Sports betting roundup: NHL and NBA playoffs finish first rounds with several Game 7s
Sports betting roundup: NHL and NBA playoffs finish first rounds with several Game 7s
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) blocks a shot by Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley (55) in the third period in Game 7 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save against Winnipeg Jets’ Dominic Toninato (21) during the second period of Game 7 in an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook hangs from the rim after dunking the ball for a basket in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Dillon Brooks (9) during the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) defends in the second half during Game 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Scottie Scheffler watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates his double in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
New York Yankees’ Jorbit Vivas hits a two-run double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) blocks a shot by Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley (55) in the third period in Game 7 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (39) blocks a shot by Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley (55) in the third period in Game 7 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save against Winnipeg Jets’ Dominic Toninato (21) during the second period of Game 7 in an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save against Winnipeg Jets’ Dominic Toninato (21) during the second period of Game 7 in an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook hangs from the rim after dunking the ball for a basket in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook hangs from the rim after dunking the ball for a basket in the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Dillon Brooks (9) during the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) is fouled by Houston Rockets’ Dillon Brooks (9) during the second half of Game 7 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) defends in the second half during Game 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) defends in the second half during Game 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Scottie Scheffler watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Scottie Scheffler watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson golf tournament in McKinney, Texas, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates his double in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates his double in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
New York Yankees’ Jorbit Vivas hits a two-run double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Yankees’ Jorbit Vivas hits a two-run double during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, May 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
The first rounds of the NHL and NBA playoffs are complete.
The weekend saw two Game 7s in the NHL, where the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Saturday and the Winnipeg Jets beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 in double overtime on Sunday.
In the NBA, there were also two Game 7s, where the Denver Nuggets blew out the Los Angeles Clippers 120-101 on Saturday and the Golden State Warriors beat the Houston Rockets 103-89 on Sunday.
Trends of the Week
At the BetMGM online sportsbook, Denver closed as a short favorite (-2.5) in their win over the Clippers, where they led 93-66 going into the fourth quarter. The Nuggets took in 76% of the bets and 71% of the money in against-the-spread betting.
On the PGA Tour, Scottie Scheffler won his home tournament, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, just outside of Dallas over the weekend. He finished at 31 under, winning by eight strokes. He also tied the PGA Tour scoring record for a 72-hole event. Scheffler was a massive favorite at +300 going into the event, and took in the most bets (11.8%) and most money (36%) in pre-tournament outright winner betting.
Upsets of the Week
In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Indiana Pacers upset the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-112 on the road. Indiana closed as an 8.5-point underdog and took in 44% of the bets and 39% of the money in against-the-spread betting. In terms of the moneyline, the Pacers were +290 and took in 57% of the bets and 33% of the money.
The Warriors were slight underdogs (+2.5) in their Game 7 win over the Rockets. Golden State took in 64% of the money in against-the-spread betting, and 71% of the bets in moneyline betting, where they were +115.
The Blues-Jets Game 7 saw Winnipeg score two goals in the final two minutes of regulation, including one with just under three seconds remaining to force overtime, and then Adam Lowry won it at the 16:10 mark of double overtime. Going into the third period, when the Blues led 3-1, they were -1000 on the moneyline, and the Jets were +575.
Coming Up
After just over a month of the MLB season, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain big favorites in World Series odds at +240. Los Angeles is currently 23-11 and leads the NL West by half a game over the San Diego Padres.
The New York Yankees have the second-shortest odds at +800, followed by the New York Mets at +900 and the Philadelphia Phillies at +1200.
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This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports