In today’s SportSense Entertainment Newsletter presented by SportSense Premium…

Additional Model Predictions ⬇️

NHL Model Predictions- Click Here

MLB Model Predictions- Click Here

There were plenty of model predictions to go around yesterday across the MLB, with our model focusing in on one of those predictions in our Featured Matchup. That prediction went 0-1 overall, and you can see how the rest of the model performed below.

Money Line Predictions: 8-6

Over/Under Predictions: 7-5-2

Run Line Predictions: 5-9

Featured Matchup: 0-1

Become a SportSense Premium Subscriber!

Want to have more data and projections at your fingertips before placing your bets? Then SportSense Premium is for you, and it costs just $0.50 per day!

Player Projections- Our player prop models provide stat projections for NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB players, and are updated every morning!

Model Track- Every money line, over/under, spread, and best bet prediction made by our model’s is tracked and updated daily, providing a visual into which bets are hot and which are not!

Power Rankings- Our power rankings models use past and expected stats to rank each team in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB, and are updated every Monday!

Premium subscribers have the tools to become smarter sports bettors and win more consistently. Click the button below to join them today!

Two NBA games are scheduled to take place today. Our model’s predictions for both matchups can be found below.

Dallas Mavericks @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Model Predicts- Thunder ML, OVER 213, Thunder -4

The Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder will continue their best-of-seven series on Wednesday, with the series heading back the Oklahoma City for Game 5.

We saw the Thunder come out of the gates red hot to jump out to a 1-0 series lead, but struggled to find much success in Games 2 and 3 and went down 2-1. However, OKC strung together a comeback victory on Monday night to tie the series at two games apiece, setting us up for another exciting matchup tonight.

This series may be tied, and both squads have a plethora of star power at their disposal, but our model gives the Thunder a sizable advantage on its home court in Game 5. Let’s dive into why that is.

Dallas Mavericks

• Horrific shooting splits continued in Game 4

  • Scored 96 points while shooting 41% overall and 36% from three

  • Now shooting 42.5% from floor in Round 2- lowest of remaining playoff teams

• Lack of scoring from star players is cratering rest of offense

  • Round 1- Luke Doncic averaged 29.8 ppg. Kyrie Irving averaged 26.5

  • Round 2- Luka Doncic averaging 22.0 ppg. Kyrie Irving averaging 15.0 ppg

  • 108.1 Offensive Rating in Round 2 vs 115.9 in Round 1

• Injuries- Luka Doncic is questionable. Maxi Kleber, Olivier-Maxence Propser, and Greg Brown are OUT

Oklahoma City Thunder

• First half struggles continued in Game 4

  • Posted -28.5 Net Rating in 1st half of Game 4. Own -4.1 Net Rating in 1st half of last four games

  • Own -18 point differential in 1st half of last three games

• Luckily make adjustments at halftime and bounce back in second half

  • Own +10.6 Net Rating in 2nd half of last four games- second best among remaining playoff teams

  • Defensive adjustments are key- 100.5 Defensive Rating in 2nd half in Round 2 vs 115.3 in 1st half

• Injuries- Olivier Sarr is OUT

What’s the Play?

Outside of Game 1, nothing has come easy for the Thunder in this series, but we agree with our model that OKC is in position to cover the spread as a home favorite tonight.

Perhaps the most significant advantage the Thunder possess in this series is health. None of Dallas’ star players are listed as out for Game 4, but Luka Doncic is clearly hindered by several injuries, and as a result we’ve seen a massive decline in production from the Mavericks on the offensive end of the floor. As previously mentioned, Dallas’ Offensive Rating has plummeted 7.8 points from Round 1 to Round 2, with the team shooting just 42.5% from the floor, all of which is a direct reflection of Doncic’s injuries and overall struggles.

Additionally, the Thunder have proven to be the better team in the late stages of many games, as evidenced by their aforementioned +10.6 Net Rating in the second half of the last four games. OKC now owns a +3.1 Net Rating for the series too, further proving who the better team has been.

The Thunder are healthier, have the best player in the series due to Doncic’s injuries, and are 3-1 at home in the postseason with a +47 point differential. As a result, we expect the Thunder to win this game and cover the spread.

The Play: Thunder -4 (-110)

Money Line Trends 💰

• Boston Celtics- 71-20 overall this season, 40-6 as the home team

• Oklahoma City Thunder- 63-27 overall this season, 3-1 at home in postseason

Over/Under Trends ⬆️⬇️

• Oklahoma City- Over is 46-41-3 this season, 22-21-2 as the home team

Spread Trends ➕➖

• Oklahoma City Thunder- 51-38-1 against the spread (ATS) this season, 29-16 ATS as the home team, 5-3 ATS in postseason

🗽 Brunson’s 44 points lead Knicks to Game 5 win. Jalen Brunson scored 44 points, his fifth 40-point game this postseason, leading the New York Knicks to a 121-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 and putting them one win away from their first Eastern Conference finals trip since 2000. The Knicks, bouncing back from a previous blowout, thrilled their fans at Madison Square Garden and can close out the series in Indiana on Friday. Brunson's stellar performance, backed by contributions from Alec Burks and Isaiah Hartenstein, helped the Knicks dominate the Pacers, who now face a must-win situation at home to extend the series.

⭐️ Jokic shines bright in Game 5 win over Timberwolves. Nikola Jokic was awarded the Michael Jordan award before Game 5 and celebrated by leading the Denver Nuggets to a 112-97 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jokic's stellar performance included 40 points, 13 assists, and zero turnovers, putting the Nuggets within reach of the Western Conference finals for the second consecutive season. Despite being trapped and doubled by the Timberwolves, Jokic's dominance was undeniable, drawing praise from both teammates and opponents, with Anthony Edwards acknowledging Jokic's exceptional talent and impact on the game.

Today’s trivia requires you to dig into multiple pockets of your brain, testing your knowledge of recent events as well as those that happened decades ago.

See how many of the below questions you can get correct. Answers are provided at the end of the newsletter.

Question #1- The Miami Heat took down what Western Conference team in six games to win the 2006 NBA Finals?

Question #2- Before their MLB careers, star pitchers Aaron Nola and Paul Skenes were aces for what SEC school?

Question #3- Who led the NFL in receiving yards during the 2015 season, recording 1,871 in total?

Anyone know what has happened on May 15th throughout history? We didn’t have a clue either, but it appears that it has been a busy day.

On May 15th…

1969- Former NFL running back Emmitt Smith is born in Pensacola, Florida. Smith stormed onto the football scene during his time at Escambia High School, where he rushed for 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns, and would eventually go on to play at the University of Florida. Smith entered the NFL draft following his third season at Florida, where he would be selected with the No.17 pick by the Dallas Cowboys, and currently holds the NFL career rushing yards record with 18,355.

2016- Australian golfer Jason Day wins the PGA Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Day led the tournament wire-to-wire, shooting 9-under par through the first 18 holes to take a two stroke lead. Day would go on to shoot 15-under par for the tournament, beating runner-up Kevin Chappell by four strokes.

2022- The Cincinnati Reds allow no hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Reds pitchers Hunter Greene and Art Warren did all the work on the mound, combining to strikeout nine hitters but also walking six. However, despite completing the no-hitter, Cincinnati would lose the game 1-0, as all the walks loaded the bases and led to Ke’Bryan Hayes grounding into a fielder’s choice to score the only run of the game.

1. Dallas Mavericks

2. LSU

3. Julio Jones