BETANYSPORTS WEEKEND BETTING PREVIEW- MAY 9
The continuing NBA and NHL playoffs highlight this weekend’s sports betting action at OnlineSportsBet . The Milwaukee Bucks have already punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals to face the winner of the Toronto Raptors vs. Philadelphia 76ers best-of-seven series. Both semifinal series in the Western Conference continue with the final two games scheduled in the next few days.
The final four teams in this season’s NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin play in the conference finals starting with Game 1 in the East between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins on Thursday night at TD Garden. OnlineSportsBet has opened the Bruins as -150 home favorites with the total set at 5.5. Game time on NBC Sports Network is scheduled for 8 p.m.
The best-of-seven Western Conference Finals get underway on Saturday with the St. Louis Blues going on the road to face the San Jose Sharks in Game 1. OnlineSportsBet has yet to release its betting odds for the 8 p.m. start on NBC, but look for the Sharks to be favored at home.
Thursday night’s NBA betting board kicks things off with Game 6 between Toronto and Philadelphia with the Raptors holding the 3-2 series lead. Facing elimination on their home court, the 76ers are slight two-point underdogs with the total set at 213 points. Game time on ESPN is set for 8 p.m.
Toronto regained the edge in this series with a lopsided 125-89 victory in Tuesday’s Game 5 as a six-point home favorite. The total went OVER the closing 212.5-point line after staying UNDER in the first four games. If necessary, Game 7 in Toronto will be played on Sunday at 7 p.m. on TNT.
Later Thursday night, the Denver Nuggets go on the road to face the Portland Trail Blazers with a 3-2 series lead. The Trail Blazers are favored by four points for the 10:30 p.m. tip on ESPN with the total set at 215.5 points. Denver took the lead in this Western Conference semifinal showdown with Tuesday’s 124-98 rout in Game 5 as a five-point home favorite.
The other semifinal series in the West between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets moves to Game 6 on Friday night with the Warriors holding the 3-2 series lead. The home team has won the first five games straight-up with the Warriors’ 104-99 victory on Wednesday night. The Rockets covered as six-point road underdogs to move to 4-1 against the spread. They have been opened as 5.5-point home favorites for the 9 p.m. tip on ESPN.
Game 7 in each of these series is also set for Sunday if necessary.
