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.
Pistons at Cavaliers
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.
Thunder at Lakers
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.
