Weekend betting preview: NBA Playoffs, Formula 1, Champions League Final and more

Whether there are tense finales to some seven-game series, or potential miracle moments in Monaco, there is plenty for sports bettors to enjoy this weekend. Here are five events to keep an eye on.

NBA Conference finals

There’s a lot to look forward to when it comes to the NBA. The Boston Celtics will go into a crucial game 6 returning to home-court on Friday night, while the Golden State Warriors will be hoping to get past the Mavericks with relative ease on Thursday.

The Warriors hold a 3-1 series lead over the Mavericks right now but their hopes of a sweep were evaporated in a 119-109 loss on Tuesday night. Dallas decided to play Golden State at its own game by throwing everything they had from beyond the three-point line. Whether or not they’ll be able to keep up for another game remains to be seen.

Predictably, the Warriors are heavy favorites going into the matchup at -7, so there isn’t much value on the Golden State side of things. If you expect the Mavericks to hang around, then the +7 line is enticing. Each of the last three games would’ve seen the Mavericks cover a +10 spread, and it’s much safer to bet with points on your side in a do-or-die situation.

NHL playoffs

If you prefer the NHL, then Thursday night contains a double-header as the Oilers look to end the series against the Flames, and the New York Rangers aim to take a series lead over the Hurricanes. The Rangers are coming off of an impressive 4-1 win to get themselves back into the series after a sloppy start, having initially gone down 2-0. The series is now tied at 2-2 and if momentum has truly swung in New York’s favor, then a parlay of the Rangers and Oilers could be a smart play.

Champions League Final

Liverpool had a chance to win the quadruple – a feat achieved by no team in Premier League History. Things started off well enough with a penalty shootout win over Chelsea to secure the F.A. Cup, but Manchester City were able to dig deep and do what was needed to secure their return to premier league supremacy.

This game is either going one of two ways, but it’s hard to argue that Liverpool aren’t the most complete team in the world right now and their squad depth is remarkable. Madrid are a powerhouse, but there’s just something magical about Liverpool and making iconic Champions League moments. I’d back them to do it again here.

Formula One: Monaco Grand Prix

The Jewel in the crown of the Formula 1 season is upon us. Charles Leclerc’s mechanical retirement partnered with some Red Bull team orders gifted Max Verstappen the win in Catalunya and sole possession of the top spot in the drivers championship. Charles has struggled around Monaco in the past despite it being his home grand prix and even crashed an iconic Race-winning Ferrari into the barriers during a demo just last week.

Backing the pole-sitter is usually a safe bet due to the narrow track layout and lack of overtaking places. It may be worth waiting until Saturday, but if you want to jump the gun, why not back Sergio Perez, who may be a little hot under the collar after being forced to give up his chance at a lead to benefit his teammate? A strong and rebellious qualifying could see him take the top spot, one that could be tough to relinquish.

Charles Schwab Challenge

Justin Thomas performed some heroics last weekend to earn his second Major Championship, but the PGA Tour heads to Colonial Country Club. This means that we’ve now picked 2 of the last 4 winners on the PGA Tour, resulting in huge profits. We’ve published some in-depth betting content at Philly Sports Network, but to save you some time, here are our top picks:

Colin Morikawa +1200
Viktor Hovland +2000
Tommy Fleetwood +4000
Brian Harman +6500
Justin Rose +7700