Joe D’Amico

Denver Nuggets.

FAST BREAK WINNER,

Game 506.

7:30 PM PST/10:30 PM EST.

Very simply, that Denver Nuggets outclass, the Minnesota Timberwolves. They are just a better team, my friends. Denver has dominated Minnesota once again this season taking four of five meetings, both straight up as well as against the number. Obviously, this includes Game 1 of this series by a score of 116-105. Momentum is a big thing this time of the year in the NBA. Right now, no team can match the momentum of the Nuggets who have not dropped a game since mid-March. That’s right, my friends, they have won 13 straight contests. They are monsters at home, sporting a record of 29-13 SU on their own court. With the 11-point victory on Saturday, they have also covered three straight. There’s no question that T-Wolves are a decent theme. However, they have struggled down the stretch, dropping six of their last 10 outings. There is no way the home team is going to allow them back in this series. Once again, we see Edwards listed as questionable. He was listed as questionable for the series-opener and came out and scored 22-points with nine rebounds. Let’s go on the assumption he will play (If he does, that’s fine. If he doesn’t, that’s fine, too). Their defense has gotten beaten recently like they stole something (lol). They rely heavily upon their outside shooting. But this does not bode well here because the Nuggets own one of the best three-point shooting defenses in the NBA. They’re also a little bit better at both ends of the court on the boards, and let’s not even get into how much better they are from downtown. They op the league in three-point shooting, hitting nearly 40% (39.6%), and will pick up part the 13th ranked three-point shooting defense of the visitors here. This game will get out of hand. Take Denver. Thank you.

New York Knicks.

ATR PLAY.

Game 504.

5:00 PM PST/8:00 PM EST.

I released the New York Knicks as a free play in Game 1 of this series. But watching that game, I should’ve released it as a premium play. New York dominated Atlanta for most of the game. As a matter of fact, they didn’t trail at all, after the first half of the first period. Even towards the end of the game, went Atlanta went on an 11-0 run, New York kept their composure to prevail, 106-98. Playing at Madison Square Garden is certainly a huge advantage for the Knicks, who own a 31-10 record on their own court. Not only that, but they cover as well. They are riding a five-game home cover streak. I believe the team knows they have to make a run at the NBA title, and they have to do it now. They have taken six of the last seven meetings against Atlanta, straight up, covering four of those seven meetings. Speaking of the Hawks, they are certainly not the same team on the road as they are at home. They have lost and failed to cover four of their last five overall games, which does include all three games played as a guest during that span. OG Anunoby is listed as questionable as of this morning (check status). But even if the forward it does not play, I feel that the Knicks have the depth, the confidence, and the motivation to win big here tonight. They know that going on the road for games 3 and 4, is going to be a tough task. So, they must get a big victory here and take a commanding lead in this series. I expect very little change from the series-opening performance as New York outrebounded Atlanta, shot better from the free-throw line, shot better from the three-point line, and of course, shot better overall from the floor. Take the Knicks. Thank you.

Carolina Hurricanes,

1st RD GOM.

Game 46.

4:30 PM PST/7:30 PM EST.

The Metropolitan Divisions, top team, may have taken Game 1 of this series by a score of 2-0. But they dominated from start-to-finish in the opening contest. They have taken three of four meetings with Ottawa this season, which does include both meetings, played on their own ice. Speaking of the Senators, they are a good team. They do lose a little luster when they travel, sporting a 21-16-5 road record. As a matter of fact, they have dropped three of their last four games played as a visitor. They do possess some solid statistics. But I feel they are truly outmatched and outclassed here in this Rd 1 series. The Hurricanes rank second in the NHL in scoring, averaging over 3.5 goals per game, and fifth in goals against, yielding just 2.9 GPG. This is a solid, deep, experienced team, and they will win here again tonight. Take Carolina. Thank you.

We start the week of WINNING BIG with 3 HUGE MONEYMAKERS: NHL 1st RD GAME OF THE MONTH, 11-3 NBA FAST BREAK, & my 4-0 NBA ABOVE THE RIM.

Monday’s FREE WINNER: Dallas Stars.

Game 48.

6:30 PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

As of posting this Free Play, I see most of the general public coming in on the Dallas Stars. I’m not going to lie to you, I liked Dallas in the first game of this series, and not only did I lose, I lost badly. The Minnesota Wild came out and destroyed the home team in Game 1, 6-1. Yes, it’s true, Minnesota has taken five of the last eight matchups with Dallas going back to late-December of 2024. And they are pretty good team, amassing an overall record this season of 47-24-12, which does include a 24-14-4 away mark. They rank in the top-10 in the NHL in both goals scored (3.3) and goals against (2.9). As I mentioned a moment, this team is a good team. But so are the Dallas stars. They possess an overall record of 50-21-12, and are one of the stronger teams playing on their own ice in hockey this season, going 26-12-4 at the American Airlines Arena. Prior to Saturday’s defeat, they were riding a five-game hot streak. They too possess some very good numbers, ranking ninth in the NHL in goals scored (3.3), and second in goals against (2.7). I feel the Stars must come out here and prove a point. Yes, obviously they must get a win here to even up the series. But I really think they need to come out here and make a statement to the Wild, and win with authority. Take Dallas. Thank you.