NBA Best Bets Today, 5/29: Picks, Predictions & Player Props - NBA Playoffs
The Minnesota Timberwolves ended another series in five games, their third of the postseason. Except this time, they were on the wrong end of it. The Oklahoma City Thunder made an early statement and crushed any hope the Timberwolves had of playing another game in Minnesota. The Thunder won the first quarter 26 - 9, yes, the Timberwolves did not score double digits in the first quarter of an elimination game. Needless to say, Minnesota was unable to cover the +2.5 first-quarter spread.
Anthony Edwards was absolutely terrible when needed most. He finished with just 19 points and made just one of seven three-point attempts. The three-point betting ladder was unsuccessful, but it was not all bad news. The Thunder safely covered the spread with a 30-point close-out victory, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished the night with 8 assists. 0.5 more than what was required. Thus, the plus odds same game parlay was successful.
NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 5/29
Today’s NBA best bets return back to the island on the East Coast. All three bets will come from the corner of 8th Avenue and 31st Street in New York.
Pacers vs Knicks Prediction: Indiana Moneyline (+145 on Bet365) *BET OF THE NIGHT
The New York Knicks host the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden for game five of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers are up 3 - 1 and are seeking to return to the NBA Finals for the second time in their franchise history, and first time this century (counting the 1999-2000 season as the previous century). They have won both games at “The Garden,” and the expectation is for them to do it again.
The Pacers have been the better team this entire series, and were it not for a second-half collapse paired with an outstanding display from Karl-Anthony Towns, this series would be over. Towns is questionable tonight, and if he is declared out, the odds will shift in favor of Indiana. Without Towns, the Knicks will not have the offense that is needed to keep up with Indiana, and it could become a blowout.
Indiana has ended every series thus far in five games, taking down the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They beat the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, and can receive the Eastern Conference Trophy at Madison Square Garden. The closing game of an Eastern Conference Finals is something that hasn’t taken place since 2000, when the Reggie Miller-led Pacers clinched their spot in the NBA Finals.
Miller will be in attendance again, as a TNT analyst calling the game alongside Stan Van Gundy and the legendary Kevin Harlan. Tonight will be another example of history repeating itself, and the city that never sleeps could be in for a devastating deja vu… if not a living nightmare.
Put a unit on the Pacers to end this series tonight and repeat the ending of the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals. Make sure to take advantage of this best bet at Bet365 and utilize the promotional offer at the end of this article.
Pacers vs Knicks Prediction: Total Over 222.5 (-115 on BETMGM)
The total is set at 222.5 for game five, and the expectation is for it to go over once again. Three of the four games have totaled at 223 or more, and Indiana should keep applying offensive pressure tonight. The Knicks have had limited opportunities to stop a team with multiple offensive threats.
If Towns is able to play, he should still be an offensive threat; if not, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and the Knicks must fill the void. OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson will force more points, but they must help in the frontcourt, which will not be easy. Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner are great scorers capable of scoring at all three levels of the court.
Rick Carlisle will put his players in the best position to make baskets, but Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton are great at creating their own space and field goals. That presents problems for opposing defenses, which have only shown the ability to stop their scoring in spurts, as opposed to allowing points in spurts.
New York will play with more heart than the Minnesota Timberwolves displayed. They also have an unstoppable offensive point guard in Brunson. He has scored 31 or more points in three of the four games this series, and 23 in the game he did not. He should have another 30+ point performance, and this should be another high-scoring game.
Put a unit on this best bet to go over 222.5 points at BETMGM. Others have the total at 0.5 to 1.0 points higher, and for those new to the sports betting app, make sure to take advantage of Fantasy Alarm’s promotional offer for up to $1,500 in bonus bets.
Best NBA Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 5/29
The last NBA best bet today comes from a 2025 second-team All-NBA player, who was voted most overrated by a panel of current NBA players.
Pacers vs Knicks Prediction: Tyrese Haliburton Over 4.5 Rebounds (+130 on FanDuel Sportsbook)
Tyrese Haliburton put up a performance of a lifetime in game four. 32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds, 4 steals, and most impressively, 0 turnovers. To have that great of a game, with that much ball time, and go without a turnover is as close to a flawless performance as a point guard can have. Luckily, this bet requires him to earn over 4.5 rebounds, 7 fewer than what he earned in game four.
Haliburton has gone over 4.5 rebounds in two of the four games of this series, but realizes his effort to earn defensive rebounds leads to fast break points, which is vital for the Pacers' success. He has averaged over 4.5 rebounds per game in every series of the playoffs, and has a total of 83 rebounds in the 2025 postseason.
He is 6’ 5” and has a height advantage over Brunson, and has actively pursued defensive rebounds. In a closeout game that could end with him as Eastern Conference MVP, look for maximum effort from Haliburton. Even if Towns plays, his mobility, and in particular his jumping, will be limited.
Put a unit on this best bet at FanDuel Sportsbook, and for new customers, make sure to take advantage of FREE bonus bets from Fantasy Alarm’s promotional offer.
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Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy
*All NBA odds accurate at time of writing and NBA best bets today to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise
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Kyle Filipowski accumulated 21 points (9-of-21 FGs, 2-of-4 FTs), six rebounds, one assist, one block and one three-pointer in Sunday’s loss to the Warriors.
Two days removed from putting on a show with a 32-point effort against the Hornets, Filipowski was not as effective on Sunday. He still surpassed 20 points, but sometimes the Jazz forward/center was not as decisive as he needed to be offensively. Instead of making quick moves to take advantage of mismatches, Filipowski was too deliberate at times, thus eliminating whatever advantage he had. With Utah trading John Collins, there’s an opening in the starting lineup. While Filipowski may be a candidate, the same can be said for Brice Sensabaugh, who played so well in Salt Lake City that the Jazz shut him down before arriving in Las Vegas.
Cody Williams amassed 22 points (8-of-17 FGs, 5-of-6 FTs), eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and one three-pointer in Sunday’s loss to the Warriors.
Williams has surpassed 20 points in two straight games, a positive development for a player who struggled mightily as a rookie. However, the perimeter shot remains a work in progress. Williams was 1-of-6 from deep on Sunday, two nights after going 3-of-11 in the loss to the Hornets. He isn’t going to turn into a knockdown shooter overnight. Williams remains a player worth the risk in dynasty leagues, but managers in redraft leagues can afford to leave him on the board.
Will Richard tallied nine points (3-of-7 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), six rebounds, there steals, one block and one three-pointer in Sunday’s win over the Jazz.
Richard was not as productive offensively as he was in Friday’s blowout loss to the Trail Blazers, but he once again provided value in multiple areas. The second-round pick out of Florida is in a similar position to Alex Toohey, with both yet to sign contracts with the Warriors. Not only does Golden State have two available two-way slots, but it also has multiple open standard contract slots. Some notable free agents are still available on the market, including restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, so Richard may be in a holding pattern of sorts as the Warriors’ front office sorts things out.
Alex Toohey finished Sunday’s win over the Jazz with 15 points (4-of-11 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), five rebounds, two assists, one steal and one three-pointer.
After getting blown out by Portland in their first game in Las Vegas, Toohey and the Warriors bounced back on Sunday. The second-round pick was solid, leading the Warriors’ starters in scoring and nearly filling the stat sheet. Toohey has yet to sign a contract, and with the Warriors still having work to do in free agency, he may have to wait a bit longer. Gabe Madsen was the true standout on Sunday, as he came off the bench to contribute 22 points and six three-pointers.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser finished Sunday’s win over the Bucks with two points (1-of-1 FGs), three rebounds, two steals and one blocked shot.
While Konan Niederhauser turned 22 in March, these early games in Las Vegas have reminded us that he’s still a bit of a project. The rookie notched his first made basket on Sunday, an alley-oop dunk, and he was also responsible for two steals. Konan Niederhauser will be more of an asset for dynasty leagues than redraft leagues, but he will have the opportunity to learn from Ivica Zubac and Brook Lopez next season.
Cam Christie produced 21 points (6-of-14 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), three rebounds, three assists, one steal and three three-pointers in Sunday’s win over the Bucks.
Christie is one of the few players on the Clippers’ summer roster whose contract is guaranteed for the 2025-26 season. The second-round pick could not earn rotation minutes as a rookie, and it will be challenging to change that next season due to the Clippers’ perimeter depth. Christie shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc against the Bucks, and he’ll need to be a consistent shooter to have any chance of providing tangible fantasy value.