NBA Playoffs Round 2 betting tips & value picks – May 13, 2022

The second round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs is starting to wind down and it has been electric. All of the series have had interesting stories and each could go either way. The intensity and the talent in the NBA has been on full display and it only makes the upcoming playoff rounds that much more enticing. This Friday (AEST), we have two 3-2 series where one team will be fighting for their playoff lives. Seasons are on the line and we have a pick for both games.

Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers

This series has been a battle of attrition. Each team has won each game they’ve played at home and it looks destined to be a seven-game series. The Heat went out and dominated Philly in a 35-point Game 5 win. Philly simply looked flat, but they cannot afford to have that sort of performance again. Joel Embiid should be motivated by that thrashing and James Harden should be able to bounce back. The Heat thrive on motivation and, simply put, the Sixers have more heading into this game. It’s win or go home for Philly, so they’ll try their hardest to get that win and force a Game 7.

The Heat are a very streaky team. They play great defense but sometimes struggle on offense. They may be without a key contributor in Kyle Lowry for this game, and that would seriously diminish the Heat’s chances to close out the series. Lowry brings a defensive intensity that will be greatly missed, and his absence should allow more room for the Sixers’ guards. Expect Harden and Tyrese Maxey to have a strong bounce-back game and elevate the Sixers in this matchup. Embiid will dominate, as he has done all season, but the guards will be the difference. At home, they should be better, so take Philly to cover the spread in what should be a close game.

Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks

The Suns have been more inconsistent than expected in these playoffs, but they may have figured it out. In a pivotal Game 5, the Suns were down at halftime but rallied to the tune of a 30-point win. Now, the Suns are a game away from making the Conference Finals and they should close out the Mavs and continue their run. They are up 3-2 in this series and appear to have figured out Dallas last game. They should continue their dominance here and end the Mavs’ season this Friday.

While the Mavs are a tough team, they are outmatched against the Suns. They have played very hard, but the Suns are the reigning Western Conference champions and won 65 games this regular season. Simply put, the Suns know how to advance in the playoffs and there will be no shortage of motivation. They play an intense brand of basketball and shouldn’t struggle too much with the Dallas home crowd. The Suns are the better team, and while this should be a close game, expect the Suns to win it and advance to the Western Conference Finals.

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