While very tempted to play the zig-zag and give the Nuggets a whirl tonight in Game Two, we see a bit more value at available options on the "over" side. There were some oddities associated with Saturday's Game One that don't figure to repeat tonight, including a very sluggish 2nd Q when only 36 points were scored, and some inefficient possessions in the final sequence that could have pushed that result "over" as well. Note that the last three meetings between these sides in the regular season all cleared this 208 for tonight in Denver. Play T-wolves-Nuggets "Over"

We just exited a first round where scorelines were dwindling to almost nothing and oddsmakers couldn't put the "totals" low enough. The Bruins were certainly involved in one of those wars of attrition vs. the Maple Leafs, when goals were being thrown around like manhole covers. Florida, however, didn't contribute to that trend in the opening round vs. Tampa Bay, scoring 20 goals across the five-game series win, with the last three games "over" as well. Rematch here from last spring, and revenge on the mind of Boston, but note that was a free-wheeling series with seven or more goals scored in five of the games. Play Bruins-Panthers "Over"

There might be some reason to wonder what the Bruins have left in their tanks after that 2-1 OT win over the Leafs in Saturday's Game Seven thriller. Mitigating, however, could be the revenge motive here for Boston, with a chance to make things right against Florida after coughing up that 3-1 edge in galling fashion last spring and getting ousted by the Panthers in a memorable first-round upset. Though surrendering the Atlantic Division to Florida on the last night of the regular season, the Bruins were more animated whenever facing the Panthers this campaign, winning all four meetings, three of those with Linus Ullmark in goal (Jim Montgomery can't go wrong with either Ullmark or first-round hero Jeremy Swayman). Play Bruins on Money Line

Have things really changed that much from the regular season for the Knicks and Pacers? After all, their three previous matchups this term all featured "totals" of 237.5 or higher...and tonight the oddsmakers have set that bar more than 20 points lower. Playoff hoops are different, we know, but the Pacers were the highest-scoring team in NBA annals at 123 pg this season, and hit for 120 or more in four of the games in the recently-completed 4-2 series win over the Bucks. Meanwhile, the Knicks start this series having gone 15-3 "over" their last eighteen games. Play Pacers-Knicks "Over"

A basic approach to "totals" is that teams having trouble scoring runs are more likely to land on the "under" side. Best of all, it doesn't require Einstein to come to that conclusion, which the Pirates have reminded us constantly the past few weeks as they struggle mightily at the plate. Prior to Sunday's 5-3 win over the Rockies, Pittsburgh had gone "under" 13-1 across its preceding fourteen games, and has scored just 17 runs across its preceding nine games. Indeed, this looks like an offense that Halos starter Tyler Anderson (2.33 ERA), and the sometimes-maligned Angels bullpen, can handle. Meanwhile, the Halos have been held to exactly one run in three of their past four games. Play Angels-Pirates "Under"

The Giants would ask for a police escort out of Philadelphia if they could after losing three times to the Phils over the weekend. Instead, SF has been sentenced to another day in Philly by the schedule-makers who made this a four-game series, to the obvious chagrin of the Giants, outscored 23-10 across the first three clashes. Now SF has to face the hottest Phils starter, Zack Wheeler, who has allowed just one run and seven hits across 18 1/3 IP in his last three outings. Those were also wins for Philly, which now faces a rookie hurler making his MLB debut (Mason Black) to salvage the series finale for the Giants in this 4:05 PM Eastern start. Play Phillies on Run Line

Not sure why the Phillies are being made a short underdog in this Sunday night battle at Citizens Bank Park. Granted, Taijuan Walker wasn't super-sharp in his 2024 debut last Sunday vs. the Padres, but the Phils still won 8-6. And that's the point lately with Philly, which wakes up this morning with the best record (23-11) in MLB and on the verge of sweeping out the Giants this weekend. Besides, if most-recent starts mean so much, why the respect for San Francisco and Logan Webb, who was hit hard on Tuesday at Boston, raked for four runs and nine hits across just 3 2/3 IP while picking up the loss at Fenway Park. Play Phillies on Money Line

A bit surprised that the slight betting favorite in Game One is Carolina, which finished behind (close, but behind) the Rangers in the standings this season and lost two of the three meetings. The Canes were pushed a bit by the Islanders in the first round, too, and this will be a tougher assignment vs the Predidents' Trophy winners. Igor Shesterkin posted a 1.75 GAA in goal in the first round sweep of the Caps, and Peter Laviolette had ten different goal-scorers in the four straight wins over Washington, led by Vincent Trochek's three. Play Rangers on Money Line

Denny McLain, Willie Hernandez, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer...and Tarik Skubal? The first four are the past Tigers Cy Young Award winners, but we're thinking Skubal might be able to join that group if he keeps pitching as he has, featuring a 4-0 record, 1.72 ERA, and 0.74 WHIP. As Detroit has won in five of Skubal's six starts, AJ Hinch has the right man on the mound to salvage the finale of this three-game set in the Bronx. Though relievers will factor at some point, we suspect a good chance that Skubal at least outpitches Yankee counterpart Nestor Cortes, who has been roughed up in his last two starts (7 runs and 13 hits in 13 IP). Play Tigers on Money Line