how much effort are you putting into a game in Indy when you know our season's going to end,
11:40whether it's this game or the next game, it doesn't matter.
11:42Same thing, you take a look at the Pistons.
11:45They let one game go to get away already in the Garden.
11:47They should have been up 2-0 going home.
11:49And also understanding this, they blew a fourth quarter lead in their last game.
11:53But it doesn't help the fact that if the refs just make a simple call that everybody saw,
11:57they win that game and it's 2-2 going back to the Garden.
12:00Now, again, for the second time in this series,
12:02you were waking up after game number one at the Garden going like,
12:04man, we should be up a game, not down a game.
12:06They had a great performance in game number two.
12:08Now you're doing the same thing where you know it's going to be hard to win three games in a row
12:12against the New York Knicks.
12:14And now you're saying to yourself, all right, now we're in the Garden.
12:16That crowd's going to be in a frenzy looking to close us out.
12:18Also, we have to still get over the heartbreak of we should have won that basketball game
12:22and we got jobbed by the referees.
12:24That's tough.
12:25You look at the line, opened up at 6 at the FanDuel Sportsbook.
12:27Now sits at 5.5, coming back to their direction,
12:29even though across the board about 6 out of every 10 tickets are coming in here on the New York Knicks.
12:35I want to give the Pistons a fighting chance.
12:37They fought hard this entire series,
12:38but it's still a young team trying to learn its way in the playoffs
12:42after getting a couple gut punches already and responding.
12:45I don't know if I have the comfort level to say
12:47they can respond once again tonight in this atmosphere.
12:50Gut punches is a good word, DRS.
12:53Game number one, the New York Knicks go on a 21-0 run
12:56to really steal game one away from Detroit, despite it being inside MSG.
13:02But the Pistons did have nearly a 9-point fourth-quarter lead.
13:06They led in game number two in the fourth quarter.
13:08New York came to tie it with just over a minute left.
13:11Detroit prevails, courtesy of Dennis Schroeder.
13:13The Pistons did not lead in game number four,
13:16but fought their way back to just a single point down the stretch
13:19before the Knicks held them off.
13:21The Pistons, of course, did lead in the fourth quarter
13:24with a second quarter and second half rally over the Knicks on Sunday.
13:28I am going to believe in the Pistons once again.
13:31Give me the plus five and a half.
13:32I also do have Detroit plus two and a half in the series spread.
13:36I am hoping we head back to the Motor City for a sixth game.
13:40If it is going to happen, Cade Cunningham is going to be a big reason why.
13:45Quickly, DRS, game five tonight in Beantown inside TD Garden.
13:49Double-digit spread, 11-and-a-half in favor of the Celtics
13:52to clinch this series in five games against Orlando.
13:55The Magic got theirs in game number three.
13:59And Palo Bancaro and Franz Wagner are trying everything in their power
14:03to even keep these games close.
14:06Does Boston win it in five games tonight?
14:09Yeah, I think it might be a smash job up in Boston tonight, too.
14:11But also understand this.
14:13This game has the ability to get chippy
14:14because Orlando Magic, the only way that they can fight back in this year
14:17is being ultra-physical.
14:18And if this game starts to not go the direction,
14:21what do they have to lose but to just rough it up and see what happens?
14:24So watch out Celtics who are playing in this game
14:26for some of the rough treatment you might get.
14:28But this game should be a double-digit victory for me for the Boston Celtics.
14:32The Magic have tried to display that physicality.
14:35Boston has been able to prevail with that 3-1 series lead.
14:39Denver and L.A. at altitude in a series tied at two games,
14:43all in our three sets in the Eastern Conference
14:46and in our three game fives tonight out east.
14:49Every spot the home team has favored to clinch this series in only five games.
14:54A lot to break down and preview DRS in this third and final hour.
14:58Absolutely. We'll have some fun.
15:00We'll get the people the knowledge they need.
15:02A fantastic job by the NBA on scheduling tonight outside of the game
15:05that probably everybody wants to watch the most a little bit later.
15:07But look, you've got four games condensed.
15:09You've got to do your best, which they have.
15:11But when we always talk about our fave to public polls here and having some fun,
15:14we didn't get too much talk about the Shador Sanders prank call situation all that much.
15:18But if we did have a poll,
15:20who not to prank on the Sports Grid Network,
15:23what would those choices be?
15:25And who would not take the prank kindly here?
15:28Do we have any options out here, B-double-S?
15:30Yeah, well, we have had some prank calls in times past
15:34about the Sports Grid Network featuring some people
15:37that you know very well featured here on this show.
15:41I would just say that a prank call while people are on air,
15:45never really acceptable.
15:47Prank call from Jax Ulbricht to Shador Sanders,
15:50certainly not acceptable.
15:51Certainly a dumb and foolish move.
15:54You've got to wonder, though,
15:55if somebody were to be pranked from here on out,
15:58how would it be received?
15:59What do you think, DRS?
16:01I don't like it because there's been conversations around there.
16:04Like, for me, like, people that know me behind the scenes,
16:06I'm freewheeling.
16:07I roll with the punches.
16:08And quite frankly, when things look like they're on the despair,
16:11like, I think, like, it brings the best out in me.
16:13Like, hey, can't see a teleprompter, can't hear anybody.
16:16Fantastic show.
16:16Let's fight through and get it on.
16:18But some people I don't think would take too kindly
16:20as more of being a little bit more professional in the environment here.
16:23But why can't we have fun then?
16:24Jokes are what drives society here.
16:27I would like everybody here to get pranked at the network at one time or another.
16:30It's just good nature.
16:31It's good nature stuff.
16:32You know, DRS, I'm a man that holds professional standards,
16:35at least in my career and what we do here.
16:38You sound like that.
16:38I think we uphold that pretty well.
16:41You are a man that, much like Pete Jensen,
16:43breaking down the Oilers and the Kings, roots for chaos, right?
16:47When chaos is here, Donnie Wright's side does indeed thrive.
16:51So I'm actually a little bit more surprised you are not the guy coming up with pranks
16:57in the first place, just kind of relishing when a prank happens when it is occurring.
17:02Yeah, no, look, there's ways you can approach different situations there,
17:07but I like to have a good time and have some fun and see where it goes at this point.
17:10I'm an easy-going guy at this point on all facets here.
17:14Like, have we ever got the angry DRS?
17:16Like, you know, I can't work with this guy anymore.
17:18Like, you don't really get that too much.
17:19Maybe someday we'll get that.
17:21I don't know.
17:21Like, I don't want it to happen, but you never know when you poke the bear
17:24just a little bit too much where the bear actually gets angry.
17:27Yeah.
17:27I have never seen, yeah, I've never seen Donnie fully angry.
17:34I have seen you a little bit miffed about what we have to discuss
17:37on a morning show all around the sports landscape.
17:41I have heard tales, and I'm not with you for a lot of those pro football todays,
17:46the NFL football in-game live, whatever the heck they are called on Monday and Thursday
17:51when some of the producers behind the scenes spoil the live action
17:55of what you are rooting on.
17:56I hear, and I understand it, believe me, I hear you do not take all that kindly
18:01to that sort of thing.
18:03Yeah, but that's not really a prank.
18:05Like, a good prank would be, like, a huge scream in the background
18:09when absolutely nothing happened.
18:10I'm like, oh, they got us good right there.
18:12But they're not smart enough to do that right now.
18:14It's like, hey, oh!
18:15It's like, oh, you know what?
18:16There's an interception that just happened.
18:18We're 10 seconds behind.
18:19We'll watch it now.
18:20But a good prank would be a loud cheer in the background when nothing happened.
18:24Now that, your boy DRS would probably appreciate.
18:27Now you're just giving them clues of what to do next football season.
18:30Not sure you want to be doing that.
18:32Or at least during in-game live pro baseball today, starting at 1 p.m.
18:37Eastern time, each and every Sunday beginning of July, I believe, right?
18:42I don't know about that.
18:43Maybe, I mean, VATR extended edition runs all the way through the summer.
18:47I mean, I'm brainstorming right here.
18:49Sounds like a great day.
18:50We are really coming up with some ideas.
18:53Yeah.
18:54Could be some schedule changes very soon here on the Sports Grid Network.
18:58All right.
18:58Let's talk some NBA playoff action in a game five tonight.
19:02Again, DRS, we've got four games, three of them in the Eastern Conference, where that
19:06fifth game could be the series clincher.
19:09That could be in Indianapolis, in New York, and in Boston.
19:12But in Denver, in our most tightly contested series so far, we are expecting a great game
19:19five at altitude.
19:20But the team that just stole game four at the buzzer in L.A., returning back home with
19:26that home floor advantage at altitude for all that we know.
19:31Well, they're the home underdog.
19:33Does it make sense?
19:34What is the best bet for tonight's game five in Denver between the Clippers and the Nuggets?
19:39That's what we ask you all and feed the public.
19:42What is the best bet for tonight's Clippers versus Nuggets game?
19:52The Clippers, a two-point road favorite at altitude.
19:56The Nuggets, the slight home dog.
19:58The over or the under of that total that stands at 208.
20:03Total now slightly on the rise by the hook.
20:06208 and a hook currently live on the FanDuel Sportsbook.
20:09Most of the public DRS backing L.A.
20:13Despite the Clippers losing game four at the buzzer, the putback slam and flush just in
20:18the nick of time by Aaron Gordon.
20:20The people expecting the Clippers to take that 3-2 series lead despite being on the road
20:25tonight.
20:26But ever so slightly, still about 33.5% of the vote backing the Nugs at home.
20:31Certainly been a playoff preference here for the public is to back the Clippers.
20:36And I don't deny that.
20:36Like I told you before, like before the series started, I thought it would be a Clippers series.
20:41The Clippers got up two to one.
20:42Like, man, if they just can win one more game in L.A., this series is over.
20:45But I did tell you also that I thought that the series would go after the four games.
20:50Game number three would go to the Clippers and it did.
20:52And then I wanted the Denver Nuggets in game number four because I thought they would push
20:55that series and end up winning it.
20:56And I wanted that series price.
20:57But now we find ourselves again in game number five, home underdog.
21:01Can they win this game?
21:02And I find myself saying, I understand why the public is going 38% to 33% because the
21:07Clippers to me technically are the better team.
21:09But also it's not the Clippers in a environment where it's like, okay, neutral court every game
21:13and they win it here.
21:14You're at elevation again.
21:16They pulled off an extremely good victory in that last game where it's like, oh, heartbreak
21:19at the end.
21:20We got to win game number five.
21:21And I've said this multiple times already.
21:23The winner of this game tonight, whoever it may be, is going to win this series.
21:27But the price point doesn't reflect that in the overall series prices where it's like,
21:31eh, even if the Nuggets do win tonight, we're still going to have the Clippers who we know
21:35is going to win game number six and then game number seven back in elevation.
21:38I don't buy that.
21:39So for me, my vote went to the Nuggets at plus two tonight with the 33%.
21:43But also at the same time, understanding, I still think we're going seven games.
21:47Nuggets win tonight, which means I think they win the series.
21:49But I do think the Clippers win game number six.
21:51Then it goes back to elevation in game number seven.
21:53It's a great series.
21:54It's a lot of fun to watch.
21:55But for me, I took the Nuggets plus two tonight on that number as my best bet tonight.
22:00DRS, we kind of have talked about the disparity in the odds.
22:04Why would Denver returning home to its home court, meaning just to win two home games in
22:09the final three to win this opening round set in advance of the Western Conference semifinals,
22:14be even a home dog tonight in game five or a dog in the series outright price?
22:19Well, you can kind of make sense of that.
22:22The Clippers, even if we disagree, are a slight road favorite tonight and a slight series outright
22:28favorite, of course, for this opening round set.
22:31But then again, seven games has the most likely number at minus 112.
22:35And a seventh game in this series would be in Denver.
22:40There is a lot to parse through when it comes to that series and that fifth game.
22:44Brian Fonseca joins us later in this third and final hour to break it all down.
22:50A full NBA playoff recap and preview all around the association with Brian Fonseca.
22:57Live right here on this Tuesday morning on the early line on SportsCrim.
23:02We will hit on each and everything we have seen, both from Monday night, what it means
23:07for Tuesday, four games, a quadruple header of game five action on this Tuesday night in
23:13the NBA playoffs.
23:15Fonseca, we appreciate the time as always.
23:18Likewise, always happy to be here.
23:21We are very glad to have you here.
23:22We start with a look at the Western Conference because in the Eastern Conference, things are
23:27a little bit more lopsided, including three potential series clinchers tonight in game
23:32fives.
23:33Let's start last night, though, in Golden State.
23:36The Warriors take a commanding 3-1 series lead in San Francisco over the Houston Rockets.
23:42Jimmy Butler returns.
23:43He scores 27, a team high.
23:46Golden State holds off Houston down the stretch, 109-106.
23:51The Rockets do cover Fonseca, but I'm not sure there's a lot of confidence left in Houston
23:56despite being the two seed out west.
23:59What did you make of Jimmy Butler's and the Doves' performance last night?
24:03What do you think it means for the remainder of this opening round series?
24:07Yeah, I think Houston kind of blew it.
24:11You had multiple opportunities to make this a little bit more interesting and not put yourself
24:16in a position where you're down 3-1 heading into game five.
24:20Game three, you get one without Jimmy Butler, and now you can't win that one, so you absolutely
24:25have to win game four because the Warriors aren't giving up.
24:28A 3-1 lead to a team who can't really score in the half court, to a team who's going to
24:32struggle late in games, to a team who's been in the playoffs as a group for the first time
24:36in their career, and to a team who, honestly, they are the second seed, but I don't think
24:42that they're the second best team in the Western Conference.
24:44So I think Houston kind of blew it.
24:46And with Golden State, I mean, with Jimmy Butler, they're not really a seventh seed.
24:50They're probably like a fourth seed or something along those lines.
24:53They're a much better team.
24:54They're a legitimate contender.
24:55I don't think Golden State's going to end this in five, necessarily, but I think if
24:58this gets back to Golden State, it's over.
25:00I don't think we're getting in game seven.
25:02Yeah, something to watch.
25:03You're looking forward to maybe just not the Rockets time just yet.
25:06Good regular season, but you go up against a team that's been known to win NBA championships.
25:09Some teams, some things certainly don't go in your favor.
25:12Let's take a look at maybe the most competitive series so far, and it is in the Western Conference
25:16tonight.
25:1610 o'clock start.
25:17That's the Clippers and the Nuggets.
25:19This line opened up at the FanDuel Sportsbook here, Brown, at minus one.
25:21It's now at minus two on the live numbers.
25:23The total opened up at 208 and a half, still sitting at 208 and a half.
25:27I've been fascinated with the series.
25:28Starting off with me, I thought the Clippers would win the series, but now I see it with
25:32three games left.
25:33There's some wild price points here if you take the Denver Nuggets, as the Clippers are
25:37still the team to beat based on the odds market.
25:39What are you going to get out of this game, and how close do you think it will be?
25:43Yeah, I'm staying away from all of this.
25:46I will watch it.
25:47I will consume it.
25:48I think it'll be maybe the best game we get today, but I am staying away from a betting standpoint.
25:53I mean, I'll look in the prop market like I did stare at Norman Powell threes for a little
25:57bit because it does feel like, yeah, it does feel like he's able to just get that, get
26:03those corner threes in particular.
26:05But when Denver's defense breaks down, Norman Powell tends to be open, tends to find different
26:10ways to be open.
26:11And I think he's one of the sneaky, just underrated players in the series was finding
26:14his spots.
26:15I think Jamal Murray, while he's getting his points, he could play better and he could score
26:19a little bit more efficiently, obviously, but I don't think he's playing poorly.
26:23And I do think because we've seen it in every single series he's played in basically in his
26:27career, he's a playoff riser.
26:29I think we're getting a Jamal Murray game at some point.
26:31Is it tonight?
26:32Maybe.
26:33But we haven't had that Jamal Murray game yet.
26:35We haven't even had like the super sensational Nikola Jokic game yet.
26:39Like he's had great games because he's Nikola Jokic, but we haven't had like the out of
26:44body 45, 18 and 11 or something along those lines, or like he gets 18 in the fourth quarter,
26:50whatever it is.
26:51Like we haven't had like something crazy like that yet.
26:54And I still am skeptical that the Clippers are going to continue to play, like outplay
27:01Denver.
27:01Cause I think they have through four games.
27:03I think the Clippers have looked like the better team, but when is James Harden going to revert
27:06back to who he's been and is Kawhi Leonard going to remain healthy throughout this series?
27:11Like I have multiple questions here in that regard, but I think, man, like there's a lot,
27:16a lot to, to potentially like just look at here prop wise, but Norman Powell threes is
27:22an interesting one to me.
27:23I haven't played it.
27:23I haven't played anything from this game.
27:25That's probably the first place I'm going to look though.
27:26I just need to do a little bit more of a deep dive on it.
27:29Yeah.
27:3013 points for Jamal Murray in game number four.
27:33It was the only game he had not scored at least 21.
27:35So far in this opening round set points prop tonight, 20 and a half.
27:40On sake, it's a really interesting point.
27:42And we really can't fault you for not having a strong feel from the odds perspective because
27:47Donnie and I have been examining the numbers throughout the entirety of this tightly contested
27:51series, but also entering game five, the nuggets returned home at altitude, home for
27:57advantage, and yet a home underdog.
27:59The Clippers, a slight favorite for game five tonight, despite not having home court advantage
28:04are a slight series outright favorite as well at minus one 64.
28:09But Fonseca, as we've noted, Denver just needs two home wins.
28:14They win this series and the odds makers have added one additional wrinkle.
28:18They expect this series to go the distance.
28:20The most likely duration is seven games with a minus money price.
28:25Game seven would be in Denver.
28:27So knowing all of that and you having a tough time, truly finding a discernible edge in who
28:34should have the advantage.
28:35Do you agree with the fact that Clippers are even the series outright favorites to win this
28:40opening round series over Denver?
28:43Only from the standpoint that they've looked better so far.
28:46I mean, how could you not?
28:47But at the same time, do you really want to bet against Nikola Jokic in this what is now
28:52a three game series where he has two home games potentially?
28:55Like, I don't I don't know if you want to do that.
28:58And then again, like Jamal Murray, I think he's going to have a game here because he always
29:03does.
29:03Like even last year where he didn't look great against the Lakers, he still had I think
29:08it was the Lakers series, but he still had like a 30 point plus point outing in that series
29:13or whatever or what have you like I and obviously clutch shots.
29:18So that's another thing here is like fourth quarter offense wise, like I know the Clippers
29:21came back last game.
29:22Denver was still able to finish it off, although it was like an insane one of the most insane
29:27buzzer beaters I've ever seen that Aaron Gordon had the dunk, the presence of mind to do that.
29:31Like that's like the ultimate role player play.
29:34Like that's what that's what a glue guy is supposed to do right there is just get a dunk
29:38off of what looks like an alley-oop.
29:40It's not an alley-oop.
29:40It was an airball with like no time left.
29:43Um, I think the Clippers should be favored going forward as far as like, as this series
29:49progresses, um, like what we think the end result will be.
29:54But if Denver wins tonight, then that's going to flip.
29:57And I don't think Denver is going to win game six necessarily, but like if they win game
30:01five, I think Denver is going to finish this out.
30:03Yeah.
30:04I'm with you, Brian, on that too.
30:05I do think Denver wins tonight, but I do think the Clippers win game six and it's all on the
30:08table for game number seven in elevation with Nikola Jokic as maybe the best player in the
30:12world should be fun to watch if we get there.
30:14But if we resize up the NBA Western Conference market right now, one team has moved on.
30:19That's the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brian.
30:20They're a minus 180 price to win the West, followed by the Warriors, Timberwolves, Clippers,
30:24Lakers, Nuggets, and Rockets.
30:25Of those price points that we see on the screen, any bites from you or any teams that you're
30:29really intrigued with those price points?
30:32Not really.
30:33I just, Oklahoma City looks great.
30:35And yeah, honestly, Oklahoma City looks great.
30:38And like, I, I like Denver.
30:40I don't think even at 2,400, I don't think they're going to go on a run here.
30:44I'm not sure how well they're going to match up with Oklahoma City if they even get to that
30:47point.
30:48The Lakers aren't too deep of a hole and I didn't like their defense anyway.
30:51The Clippers, I have concerns about Kawhi Leonard finishing any game, not to mention
30:55any series.
30:57The Timberwolves, I feel like they're playing above their heads right now.
30:59I think defensively, like they have what it takes to really go deep into the playoffs.
31:03But is Jaden McDaniel is going to continue to average like roughly 20 points a game?
31:07Is Nas Reed going to continue to be hyper efficient?
31:09Maybe, but they're also playing a Lakers defense that I think is one of the weaker defenses
31:13of the good teams, like the good teams in the playoffs right now.
31:17The Warriors, do they quite have enough?
31:19I worry that like it becomes Steph and Jimmy and then you need somebody else to step up
31:24and that somebody else, like it becomes really tough.
31:26Maybe it'll look better against Houston who has a really good defense.
31:29Like maybe it'll look better going forward, but the problem is they would play Minnesota
31:32right after this, whose defense is also really good.
31:35And with the Thunder, I mean, not that I play it at minus 180.
31:39I don't feel the need to do that necessarily.
31:41Just play them to win the finals if that's going to be the case.
31:44But I think like they're far and away looking like the best team.
31:48That's not to say they won't be challenged in round two, though, because I think they will be.
31:50Yeah, it could be a six-game series.
31:54We'll see exactly.
31:56But there is a strong reason why Oklahoma City has such a strong price.
32:01You're trying to make arguments for teams to compete with the Thunder.
32:04It's hard to do.
32:06To the Eastern Conference in our three games out east tonight.
32:09Up next.
32:10A triple header of game fives tonight in the Eastern Conference.
32:14Part of the four games we have in total on this Tuesday evening in the NBA playoffs.
32:19In all three of those spots out east.
32:22In the opening round series around the NBA postseason.
32:25All three teams at home in game five.
32:29A home favorite with a chance to clinch the series tonight.
32:33Fonseca will be doing a watch party live for every single Knicks playoff game on behalf of the New York Post.
32:40So he'll be getting ready for the New York Knicks.
32:43Hosting the Detroit Pistons tonight in this fifth game.
32:45With the opportunity to clinch and then hoping to have more watch parties at least in the round two.
32:52Fonseca, that's where we start tonight.
32:53Inside Madison Square Garden.
32:55The Knicks up three games to one over Detroit.
32:58In a five and a half point favorite.
33:00In game five tonight.
33:02Inside the world's most famous arena.
33:05Fonseca, I ask you simply.
33:07Will the Knicks clinch this opening round set.
33:09With a game five win over the Pistons tonight.
33:12I gotta be honest, plus five and a half is very tempting.
33:17Given the nature of this series and how it's gone so far.
33:20And the fact that Detroit shot like 2% last game or whatever it felt like from three.
33:25It was terrible.
33:26They were shooting 38% for the first three games of the series before shooting.
33:29I think it was legitimately 24% or something along the lines last game.
33:34And Malik Beasley is really due.
33:37So, he's sort of the guy I'm looking at.
33:40I've been playing his over and he hasn't been hitting.
33:42He was actually, he got hooked last time.
33:44Where it needed 13 and a half, over 13 and a half.
33:47And he finished with 13.
33:48That sucked.
33:49But, I think with Malik Beasley.
33:52Like, he's still somebody who's going to get these looks.
33:54And they need him.
33:55They need him because their second most preferred shot.
33:58Other than anything from Cade Cunningham.
34:00Is a Malik Beasley three-pointer.
34:02Tim Hardaway Jr. has made more of them.
34:04In the last couple of games.
34:06And they nearly, they probably should have won at least one of these two games.
34:10I was talking to somebody yesterday on Buckets.
34:13Where, podcast do it, Action Network.
34:15And, you know, Brandon Anderson was saying,
34:17Hey, Detroit honestly should be up 4-0.
34:20The series should be over.
34:22You know, if not for a fourth quarter collapse in game one.
34:26If not for, you know, the end of game three.
34:28And if not for game four.
34:29Where some people think they got robbed by what should have been a foul call.
34:32And, in this game in particular.
34:34I am on Carl Anthony Towns over one and a half threes.
34:37It's really an attempts play.
34:39If he's only going to shoot three attempts.
34:40Like he tends to do sometimes.
34:42And, fine.
34:42And, I don't like trusting.
34:43I don't give it.
34:44I don't care how well he's playing.
34:47Carl Anthony Towns is just a difficult guy to trust.
34:49He's been great since he fell apart in game two.
34:52In the second half of that game in particular.
34:54And, Tobias Harris was made to look like Dennis Rodman defensively against him.
34:58But, with Carl Anthony Towns.
35:00Like, he's getting a three point volume.
35:03Whenever they have to put Jalen Durant on him.
35:05Because, Tobias Harris is out or in foul trouble or what have you.
35:08He's able to take him to the basket.
35:09And, stretch him out from three.
35:10He gets the looks.
35:11The Knicks need him to get those looks.
35:14And, I think.
35:16As it pertains to this game.
35:18When I look at the props.
35:19It's one of the only things I have confidence in.
35:21He said this a couple straight times.
35:23So, I think we can run it back for a third.
35:25And, see what happens.
35:27See what happens, too, in the Garden tonight.
35:28Why?
35:29Because, that is a closeout situation.
35:30We head over to Indianapolis.
35:32Another closeout situation tonight, Brian.
35:33That's the Bucs and the Pacers here.
35:35Six o'clock start.
35:36This line opened up at seven at the FanDuel Sportsbook.
35:38Now, up to eight here on the live number.
35:40$222.5 is the live price here on the total.
35:43Do we see a closeout situation?
35:45That Damian Lillard injury.
35:46Too much to overcome now for Giannis and the crew.
35:49I'm on Pacers minus seven and a half.
35:51I think this is one.
35:53I've described it as, like, it's a fight where somebody has somebody else on the ropes.
35:58This is boxing, not MMA.
36:00Somebody has somebody else on the ropes.
36:02And it's just, you know, uppercuts and hooks to the body.
36:04And the other competitor is, they don't want to quit.
36:08But they're just kind of looking over at the ref, like, to see if they're going to stop the fight.
36:11Because they want to be saved from themselves.
36:14Because they're not going to do it.
36:15I think Milwaukee is ready to go.
36:17And they're ready to get TKO'd here.
36:19Indiana, now, without Damian Lillard as well, although he wasn't necessarily helping a ton.
36:25But I said it before the series.
36:27I said, is Indiana going to be too much?
36:29Or is it going to be Giannis versus everybody?
36:31And unfortunately, it's Giannis versus everybody.
36:33But in a way where, like, nobody else on his team is doing anything.
36:38Giannis is doing what he can.
36:39The Kyle Kuzma trade is a bust, which is unfortunate because he was playing really, really well last season.
36:44Not this season.
36:45This season was not the season to trade for him.
36:47Should have did this a year ago.
36:49Because he was actually quite good for the Wizards previously.
36:52Not this season.
36:53And he's been a zero, essentially.
36:56The Milwaukee Bucks are just, they're done.
36:59And if they win this game, I'll be surprised.
37:01I don't know if I'd like them for Game 6.
37:04It probably depends on the nature of Game 5.
37:06And whenever you're in a playoff series and, you know, they're starting, like, Ryan Rollins for a game, for example.
37:13And it's like, what's going on there?
37:15Like, why is that happening?
37:17You know, Bobby Portis becomes, like, your third best player, second best player, who I love.
37:23But I don't think he should be that, necessarily.
37:25Gary Trent Jr. has been playing, like, really, really well from an efficiency perspective.
37:30And it hasn't mattered.
37:31Like, yeah, I think Indiana's ready to wrap this up.
37:34Yeah, it really does make sense, Fonseca.
37:37To lay that 8 with the Pacers tonight.
37:39Maybe Giannis, 33.5 points, 12.5 rebounds.
37:43If he has a Herculean effort, can keep Milwaukee close.
37:47But that might be that.
37:49Our third and final Game 5 tonight in the Eastern Conference.
37:52In the other garden, inside TD Garden.
37:54And the Celtics up 3-1 as the reigning NBA champs against Paolo Banqueiro, Franz Wagner.
38:00And I guess some other Magic players are out there as well.
38:04Boston at 11.5 point favorite, Fonseca.
38:07For Game 5, you see the spread.
38:08You see the money line.
38:09The oddsmakers are telling all of us what we would anticipate.
38:12They anticipate the Celtics should win this game and clinch this series.
38:16The question then becomes, how comfortably will the Celtics do so?
38:20I mean, given the nature of this series, given the physicality that they're complaining about,
38:30which I, that's not very champion-like in my opinion.
38:35It's just, come on.
38:36Complaining about the physicality being like, oh, if you want to fight, we can fight.
38:39And it's like, no, it's just a physical brand of basketball.
38:42You guys just happen to be getting hurt.
38:43Like, it's fine.
38:44Chris Asperzingis wasn't elbowed in the face on purpose.
38:47I know it wasn't a first blood match.
38:48But, like, Goga Batazzi didn't even know he was there.
38:51He was trying to play hard, get a rebound.
38:53I don't know if Boston wins this game.
38:55Plus 11.5 is very tempting.
38:57But Orlando can't score.
38:58And that's why I'm not going to play it.
39:00I will play Paolo Boncaro over 29.5 points.
39:02He's gotten that almost every game this series.
39:04He's getting 25 field goal attempts every game this series.
39:07Plus, he's getting 34 free throw attempts over the course of four games.
39:11And on top of that, what else is Orlando going to do offensively?
39:14So, I like Paolo Boncaro in this spot.
39:17And I think if Jalen Suggs were healthy, this would be 2-2 right now.
39:20It is really interesting because the Magic do bring that physicality.
39:24We'll see how close Game 5 is tonight.
39:26DRS, enjoy the money line.
39:28Fonseca and I round out these three hours now.
39:31A quadruple header.
39:32That's four games.
39:33In the NBA playoffs tonight on this Tuesday.
39:36Three series clinching spots.
39:38All in the Eastern Conference.
39:39For the Pacers in Indy.
39:41For the Knicks inside MSG.
39:42And for the reigning champs, the Celtics.
39:44Inside TD Garden.
39:46Brian Fonseca here for a third consecutive segment.
39:49To round out our three hours on this Tuesday morning on TEL.
39:53Fonseca, as we pay things forward, there's a chance that we have five teams already on to round number two.
40:00In the NBA playoffs by the end of tonight.
40:03That's what the odds makers expect.
40:05The Thunder already swept the Grizzlies out west.
40:08Last night, the Cavaliers by 55.
40:10Sweeping Miami in game number four in South Beach.
40:14So we update those NBA championship odds.
40:17And despite what we have seen so far in the postseason.
40:20Really, for the sake of the last three months or so of this NBA campaign.
40:25There's been a consistent theme.
40:27A tier of three.
40:28Two teams out east.
40:30One team from the Western Conference.
40:33And then everybody else.
40:34The Oklahoma City Thunder, a minus 180 favorite to win the Western Conference.
40:38Or a plus 150 favorite to win the NBA championship.
40:42Now a half dollar in front of the Celtics.
40:45In the Cavaliers.
40:46The one seed out east.
40:47The only team in three digits.
40:50But with a five to one price or shorter.
40:53Let me ask you the question first, Fonseca, this way.
40:56Will our NBA champion this year come from those three teams with a five to one price or better?
41:04Thunder, Celtics, or Cavs?
41:08Now it's hard to say no.
41:09And I think Cleveland is the one that I'm intrigued by the most.
41:12Because if you're giving me plus 490 on a team that right now.
41:16So if I'm looking ahead.
41:17One, Cleveland has already taken care of business.
41:19Shout out to both one seeds, honestly, for not messing around a ton.
41:23And just really putting away the Memphis Grizzlies and the Miami Heat.
41:26The Memphis Grizzlies obviously better.
41:28But Cleveland took care of business regardless.
41:31And without Darius Garland.
41:32But he's going to be back.
41:34It feels like if Cleveland was in a more dire situation, Darius Garland just might be playing.
41:39But they didn't need him to close us out.
41:42And then when you look at just the rest of the Eastern Conference.
41:46We know how the Knicks match up against them.
41:48And the Knicks probably aren't going to get there anyway because of Boston.
41:51And with Boston in particular.
41:52They have like Jalen Brown's had some knee issues that are worth monitoring.
41:58Jason Tatum's had the wrist.
42:00And Chris Stapsporzingis is Chris Stapsporzingis.
42:03He can get hurt at any time, unfortunately.
42:05And that's just part of the KP experience.
42:07So as it pertains to Cleveland.
42:09I think, one, Cleveland has matched up well with Boston during the regular season.
42:13Not that that always matters as it pertains to the playoffs.
42:15But it's not nothing.
42:16And Boston may not be as healthy.
42:20Assuming Darius Garland is back and ready to go.
42:23Cleveland is also deeper.
42:24I think Cleveland can absolutely win that series.
42:26They're going to have home court.
42:27I think home court is going to matter more for them than it is for Boston.
42:30Because Boston has won a ton of playoff road games.
42:32Has a lot of playoff road experience.
42:35Cleveland hasn't.
42:36But I think Cleveland's legit.
42:37I've been saying it all year.
42:38I took them all over in the win total.
42:41I took alts.
42:42Plus, I thought that they could be a 60-win team.
42:44And they were better than that.
42:45I think they're legitimate.
42:46And I think they can beat Boston.
42:48And if I think they can beat Boston, that means I think they can get to the finals.
42:51And that means I think they can win the championship.
42:53So I think they're worth a shot at plus 490.
42:56It's a great point, Fonseca.
42:57Because where the Cavaliers are positioned right now in the odds board.
43:01But what we have seen with them in actual basketball games.
43:05They are the position of value.
43:06Because of how short the numbers are.
43:09And really have been the entirety of this season.
43:12Around OKC and Boston.
43:14You made the point earlier.
43:15It's really tough to kind of find some of that value out west.
43:19Because everything runs through Oklahoma City.
43:21Even the two teams right now.
43:23Up 3-1 on the other side of the Western Conference bracket.
43:26That being Golden State and Minnesota.
43:29Trying to stack up there.
43:30Let me just ask you this quickly.
43:32So you expect it to be the Cavaliers and the Celtics.
43:35And you think Cleveland can win that Eastern Conference Finals matchup.
43:41How much of a test.
43:43Well more than likely.
43:44The Knicks and the Pacers provide.
43:46For more than likely the Celtics and the Cavs.
43:50I think the Knicks.
43:52I don't know.
43:53They haven't looked awesome in this Pistons series.
43:55I give them credit for closing out games.
43:56But this is a series that.
43:59I mean.
43:59And look.
44:00They could have the game 5.
44:01Where it's like.
44:01Oh finally they actually blow this team out.
44:04But they have not matched up well with Boston.
44:07For multiple seasons at this point.
44:09And this time around.
44:11Even if Boston's a little bit injured.
44:12I still think Boston could win that series in 5 games.
44:16I think.
44:17Maybe the Knicks push it to 6.
44:18But that's just one that's been a pain for the Knicks.
44:21All season long.
44:22And Boston generates 3's.
44:24Like nobody's business.
44:26And the Knicks have a tough time defending.
44:283 point range.
44:29Now with Indy.
44:30I think they make that series with Cleveland.
44:32Pretty interesting.
44:33Because I think Indy could actually push that to 6 or 7.
44:36And you could even get me to be like.
44:37Hey.
44:38Indy plus 6,000 to win the title.
44:40Like that's not absolutely absurd to me.
44:42I don't think they're beating Cleveland.
44:44But I think they could push them really well.
44:46Fonseca.
44:47The early line returns tomorrow.
44:498 a.m. Eastern.