Picks for 5/5/25
NBA
7:00 PM EST
Rotation # 553-554
Knicks/Celtics Under 213.5 (win)
All four regular-season contests went over the total, with Boston winning each game, but the NBA Playoffs are a different animal. Both teams play very slowly, and there will likely be a feeling-out process that you might not see in a regular-season game. Both teams protect the basketball, so I expect to see a half-court game with few fast-break opportunities. Neither team is a great foul shooter; Boston is the worst in the NBA. Look for both teams to defend the three-point line well. Look for a low-scoring game. Take the Under.
MLB
7:45 PM EST
Rotation # 958
Cardinals -135 over Pirates (win)
Mikolas/Mlodzinski
Pittsburgh enters this evening with the worst slugging percentage in the National League. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas doesn’t have great strikeout power, but he has yet to allow a home run this year and should keep the ball in the park. Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinksi has struggled this season, so I expect St. Louis to get out to an early lead and to be in the driver’s seat for the rest of the game. Take the Cardinals.