Quick Recap:
• Record: 0-2
• Units: -2.2
• Best Win: —
• Tough Loss: Minnesota Timberwolves +10.0 (-1.1u)
Bryan Bash endured a difficult night on May 06, 2026, finishing 0-2 across his NBA playoff selections. Both picks resulted in losses as the handicapper struggled to find the right side in a pair of conference semifinal matchups.
Timberwolves at Spurs
Bash backed the Minnesota Timberwolves +10.0 at -110 odds, but the pick was never competitive as San Antonio dominated from start to finish in a 133-95 blowout victory. The 38-point margin represented Minnesota’s worst postseason loss in franchise history, leaving the Timberwolves well short of covering the double-digit spread. Lost
Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Stephon Castle contributed 21 points and De’Aaron Fox added 16. San Antonio controlled every quarter, building a 24-17 lead after the first and extending it to 59-35 by halftime with a dominant 35-point second quarter. The Spurs shot an efficient 50% from the field and 41% from three-point range, while Minnesota struggled mightily at just 39.8% shooting and 30% from beyond the arc. The Timberwolves’ offensive woes were compounded by a dismal 51.6% performance from the free-throw line. San Antonio also dominated the glass with a 55-43 rebounding advantage and dished out 29 assists compared to Minnesota’s 19. Jaden McDaniels led the Timberwolves with just 12 points in the lopsided affair. “I just told them we got punked,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said after the game, which evened the Western Conference semifinal series at one game apiece.
76ers at Knicks
Bash’s second selection featured the New York Knicks -7.0 at -110 odds against the Philadelphia 76ers. While New York secured a 108-102 victory to take a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the six-point margin fell one point short of covering the spread. Lost
Jalen Brunson paced the Knicks with 26 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists. Playing without the injured Joel Embiid, Philadelphia put up a much stronger fight than in their 137-98 Game 1 loss. The contest featured 25 lead changes—the most in a playoff game in 11 years—and 14 ties, with neither team leading by more than seven points. The game remained tight through three quarters before New York pulled away with a 19-12 fourth-quarter advantage. The Knicks shot an impressive 50.6% from the field and 84% from the free-throw line, though they struggled from three-point range at just 26.9%. Philadelphia’s Paul George led the 76ers with 19 points and 6 rebounds, and the visitors shot 45.3% overall with a solid 38.2% from deep. The narrow final margin denied Bash the cover despite New York’s victory.
The 0-2 performance marks a tough outing for Bryan Bash, with both selections falling short in contrasting fashion—one a blowout loss that was never close, the other a narrow miss on a winning team that couldn’t quite cover the number.
