NBA Playoffs picks, odds for Monday: Knicks, Nuggets look for 2-0 series leads

Monday’s NBA playoff action begins with the Detroit Pistons on the road against the New York Knicks, who lead the series 1-0. The Knicks are favored in this one, too, after a 123-112 win in the opener. The nightcap is Game 2 between the LA Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets stole the first one in overtime (112-110), but are slight underdogs for Monday’s game.

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Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks

Knicks lead series 1-0

Series odds: Knicks -700, Pistons +500

After the Knicks secured a win over the Pistons in the first game with a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter, the series odds have New York as the clear favorite. In Game 1, the Knicks fell into trouble in the third quarter, and Jalen Brunson changed his shoes after moving visibly slower. Then, it was all New York. The Knicks outscored the Pistons 40-21 in the fourth quarter to finish the game, and Brunson ended with 34 points. Karl-Anthony Towns (11 rebounds) and OG Anunoby each chipped in 23.

Detroit put up a fight, but it just wasn’t enough. Tobias Harris had 25 points, and Cade Cunningham finished with 21 points, although he shot 8-of-21 from the field, while also adding 12 assists.

Anything can happen in Game 2, and the Pistons showed that they can keep up and potentially steal one from New York, but Tom Thibodeau’s squad has more top-level talent and a lot more playoff experience. As the Knicks get deeper into the playoffs, Thibs’ high reliance on starters could lead to fatigue. Brunson and Anunoby played 40-plus minutes, while Towns played 39. But as of now, New York clearly still has an extra gear, and if the Pistons get ahead again in Game 2, their proverbial foot should stay on the pedal.

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Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets

Nuggets lead series 1-0

Series odds: Nuggets -155, Clippers +125

Like the Knicks, the Nuggets also had to turn on the heat late in the game. In an overtime thriller, Denver’s Russell Westbrook proved there’s still something left. He hit a corner 3 to put the Nuggets up by 2 points late in regulation and forced a turnover on an inbounds pass with less than 10 seconds left in overtime to help seal a victory for Denver.

Nikola Jokić had 29 points, 12 assists and was one rebound shy of a triple-double, while Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray added over 20 points apiece.

The Clips lost their first game since late March, despite James Harden’s 32 points and 4-for-9 shooting from 3-point range. Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac added over 20 points each.

The series odds for this one are much closer than Knicks-Pistons above. LA is very much in this, and a 2-point overtime loss is proof. Clippers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters, “If you turn over 20 times against the team that is No. 1 in offensive transition, then you’re gonna lose the game.”

Fewer turnovers will undoubtedly be top of Lue’s mind heading into Game 2, and, if those are limited, results could be very different. While Jokić is unstoppable, the Nuggets are not, and they are amid some turmoil after firing coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth directly before the playoffs.

On the other hand, if Denver wins this series and advances, interim head coach David Adelman, who said, “Russ is Russ. Defensively, he was absolutely incredible,” would certainly deserve some extra applause.

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