The second round of the NBA Playoffs begins in earnest on Monday with two games. The New York Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers in the series opener, while the Denver Nuggets will look to get even with the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 2 of the series.
After defeating the Philadelphia 76ers and watching the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks lose in the first round, the Knicks are the clear favorite to win that series against the Pacers. The Knicks haven't reached the conference finals since 2000.
Meanwhile, the defending champions are in a bit of a pickle after losing the first game at home. Denver has plenty of time and talent to turn things around, but it will be difficult to bounce back from an 0-2 hole.
Here's a look at Monday's NBA playoff games, along with staff picks, odds, and previews.
All odds are from BetMGM. Find great ticket deals on StubHub.
6th place Indiana Pacers vs. 2nd place New York Knicks
How to watch: TNT 7:30pm ET
Series odds: Knicks -250, Pacers +200
It's a new era take on the classic '90s playoff rivalry. The last time these teams met in the playoffs was in 2013 (also in the second round), but between 1993 and 2000 these two teams faced each other in the playoffs six times, and the Pacers The game against the Knicks was the focus of attention. Each team won his three series, including his three conference finals series.
Patrick Ewing and Reggie Miller wouldn't be suited for this matchup, but on paper there is an interesting matchup. Jalen Brunson has to be the first player that comes to mind after watching his performance against the 76ers in the previous game. Brunson averaged 35.5 points per game in six games in that series. Indiana has to stop him from taking over games, but Brunson looked unstoppable at times.
The Pacers are a more balanced team than the Knicks, winning six games despite some ups and downs against the Bucks in the first round. Six players averaged double-digit points in the first round, led by Pascal Siakam with 22 points per game.
Indiana won two of the three regular season meetings between these teams, including a victory at Madison Square Garden in February.
The Knicks are a surefire favorite to win Game 1 and an even bigger favorite to advance to the conference finals. Knicks fans have legitimate confidence for the first time in years, perhaps decades.
Expert picks for the Pacers over the Knicks
3rd place Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 2nd place Denver Nuggets
How to watch: 10pm ET on TNT
Timberwolves lead the series 1-0.
Series odds: Timberwolves -120, Nuggets +100
Considering injuries, there were no real upsets in the first round of the playoffs. The top seeds won six series, with the remaining two series (Indiana vs. Milwaukee and Dallas vs. the Los Angeles Clippers) due to the losing team missing its best player due to injury. Minnesota is coming off its first upset of the playoffs after an impressive Game 1 win in Denver.
The Timberwolves won 106-99, absorbing many big shots from Denver in the fourth quarter. Minnesota held off the defending champions in front of a hostile crowd.
Sure, Anthony Edwards scored 43 points on 17-of-29 shooting and Jamal Murray didn't score until the third quarter, but this is what Minnesota envisioned when they traded for Rudy Gobert. . Edwards is becoming one of the best players in the league, and Gobert remains one of the best interior defenders in the league. Minnesota has one of the best scorers and one of the best defenders in the league. That's enough to keep Minnesota in any game. Now, the Timberwolves will have to do it in seven straight games against the defending champions.
The pressure is on for Denver heading into Game 2. The Nuggets can't afford to lose 2-0 heading into the game against Minnesota. Nikola Jokic had a lot of stats to show he had a good game (32 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds), but he also had 7 turnovers. After a scoreless first half, he brought in Murray, who scored just 17 points, setting the stage for a bad game for Denver.
It seems unlikely that these two will play like that again, but the Timberwolves already have home court advantage in the series. The Nuggets are a surefire favorite on Monday, but a loose Minnesota team could be very dangerous in Game 2.
Timberwolves expert picks against Nuggets
pick ranking table
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(Jalen Brunson Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
