Friday Free Bets: NBA and NHL Playoff Games
Friday Free Bets
There is no better time in sports than the postseason. Champions are crowned, stars are studded, and legends are written.
Both the Nationals Basketball Association and National Hockey League are enjoying thrilling playoff spectacles, which will continue with top-notch action Friday night.
Here are the best bets to place in those games.
Dallas Mavericks +6 vs. Golden State Warriors
Mavs bettors will be used to the +6 line, which they were commonly given against the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns. This is not the same Dallas team that was just Luka Doncic and some other guys, as Jalen Brunson, Spencer Dinwiddie, and other role players have all stepped up big throughout these playoffs.
They are facing a team much more experienced than them and did get blown off the floor in Game 1, but there are due for a bounce-back.
Most importantly, the Mavericks have a stylistic advantage. The Warriors either have to start Kevon Looney to match up with Dallas’ size, effectively giving them two non-scoring factors in their starting five— Draymond Green being the other— or they will have to stick Andrew Wiggins on Doncic and leave Green as the sole interior protector.
Granted, GSW’s plan worked in the first encounter, but Dallas coach Jason Kidd showed that he can make adjustments just as well as any coach in the league in both of the team’s first two playoff series.
On the defensive end, there was no team that bothered Stephen Curry more than the Mavericks did in the regular season. They are long, fast, and strong and can switch almost anyone in their starting five onto the “Baby-Faced Assassin,” making life harder for the all-timer. Even in the blowout victory, Curry only rang up 21 points on 7-16 shooting and 3-9 from downtown.
Golden State won the first game because they were able to keep the Mavs’ defenders in constant motion and come up with most of the loose balls, but it will not be as easy the second time around, keeping in mind they got to enjoy a longer rest period than the Mavericks did heading into Game 1.
Dallas Mavericks vs. Golden State Warriors o214
The Mavericks play their best basketball when they are hitting open three; next-level stats revealed that of the Mavs’ 48 threes in Game 1, 44 were uncontested, but they only made 11.
Betting on a trend like this to continue would be unwise, especially considering they made 19 of 39 long-range shots to close out the Phoenix Suns on the road in the series prior.
Golden State does not necessarily live and die by the three as many think, but the triple is certainly a massive focus in their game plan. They run a constant motion offense that usually leads to a shooter coming open, although their usual snipers have been anything but in these playoffs.
Klay Thompson is the only member of the roster (with qualified attempts) shooting over 40%, but he runs extremely hot or cold at this stage in his career and after multiple serious injuries. Essentially, if the Mavs hit their three balls, they have the firepower to almost single-handedly carry the game to the over.
Golden State’s defense was excellent in Game 1, but again, Kidd’s Mavs should come out with a new focus and find ways to score on their championship-experienced opponent, just like they adjusted and got past the highly-favored Suns in the last round.
If anything is going to stop the game from going over, it is almost certainly Dallas missing open shots again. Bettors know what they are getting from Golden State, and that type of consistency is valuable in the gambling market.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are primed to take a 2-0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers and set themselves up to advance to the next round in the playoffs Friday.
They won the first game 9-6 in one of the most thrilling playoff atmospheres in recent history, flashing their offensive prowess— however, Calgary’s biggest advantage in this series comes on defense, where Edmonton pales in comparison.
The Flames also have a superior goalkeeper in Jacob Markstrom, whose 92.2% save rate tied for third-best in the regular season; he has done even better in the playoffs, managing to stop 92.3% of shots coming his way, even after allowing six in Game 1 of the ongoing series.
Edmonton finished the regular season with a 49-27-6 record that was just behind Calgary’s 50-21-11 mark, and just like they finished second-best in that campaign, they are already looking likely to be second-best in a two-team series.
If they are going to win, they need to shore up their defense while praying they can find the same level of offensive success they did in Game 1.
Derek Hudson
Derek is a long time sports bettor who grew up in Providence, RI. Derek is data driven and believes the key to betting the sportsbooks is finding an edge in analytics. Derek is happily married and has two young boys. Derek will bet on anything if you let him.
