- 4/27/2025
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00:00The Thunder are booked as a hefty favorite to take a 2-0 series lead.
00:04The Lakers are a home favorite tonight,
00:06trying to even their opening round series against Minnesota.
00:09And although Damian Lillard is questionable,
00:13Indiana is still a home favorite in Indy after winning game number one by 19.
00:18Which of those favorites are we trusting most tonight?
00:22That was the question to all of you in Fade the Public.
00:30At SportsGreed on Twitter,
00:34which NBA playoff favorite is the best bet to cover the spread tonight?
00:38The Thunder lay in 14-1⁄2.
00:41The Lakers as a 5-1⁄2 point home favorite.
00:44The Pacers lay in 4-1⁄2 against Milwaukee.
00:47And despite having the largest spread by far,
00:50backing MDRS,
00:52the Thunder also being backed by the public.
00:56OKC, 14-1⁄2 point favorite.
00:59More than 50% of the public
01:02thinking the Thunder cruised to another very comfortable
01:06game two win over the Grizz.
01:08And I am fading the public this morning at this point.
01:12Have you never heard of the zigzag theory?
01:14What you saw in game number one might not appear in game number two.
01:18So for my money,
01:19I didn't take the Thunder minus 14-1⁄2.
01:21Matter of fact,
01:21I like the plus 14-1⁄2 on the Memphis Grizzlies
01:24to show up in this basketball game
01:26enough to keep it close around double digits.
01:28My vote actually went to the Los Angeles Lakers.
01:31Why?
01:31They can't afford to get down 0-2 in a series.
01:34The zigzag theory,
01:35which means that,
01:36yes,
01:36they were supposed to cover game number one
01:37and win.
01:38They lost both of those.
01:39And I expect a cover by the Lakers
01:41at 5-1⁄2 to take down
01:43the Minnesota Timberwolves.
01:44And also,
01:45you know me,
01:46Ben,
01:46there's some conspiracy theory bones
01:48in my body
01:49where the NBA goes,
01:51yeah,
01:51the Lakers ain't getting knocked out
01:53round number one
01:53with Luka Doncic here.
01:54Make sure this is one-to-one
01:55before they go back to Minnesota.
01:56Everything.
01:57Put that in a big cauldron,
01:59circle around there
02:00with the big spoon,
02:01and that means the Lakers
02:02with a victory
02:03and a cover tonight.
02:04Pacers 4-1⁄2,
02:05they'll handle their business,
02:06but I wasn't even focused there.
02:08I'm focused on the Lakers
02:09getting the job done tonight,
02:11making it one-to-one.
02:11DRC,
02:13DRS,
02:14DRS,
02:14I put my vote on OKC
02:16because I thought
02:18most of the public
02:20would be backing the Lakers.
02:22I thought the Lakers
02:23would be the overwhelming
02:24public favorite here
02:26in this fade-to-public poll.
02:28No,
02:29not so much,
02:29which gives me more confidence
02:31to lay the 5-1⁄2
02:32with the Lake show tonight,
02:34expecting them to even up
02:35this opening round series
02:36with home floor advantage
02:38against Minnesota.
02:39Now,
02:41you believe Memphis
02:42stays within this number tonight.
02:45How close of a game
02:46are you expecting DRS in OKC?
02:49I'm expecting a fight.
02:51Like,
02:51and again,
02:51it doesn't even have to be
02:52that close at 14-1⁄2,
02:54but I'm expecting
02:54the Memphis Grizzlies
02:55to stay within double digits
02:57because if not,
02:58they're going to get plastered
03:00in games three and four
03:01and might as well just be off,
03:02you know,
03:02Josh should be throwing grenades
03:03all over the place.
03:04You're actually just doing that,
03:05you know,
03:05little movement
03:06that he's going to shoot the gun.
03:07Just throw me out of the series
03:08because we're done
03:09in games three or four
03:10at this point anyway.
03:11I expect them,
03:12because the one thing
03:13you understand is
03:13they are professional athletes
03:14on both sides.
03:15They're both earning paychecks.
03:16That's one thing.
03:17But there is pride
03:18that goes in this game.
03:19Does Memphis want to say,
03:20like,
03:20hey,
03:20we made the playoffs
03:21so we got beat by 40
03:22every game we played
03:23and embarrassed ourselves?
03:24This is one of those games
03:25where it's unacceptable.
03:26And I even know
03:26where John Morant's coming from
03:28after that game.
03:28Like,
03:29we're never going to play
03:30this bad again.
03:31You can say that,
03:32and yes,
03:32you might be able to play
03:33as bad as you just did,
03:34but I'm just looking
03:35from a team concept here.
03:36The Thunder are better.
03:38There's no question.
03:38I think the Thunder
03:39are the best team in the NBA,
03:40but there's no reason
03:40to believe that a team
03:41that just got wasted
03:42because they had a sort of
03:43longer meandering,
03:44you know,
03:45route to actually make it
03:46to game number one
03:47of the actual playoffs
03:48than the Thunder
03:48who were rested and ready.
03:50I expect the best performance
03:51I might get out
03:52of the Memphis Grizzlies
03:53in this entire series tonight
03:54because the focus
03:55should be there,
03:56which means,
03:57Ben,
03:57staying within two touchdowns,
03:59that's not hard to ask.
04:01It's a good point,
04:02DRS.
04:02This will be the Grizzlies
04:03fourth game
04:04in the last week.
04:05The Grizz played
04:06on Friday night.
04:07Traveled to OKC
04:08over the weekend.
04:09Played early on Sunday.
04:11Got absolutely hammered,
04:13but now both teams
04:14only a day off
04:15in between.
04:17That is why the public
04:18loves the Thunder
04:19tonight.
04:20Not just in our
04:21fade to public poll.
04:2274% of the betting
04:24on that spread money
04:26really backing the Thunder
04:28as of this moment
04:29on the FanDuel Sportsbook.
04:31Now,
04:31even if Memphis
04:32stays within the spread,
04:34DRS,
04:35I don't think I expect
04:36this to be
04:37very,
04:37very competitive.
04:38Again,
04:38I think the way
04:39you look at this series,
04:41as we will say
04:42a little bit later on,
04:43is the Thunder
04:44in four.
04:44I'm not sure
04:45Memphis wins a game.
04:46Does it mean
04:47the Grizzlies
04:48cannot cover
04:49a game or two
04:51or certainly
04:52tonight?
04:52About 59%
04:54of the money
04:54on that spread
04:55betting DRS
04:56backing the Lakers
04:57at home tonight
04:58to have a bounce
05:00back performance.
05:01Not only when you
05:02get beat
05:02in game number one
05:04with home floor
05:05advantage,
05:05but you get beat
05:06by 22
05:08on Saturday night.
05:10I think that leaves
05:10a bad taste
05:11in the mouth
05:12of people expecting
05:13to have that confidence
05:14in the Lakers.
05:16But Luka Dodd
05:17had 37 points
05:18in game number one.
05:19LeBron James
05:20only had 19.
05:22This is why you have
05:23both of these guys
05:24paired up.
05:25Not just for Luka
05:26in the future
05:27of the next decade plus.
05:28But to be a championship
05:30contender
05:31right here
05:32right now.
05:34I think the Lakers
05:34win this game.
05:35I think the Lakers
05:36win it comfortably
05:37tonight.
05:37I would lay the five
05:38and a half with L.A.
05:40And I would expect
05:41much more scoring
05:42output from LeBron James
05:43tonight.
05:44Correct.
05:45Needs a better start.
05:46Didn't have anything
05:46in the first quarter
05:47last week.
05:47Luka held it down.
05:48They probably still
05:49should have won that game
05:49but ended up getting
05:50blasted.
05:51The expectations here too
05:52because I actually
05:53have more confidence.
05:54It sounds kind of crazy
05:54that the Grizzlies
05:55can just hang around
05:56the Thunder
05:56than the Lakers
05:57actually winning
05:58by six points.
05:59We said,
05:59well, Donnie,
05:59why did you vote
06:00that way?
06:00Just the ebbs and flows
06:01of the NBA
06:02understanding this.
06:03Like the Thunder
06:04know they should be
06:04up 2-0.
06:05And I'm not saying
06:06that they're just
06:06going to roll the
06:07basketball out there
06:07and take care of
06:08business and win
06:08by 10 points
06:09and be like,
06:09that was just fine.
06:10But understanding
06:11the thought process
06:12behind the Lakers,
06:13they understand this.
06:14The Lakers go,
06:15oh, they're not
06:15winning this series.
06:16And for all the hype
06:17that we have
06:17in Luka Doncic
06:18and LeBron James
06:18and the great teams
06:19that they have
06:19or what the anticipation
06:20of a great team
06:21would be,
06:21that's up in flames.
06:22Like, again,
06:23as much as I expect
06:24the Memphis Grizzlies
06:25to be embarrassed
06:26by their effort
06:27and have a good performance,
06:28it's the opposite
06:28for the Lakers.
06:29Understanding they thought
06:30they probably should have
06:30won game number one
06:31and got smoked.
06:32They can't lose game
06:33number two
06:33and go on the road.
06:35Memphis can't.
06:35They're like,
06:35okay, we're home 0-2.
06:37It's our home court.
06:37Let's see what we can do.
06:38You cannot go down 0-2 there
06:40at Crypto.com Arena.
06:42I expect a good performance
06:43out of the Lakers
06:44to get the win in the cover.
06:45And we'll talk a lot more
06:47about the game
06:47in Indianapolis
06:48a little bit later on.
06:49But, of course,
06:50the biggest thing there
06:51tonight for the Pacers
06:52who won by 19
06:53in game one
06:54but are only
06:55a four-and-a-half point
06:56favorite for game two.
06:57Might Damian Lillard
06:59be on his way back
07:00for the Bucs?
07:01How much does it even matter
07:02at this point
07:03for Milwaukee?
07:04Three games tonight
07:06in the NBA playoffs.
07:07A triple header
07:08of game twos
07:09to get you ready
07:10for here.
07:11He is Donnie.
07:12I am Ben.
07:13Your two premier
07:13NBA handicappers
07:15even in the postseason
07:16live right here
07:17on the early line.
07:18Game number two
07:19tonight in Indianapolis
07:20between the Pacers
07:21and the Bucs.
07:22Indiana winning game one
07:23rather comfortably
07:24by 19 points.
07:26117-88
07:27and easily covering
07:28as a five-and-a-half point
07:30favorite.
07:31Only a four-and-a-half point
07:32spread in favor
07:33of Indiana
07:34despite being at home
07:35again tonight, DRS.
07:37Is that because
07:38Milwaukee cannot go down
07:400-2
07:40even as they get ready
07:42to return to the
07:42Pfizer Forum?
07:43Or is it because
07:45Dame is on his way
07:47back,
07:48upgraded to questionable
07:49for game number two
07:51tonight?
07:52DRS,
07:53what do you make
07:53of the status
07:54of Damian Lillard
07:55if he plays?
07:57What do you think
07:57it does
07:58for this game
07:59to spread?
08:00Yeah,
08:01the same way I thought
08:02about when the series
08:03began, right?
08:03Where he had that
08:04price point on the
08:05Indiana Pacers.
08:05Oh,
08:06they might come back
08:06in the price dropping.
08:07I don't care.
08:08Like,
08:08does Dame make them
08:09a better basketball team
08:10than they already are
08:10right now?
08:11Maybe a little bit,
08:12but I still think
08:12the Pacers are the
08:13better team,
08:13and I'm getting a
08:14discount.
08:15So I think about it
08:15the same way that I'm
08:16going to enter
08:17tonight's matchup,
08:17and you see like
08:18those six prices or so,
08:19let's just say,
08:20at the FanDuel Sportsbook
08:21at the opening number.
08:22Now we see four-and-a-half.
08:22Go ahead and make Dame
08:24eligible in this game
08:25where he's active.
08:25Drop it to four.
08:26Drop it to three-and-a-half.
08:27Drop it to three.
08:28I'm going to go right
08:28back in on the Pacers.
08:30Now you might say,
08:31Donnie,
08:31you love the zigzag theory
08:33and what goes into it.
08:34I do.
08:34But now I'm getting
08:35like the ultimate
08:35zigzag on pricing
08:36where it's like,
08:37oh,
08:37Dame's back.
08:38They should win.
08:38Drop the price.
08:39No.
08:39Now I don't think so.
08:40Now I'm actually thinking
08:40I'm getting a bargain
08:41on the Pacers where that
08:42price point should have
08:43been around six,
08:44and now we might see
08:45it crash down to,
08:45again,
08:46fours and three-and-a-halves
08:47in that range.
08:48We don't have any
08:55and a-half is listed here.
08:56So it looks like
08:57he is going to play.
08:58So now again,
08:59I like the Pacers more.
09:00Understand this.
09:01Dame's a great basketball
09:02player throughout his career.
09:04Dame can fill it up.
09:05There's no question about it.
09:06But Dame coming back
09:07down 0-1,
09:09trying to force his way
09:10into the lineup
09:10and be a marker
09:11on offense,
09:13I don't think
09:13helps him tonight.
09:14Now if Dame plays
09:1529-35,
09:16let's just say 29-35 minutes
09:18as a range, right,
09:19and scores 25 points,
09:20well then,
09:21yeah,
09:21he really helped him.
09:22But I think it goes
09:22the opposite way.
09:23I'm not saying like
09:23Dame comes back
09:24and has a bad
09:25offensive performance
09:26or they're not ready
09:27for Dame to come back.
09:28He's a professional
09:29and they're professionals.
09:30But if Dame plays tonight
09:31and I want the announcement
09:32to be made,
09:33I'm going to wait
09:33until the last minute
09:33and take the Pacers tonight.
09:34How about that?
09:36Yeah, DRS,
09:36I don't mind the look.
09:38Since Damian Lillard
09:39exited the lineup
09:40for Milwaukee,
09:42dealing, of course,
09:43with that deep vein thrombosis,
09:46the blood clot
09:46of which he has been cleared for.
09:49Milwaukee was 38-30
09:50on March 18th,
09:52final game that Dame
09:53did play.
09:54They ended out
09:55the regular season
09:56to the Bucs winning
09:57eight straight.
09:58They ended out
09:59the regular season,
10:00DRS,
10:00winning 10 of 14
10:02without Dame in there.
10:03I'm not saying
10:04that's the only reason.
10:05Lillard,
10:06since the All-Star break
10:07when he was there,
10:08Milwaukee was 6-5.
10:10It doesn't give me
10:11a ton of confidence
10:12to be like,
10:13that's the difference.
10:14That's the X factor
10:15for the Bucs.
10:16That's the reason
10:17they win game two.
10:18That's the reason
10:19they win this series.
10:20Indiana did win
10:21game number one
10:23by 19.
10:24I think I said
10:24117-88 earlier.
10:26Bad math,
10:27117-98.
10:29They were a 5-1-2,
10:306-1-2 point home favorite.
10:32Covered that number.
10:322-27 in a hook
10:34was the total DRS
10:35and it stayed
10:36well under.
10:37As we look at
10:38the total for tonight,
10:39it has dropped
10:40a little bit
10:41in this game.
10:42We have seen that
10:43all around the association.
10:45In fact,
10:45it's on its way up now
10:46at 2-29.
10:47That could be the thought
10:48of having Damian Lillard
10:50return.
10:51This is playoff basketball.
10:52We have seen now
10:5310 total games
10:55in the playoffs.
10:568 of 10
10:57have gone under.
10:59This total up tonight?
11:01Eh,
11:01I'm not so sure.
11:03Again,
11:03I still feel as though
11:04the Pacers take
11:05a 2-0 series advantage
11:06and I picked the Bucs
11:08to win this series outright.
11:10I'm not really sure
11:11how that changes tonight.
11:12Yeah,
11:13no,
11:13and you're right
11:13about that too.
11:14In the playoffs,
11:15you're always leaning
11:15more towards the under
11:16because of that
11:17ratcheted up intensity
11:18throughout the game itself
11:19and particularly
11:19in the fourth quarter
11:20and maybe even so tonight
11:21where you don't expect
11:23Milwaukee to have
11:24a free-flowing game.
11:25The reason why I say that
11:26is they can't afford that.
11:27Like,
11:27hey,
11:28let's get up tempo
11:28and whatever happens
11:29happens like,
11:29no,
11:30you have to win this game.
11:31You can't go down 0-2
11:32in the series.
11:33In the same way for Indiana.
11:34Indiana's not thinking
11:35about this like,
11:35whew,
11:35all right,
11:36Ben.
11:36Oh,
11:36we got away.
11:37Game number one,
11:38won that easily.
11:39No big deal
11:39if we play a little bit later.
11:40No,
11:41they understand the importance
11:42of we can't now lose
11:43home court advantage
11:44so the defensive intensity
11:45should still be there.
11:46Dame or no Dame?
11:47I still think the Pacers
11:48are a better team
11:49so I think the Pacers
11:50win tonight
11:50with Dame on the court.
11:52I think I'm going to get
11:52a better price
11:53than what I had
11:54early in the day
11:54or what the opening number
11:55was for last night
11:56before we thought
11:57Dame Lillard might play
11:58here tonight.
11:58That's my thought process
11:59but I think I'm with you
12:00on the total.
12:01Can they get to 229?
12:02Yes,
12:02but the odds say that
12:04we're not looking at
12:05a 75-61 halftime score
12:07tonight
12:08which easily puts you
12:09on pace.
12:09We're looking more
12:10for defensive efforts
12:11which means typically
12:12in the playoffs,
12:12Ben,
12:13not a lot of runouts,
12:14not a lot of lackadaisical
12:15three-on-one
12:15let them happen.
12:16You're hustling back there
12:18to maybe get the hard foul
12:19or at least get yourself
12:20in place
12:20so they can't get
12:21an easy bucket.
12:22Yeah, DRS,
12:23when you look at
12:24how game one played out
12:26it was Giannis
12:26and everybody else
12:28so maybe he will be
12:28very happy to have
12:29Damian Lillard return.
12:31He is listed as questionable
12:32but of course does have
12:33that points prop out there
12:34for what would be
12:35his first game
12:36since March 18th.
12:37Points prop on Dame
12:3819 and a half.
12:40Giannis has the highest
12:41number tonight
12:41by a lot.
12:42It's 32 and a half.
12:44He scored 36
12:45in game number one.
12:46The four other starters
12:48for Milwaukee
12:48combined to score 14 points
12:51including Kyle Kuzma
12:52who played 22 minutes,
12:54had zero points,
12:56zero assists,
12:57zero rebounds,
12:59zero steals,
13:00zero blocks,
13:01did a lot of cardio
13:02on Saturday
13:03in Indianapolis.
13:05If he is a true professional
13:06with his points prop
13:07of ten and a half tonight,
13:08has to come close
13:10to that number.
13:10Leading score for Indiana
13:12in game one
13:13was Pascal Siakam
13:14with 25.
13:15His points prop tonight
13:1620 and a half.
13:17Tyrese Halliburton,
13:18DRS,
13:19didn't get into double figures,
13:20had 10 points
13:21and 12 assists.
13:230 of 7 from 3.
13:25His points prop tonight
13:26against the Bucs
13:27stands now
13:28at 18 and a half.
13:30Our second game
13:31of the night
13:32of our three
13:33in Oklahoma City.
13:34It's the Thunder
13:35and the Grizzlies.
13:36OKC after winning game one
13:38by 51.
13:40131.
13:4080 is a 14
13:42and a half point favorite
13:43for game two tonight
13:44against the Grizzlies.
13:46Total at 229.
13:48Total for game one
13:49was 232.
13:50Stayed well under
13:51because Memphis
13:52only scored 80.
13:54Donna,
13:54you expect this game
13:55to be closer.
13:56I think the question is
13:57how close tonight?
13:59Is it even within
14:00single digits?
14:02I do believe it is.
14:03I honestly do.
14:04Like the line opened up
14:05at 13 and a half
14:05and did move to 14 and a half
14:06because the public perception
14:08is this series is already over
14:09and quite frankly it might be.
14:10I don't think anybody's
14:10anticipating even if the game
14:12was closer in game number one
14:13that we're still going to have
14:14a long series getting
14:15even more past game number five.
14:17I think that's probably
14:18where it ends
14:18because I think there's
14:19a legitimate chance
14:19that Memphis can steal a game
14:21but that's going to be predicated
14:22on what we see tonight
14:23which again in embarrassing fashion
14:25in game number one
14:26they lost.
14:27You might say they had
14:27some tired legs.
14:28Now this should be rebounded
14:29into the series
14:30and play better basketball
14:31and I would agree with that.
14:33So there's a correlation
14:33set for me tonight
14:34where you think SGA
14:35is going to have a good game.
14:36He typically does
14:37and of course
14:38the FanDuel Sportsbook
14:38puts his prop there
14:39at 31 and a half
14:41which is exactly
14:41where he usually lands.
14:43But if I'm looking
14:43from a Grizzlies perspective
14:45there's no point
14:45in my mind tonight
14:46that I think they can hang
14:47around this game
14:48without Ja Morant
14:49having a big night.
14:50It's like your thought process
14:51between Cade Cunningham.
14:52There's not a correlation
14:53between Cade playing okay
14:54and then beating the Knicks
14:55inside their own building.
14:56No.
14:57You expect your best player
14:58to have his best game
14:59and not even a matter of fact
15:01to win the game
15:01just to keep your team
15:02in the hunt
15:03and be competitive.
15:04That's all I'm asking tonight
15:05for the Memphis Grizzlies.
15:06Ja Morant said as much
15:07as I said earlier
15:08in the show before that
15:09excuse me
15:09in the post-game press conference
15:11we're never going to play
15:11that bad again.
15:12Do you know what that means?
15:13The onus is on Ja Morant
15:14which he could come out
15:15in this game
15:16and score 35 points.
15:17They can still get beat by 35.
15:19So I love Ja Morant
15:2022 and a half over
15:21at a minus 104 price.
15:23In my mind
15:24Ja can't have 13 points
15:25and 10 assists
15:26and 9 rebounds
15:27and then hang around.
15:28He's got to be
15:29in the mid-20s.
15:29I think that happens.
15:30So I will take Memphis
15:32getting 14 and a half
15:33but also that correlation
15:34of if they hang around
15:36Ja's having a good game
15:37and he's in the mid-20s
15:38tonight for me, Ben.
15:4017 points.
15:41The only Memphis starter
15:43on Sunday
15:43in Oklahoma City
15:45who scored
15:45in double figures.
15:47Zach Eadie has been good
15:48but just 4 and 9
15:50in his playoff debut.
15:52His points prop tonight
15:538 and a half.
15:54You need more from everybody.
15:55Desmond Baines points prop
15:5618 and a hook.
15:58We thought maybe
15:59just maybe DRS
16:00after only scoring 15.
16:03Again, not much needed
16:04out of SGA
16:05on Sunday's romp
16:06of Memphis
16:07that maybe that points prop
16:08would drop
16:09to 28 and a half.
16:11Still at 31
16:12and a hook.
16:13I do think
16:13Shea Gildress Alexander
16:15has a higher scoring output
16:17and frankly
16:18if this game is closer
16:19he'll need to be out there
16:21and do more.
16:22More about the NBA playoffs
16:23comes your way next.
16:25Live right here
16:26on this Tuesday
16:27on the early line
16:28on Sports Grid
16:28continuing to preview
16:29game twos
16:31in three spots
16:32tonight in the NBA playoffs.
16:34DRS just to quickly finish up
16:36what we are going to see
16:37tonight between the Thunder
16:38and the Grizzlies.
16:40OKC 14 and a half point
16:42home favorite
16:42against Memphis.
16:44Oklahoma City
16:44is the best cover team
16:45in the NBA.
16:4767 and a half percent
16:48the cover percentage
16:49for the Thunder
16:50including covering
16:52as a 13 and a half point
16:53favorite in game one.
16:55winning by 51.
16:57They are the only team
16:58that being the Thunder
16:59not just with the NBA's
17:00best record
17:01in the regular season
17:02and now off to a perfect
17:03start in the playoffs
17:05but the only team
17:06covering in more than
17:0760 percent of games
17:08and they are at
17:0967 and a half.
17:11DRS even if you're right
17:12even if Memphis
17:13makes this game
17:14a little bit more
17:15competitive in game
17:16number two.
17:16Yeah.
17:17I do not predict
17:17a Grizzlies outright upset.
17:19Frankly I do think
17:20Oklahoma City wins this
17:22in a sweep
17:22which if you look
17:23at the correct score
17:24market for this
17:25opening round
17:26playoff series
17:27the Thunder to win
17:28in four is minus
17:30115 on the FanDuel
17:31Sportsbook.
17:32It's crazy.
17:33It is even though
17:33we saw that most
17:34lopsided game
17:35that you're going to
17:36see in a long time
17:36in the NBA playoffs
17:37in game number one.
17:38We'll see tonight
17:39because there are
17:40ebbs and flows
17:40to a series.
17:41Would I be surprised
17:42if the Memphis Grizzlies
17:43went to OKC tonight
17:44and won this basketball
17:45outright?
17:46Yes.
17:46They're getting two
17:47touchdowns here
17:48but I'm not going to be
17:49surprised when it's
17:49a competitive game
17:50because that's what
17:50the NBA is.
17:51You watch the regular
17:52season with OKC.
17:53It wasn't a torch fest
17:54every single night.
17:55You had lulls in your
17:56scheduling.
17:57So they can't have a lull
17:58in a playoff game at home.
17:59I'm not even saying that.
18:00A lull is yeah
18:01we just didn't win by 15.
18:02We only won by 12.
18:03How about that lull
18:04for tonight on the cover?
18:05I'm just expecting
18:06a professional group
18:07of players to say
18:09we were embarrassed.
18:10That's not happening again
18:11and it's on John Morant
18:12to make sure it doesn't.
18:14Yeah.
18:15I'm a little bit skeptical
18:16but we'll see what
18:17happens as we recap
18:18on a Wednesday.
18:20DRS of our three
18:21home favorites tonight
18:22Indiana and Oklahoma City
18:24can take a commanding
18:252-0 series lead
18:26making good on
18:27home court advantage.
18:29The Lakers have already
18:29let that slip.
18:31So as a five and a half
18:32point home favorite
18:32in game number two
18:33tonight in downtown
18:34Los Angeles
18:35the Lakers need this one
18:37to even up the set
18:38against Anthony Edwards
18:40in the Minnesota
18:41Timberwolves.
18:41Five and a half point
18:42spread in favor
18:43of LA
18:44that over understands
18:46at 2-10
18:47and a hook.
18:49Can the Lakers
18:49even up this series
18:50and if so
18:52as the odds
18:52expect the RS
18:53can they make it
18:54look comfortable tonight
18:55covering as a five
18:56and a half point
18:57home favorite?
18:58I hope it's comfortable
18:59because I do think
19:00the Lakers do win
19:01in cover
19:01so everybody likes that
19:02hey jump out to a
19:03seven or eight point
19:03lead at the end
19:04of the first quarter
19:04and never look back
19:06we're looking at
19:06those options
19:07but also understand this
19:08Minnesota Timberwolves
19:09understand the game too
19:10because there are
19:11elements where it's like
19:12whoo like let's just
19:13say Memphis
19:13got a winning game
19:14number one against OKC
19:16they probably would
19:17have gotten beat
19:17by 15 game number two
19:18because like what job
19:19accomplished man
19:20we're going home 1-1
19:22that's not the case
19:23for the Timberwolves
19:23like if you want to
19:24beat the Los Angeles
19:25Lakers
19:25this is how you beat
19:27them take the first
19:28two games on their
19:29home court and don't
19:30say well we won
19:31the game number one
19:32now we'll just go back
19:33to Minnesota and see
19:33what happens
19:34that's not the way
19:34to play it out
19:35so you would expect
19:36that Minnesota is out
19:37for blood tonight
19:38and rightfully so
19:38but the same thing
19:39on the opposite side
19:40with the Lakers
19:40understanding
19:41these aren't two games
19:43on the road
19:43it's like all right
19:44we came up 0-2
19:45but we go back home
19:47let's even this series
19:48and take it back
19:48to Minnesota
19:49you lose the first
19:50two games on your
19:51home court
19:51you are not coming
19:52back in this series
19:53because again
19:53just the byproduct
19:54of Minnesota
19:55just has to split
19:56it home in games
19:57three and four
19:57and then they're
19:58going to win
19:58this series anyway
19:59you can't have that
20:00and also understanding
20:01this LeBron James
20:02performance
20:03unacceptable in game
20:04number one
20:05to be insignificant
20:05per se through the
20:06first half of that game
20:07and then try to turn it on
20:08you need your best
20:09players playing
20:10all four quarters
20:11against this
20:11Timberwolves team
20:12which is pretty good
20:13on defense
20:13I look at the points
20:14probably
20:14Lucas at 30 and a half
20:16which is insane
20:17do I think he can get that
20:18I do
20:18but I look at that
20:20LeBron number
20:2024 and a half
20:21at plus 100
20:22I want to see where
20:23this actually gets
20:24closer to game time
20:25here because
20:26LeBron understands this
20:27he's got to get
20:28started first
20:29and understand this
20:30as well as a team
20:31concept
20:31like Luke is not
20:32going to be like
20:32hey LeBron
20:33take the first quarter
20:33off again
20:34you know what Luke
20:34is going to do
20:35hey LeBron
20:36get yours in the
20:36first quarter
20:37let's get you 5, 6, 7 points
20:38here so then maybe
20:39you can build on this
20:40and we can both be
20:41engaged all the way
20:42through
20:42I'm focused on LeBron
20:44James and that
20:4424 and a half
20:45marker tonight
20:46and also focused
20:47on the Lakers
20:48handling their business
20:49which I can't say
20:50I think they win
20:50but don't cover
20:51if I think they win
20:52it's going to be
20:52about 6 plus tonight
20:53they cover
20:54Luka probably
20:56tired DRS
20:57throughout his NBA
20:57playoff career
20:58of carrying teams
21:00by himself
21:0137 points
21:02in game
21:03number one
21:04LeBron
21:04only had 19
21:06as we have shared
21:07LeBron did not
21:08register a single
21:09point
21:09or a rebound
21:10or an assist
21:11in the opening
21:12quarter against
21:13Minnesota
21:13on Saturday night
21:14LeBron James
21:15first quarter
21:17points prop
21:174 and a half
21:18I have bet that
21:19tonight
21:20needing just 5
21:21out of the King
21:22to get off
21:22to a much better
21:23start
21:23which obviously
21:25only benefits
21:26the Lakers
21:27as well
21:27but there is no
21:28doubt DRS
21:29this Timberwolves
21:30team ain't skirt
21:31they've been here
21:32before
21:32they made it to
21:33the Western Conference
21:34Finals last year
21:35and Anthony Edwards
21:36plays with the most
21:37confidence in everything
21:38he does
21:38in literally everything
21:40including table tennis
21:41he's ready for this
21:42moment tonight
21:43to your point
21:44all right
21:45the Lakers were stunned
21:46in game one
21:47losing by 22
21:48I would not be stunned
21:50if Minnesota wins
21:51this game
21:52I would be surprised
21:53expecting the Lakers
21:55to even up the series
21:56but it's not like
21:57all right
21:58wrath of God
21:59you're about to be
21:59beat by 15 to 20
22:01I think Minnesota
22:02is in this game
22:03I am backing the Lakers
22:04laying five and a half
22:06points
22:06but I do think
22:07it looks competitive
22:08tonight
22:09and I think LeBron James
22:11is the key
22:1124 and a half points
22:13four and a half
22:14first quarter points
22:15for the King
22:16as well
22:17Donnie
22:17if you think the Lakers
22:18even up this series
22:19they enter the opening
22:21game on Saturday
22:22around a minus
22:23196 price
22:24to win this series
22:25outright
22:26the Lakers
22:27are the underdog
22:28after losing game
22:29number one
22:29on their home floor
22:31at plus 115
22:32you go get that
22:33Lakers number
22:34as well
22:35if you think
22:35the Lakers
22:36evening up this series
22:37means the Lakers
22:38eventually come out
22:39on top
22:40yeah exactly
22:41the buy-in point
22:42right now
22:43still would be
22:43for the Los Angeles
22:44Lakers
22:44I'm not buying
22:45it on the Lakers
22:46well now they're
22:46down 0-2
22:47and the price point
22:47is great
22:48like no
22:48that's not a
22:48buy-in for me
22:49the buy-in
22:50would be tonight
22:50which I expect
22:51to have a good
22:51performance
22:52I'm buying
22:52LeBron James
22:53and by the way
22:54healthy numbers
22:55too for Austin
22:55Reeves
22:5618 and a half
22:57at the
22:57FanDuel Sports
22:58that's something
22:59to watch out for
22:59tonight
22:59because that
23:00guy's in the
23:01mix certainly
23:01no doubt
23:02about it
23:02better performance
23:03for the Lakers
23:03even up this
23:04series
23:04and again
23:05conspiracy theorists
23:06unite out here
23:07the NBA will
23:08never allow the
23:09Lakers to get
23:10dropped in round
23:11number one
23:11with Luka Doncic
23:12on their team
23:12keep that one
23:14keep that one
23:15filed away
23:15you think it's
23:17Luka
23:18that's the NBA
23:19needle mover
23:20not LeBron
23:20both of them
23:22like they just
23:22got Luka
23:23they want to
23:23say this might
23:24be the team
23:24of the future
23:25we can't bounce
23:26them round number
23:26one at this
23:27point
23:27you got to
23:28build it up
23:28here man
23:29the longer
23:29the Lakers
23:29in the better
23:30for business
23:31in the NBA
23:31understand it
23:33no doubt
23:34about that
23:35DRS
23:35enjoy the
23:36money line
23:36my friend
23:37BATR
23:38goes away
23:38if the Lakers
23:39lose right
23:39I think
23:40that's the
23:40agreement
23:40so
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23:53
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