This matchup has slowed down a lot since explosive scorelines between them during the regular season. Watching the games it is apparent to see why...Luka Doncic can't run and the Mavs rarely score in transition. (Dallas also couldn't shoot FTs in Game 4, which helped keep that scoreline lower.) Luka, bothered by knee and ankle injuries, can still be effective in halfocurt sets, but his usage rate is down somewhat, and the Mavs usually milking the shot clock on possessions. Meanwhile, the Thunder has been leaning awfully hard on SGA as the offense often misfired in Games 3 and 4, though Luka & Co misfired more on Monday. Dallas on 18-7 "under" run; OKC 9-3 "under" run. Play Mavs-Thunder "Under"

These two have displayed the capacity for big innings in the first two games of this midweek set, with 31 combined runs being scored across the first two games. Shoddy pitching or good hitting (take your pick, though we might shade the former) could be the reason, but either way, more of the same could be on tap tonight at the Big A. Especially as Lance Lynn has been ineffective for the Cards in his last two starts (9.31 ERA), and Griffin Canning (5.15 ERA on the season) has been very up-and-down for the Halos. Neither bullpen has been lights-out, either. Play Cards-Angels "Over"

True, we didn't see Boston lay down in Game 5 last night at Florida, digging in deep to keep the series alive. Assuming the same for the Avs tonight in Big D, however, might be a bit of a stretch, after that absolute collapse over both Games 3 and 4 at home for Colorado that has put it on the brink of elimination. The Nichushkin suspension compounded matters prior to Monday's 5-1 loss and underlines the plight of the Avs, who have also leaked too much on defense in this series, exposed by the Stars' clinical execution. The margin also risks expanding late if Colorado is trailing and Jared Bednar pulls Alexander Georgiev much sooner than he normally might. Play Stars on Puck Line

Close-out games in the Stanley Cup playoffs sometimes look like what happened to Tampa Bay in Game 5 at Florida, when the Lightning got desperate in the final minutes trying to make up a multi-goal deficit, and the scoreline kept expanding. Colorado looks a candidate for the same tonight as we hardly see the Avs becoming involved in any defensive stalemate after numerous breakdowns in the playoffs in front of Alexander Georgiev. Though muffled in Games 3 and 4 at home and minus key cog Valeri Nuchushkin, Colorado however still retains Nathan MacKinnon and loads of firepower, and with the Stars executing as well as they have in this series, there are lots of ways this game can clear 6.5 goals. Play Avs-Stars "Over"

We suspect that might have been Cleveland's last gasp on Monday, when the Cavs circled the wagons after Donovan Mitchell's late scratch and made enough three-pointers to stay within earshot of the Celtics. But with Mitchell iffy again for tonight along with Jarrett Allen and now Caris LeVert, this looks like the end of the road for the Cavs. It's the same spot the Celtics were in during the first round vs. the Heat, when Boston resoundingly ended the series 118-84. and the Celtics' win margin in their seven playoff Ws to date is 19 ppg. Jayson Tatum (33 points each of last two games) scoring enough to help push Boston over this spread hump. Play Celtics

Break up the...Rockies? Six wins on the spin have Colorado as the surprise hot package of the NL at the moment, and a quick look at the scorelines suggests what has caused the turnaround. It's pitching, with only 14 runs allowed across the uptick, all vs. competent opposition (Giants, Rangers, Padres), and even Austin Gomber has fared well lately, allowing just one run across 12 1/3 IP in his last two starts as his own ramp-up for this afternoon at Petco. After taking care of Dylan Cease last night, the Rocks will not flinch at SD's Michael King even after he hasn't allowed a run in his last two starts. Play Rockies on Run Line

While pondering if any home edge (0-4!) is really meaningless in this series, we also must wonder about the momentum shift of the past two games that took place at Target Center. Aside from kicking away the home-court edge that they earned by winning the first pair in Denver, the T-wolves have some other concerns, as no one seemed willing or able to help out Anthony Edwards in either of the last two games, with disastrous consequences when Edwards scored only 19 in Game 3's 27-point loss. Even with Ant scoring 40 on Sunday, the supporting cast didn't help enough, either, in the 115-107 loss. The Nuggets switched gears in Minneapolis and this is a fair price tonight. Play Nuggets

Rest assured that switching goalies in the middle of this series is not what Kris Knoblauch had in mind on the Edmonton side. But Stuart Skinner has been so subpar in this matchup that Knoblauch pulled him after the 2nd period of Game 3 and tonight goes with little-used backup Cal Pickard at the outset. Pickard kept a clean sheet in the 3rd period on Sunday but Vancouver wasn't putting any pressure on him as they defended with the multi-goal lead (only 7 shots the last two periods). Goalie Arturs Silovs has been heroic in relief for Rick Tocchet's Canucks, who have won 6 of 7 from the Oilers. So, why this big price? Play Canucks on Money Line

Let's try this one again! Monday's rainout prevented the pitching showdown we instead have to wait 24 hours to see, as they try it again in the first leg of a Tuesday twin bill. As noted Monday, these have been a couple of the pleasant surprises of the MLB season, with the Nats' Trevor Williams (4-0, 1.96 ERA) proving very adept at five or so solid innings before letting the bullpen do the rest, with the Chisox rotation has gotten a big boost from ex-Mariner Chris Flexen, who has posted a 1.61 ERA across his last five appearances. The Pale Hose have started to win more, too, though the offense still scored only 12 runs across the four weekend games vs. Cleveland. Play Nats-Chisox "Under"

"The dead leg syndrome." We've seen it before and since the 4th Q of Game 3 in this series, the Knicks have given every indication of the same. Understandable, considering the wear-and-tear NY has absorbed (Jalen Brunson in particular) and the injury woes that have thinned Tom Thibodeau's bench. On top the absences of Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby's hamstring woes will apparently keep him out for a third consecutive game tonight, and evidence suggests it is the presence of OG (NY 26-5 with him available; 13-16 when he's not since his December 30 add from Toronto) that really makes the Knicks offense hum. Minus OG...not so much! Play Pacers-Knicks "Under"

Sam Bennett continues to haunt the Bruins in a variety of ways in this series, so we'll see if Boston continues to get unnerved by his presence. But the Bruins should have been ahead further than 2-0 in Sunday's Game 4, wasting several golden chances to pad the lead thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky's acrobatics in the Florida goal. And despite the fact the Panthers can wrap up the series tonight, remember the road team is 3-1 in this series. It looks like no Brad Marchand again for Boston, but the Bruins appeared to circle the wagons effectively minus him on Sunday, and Jeremy Swayman remains capable in goal of getting this matchup back to TD Garden. Play Bruins on Money Line

Though the Avs were involved in their first "under" of the postseason in Saturday's loss to the Stars at Ball Arena, they had scored a whopping 35 goals across their first seven Stanley Cup games this spring. A bit manic, this Colorado, perhaps explaining the 2-1 deficit it must overcome vs. Dallas, but a good flag-bearer for the "over" trend in the second round that now stands 11-3 into Monday's games. Dallas precision has allowed it to score 12 goals across the first three games of this series, so a return to the higher-scoring trends in Game 4 would be no surprise. Play Stars-Avs "Over"

Tempo-wise, this matchup has slowed down since the regular season. With Luka Doncic hobbling, this is the pace at which the Mavs have to play...and they can do it, because Luka remains lethal in halfcourt sets. His usage rate is down in the playoffs, perhaps a reason scorelines have been a bit lower. Make no mistake, however, Dallas can play at this type of pace, though what we're not sure is if PJ Washington can keep scoring at the rate (28 ppg) he has the past two games. The 3s haven't been falling as consistently for OKC the past two games, and both of these sides have been trending "under" (Mavs 18-7 since late in reg. season, Thunder 8-3 last 11). Play Thunder-Mavs "Under"

Raise your hand if you've seen this before...the Celtics look great in Game One, bad in Game Two, and roll to a Game Three win on the road. That was the preceding series vs. Miami and it's been this series thus far vs. Cleveland, with not only the results sequencing the same, but the manner of the results. Mostly, it's been down to the defense, which has allowed the Heat and Cavs to crack the century mark just twice in the eight games between them this postseason. We already know Boston has enough offense with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White & Co. Also note the Celtics have won and covered five straight in the playoffs back to last May. History repeating itself? Play Celtics

On a knife's edge! That's how this series has been conducted, with a succession of one-goal margins and a pair of overtimes in the first four games. Every game has been a toss-up, which is why we think Carolina is hardly out of this series despite being down 3-1 entering MSG tonight. But this series has done its part to sustain the "over" trend in the second round, landing that way in three of the first four games, with plenty of firepower on the ice to make it four of five; note the 14 different goalscorers in the playoffs for Carolina, while the Rangers have had Mika Zibanejad (13 points) and Vincent Trocheck (12 points) producing since the Caps series. Play Canes-Rangers "Over"