2025 NBA, WNBA picks; predictions: Back OKC to cover first half in Game 5

Geoff Schwartz

Fox Sports Wettanalyst

I am back with my best bets for Wednesday evening.

On the NBA page it looks like the Western Conference Finals series is pretty much over. So I have a few bets that I like for this game.

And now that the WNBA is in full swing, I have found at least one point that I think I am worth a look.

Take a look at what I am for the matchups on Wednesday.

Timberwolves @ thunder

The series went 2-0 to Minnesota and is now returning 3-1 for game 5 to Oklahoma City. Another victory for the thunder and you are up to the NBA final.

The wolves played their best game in game 3 when they headed OKC. In game 4, the thunder controlled the first tip to the final horn, although it was only a single pool win for her. I think the Thunder completes the series tonight and I have a few bets that I like with this thought.

Oklahoma City -4.5 First half

I expect the wolves to try to start quickly as this could be their last game of the season.

Anthony Edwards did not play well in game 4. So expect to force the pace early and try to get the wolves out of the goal quickly. Although I love to work in the first quarter, it is not what I do for it. Instead, I will take the thunder to win the first half after surviving the early energy of the wolves.

As soon as the thunder has settled in the game, they will bring Minnesota away until half -time. The faster you can end the game, the better. I also fade the backups of the wolves, which will play in this route between the end of the first quarter and the first six minutes of the second quarter.

Role players like Donte Divincenzo, Naz Reid and Niceil Alexander Walker, who were combined in game 4 for 55 points, will not play as well on the street. The same group scored 56 combined points in the first two games in the series.

So Minnesota will have a quick start and then OKC will withstand early energy and withdraw in the second quarter when the backups of the wolves are involved.

Selection: Oklahoma City (-4.5 FH) to lead more than 4.5 points at half-time

Donte Clatnzo over/below 9.5 points

Fading role players on the street after an edition of Monster Home Scoring is one of my favorite angles of the playoffs.

Divincenzo was fantastic in game 4. He scored 21 points when he made five of his eight 3 points. It was the most points he scored in the post -season. His former high was 13 and he was only over nine points in three of the 14 after -season games of the wolves.

Divincenzo is 10-on-43 of 3 on the street in the post-season, while he shoots 16-to-41 of 3 at home. He has consecutive games at home, where he made seven of his 10 3-point attempts.

I do not expect that in game 5 due to his splits and the type of role players in the league will continue on the street.

Selection: Donte Divicenzo achieved under 9.5 points

Indiana Fever @ Washington Mystics

Kiki Irial About/below 11.5 points

The fever’s central defense was a problem this season and in four games they allowed the opposing big to score points.

In her first game, Angel Reese scored 12 points for the sky. In the first game against the dream, Brittney Griner scored 21 points and Brionna Jones 19. The second game against the dream was better, and Jones scored 15 and Griner only five. Against the Liberty on Saturday, Jonquel Jones scored 26 points and shot almost 65% off the field.

Ireaven achieved an average of almost 14 points per game in their first five WNBA games and has a game with only four Field Goal attempts after making at least 10 attempts to shoot in the first four competitions.

This evening she will have a higher issue of shot attempts against the fever.

Selection: Kiki Iriellen scored over 11.5 points

Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for Fox Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started three seasons for the University of Oregon for the University of Oregon and was an all-PAC-12 selection of the second team last year. Follow him on Twitter @Geoffschwartz.

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