Five bets that stand out for Thursday

24.04.2025, 21:03 espn.com

The 2025 NBA playoffs continue Thursday with three Game 3s, starting with the Detroit Pistons hosting the New York Knicks (-1.5, 214.5). That is followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder (-9.5, 227.5) at Memphis Grizzlies, then the Denver Nuggets at LA Clippers (-5.5, 212.5).

Here are some of the bets that stand out for Thursday's games.

Odds are as of publication time. For the most up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET

Karl-Anthony Towns to score 25+ points (+150). The Knicks didn't acquire Towns just to limit his shot volume in the playoffs. He had only 14.0 field goal attempts in Game 1 and 11.0 in Game 2 -- well below his regular-season average of 17.0 attempts per game. Towns also averaged 24.4 PPG during the regular season, giving him a reasonably high scoring floor. He can score from anywhere on the court and is capable of putting up points in bunches. The Knicks should lean heavily on Towns in Game 3. -- Eric Moody

Kris Dunn over 12.5 points, rebounds and assists (-105). The Nuggets were torched by Kawhi Leonard in Game 2, and they'll likely adjust by throwing multiple defenders at him in Game 3. But will they leave James Harden or Norman Powell open? That's unlikely, and could free up Dunn for some clean looks. He's gone over this line in both Games 1 and 2 of the series. Dunn has also hit this mark in nine of 14 games this season when playing 20+ minutes alongside Leonard, Harden and Powell. -- Moody

Malik Beasley over 3.5 total 3-pointers (-125). Beasley has averaged 3.9 3-pointers per game on the season, but when he's on from downtown he tends to make them in bunches. In the three games leading up to Game 2, Beasley dropped 20 3-pointers with at least six made treys in each game. He's got a similar trend against the Knicks in particular; in the four games he played against the Knicks before Game 2, Beasley had dropped 20 treys with at least six in three of the four games. Playing at home, after a down effort in Game 2, I look for Beasley to bounce back and knock down several from downtown in Game 3. -- Andre' Snellings

Thunder -9.5 (-110). At some point this season, it is possible the Grizzlies may challenge the Thunder in a game, but thus far there has been no evidence to suggest that it's likely. These teams have now played six times. The Thunder have won all six games by at least 13 points, with an average margin of victory of 24.2 PPG. The Thunder have won the two playoff games by a combined 70 points, and they won the two regular season games played in Memphis by a combined 30. I'm backing the Thunder and giving the points in this matchup until something changes. -- Snellings

Jamal Murray over 20.5 points (-120). Quietly, hidden by all the fireworks in the outstanding start to the Nuggets-Clippers series, "Playoffs Jamal Murray" has surfaced. Murray's scoring in the postseason has always far outpaced his production in the regular season, with a career average of 24.1 PPG in 67 playoffs games. Murray also picked up his scoring in the second half of the regular season once he got healthier, averaging 23.6 PPG over his last 37 games. Murray began this series by dropping 23 and 21 in his first two games against the Clippers, and his trends suggest he maintains that or even increases his output as this series progresses. -- Snellings

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET

All times ET.

New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons7 p.m.

Line: Knicks -1.5 (-107) | Pistons +1.5 (-107)Money line: Knicks -120 | Pistons +EVENTotal: 214.5 (-107 O, -107 U)BPI Projection: Knicks by 0.9, straight up 53%, 220.6 total points.

Injury Report:Knicks: None reportedPistons: Isaiah Stewart, (GTD - Knee); Jaden Ivey, (OUT - Lower Leg)

Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies9:30 p.m.

Line: Thunder -9.5 (-115) | Grizzlies +9.5 (EVEN)Money line: Thunder -500 | Grizzlies +360Total: 227.5 (-104 O, -110 U)BPI Projection: Thunder by 6.2, straight up 70%, 232.7 total points.

Injury Report:Thunder: Ousmane Dieng, (OUT - Calf); Nikola Topic, (OFS - Knee)Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke, (OFS - Knee); Jaylen Wells, (OFS - Wrist)

Denver Nuggets at LA Clippers10 p.m.

Line: Nuggets +5.5 (-110) | Clippers -5.5 (-104)Money line: Nuggets +180 | Clippers -215Total: 212.5 (-110 O, -104 U)BPI Projection: Clippers by 2.7, straight up 59%, 221.8 total points.

Injury Report:Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr., (GTD - Shoulder); DaRon Holmes II, (OFS - Achilles)Clippers: None reported