Quick Recap:
• Record: 0-2
• Units: -2.2
• Best Win: —
• Tough Loss: Minnesota Timberwolves +5.0 (-1.1u)
Bryan Bash endured a difficult night on May 8, 2026, finishing 0-2 on his NBA playoff selections. Both bets fell short as favorites covered in contrasting fashion, with San Antonio pulling away late and New York dominating on the road to push Philadelphia to the brink of elimination.
Bash opened the evening backing the Minnesota Timberwolves +5.0 at -115 odds, but the Spurs covered comfortably in a 115-108 victory that gave San Antonio a 2-1 series lead. Lost. Victor Wembanyama delivered a masterpiece with 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting, 15 rebounds, and five blocks, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. Anthony Edwards countered with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists for Minnesota, but the Timberwolves couldn’t overcome their shooting struggles. Minnesota shot just 38.4% from the field compared to San Antonio’s 45.9%, a disparity that proved decisive. The third quarter was particularly damaging for Bash’s ticket, as the Spurs outscored the Timberwolves 35-28 to build separation. San Antonio’s dominance inside was evident as Wembanyama went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line while providing constant rim protection. The Timberwolves stayed within striking distance throughout the fourth quarter, which ended 29-29, but never threatened to cover the five-point spread. Minnesota’s 54 rebounds couldn’t compensate for their poor shooting efficiency, and the seven-point final margin left the underdog bet short.
Bash’s second selection fared no better, as he backed the Philadelphia 76ers -1.5 at -110 odds. The New York Knicks dominated in a 108-94 road victory, pushing the 76ers to the edge of elimination with a commanding 3-0 series lead. Lost. Jalen Brunson shook off a slow 2-of-8 start to finish with 33 points on 11-of-22 shooting, sealing the game with clutch buckets down the stretch. The turning point came in the second quarter, where New York outscored Philadelphia 33-21 to erase an early deficit and seize control. The Knicks shot an impressive 50.0% from the field for the game compared to Philadelphia’s 42.9%, while also dominating the glass with a 49-33 rebounding advantage. That 16-rebound edge gave New York numerous second-chance opportunities and limited Philadelphia’s possessions. Kelly Oubre Jr. led the 76ers with 22 points and eight rebounds, but Philadelphia lacked the firepower to keep pace. The 76ers’ struggles from beyond the arc—shooting just 28.1% on three-pointers—compounded their problems. New York’s six-game postseason winning streak continued as they cruised to a 14-point victory, easily covering the small spread and leaving Bash’s favorite bet well short of cashing.
Bryan Bash’s May 8th card resulted in an 0-2 performance as both underdogs failed to cover and both favorites won outright. The combination of San Antonio’s third-quarter surge and New York’s second-quarter explosion proved pivotal in both losses, highlighting how momentum swings in playoff basketball can quickly turn spreads. Bash will look to rebound as the postseason continues.
More picks from Bryan Bash
See latest betting picks
Quick Recap:
• Record: 1-1
• Units: -0.1
• Best Win: Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 (+1.0u)
• Tough Loss: Lakers +8.5 (-1.1u)
Handicapper Bryan Bash finished with a split record on May 09, 2026, going 1-1 on his NBA playoff selections. The day featured one winning spread pick on the Cleveland Cavaliers and a losing wager on the Los Angeles Lakers to cover against Oklahoma City.
Bash opened the day with a winning selection, backing the Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 (-115) against the visiting Detroit Pistons. Cleveland secured a 116-109 victory, covering the spread comfortably by 2.5 points. Won
The Cavaliers got back into their Eastern Conference semifinals series by cutting Detroit’s lead to 2-1, thanks to clutch performances from James Harden and Max Strus down the stretch. Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Cade Cunningham posted a triple-double for Detroit with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. The key to Cleveland’s cover came in the second quarter, where they outscored the Pistons 32-18 to build a commanding lead. Cleveland’s superior shooting efficiency proved decisive, as they connected on 58.1% from the field compared to Detroit’s 45.1%. While the Pistons attempted a comeback with a 33-19 third quarter, the Cavaliers maintained enough cushion to secure both the outright win and the cover. Detroit’s edge on the glass with 40 rebounds to Cleveland’s 33 wasn’t enough to overcome their shooting struggles, and the Cavaliers’ timely plays in the final three minutes sealed the result.
The second selection of the day saw Bash take the Los Angeles Lakers +8.5 (-110) as home underdogs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This wager resulted in a loss as Oklahoma City dominated with a 131-108 victory, winning by 23 points and crushing the spread by 14.5 points. Lost
The Thunder improved to a perfect 7-0 in the playoffs and maintained their unbeaten record against LeBron James and the Lakers this season. Ajay Mitchell delivered career playoff highs with 24 points and 10 assists, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 23 points and nine assists. The Lakers’ collapse came primarily in the second half, where they were overwhelmed in both the third and fourth quarters. Oklahoma City outscored Los Angeles 33-20 in the third period and then delivered a devastating 41-29 fourth quarter to turn what was a competitive game into a blowout. Despite the Lakers shooting a respectable 46.9% from the field and an impressive 46.7% from three-point range, they couldn’t match Oklahoma City’s elite 56.4% field goal percentage and 44.7% three-point shooting. The Thunder also controlled the boards with a 43-37 rebounding advantage. Rui Hachimura’s 21 points led the Lakers, but Los Angeles had no answer for Oklahoma City’s balanced attack and second-half dominance.
Bryan Bash finished the day at .500 with his 1-1 record, splitting his two playoff selections. The Cavaliers delivered the winning ticket with a strong shooting performance and crucial late-game execution, while the Lakers failed to keep the game within the number as Oklahoma City’s second-half surge proved too much to overcome.
More picks from Bryan Bash
See latest betting picks
