NBA Predictions

Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs: a heavyweight clash at Paycom Center The Western Conference finals open with an elite showdown. The Oklahoma City Thunder carry the burden of being the institutional favourites for this opener and for the series itself. Still, the Texas challenge is one of the few sides to have shaken…

Cleveland Cavaliers – Detroit Pistons : the final verdict in Ohio Game six gives the Cleveland Cavaliers a decisive match point. The momentum has flipped, and then some. Down 0-2, the home side has rattled off three straight wins. Their unbeaten home record this spring only sharpens their status as favourites. Atkinson is within touching…

Minnesota Timberwolves – San Antonio Spurs : the Target Center scoreline could get ugly Game 6 of this conference semifinal leaves the Minnesota Timberwolves staring over the edge. Down 3-2, the home side are scrapping to force a winner-take-all finale. With both defences looking leaky, this one could turn into a full-blown shootout. San Antonio’s…

Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers : the psychological swing at Little Caesars Arena The series is perfectly level at 2-2, and that changes everything in this conference semifinal. Michigan took care of business in the first two home games, then got hit by the visitors on the road. The Cleveland Cavaliers head into Game 5…

Cleveland Cavaliers – Detroit Pistons: the fight for control in Ohio The fourth game of this conference semifinal pits the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Detroit Pistons. Atkinson grabbed a vital lifeline in Game 3, trimming the deficit after a grim start to the series (0-2). Home survival now hinges on an immediate response against a…

San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves : the tactical equation at Frost Bank Center Game 5 will decide it, with the series locked at 2-2. Wembanyama’s early ejection has put Minnesota back in the hunt. The French centre is also facing a possible suspension. Even so, Texas nearly pulled off the job without him. The…

Los Angeles Lakers – Oklahoma City Thunder : the scheduled execution at Paycom Center The fourth game of this playoff series leaves the home side staring into the void. Down 0-3, the Californians are fighting for their lives against the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the opening defensive plan already blown apart, the only way out…

Philadelphia 76ers – New York Knicks : numbers or the abyss at Wells Fargo Center The third game of this conference quarterfinal brings real urgency for the home side. The New York Knicks lead 2-0 after two bruising, high-intensity battles. The Pennsylvania crowd has to be the spark for Nurse’s system. With both defenses leaking,…

Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers: the scheduled demolition at Paycom Center Oklahoma Citys dominance is beyond dispute after the opener. The defending champions are already in control at 1-0, playing with a slickness that borders on the smug. The Lakers, meanwhile, look flat and badly short of answers, relying on isolated bursts from…