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

The Magic have arrived in a hurry and look ready to fast-forward the maturation if they can get into the second round. This has been a home-oriented series to be sure, but Orlando has to carry a bit more confidence into this Game Seven at the Rocket after nearly stealing Game 5 in Cleveland after losing heavily in the first two games on the road in this series. Paolo Banchero is scoring at a 33 ppg clip across the past two games for the Magic, but seems to be able to rely on other scoring sources like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell scored more than half (50) of Cleveland's points in the Friday loss at Orlando. Play Magic

Though the scoreline fell one point short of another "over" on Friday, this series has become higher-scoring since the first two games at the Rocket in which the Magic didn't crack 86 points. Since then, however, Orlando is scoring at a 110 ppg clip, and it's worth noting that every game in this series since Game 2 has handily cleared this overnight 194 for Game Seven in Cleveland. Granted, the Cavs have only cracked 100 points in Game Five, but Donovan Mitchell can always explode (like he did with 50 on Friday), and Orlando's offense, led by Paolo Banchero (33 ppg last two), has gained confidence as this series has progressed. Play Magic-Cavs "Over"

This has turned into a goalie series, especially since Joseph Woll stepped in for Ilya Samsonov on the Toronto side for Game Five. Since then, he's posted an 0.86 GAA and .964 saves, and that includes a Boston goal with one-tenth of a second to play in Thursday's Game 6. We'll assume Jim Montgomery sticky with Jeremy Swayman (1.60 GAA and .947 saves in this series) on the Boston side, though he's discarded the usual rotation with Linus Ullmark in this series. Nervous time for the Bruins, at risk of blowing another 3-1 playoff lead, and more likely to see another low-scoring grinder in Game Seven. Play Maple Leafs-Bruins "Under"

Some angles to consider here, including Denver winning all five of its playoff round openers since last season, most recently vs the Lakers (114-103 in the first round). The T-wolves, however, have played the champs tough this season, splitting the four previous games, are off a resounding sweep of Phoenix in the opening round, and have a score to settle from last season's opening round when losing in five. Both teams routinely scoring enough (T-wolves 118 ppg in the Suns sweep; Nuggets 116 pg last ten) to get this above 207.5. Play Timberwolves-Nuggets "Over"

As noted on Friday, the Orioles at short prices are going to get our attention this season. Even a rain delay couldn't slow the Birds last night as Cole Irvin stretched his scoreless innings streak to 20 2/3 and Baltimore moved to an AL-best 9-4 on the road by beating the Reds in a rematch of the 1970 World Series. John Means, who has plenty of experience in the O's rotation, has been recalled and will start in place of the injured Grayson Rodriguez, while the Reds' Andrew Abbott is off of a rough start in Texas, giving up a pair of homers in last Sunday's loss at Arlington. Play Orioles on Money Line

"Your NL Cy Young Award winner for 2024...Ranger Suarez of the Philadelphia Phillies!" That's a hypothetical, of course, but if the voting were to be conducted today, Suarez would have as good a chance as any, already 5-0 with a 1.32 ERA and 0.63 WHIP. He's also working deep into games, with a recent complete-game shutout of the Rockies, and across his last two starts vs. the Reds and Padres, he's allowed one run and five hits thru 15 IP, with 13 Ks and 1 walk. Moreover, the Phils are now an MLB-best 22-11 after last night's 4-3 win. The Giants have also won in the last three starts made by Keaton Winn, but Bob Melvin's offense remains inconsistent. Play Phillies on Run Line