Free NBA Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (5/5/23)

After a few nights in a row with only one NBA game to watch, we get two games per night here for the foreseeable future. The schedule is finally aligned to where we get two game threes tonight and tomorrow and I am certainly excited about that as we roll right into the weekend.

The Denver Nuggets are the only remaining team with a 2-0 lead in their series and they head to Phoenix tonight in what appears to be a "must-win" game for the Suns. Meanwhile, the Sixers come home in their series after splitting the first two games in Boston. Oddly enough they won game one without Embiid and then got waxed in game two when Embiid returned.

As always, in this article, I'll be providing my favorite picks against the spread, game totals, parlays, and teasers for the NBA playoff games that tip-off at 7:00 PM EST on Friday, May 5th. Now, let's see how we want to attack these games with the books tonight!

Thunder Dan's NBA Best Bets

• First-Round Series Predictions: 5-3
• 2022-2023 Postseason Individual Games: 9-9
• Against the Spread: 5-2
• Game/Team Totals: 2-4
• Moneyline Parlay: 2-1
• Teasers: 0-2
• Overall: 14-12

NBA Betting Picks

Boston Celtics (-2.5) @ Philadelphia 76ers (214.5 total)

Game Two was weird and I think probably it ends up being the outlier game in this series. Joel Embiid returned for the Sixers and completely messed up any chemistry and flow that they had on offense in game one. James Harden also regressed badly after an incredible game-one shooting performance and the Sixers scored just 87 points.

🏀 FINAL SCORE 🏀

Jaylen Brown comes up big as the @celtics win Game 2! The series shifts to Philadelphia tied at 1-1.

Malcolm Brogdon: 23 PTS, 6-10 3PM
Joel Embiid: 15 PTS, 5 BLK

BOS/PHI Game 3: Friday, 7:30pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/PlpHDBrcIQ

— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2023

Now that Embiid has his legs back under him and the Sixers have had some time to regroup, I think they'll be better prepared for the Boston onslaught tonight. Plus they are at home, where they'll have a fired-up Philly crowd on their side.

I expect a close game here, but I have to admit that when Boston is playing their best basketball - they are simply the better team. They play team defense and they move the ball on offense better than just about any team in the NBA. They all play unselfishly and their balance and depth are their greatest weapons.

When the Sixers have Embiid in the lineup, it turns into the Embiid and Harden show and the ball simply stops moving on offense. Embiid is good enough to dominate against a small Celtics frontcourt if he's healthy, but the Celtics simply keep coming after you.

I think Philly keeps this game closer than Wednesday night, but I can't pick them to win. I'll take the Celtics laying 2.5 points and hope that I don't get burned by the half-point hook. I'll try to middle this one by adding the Sixers to my teaser as well.

Let's double up with two bets here. I'm taking the under here as I think this game slows down quite a bit with the Sixers playing through Embiid and the Celtics aren't likely to shoot the lights out nearly as efficiently as they did on Wednesday night.

The Picks: UNDER 214.5 points (-110 DK), Celtics -2.5 (-110 DK)

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Denver Nuggets (+4) @ Phoenix Suns (225 total)

The Suns really need this one tonight and they'll be in a 3-0 hole. I'm just not sure if they can get there or not. A lot will depend on how they respond to Denver's defensive approach after the Nuggets held them to just 87 points in game two. I did not expect any real low-scoring games like that in this series and I think we will likely see better offense from both teams tonight.

Phoenix is good, and with their backs against the wall, I think they play well here. But with Chris Paul out of the lineup, they're going to need some good minutes from Cameron Payne and Landry Shamet and someone besides KD and Booker has to make some shots.

Monty Williams said Chris Paul didn’t practice today, but the Suns are grateful he didn’t tear anything and they’re optimistic about getting him back. I also asked Monty about CP3’s morale after yet another playoff injury: pic.twitter.com/xacnh9Gxmi

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) May 3, 2023

Maybe the Suns win, but I have no faith in them covering this spread. I think the Nuggets battle here on the road and cover (or win outright). If you want to sprinkle a little on the Denver money line, too, I am okay with it.

I am not touching this total, however, as I don't think we have a real good read on how fast Phoenix plays without Paul or how much the Nuggets try to push the tempo or not.

The Pick: Nuggets +4 (-110)

NBA Betting Picks: Parlays and Teasers

5-point Teaser: Philly +7.5 and Denver +9 = (-130 DK)

Good luck tonight, RotoBallers!

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