Sports Handicapper Frank Sawyer's Picks & Predictions

At 9:40 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing Under the Total in the game between the Indiana Pacers (567) and the Milwaukee Bucks (568) in Game Five of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Indiana (50-37) has won three games in a row in this series after their 126-113 victory as a 10-point favorite on Sunday. Milwaukee (50-36) has lost five of their last six games and now trails in this series by a 3-1 margin. 

REASONS TO TAKE UNDER THE TOTAL: The Pacers pulled out Game Four despite allowing the Bucks to make 51.1% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort in their last five games. Indiana has played 15 of their last 22 games Under the Total after a straight-up win — and they have played 17 of their last 22 games Under the Total after a point spread victory. They have also played 5 of their last 7 games Under the Total after covering the point spread as a double-digit favorite. Additionally, the Pacers have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total on the road as the favorite. Despite being without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Milwaukee made 51.1% of their shots which was the best shooting effort in their last six contests. Antetokounmpo and Lillard are doubtful to play tonight. The Bucks have played 6 of their last 8 games Under the Total after a loss on the road by double-digits. They have also played 8 of their last 13 games Under the Total after losing two games in a row — and they have played 6 of their last 9 games Under the Total after losing five of their last six games. Milwaukee has also played 11 of their last 18 games Under the Total as an underdog. 

FINAL TAKE: The Bucks have played 8 of their last 13 games Under the Total when avenging a double-digit loss. 8* NBA Tuesday Late Show O/U Bailout with Under the Total in the game between the Indiana Pacers (567) and the Milwaukee Bucks (568). Best of luck for us — Frank.

FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR TUESDAY, 4/30:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Tuesday was with the Nashville Predators with the money-line versus the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver (53-24-9) took a 3-1 lead in this best-of-seven series with a 4-3 victory on the road against the Predators on Sunday. But the Canucks have lost 12 of their last 17 home games when leading in the series. They have also lost 4 of their last 5 playoff games when up 3-1 in the series. Nashville (48-32-6) has won 8 of their last 9 road games following a loss at home. The Predators have also won 14 of their last 22 road games after allowing four or more goals in their last game. Take Nashville with the money-line. Best of luck — Frank.

Frank Sawyer’s Hollywood Sports improved their 19 of 28 (68%) NBA run with featured 25*/20*/10* plays after DELIVERING their 25* NBA Playoff Total of the Month with the LA Lakers-Denver Under last night! Frank is now on a 29 of 44 (66%) All-Sports run with featured plays — and he enjoys a long-running 87 of 137 (64%) NBA featured play run! Now Frank furthers his 10 of 15 (66%) NBA Game of the Year/Month mark with his 25* NBA Game of the Month tonight! DO NOT MISS OUT!

At 8:10 PM ET on Tuesday, we will be playing the Cleveland Cavaliers (570) minus the points versus the Orlando Magic (569) in Game Five of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series. THE SITUATION: Cleveland (50-36) has lost two games in a row in this series after their 112-89 loss on the road to the Magic as a 2.5-point favorite on Saturday. Orlando (49-37) has evened this best-of-seven series at 2-2. 

REASONS TO TAKE THE CAVALIERS MINUS THE POINTS: Cleveland allowed Orlando to make 55.8% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort in their last eight games. The Magic made 51.1% of their shots against them in their 38-point victory in Game Three on Thursday as well — but the Cavaliers have covered the point spread in 5 straight games after allowing 50% or better shooting from their opponent in two games in a row. Cleveland should play better tonight after getting blown in both games in Orlando. The Cavaliers have covered the point spread in 19 of their last 28 games after a double-digit loss — and they have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 18 games after a loss by 10 or more points on the road. They have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 16 games after a loss by 15 or more points. And in their last 7 games after losing two games in a row by double-digits, they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games. Cleveland has not scored more than 97 points in this series — but they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 7 games after failing to score more than 105 points in four or more games in a row. They return home where they rank 10th in the NBA in the regular season in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency — and they make 48.6% of their shots on their home court including 37.7% of their 3s resulting in 113.7 Points-Per-Game. The Cavaliers have covered the point spread in 14 of their last 20 home games as a pick ‘em or as a favorite of up to six points. They have also covered the point spread in 20 of their last 26 home games after losing of their last three games. Orlando enjoyed their best shooting effort in their last 25 games by making 55.8% of their shots on Saturday. But the Magic have failed to cover the point spread in 12 of their last 18 games after winning two games in a row by 20 or more points. They have also failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 17 games when playing for no more than the fourth time in the last ten days. Orlando has a 31-11 record when playing at home — and their +2.2 Adjusted Net Efficiency margin at home ranks 12th in the league. But it is a different story on the road where they drop to 18th in the NBA with an Adjusted Net Efficiency rating of -3.5. They fall to 23rd in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency when playing on the road where they score -2.5 fewer PPG and make -1.5% fewer shots. Their play on defense is not as good on the road either as they allow their home hosts to make 48.3% of their shots resulting in 111.3 PPG which is +1.1% and +3.7 PPG above their season average. Overall, the Magic have an under .500 18-26 record away from home where they get outscored by -3.8 PPG. Orlando has failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their last 6 games on the road with the Total set from 200 to 209.5. 

FINAL TAKE: Cleveland has covered the point spread in 15 of their last 23 games when avenging a loss where they gave up 110 or more points — and they have covered the point spread in 10 of their last 14 games when playing with double-revenge motivations. 25* NBA Game of the Month with the Cleveland Cavaliers (570) minus the points versus the Orlando Magic (569). Best of luck for us — Frank.