The NBA Playoffs continue with three Game 2s tonight.
Our NBA writers have covered all three games with six total best bets: one for Cavaliers vs. Magic, three for 76ers vs. Knicks and two for Lakers vs. Nuggets.
So, whether you're looking to follow a trend that favors the defending MVP early in the game or looking for an exotic way to back the defending champs, we have you covered.
Read on for all six of our NBA best bets tonight — and check back tomorrow for even more expert NBA Game 2 picks.
NBA Best Bets Tonight | Expert NBA Game 2 Picks
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
| 7:30 p.m. | |
| 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
| 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Cavaliers vs. Magic
I'm just going under in every game this series until we get back-to-back overs.
The Cavaliers won Game 1, 97-83. They didn't score 100 then, and they didn't in any of their five games against the Knicks in last year's playoffs.
They eventually will, but the Magic are a very good defensive team that will challenge that as long as this series progresses.
The Cavs struggle to score, and the Magic almost can't. They might fail to break 90 more often than they do in this series.
Cleveland made its first five 3s in Game 1 and entered the third quarter 5-of-23. It didn't hit a triple between the second and third quarters.
The Magic were even worse. They made 8-of-37 attempts (22%), and the Cavs were 8-of-30 (27%).
I don't think much changes here.
Pick: Under 204
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76ers vs. Knicks
Over 206.5
By Chris Baker
These teams went over despite relatively poor shooting from each squad in Game 1.
Joel Embiid also missed some time in that game due to a knee injury that caused a complete lull in scoring from the 76ers.
I think the Knicks have multiple paths to offense here, as they're due for some positive shooting regression from Jalen Brunson. They also seem to have a consistent edge on the offensive glass after grabbing more than half of their misses on Saturday.
We saw both teams have a lot of success in transition, and that should continue if these teams are going to prioritize offensive rebounding over getting back on defense.
Plus, Embiid just hasn't looked mobile on defense, and I think he'll continue to get exploited on that end of the floor. Monitor the injury report for Embiid’s status, but as long as he's in, I like this over at any number south of 210.
Pick: Over 206.5 (Play to 209.5)
76ers 1H +3.5
The full-game spread is a stay-away from me, but I do anticipate another strong Sixers start.
Philly outscored the Knicks, 34-25, in the first quarter of Game 1. New York adjusted and limited Philadelphia to 12 points in the second quarter and built a 58-46 lead before halftime.
Joel Embiid also left with a knee injury in the second quarter before a surprise return in the third.
Embiid's health is difficult to bank on, but I do expect the Sixers to mount another strong start.
What can't happen is Tyrese Maxey and Embiid putting up 48 of the team's 81 shots while no one else reaches double figures in shot attempts.
Philly also knows the major adjustment needed is to disrupt the Knicks' activity on the glass.
The Knicks outscored the Sixers, 26-8, in second-chance points, and the lack of shot distribution among Philly's role players could be attributed directly to its lack of rebounding, as it got killed in that area, 55-33.
That made it hard to score in transition against a Knicks team that was dead last in pace during the regular season.
That's easier said than done, but it's correctable. I think we see less of a gap in Game 2.
Pick: 76ers 1H +3.5
Mitchell Robinson Over 12.5 PR
By Joe Dellera
The Knicks put on a rebounding clinic in Game 1 against the 76ers, and one of the primary contributors was Mitchell Robinson.
Robinson had eight points and 12 rebounds on 19 rebound chances. The most notable thing, though, is that this push came in the second half after Joel Embiid took a hard fall. In the second half, Mitch scored six points and secured a whopping 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
After Embiid went down, he was notably less effective on the glass — he grabbed five boards in the first half but only three in the second.
He even didn't score in the same fashion on offense and worked more as a facilitator. With this game being played on short rest after that injury, I question whether Embiid will be able to be as aggressive on the glass.
Additionally, Robinson played 30 minutes — by far the most in any of his recent games. When Robinson has played 20-plus minutes, he has averaged 16.9 PR and exceeded this 12.5 line in 77% of games.
I'm trusting the minutes and the rebounding ability here and grabbing Robinson to exceed 12.5 PR.
Pick: Mitchell Robinson Over 12.5 PR
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Lakers vs. Nuggets
Nuggets -7
Experience wins in the postseason.
That's the trope sports fans have heard all their lives, and it makes sense. Young teams are supposed to have growing pains. Age over beauty in the playoffs. Experience wins.
But a trend from our BetLabs data suggests otherwise — at least for bettors.
Think about teams that made the previous postseason and returned again this year but as a lower seed that's forced to start its playoff run on the road.
Think this year's Lakers.
It may be tempting to bet on those veteran teams, but history says we should be doing the exact opposite — at least for the first two games of the opening round.
Home teams in Games 1 and 2 of the first round facing an opponent that made last year's postseason are an astonishing 107-63-3 against the spread (ATS) in those early games for a 61.8% hit rate.
The trend actually gets even stronger from Game 1 to Game 2, increasing from a 58.9% hit rate to 65.1%.
That's bad news for the Lakers. It's also a reminder that yesterday's playoffs may be old news and that the teams stuck on the road early are probably there for a reason.
If we really want to get granular, home teams in just Game 2 of the first round facing a repeat playoff opponent since 2016 are a whopping 28-7 ATS (80%), including a perfect 10-0 over the last two years.
Pick: Nuggets -7
Nuggets to Trail by 10+ & Win (+420)
By Maltman
At this point, everyone is aware that the Nuggets have now won nine straight games against the Lakers.
Each game almost feels like it's the same thing happening over and over again — something that our own Brandon Anderson highlighted in this excellent tweet:
Nuggets-Lakers has more sequels than the Fast and the Furious franchise at this point and every movie ends the exact same way.
— Brandon Anderson (@wheatonbrando) April 21, 2024
And Nate Duncan of the Dunc'd On Pod brought up another great point that has happened over and over again:
You almost knew the Lakers' 12-point lead wouldn't hold pic.twitter.com/ZLFnfrmaf2
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) April 21, 2024
There are some reasons for this. The Lakers are older and try to come out and make an impression early before the Nuggets' conditioning takes over. Nikola Jokic sits at the start of the second quarter and is less aggressive early, giving Los Angeles more opportunities to surge ahead.
Plus, I don't think the Nuggets view the Lakers as a real threat, and it takes falling behind by double digits for them to take the game seriously.
On Saturday, when the Lakers were up 10, the Nuggets were around +130 on the moneyline. This season, the Nuggets fell behind by double digits 32 times and won 14 of those games.
Given their propensity to fall behind and come back, especially against this team, I'll sprinkle 0.25 units on the Nuggets falling behind by double digits before ultimately coming back at +420.
Pick: Nuggets to Trail by 10+ & Win (+420)
