It’s Championship Week for the NBA and NHL, who both begin their finals this week and 5 Bets is all over it.
I am looking at two bets for the NBA Finals, which begin Thursday, and two for the Stanley Cup, which has Game 1 on Saturday.
There isn’t much value in taking the NBA favorite, but I found a couple of prop bets that should interest bettors.
The NHL, has a much better line for the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. There is also a nice little prop bet for a player to score a goal in Game 1.
The last tip is on the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament. One player has won multiple times at Muirfield and I like him to three-peat this week.
5 Bets to Make this Week
- Denver Nuggets +225 to win NBA Finals 4-1
- Jimmy Butler +175 top points scorer
- Vegas Golden Knights -130 to win Stanley Cup
- William Karlson +240 to score a goal in Game 1
- Patrick Cantlay +1000 to win Memorial
Denver Makes Short Work of Miami
The Denver Nuggets have been a machine in the NBA postseason, mowing down opponents with deadly efficiency. Now they face the Miami Heat in their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.
The Nuggets have won their previous playoff series, 4-1, 4-2, and 4-0. The Heat have six losses in their three playoff contests. There is nothing to suggest they will put up much of a fight against the best team in the Western Conference.
The odds reflect that, as the Nuggets are -400 to win the series. With no value in that bet, I am looking at the correct outcome of the Finals. I like Denver to win 4-1. I see the Nuggets winning the first two games, then losing the third in Miami. They should bounce back in the fourth and then close out the series at home in Game 5.
The odds are better than two to one and that’s a lot better than taking the Nuggets to just win the series.
Prediction: Nuggets to win NBA Finals 4-1 (+225 at BetMGM)
Watch: Game 1, Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC or fuboTV
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Butler Scores Big in NBA Finals
Jimmy Butler has been the main player for the Miami Heat all season. There is no reason to think that’s going to change in the NBA Finals.
Butler is averaging 28.5 points a game in the playoffs in 39.4 minutes a game.
He is the second pick to be the top scorer in this series behind Denver’s Nikola Jokic. Jokic is averaging 29.9 points a game in 38.9 minutes. I think, however, Jokic, who is leading all players in postseason assists, focuses on distributing the ball more. Butler, will have to continue to be the focal point of the Heat’s offense.
Prediction: Jimmy Butler top points scorer (+175 at BetMGM)
Watch: Game 1, Thursday, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC or fuboTV
Golden Knights Capture Stanley Cup
While the odds for the Nuggets to win the NBA Finals are awful, the line for the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup are attractive. At -130 to defeat the Florida Panthers, Vegas checks off all the boxes.
The offense has been the key. The Golden Knights have six players with at least 14 points during the postseason. It’s going to be difficult for the Panthers to try and stop all of them.
The goaltending has been a nice surprise for Vegas. Adin Hill is one of five goalies the Golden Knights have used this season and has emerged as a legit No. 1. In his first appearance in the playoffs, Hill has a 2.07 goals against average and a 9.37 save percentage.
This series won’t be the cakewalk for Vegas like it will be for Denver, but they should prevail.
Prediction: Golden Knights to win Stanley Cup -130 at Unibet
Watch: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, TNT or fuboTV
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Karlsson Finds Net Again
Florida is going to have to find a way to slow down the offense of the Golden Knights.
The focus will likely be on the first two lines. Jack Eichel centers the first line and leads the team in the postseason with 18 points. Ivan Barbashev, who’s on the second line with Mark Stone, is the second-leading goal scorer with nine.
While Florida centers their efforts around those stars, third-line center William Karlsson could be poised to flourish in this series. He’s the leading goal scorer with 10. I think he puts another puck in the back of the net on Saturday. At +240, it’s an attractive prop bet.
Prediction: William Karlson anytime goal +240 at BetRivers
Watch: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, TNT or fuboTV
Cantlay Gets Three-Peat at Memorial
Patrick Cantlay might not be able to win a major, but he comes up strong in other marquee events. The Memorial is one of those. He has won this event twice (2019, 2021) and obviously the course suits his eye.
In addition to his two victories at Muirfield, he has a T3 and a fourth-place finish. Other, than Tiger Woods, he has the most money won here.
This season, Cantlay is again playing well. In his last six events, he has finished in the Top 10 four times. He leads the PGA Tour in total driving and ranks sixth in putting average.
He hasn’t won yet this season, but I’m getting a vibe this may be his week.
Prediction: Patrick Cantlay to win Memorial +1000 at Golden Nugget
Watch: Thursday-Friday, various times Golf Channel, CBS or fuboTV
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