NHL and NBA Playoffs Betting This Week
The continuation of the NBA's Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder will highlight the sports betting week ahead that also includes the Stanley Cup final, more action on the MLB diamond, the Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway, and a possible Triple Crown run at the Belmont Stakes.
On the hardwood the Spurs had grabbed a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals through the first two games of the set, but the Thunder roared back with two wins in a row at home to make the series 2-2 heading into Monday's Game 5 in Texas. The Thunder have also managed to pay off for their supporters on the NBA lines at the sportsbooks in the Western Finals, picking up three ATS victories in the four contests.
Oklahoma City's Game 4 win on Saturday ensures they will also host a Game 6 in the series on Wednesday, while San Antonio would get Game 7 in their own building on Friday. Over in the Eastern Conference Finals the Heat will be home favorites on the NBA odds at the sportsbooks for Game 5 of the series on Tuesday night, and if that set goes the distance there'll be a Game 6 on Thursday and then a Game 7 on Saturday.
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On the ice the Los Angeles Kings continue to roll in the playoffs, as they own a 2-0 lead on the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup final after paying off on the NHL lines in the first two games of the set in Newark. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick will try to turn in another UNDER result for totals bettors when the series resumes at the Staples Center on Monday, with Game 4 in L.A. on Wednesday; Game 5 would be in Newark on Saturday night if the Devils can find a way to beat the Kings over the next three days.
American League East matchups highlight the Junior Circuit's slate for baseball bettors at the sportsbooks again this week, with Tampa Bay at the Yankees and Baltimore at Boston the earlier series of note on the schedule. The Yankees will try to coax a win out of veteran starter Andy Pettitte on Tuesday night at home against the Rays; he's 2-2 on the season with a solid 3.49 ERA. James Shields will get the ball for Tampa Bay.
Later in the week baseball will again have interleague matchups, including the Mets at the Yankees, the Phillies at the Orioles, the Rays at the Marlins, and the Rangers at the Giants in a rematch of the 2010 World Series. The Rangers have been losing ground to the Angels atop the AL West with a skid over the past week, while the Giants are still trying to catch up to the rival Dodgers and take over the lead in the NL West.
On the track this weekend NASCAR will offer up the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway, with Jeff Gordon the defending champion at the event. The bigger race, though, will be Saturday's Belmont Stakes, with I'll Have Another set as the big favorite at the sportsbooks to win in New York and record the first Triple Crown since back in 1978.