The NBA conference finals are set, with the highly anticipated matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference, and a pair of red-hot teams -- the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers -- squaring off in the Eastern Conference.
What should you expect in each series? And what are the bets to make?
Here are Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick and Steve Alexander with their favorite bets.
Odds by DraftKings Sportsbook and subject to change.
Best bets for the Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
Spurs +1.5 games over Thunder (+100): The playoffs are all about matchups, and the Spurs match up very well with the Thunder. The Spurs famously won four of their five games with the Thunder this season, but that wasn't by accident. The Thunder win primarily with a set of perimeter players that are more talented and deeper than pretty much any team in the NBA, but the Spurs are the one team in the league with a perimeter unit that can match their athleticism and talent at both ends of the court. But the Spurs, in Victor Wembanyama, can also control the paint at both ends, and ultimately that should allow them to pull off the upset. -- Snellings
Spurs 4-3 (+800): San Antonio has already shown it can make this matchup difficult for Oklahoma City, winning four of five regular-season meetings. Wembanyama gives the Spurs the ultimate matchup problem because he can control the paint defensively while stretching Oklahoma City's bigs away from the rim on offense. De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper give San Antonio enough perimeter defense and creation to make life difficult for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. -- Moody
Spurs +6.5 (-110) in Game 1: The Spurs dominated the Thunder in the regular season to the tune of a 4-1 record and Victor Wembanyama & Co. are hungry, going up against the now two-time regular-season MVP in Gilgeous-Alexander. Wemby was hoping to win the award and the extra motivation he'll have in this series is palpable. The Spurs think they can beat the Thunder and I wouldn't put anything past Wemby, Castle, Fox and Harper. The Spurs are going to try to dominate this series and getting 6.5 points in Game 1 looks good to me. -- Alexander
Series total games under 5.5 (+130): Yes, the Spurs performed well versus the Thunder during the regular season, but this is a new season, and only one of these teams is experienced. The Thunder feel like a juggernaut, so perhaps the regular-season series is simply irrelevant. I just wouldn't be surprised if this series isn't as close as many believe, as OKC rolls to another title. -- Karabell
Julian Champagnie to lead series in total 3-pointers made (+245): This is a unique player prop not just because of all the variables to consider across both rosters, but because three of the top four candidates in terms of odds are on the Spurs. The team's parity in the gravity department aids Champagnie's case, as he's the true specialist here; 78% of his shot diet has come from 3-point range this postseason, while shooting 50% on 4.9 catch-and-shoot opportunities per game. In a series loaded with capable role players, Champagnie's profile aligns well with this prop. -- McCormick
Best bets for the Eastern Conference
New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Eastern Conference Winner: Cavaliers (+215): Everyone seems to view the Knicks as the clear and obvious team to win the East because they swept a dysfunctional Philadelphia team that cared little about defending the interior. Hey, credit the well-rested Knicks, but now they're facing a better team with multiple big men who absolutely do defend, while still facing an explosive backcourt capable of carrying the offense. The Knicks are favored by too much. These are good odds for the underdog Cavs. -- Karabell
Knicks win series (-270): The Cavaliers had somewhat of a rocky season and then pulled out a big Game 7 win on Sunday to hold off the inexperienced Detroit squad. They'll now face a tough opponent in a Knicks team that looks like the king of the East, as of now. I don't think the Cavs have the perimeter defense to stop Jalen Brunson, while Josh Hart and OG Anunoby should also flourish. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson will have their hands full on the inside with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen patrolling the paint for Detroit, but I think this series will be won in the backcourt. And I think that favors Brunson. -- Alexander
Series to go over 5.5 games (-150): Two of the three regular-season meetings between these contenders went to clutch time, with the Knicks winning the first two contests. Donovan Mitchell averaged nearly 30 points on elite efficiency over three matchups, with James Harden orchestrating the lone win for Cleveland. The Knicks countered with increased minutes for Robinson, who is enjoying one of best offensive rebounding seasons in league history. Robinson's presence and Towns' success was aided by Cleveland's tendency to have at least one -- and often two -- bigs on the floor, limiting five-out lineups and keeping New York's size on the floor. This likely turns into a possession battle with enough scoring and playmaking on both ends to avoid separation. Even with the Knicks in strong form, matchup dynamics point to a longer series. -- McCormick
Cavaliers +1.5 games (+100): The Cavaliers have faced two playoff opponents with the size and athleticism in the defensive backcourt to make life very difficult on Mitchell and Harden. While the Knicks have played better defensively in the playoffs, the Cavaliers' backcourt should be able to thrive against them in a way they couldn't against Detroit and Toronto. While the Knicks might have an advantage in Game 1 -- typically the rested team wins Game 1 over the team coming off a 7-game slog -- ultimately I expect the Cavaliers to even, extend and seriously challenge to win the series. -- Snellings