The second round of the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs continues on Wednesday where we have an epic double-header to look forward to. First up it’s the Cavaliers taking on the Pacers in Game 2 of their series, before we see the series opener between the Warriors and the Timberwolves. Catch our full preview and tips for both games below!
NBA Playoffs Betting Tips: Wednesday, May 7th 2025
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers (9:00am AEST)
Series Score: Pacers lead 1-0
The Cleveland Cavaliers were outplayed in Game 1, falling 121–112 to the Indiana Pacers on their own floor. It was a disappointing performance, especially considering how strong Cleveland has been at home all season. The Cavs couldn’t buy a bucket from three-point range, hitting under 25%, while Indiana lit it up from deep, knocking down over half their attempts. Donovan Mitchell had a tough night, and the team’s defensive effort simply wasn’t good enough—giving up too many open looks and failing to rotate with any urgency.
There were also injury concerns, with Evan Mobley tweaking his ankle late in the game and both Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter carrying knocks. But even with those issues, Cleveland had enough talent on the floor to do better, and you’d expect a much sharper response in Game 2. This team has been resilient all year, and with their season momentum on the line, they should come out with more intensity and focus.
Look for the Cavaliers to tighten up their perimeter defence and get back to controlling the boards. Mitchell won’t stay cold from deep for long (1-11 from three in Game 1), and the frontcourt duo of Mobley and Jarrett Allen should make their presence felt early. Indiana’s offence is dangerous when they’re in rhythm, but they’re still vulnerable defensively—and if Cleveland takes smarter shots and pushes the pace when needed, they should regain control. Back the Cavs to bounce back strong and cover the -8.5 spread with a much more locked-in performance.
Cavaliers -8.5
$1.85 (2 Units)
Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves (11:30am AEST)
Series Score: Tied 0-0
Game 1 between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves is set to be a thrilling matchup. The Warriors are coming into this game as 6.5-point underdogs, but they’ve been looking sharp recently and are more than capable of covering the spread. Golden State fought their way past the Houston Rockets in a tough Game 7, with Buddy Hield putting up a career-high 33 points, including nine three-pointers, tying an NBA record. Stephen Curry also stepped up, contributing 27 points to help the Warriors seal the win and punch their ticket to the second round.
On the other hand, the Timberwolves had a strong first-round showing against the Los Angeles Lakers, closing out the series in five games. Rudy Gobert was a force in the final game, racking up 27 points and 24 rebounds, becoming one of just five players in the past 20 seasons to put up a 25-20 line in a closeout game.
While the Timberwolves hold home-court advantage and come into the game rested, the Warriors have the experience and firepower to make this a close contest. With that said, I’m happy to back the experiences Warriors to play well in the first game of this series and cover the spread.
Warriors +6.5
$1.92 (1.5 Units)
