FRANK’S CUTTING ROOM FLOOR FOR MONDAY, 5/6:

My “Cutting Room Floor” plays are the situations I considered the closest to being worthy of investment but did not make the “final cut” for my official plays today for subscribers. The last play I cut for Monday was with Over the Total in the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets. Minnesota (61-26) has won five games in a row after taking Game One of this series by a 106-99 score as a 4-point underdog on Saturday. The Timberwolves have played 25 of their last 35 games on the road Over the Total after winning five or six of their last seven games. They have also played 26 of their last 39 road games Over the Total after a win on the road. Denver (61-27) has lost two of their last three games — and they have played 8 of their last 13 games Over the Total after losing two of their last three games. The Nuggets have also played 23 of their last 34 home games Over the Total after a straight-up loss. Take the Over. Best of luck — Frank.

Frank Sawyer began the day on a 37 of 58 (64%) All-Sports run with featured 25*/20*/10* plays! Frank remains on a long-running 89 of 144 (62%) NBA featured play run — and now he furthers his 8 of 12 (67%) NBA sides run with featured plays with tonight’s Minnesota-Denver ATS winner on TNT at 10:10 PM ET! Want ONE MORE WINNER for Monday? BANK on Frank!

At 10:10 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the Denver Nuggets (554) minus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (553) in Game Two of their Western Conference Semifinals series. THE SITUATION: Denver (61-27) has lost two of their last three games after their 106-99 upset loss at home to the Timberwolves as a 4-point favorite on Saturday. Minnesota (61-26) has won five games in a row after that triumph. 

REASONS TO TAKE THE NUGGETS MINUS THE POINTS: Denver allowed the Timberwolves to nail 52.4% of their shots which was the worst defensive effort in their last seven games. The Nuggets should play better tonight after that wake-up call which cost them a home-court advantage in this series. Denver has rebounded to cover the point spread in 9 of their last 10 games after a straight-up loss at home — and they have covered the point spread in 7 of their last 8 games after a straight-up loss at home. And while the Nuggets have not covered the point spread in three straight games, they have then covered the point spread in 14 of their last 19 games after only covering the point spread once in their last four contests. Minnesota enjoyed their best shooting effort in their last 12 games by making 52.4% of their shots. The Timberwolves have covered the point spread in five straight games — but they have failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 10 games after covering the point spread in five or more games in a row. They stay on the road for the fourth straight game — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 4 of their 6 games this season after winning three or more games in a row. Minnesota has also failed to cover the point spread in 6 of their last 9 games after winning four or more games in a row — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 5 of their last 8 games after winning five or more games in a row. 

FINAL TAKE: The Nuggets have covered the point spread in 23 of their last 35 home games when playing with revenge — and they have covered the point spread in 6 of their last 8 games when avenging an upset loss at home. 20* NBA Monday Late Show Bailout with the Denver Nuggets (554) minus the points versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (553). Best of luck for us — Frank.

At 7:40 PM ET on Monday, we will be playing the New York Knicks (556) minus the points versus the Indiana Pacers (555) in Game One of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. THE SITUATION: New York (54-34) has won nine of their last 11 games after upsetting Philadelphia by a 118-115 score as a 3-point underdog to end that series in six games on Thursday. Indiana (51-38) has won eight of their last 11 games after their 120-98 win against Milwaukee as a 6-point favorite to end that series in six games on Thursday. 

REASONS TO TAKE THE KNICKS MINUS THE POINTS: The Pacers held an undermanned Bucks team to just 42.2 % which was their best defensive effort in their last 13 games. They also made 54.1% of their shots which was the best shooting performance in their last four games. But Indiana has failed to cover the point spread in 7 of their last 9 games after a win by 20 or more points — and they have failed to cover the point spread in 10 of their last 13 games after a victory by 20 or more points on their home court. Furthermore, the Pacers have failed to cover the point spread in 11 of their last 15 games on the road with the Total set in the 210s. Indiana has a depth advantage in this series — but with both teams playing with four days of rest, the Knicks’ seven-man rotation should not be an issue tonight. New York has great chemistry led by their Villanova trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. When those three former Wildcats join O.G. Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein in the starting lineup, they have a strong Adjusted Net Efficiency margin of +15.1. And when Miles McBride replaces Anunoby to play with those four, the Knicks post a +33.1 Adjusted Net Efficiency which is the second-best mark for any group of five who have played at least 200 minutes together. New York has covered the point spread in 51 of their last 85 games when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points. 

FINAL TAKE: Indiana won two of the three meetings between these teams in the regular season — but New York won the only time the current starting lineups went up against each other in a 109-105 victory at Madison Square Garden on February 1st. The Pacers won the final time these two teams played back on February 10th by a 125-111 score at MSG — but the Knicks have covered the point spread in 11 of their last 15 opportunities to avenge a loss at home. New York has also covered the point spread in 22 of their last 32 games when playing with revenge from a loss by double-digits. 10* NBA Indiana-Milwaukee TNT Special with the New York Knicks (556) minus the points versus the Indiana Pacers (555). Best of luck for us — Frank.