The Stanley Cup & NBA Finals HEAT UP 🔥

Stanley Cup Finals Game 1

Florida Panthers vs Vegas Golden Knights Tonight at 8:00 PM on TNT

Let’s dive into our expert predictions, prop bets, and parlays for Game 1.

The Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers will each vie for their first championship when they square off in the Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas, the top seed in the Western Conference, has rolled through the playoffs with a 12-5 record. The Golden Knights took down Winnipeg in five games in the first round, then conference-favorite Edmonton in six, before dispatching the Dallas Stars in six games in the Western Conference final.

The Panthers were the last team into the Eastern Conference playoffs, finishing with the 17th-most points in the NHL. But they stunned the heavily favored Boston Bruins in seven games before going 8-1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes to qualify for the Cup final.

This should be a highly entertaining series between teams that play contrasting styles. Here’s a look at what to expect between Vegas and Florida.

Predictions

The Panthers are an underdog, albeit a slight one, for the fourth straight series. But they’re also trying to take down an opponent that finished with 100-plus points for the fourth straight round.

Despite the fact Vegas finished 19 points ahead of Florida in the standings, the sportsbooks are giving the Golden Knights just a 56.5 percent implied probability of winning the Cup.

Prop Bets

If you’re unsure about the Finals result but want to get in on the action, try a prop wager. Here are some props I like for Game 1 between Florida and Vegas.

Parlays

The Stanley Cup Final is one of the sports world’s marquee events. The NHL season is down to seven games or fewer, which means it is same-game-parlay season.

Golden Knights vs Panthers Best SGP (+175)

• Golden Knights ML (-135)

• Under 6.5 Goals (-160)

There’s a chance that all hell breaks loose offensively in Game 1.

The Golden Knights scored six in their clinching win over the Stars, and there were seven goals in the Panthers’ Eastern Conference final series clincher over Carolina.

But I think Florida will be rusty, and Vegas has a way of suffocating opponents with its dominant defense. Plus, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has been incredible for Florida, which is why he has the shortest Conn Smythe Trophy odds entering the final.

Teasing up the Under is a play in case there’s a six-goal game with an empty-net goal or in case there’s a blowout.

Read more from Pat Pickens’ best bets for the Stanley Cup Playoffs!

NBA Finals Game 2

Miami Heat vs Denver Nuggets Sunday at 8:00 PM on ABC

Let’s dive into our expert predictions, prop bets, and parlays for Game 2.

The Denver Nuggets came out and took care of business in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, defeating the Miami Heat 104-93. The final score hardly reflects how not close the contest actually was — Denver led by as many as 24 in the game and 21 in the fourth.

Miami did show some fight down the stretch, but it came too late to make a significant difference. As a result, the Heat are now facing their first series deficit of the entire playoffs.

Can the Nuggets apply even more pressure and take a 2-0 lead, or will Miami bounce back and even things up ahead of Game 3?

Let’s get into my best bets and predictions for Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Nuggets and Heat.

Predictions

Both teams are due for some positive regression in Game 2, but I’m looking for the margin of victory to stay close to what we got in Game 1.

Prop Bets

With Game 1 out of the way and a better point of reference, I’m feeling much more confident in my favorite props ahead of Sunday night.

Parlays

For my best same-game parlay for Game 2, I’m targeting…

Nuggets vs Heat Best SGP (+360)

• Over 214.5 Points (-110)

• Michael Porter Jr.: Over 15.5 Points (-108)

• Jamal Murray: Over 5.5 Assists (-160)

For my best same-game parlay for Game 2, I’m targeting the Over at 214.5 points. Neither team turned in a particularly efficient offensive performance in Game 1, and both are due for some positive regression.

Denver should start hitting triples and Miami will make free throws a priority.

I’m also adding the Over on Porter’s points prop. He was one of the main reasons why the Nuggets struggled from three-point range in Game 1, as Porter shot 2-for-11 from beyond the arc.

A bounce-back effort should be in store for the 6-foot-10 forward.

Finally, I like Murray to record at least six assists. The 26-year-old notched 10 in Game 1, and he’s met this number in exactly half of his 16 playoff appearances thus far.

I love the value of this parlay at (+360).

Read more from Garrett Chorpenning’s best bets for the NBA Finals!