Picks for 5/21/26
NBA
8:00 PM EST
Rotation # 549-550
Cavs/Knicks Over 215.5 (loss)
The emotional side of me wants to take the Knicks and hope for a wire-to-wire blowout against the Cavs after Cleveland blew a 22-point lead in the 4th quarter and blew the cover in overtime, costing us a perfect 6-0 start to our week. The odds of that happening were well over 1000-1. It might be a Mount Rushmore bad beat. One thing both teams in this series are going to do is jack up a lot of three-pointers. The Cavs were fortunate early in game one that the Knicks were atrocious from deep in the first half, much of which could be attributed to their long layoff. Cleveland’s three-point defense stinks and could be in for a long night if the Knicks get out to a faster start. New York is the more well-rounded team, with a good defense, but they struggle defending the three-point shot. Neither team shot well for most of Game One, yet the total still went over. I get that overtime helped get the total over the mark, but I don’t expect either team to shoot the three-pointer at such a weak clip. The Knicks should be able to do whatever they want in the paint, setting up uncontested three-point attempts. I believe the spread is a tick too high in this game, but it’s hard to trust the Cavs after all the stars aligned for them to steal game one and failed in the worst way possible. The Knicks have found their offensive stroke, and if Cleveland can’t keep up, this game is going to get ugly. The Cavs have no choice but to play at a fast tempo. They are never going to win a defensive battle in this matchup. Look for both teams to shoot much better than the other night. Take the Over.
8:00 PM EST
Rotation # 549-550
Cavs/Knicks Over 215.5 (loss)
The emotional side of me wants to take the Knicks and hope for a wire-to-wire blowout against the Cavs after Cleveland blew a 22-point lead in the 4th quarter and blew the cover in overtime, costing us a perfect 6-0 start to our week. The odds of that happening were well over 1000-1. It might be a Mount Rushmore bad beat. One thing both teams in this series are going to do is jack up a lot of three-pointers. The Cavs were fortunate early in game one that the Knicks were atrocious from deep in the first half, much of which could be attributed to their long layoff. Cleveland’s three-point defense stinks and could be in for a long night if the Knicks get out to a faster start. New York is the more well-rounded team, with a good defense, but they struggle defending the three-point shot. Neither team shot well for most of Game One, yet the total still went over. I get that overtime helped get the total over the mark, but I don’t expect either team to shoot the three-pointer at such a weak clip. The Knicks should be able to do whatever they want in the paint, setting up uncontested three-point attempts. I believe the spread is a tick too high in this game, but it’s hard to trust the Cavs after all the stars aligned for them to steal game one and failed in the worst way possible. The Knicks have found their offensive stroke, and if Cleveland can’t keep up, this game is going to get ugly. The Cavs have no choice but to play at a fast tempo. They are never going to win a defensive battle in this matchup. Look for both teams to shoot much better than the other night. Take the Over.
MLB
7:05 PM EST
Rotation # 911
Blue Jays +125 over Yankees (win)
Fisher/Rodon
The Blue Jays have not been hitting the ball well at all this year, but Carlos Rodon should not be a -150 favorite with the limited innings he has pitched coming back from injury, especially before he gains his control back. Rodon has been walking batters left and right, which can help even the worst offenses in baseball. The Yankees are a much better offensive team, but their slugging percentage isn’t as good against righties as it is against lefties, where they lead the league. Braydon Fisher will get the start for Toronto and then lead the way to the bullpen. The Yankees’ bats won’t get multiple looks against the same pitcher tonight, if at all. Take the Blue Jays.
7:05 PM EST
Rotation # 911
Blue Jays +125 over Yankees (win)
Fisher/Rodon
The Blue Jays have not been hitting the ball well at all this year, but Carlos Rodon should not be a -150 favorite with the limited innings he has pitched coming back from injury, especially before he gains his control back. Rodon has been walking batters left and right, which can help even the worst offenses in baseball. The Yankees are a much better offensive team, but their slugging percentage isn’t as good against righties as it is against lefties, where they lead the league. Braydon Fisher will get the start for Toronto and then lead the way to the bullpen. The Yankees’ bats won’t get multiple looks against the same pitcher tonight, if at all. Take the Blue Jays.