NBA betting: Five bets that stand out for Tuesday's playoff games

The 2025 NBA playoffs continue Tuesday with three games. First, the Milwaukee Bucks look to even the series against the Indiana Pacers (-4.5, 229.5). Then, the Oklahoma City Thunder (-14.5, 229.5) are again big favorites against the Memphis Grizzlies after a lopsided Game 1. To round out the action, the Los Angeles Lakers (-5.5, 210.5) need a win at home after the Minnesota Timberwolves controlled the series opener.

Here are some of the bets that stand out for Tuesday's games.

Odds are as of publication time. For the most up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET

Bets for Tuesday

Tyrese Haliburton over 10.5 assists (-140). Haliburton has been at his distributing best since the All-Star Break, averaging 11.1 APG in his last 21 games back to Feb. 23. He has been particularly effective against the Bucks, with 37 assists in three games vs. Milwaukee in that stretch, including Game 1. The Bucks' defense has struggled against opposing floor generals all season, ranking 21st in the NBA with 9.2 assists allowed to the position on average. -- Andre' Snellings

Thunder -14.5 (-110). After the Thunder's record-setting 51-point win over the Grizzlies in Game 1, there is some sense that the Grizzlies could have a bounce-back performance. The problem is, the Thunder have dominated the Grizzlies all season long and seem likely to do it again. Including the playoffs, the Thunder are 5-0 against the Grizzlies this season, winning all five games by at least 13 points with an average win margin of 25.2 PPG. Even without the Game 1 blowout, the Thunder won the other four games by 18.8 PPG. Ja Morant seems to still be hampered by the ankle he sprained in the Play-In game, which further decreases the likelihood the Grizzlies can keep Game 2 from getting out of hand... again. -- Snellings

Anthony Edwards over 25.5 points (-110). The playoffs are all about matchups and adjustments. The Lakers came out in Game 1 to take away the paint and force the ball out of Edwards' hands with perimeter double-teams. They did this successfully, limiting Edwards to only 22 points on 8-for-22 shooting from the floor... but they were blown out of the game, with Edwards dishing nine assists with draw-and-kicks to wide-open teammates for 3-pointers. I look for the Lakers to adjust and do more to prevent those open treys, but that also opens up lanes for Edwards to be aggressive. Edwards has scored 26 or more points in 13 of his last 20 playoffs games. -- Snellings

LeBron James Over 24.5 points (-110). LeBron only scored 19 points in Game 1 after going scoreless in the first quarter, and the Lakers were blown out of the game. The situation is ripe for him to bounce-back with a more typical scoring performance in Game 2, and historically it has been LeBron's habit to increase his scoring as the playoffs progress. LeBron's scoring average in Game 1s is "only" 25.9 PPG, but that number increases to 28.3 PPG in Game 2s (and up to 29.8 PPG in Game 5s and 34.9 PPG in Game 7s). The point is, while LeBron may start series slower, he tends to pick it up quickly and continue to do so as the series goes along. This month, LeBron scored at least 27 points in four of the last five regular season games before playing only 22 minutes in the finale. -- Snellings

Jaden McDaniels over 5.5 rebounds (+125). The Lakers lack size and rely on Luka Doncic and LeBron to rebound -- not exactly a sustainable strategy. That opens the door for someone like McDaniels to clean up the glass. He's cleared this line in 33 of the 44 games where he's played 32 or more minutes. He's also hit the over in three straight against the Lakers. This is a great spot for McDaniels. -- Eric Moody

Projections and injury reports

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET

All times ET.

Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers
7 p.m.

Line: Bucks +4.5 (-110) | Pacers -4.5 (-104)
Money line: Bucks +150 | Pacers -175
Total: 228.5 (-104 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Pacers by 3.2, straight up 60%, 226.5 total points.

Injury Report:
Bucks: Damian Lillard, (GTD - Calf); Tyler Smith, (OUT - Ankle)
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson, (OFS - Achilles)

Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder
7:30 p.m.

Line: Grizzlies +14.5 (-104) | Thunder -14.5 (-110)
Money line: Grizzlies +750 | Thunder -1400
Total: 228.5 (-110 O, -104 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 9.9, straight up 79%, 233.1 total points.

Injury Report:
Grizzlies: None reported
Thunder: Ousmane Dieng, (OUT - Calf); Nikola Topic, (OFS - Knee)

Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
10 p.m.

Line: Timberwolves +5.5 (-107) | Lakers -5.5 (-107)
Money line: Timberwolves +210 | Lakers -250
Total: 210.5 (-104 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 4.6, straight up 65%, 214.7 total points.

Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham, (OUT - Ankle)
Lakers: Maxi Kleber, (OUT - Foot)