We've seen this before, as this series is sequencing almost identical to the Heat's Finals matchup last June vs. Denver, when Miami was a similar underdog and stole Game 2 on the road, before getting easily outdistanced at home in Games 3 and 4...much like this series vs. the Celtics. Minus Jimmy Butler and apparently Terry Rozier for another game, the Heat aren't built to win any shootouts at the moment. Miami has only cleared 94 once in this series, and that came when hitting 23 triples in Game 2, and Games 3 and 4 couldn't clear 190. It was only 94-89 in Nuggets-Heat Game 5 last June, too. Play Heat-Celtics "Under"

The games in this series have all begun to look the same, down to the road teams winning each time (which has happened in the first four!). Quality scoring chances for Vegas have been few in the entire series as Pete DeBoer's Dallas defense continues to win most of the puck battles in the neutral zone and has been stopping VGK rushes before they begin. The starring roles in this series to date, however, have belonged to goalies Jake Oettinger and Logan Thompson, and with limited scoring opportunities both ways this one can't help but look like an "under" in Big D. Play VGK-Stars "Under"

If it weren't for bad news, the Angels would probably have no news at all, with Mike Trout's injury (knee; sidelined indefinitely) the latest damper to be put on the Halos. The pitching also continues to be suspect, with closer Carlos Estevez blowing the save and the game last night to the Phils, who look capable of causing real damage in this matinee against Patrick Sandoval and his 6.33 ERA. Note Zack Wheeler's dominating efforts in his last two starts, allowing just one hits to each of the Chisox and Reds across 13 1/3 IP, and the Angels were just 4-10 at the Big A in April. Play Phillies on Run Line

Why the Pirates are favored, however slight, in this matinee is a mystery. Pittsburgh has lost 12 of 15 and scored just 28 runs across its last 14 games, enough of a sample size to begin drawing some conclusions...such as the Bucs can't score. Oakland pitching has controlled the Pirates bats the past two nights and expect more of the same on Wednesday, as Ross Stripling has been relatively effective since his lone shaky effort at Texas on April 10. Mark Kotsay's battling bunch won the previous weekend set in Baltimore and about to sweep the Bucs, who can't wait to escape the Bay Area after spending the weekend across the bridge and losing 2 of 3 vs. the Giants. Play A's on Money Line

It's been galling for the Preds, who watched two backup goalies beat them in Nashville and lose once while allowing only 12 shots on goal. Moreover, blowing Sunday's game when up 3-1 inside of three minutes to play, then watching the Canucks score 1:02 into OT, was another gut-punch. Still, the Preds are not out of this series yet, and have been outskating the Canucks while leading a good portion of the four games. We'll also see who's in goal for Vancouver after 3rd-stringer Arturs Silov got the call on Sunday, with Game 3 winner Casey DeSmith a late scratch (Thatcher Demko remains out). Nashville capable of getting this series back to Bridgestone. Play Preds on Money Line

The Pirates are acting like they have had enough of the Bay Area, managing just 2 hits in last night's 5-1 loss at the Coliseum. After playing a weekend set across the bridge, Pittsburgh will have spent nearly a week in Northern California by the time this series concludes. The A's are certainly no fun to play these days, winning the weekend set in Baltimore before watching Joe Boyle and Mark Kotsay's underrated bullpen shut down the Bucs, who have scored only 26 runs across their last 13 games. The scoreline could be low again tonight if Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller pitches as well as his last road start at Philly, when allowing just 2 runs in 7 IP. Play Pirates-A's "Under"

The Pirates don't have the look of a reliable road favorite here. Another game, another loss (5-1) on Monday, the offense continuing to sputter, now on just 26 runs across the past 13 games, and losses in 11 of the last 14. After not providing enough run support for the recently-hot Bailey Falter last night, not sure the Bucs are going to be able to help Mitch Keller any more this evening. Meanwhile, the A's continue to overachieve, the bullpen again light-out last night for Mark Kotsay, and Tuesday starter Alex Wood coming off a solid effort last Thursday at Yankee Stadium, allowing just 1 run in 5 2/3 IP of a 3-1 win over the Yanks. Play A's on Money Line

Winnipeg fans have seen this before, as the Jets seem to be in the process of doing the same as a year ago against VGK in the first round. Winnipeg took Game 1 in that series but lost control in the second period of Game 2 and never regained it, in the end going out meekly in five games. The same pattern is happening in this matchup vs. the Avs, who have scored five or more goals in each of the first four games, even causing Rick Bowness to remove Connor Hellebuyck in goal for the third period of Game 4 (though Hellebuyck is back in the nets tonight). The momentum of this series is all with the Avs now. Play Avs on Money Line

Unless completely dismissing the series trends in this matchup, the angle to note is starring us right in the face. This has been the quintessential home-team series thus far, with the host side winning and covering resoundingly in the first four games. It would seem that advantage, then, would swing back to the Cavs after their face-plants in Orlando. Though Cleveland has yet to crack the 100-point mark in this series, Donovan Mitchell was scoring at a slightly-advanced clip (26.5 ppg) in the first two games of this series at home, when the visiting Magic couldn't crack 86 points. There is a case for "under" here as well but would rather just stick with the series home trends in Game 5. Play Cavs

The Knicks are very glad that Jalen Brunson scored 47 points on Sunday to put the Sixers on the ledge in this series. On the other hand, we suspect the Philly can live with Brunson responsible for almost half of his team's points (only 97 on Sunday), as at some point Tom Thibodeau is going to need others (OG Anunoby? Donte DiVincenzo? Miles McBride?) to pick up a greater share of the scoring burden. Speaking of picking up a greater share, Joel Embiid needs to do more than score 1 point in the 4th Q as the case on Sunday, but the Sixers have had a look at every game in this series, and realistically should be no worse than 2-2 entering tonight. Play Sixers

We might be more curious at the crowd counts for this series in Oakland, as the visiting Pirates (who get to spend nearly a week in the Bay Area after playing a weekend series across the bridge in San Francisco) are not much of a draw these days. The A's should be attracting more fans based upon their battling style, especially after winning a weekend series in Baltimore, but these are still two of the lowest-scoring teams in MLB. This will be another chance to see Mark Kotsay's effective bullpen in action as Joe Boyle likely doesn't pitch past the fifth inning, while Oakland figures to have its hands full with Bucs ace Bailey Falter (1.56 ERA last four starts). Play Pirates-A's "Under"

Whoa baby with the Angels, who are finishing up April having won just one series (a sweep of lowly Miami) and currently on a 58-104 pace, which would set a franchise mark for futility. This numbing stretch also counts a 27-56 record since the beginning of last August, and the battered pitching staff has allowed 38 games across the last four games, all losses. Meanwhile, the offense is a monument to inefficiency, especially Mike Trout, with his league-leading 10 homers but also just 14 RBIs, ranking 69th. Momentum edge to the Phils, up on I-5 to Anaheim from San Diego after sweeping the Padres. Monday starter Christopher Sanchez also has a 2.96 ERA thus far. Play Phils on Run Line

What home ice edge? Not yet in this series, with the road teams winning all three games to date, and Dallas suggesting it is not about to go down the same path as last year's playoffs with VGK by surviving a 3-2 OT battle in Game 3 to pull back into this series. Dallas dominated play for long stretches, controlling the neutral zone and pressuring Vegas goalie Logan Thompson, who made numerous circus saves just to keep VGK in the game on Saturday. This came after a win in Dallas when taking only 15 shots as Vegas is simply not generating many quality chances. Unlike last spring, the Stars are outskating Vegas in this series. Play Stars on Money Line