The PointsBet Hustle® is a newsletter spotlighting our biggest bets, juiciest promos and strongest insights to get you ready for the best betting stretch of your life.
IN THIS ISSUE
POWER HOUR: Take a shot in Game 1
EXPERT PICKS: Kaz & Q are front and center
ODDS SHIFT: Why didn’t we bet the Heat at +15000?!
KEY FACTS: The Nuggets suit up on nine days’ rest after sweeping the Lakers. The Heat avoided a historic collapse by throttling the Celtics in Game 7 on Monday. Miami is the third team in history to reach the NBA Finals despite finishing dead last in points per game (109.5) in the regular season. This is the first time since the ABA/NBA merger in 1976 that both participants entered the postseason +1000 or more to win it all.
TRENDING: Since 1991, home teams are 21-11 ATS (65.5%) and 25-7 straight up (78.1%) in Game 1. Miami is 12-4 ATS in its last 16, and Denver has covered 7 of its last 10 at home. The over ⬆️ is 10-3 in the Heat’s last 13 road contests.
INSIGHTS: Spread bettors give the edge to the ‘dog. The moneyline tilts to Denver (-360) 0ver Miami (+290).
TOP WAGERED PROP: Jamal Murray to Score 20+ Points. The heavy juice (-475) is not deterring PointsBet clients.
Check your account for a Bonus Bet during today’s Power Hour, which starts at 6 p.m. ET. Use it on a Same Game Parlay for Game 1!
May we suggest this +500 beaut:
Nuggets -9 (-110)
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists (+105)
Aaron Gordon Over 12.5 Points (-120)
The credit is good for all states but NY. See Promotions page in the PointsBet app or website for full promotional Terms & Conditions.
EXPERT PICKS
It's showtime for hoops guru Kazeem "Kaz" Famuyide and pucks expert Qordaseus “Q” Alexander.
THE NBA HOST
SGP (-105): Nuggets ML & Michael Porter Over 2.5 Threes (-160)
"The spread is scary, so I'm going moneyline. Michael Porter has been damn near automatic in the corner and will benefit from those Jokic assists."
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Over 2.5 Rebounds (-170)
"The Heat will live and die by the 3, which gives lots of opportunities for long rebounds."
THE ICE MAN
Stanley Cup Finals Points Leader: Jonathan Marchessault (VGK) +1200
"Can you say VALUE? The former Florida Panther has the most SOG (62) of anyone in the playoffs. Considering his recent explosion during his last 5 games (7pts), these odds are mouth-watering."
Total Goals in Series Under 33.5 (-115)
"I expect a low-scoring series in which the goalies steal the spotlight. All we need is a few games to go under 5.5 and we should be in the clear."
HOW IT STARTED: Pundits expected the Heat to win about 50 games and make the playoffs … but that was about it. A nice core of the Killer Bs (Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo), Most Improved Player Tyler Herro and bomber Duncan Robinson with ace tactician Erik Spoelstra yielded championship odds of +2000.
BEGINNING OF PLAYOFFS: A championship run for an 8th seed without Herro? Surrrrre. You could have ‘em at 150/1.
BEFORE CELTICS SERIES: Giant killers, for sure, after shocking the Bucks and cruising past the Knicks. But would the Heat even have enough to beat the C’s? Doubtful. +1400
If Nikola Jokic were to look down on this list, would he think +120 is good value? (AP Photo)
Have we ever seen a player so massively favored to lead the NBA Finals in both assists (-20000) and rebounds (-2000) as Nikola Jokic? At least the series points “title” could be close. Read on:
Jokic (+120): He could score 30+ a game if he desires, but perhaps he’ll be more of a facilitator? Maybe Bam Adebayo pushes him to the perimeter?
Jimmy Butler (+165): Let’s not forget he went off for 56 in Game 4 versus the Bucks. Jimmy Buckets can get ‘em when he wants.
Jamal Murray (+225): The sneaky play here, Denver’s PG is fully healthy and averaging 27.7 points in the postseason — 7.7 more than in the reg.
Caleb Martin (+5000): After scoring just 9.6 ppg this regular season, Martin averaged 19.3 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Bam Adebayo (+6000): Shot just 8-for-26 in the final two games of the Celtics series.
If you dare fade the great Nikola Jokic (-375), what are the best options?
Jimmy Butler (+350): Can “Playoff Jimmy” morph into “Finals Jimmy” and follow in the footsteps of 2006 Finals MVP Dwyane Wade?
Jamal Murray (+1500): Only Jokic, Butler and Murray are putting up 25+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists per game this postseason. Better price than yesterday’s +1200.
Bam Adebayo (+3500): He scored fewer than 20 points in five straight despite putting up 20.4 ppg in the regular season. A buy-low opportunity, down from +5000.
Caleb Martin (+4000): His postseason FG percentage (56.6%) is the highest of anybody in this series with a minimum of five attempts. Has firmed from +5000.
Gabe Vincent (+10000): He leads the Heat in 3-point attempts (6.2) and makes (2.4) this postseason. Dare to dream.
Kyle Lowry (+15000): You know how hard it is to make the case for someone who scored single-digit points in six straight matchups?!
