This article provides previews and predictions for two basketball games: AEK Athens vs. Olympiacos in the Greek Basket League play-offs, and Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Playoffs. Basketball Sphere offers detailed analysis and betting tips to assist in making informed bets.

AEK Athens vs. Olympiacos:

AEK Athens finished third in the Greek League with a 14-8 record. They eliminated PAOK in the first round of the playoffs and narrowly lost Game 1 of the semi-finals to Olympiacos 87-85, despite a 34-point performance from Hunter Hale. AEK Athens also participated in the FIBA Champions League Final Four, finishing third. Olympiacos had a strong season in the Greek League, finishing second with only two losses. They defeated Panionios in the quarterfinals and won Game 1 against AEK Athens 87-85, led by Alec Peters with 24 points. Olympiacos played Game 1 without Sasha Vezenkov and Evan Fournier. This game promises to be interesting, with both teams having shown resilience and determination throughout the season.

Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder:

The Denver Nuggets are hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Playoffs. Throughout the season, the Nuggets have struggled with bench depth, leading to heavy minutes for their core players. They beat the Los Angeles Clippers in a seven-game series but have lost two straight games to the Thunder after initially leading the series 2-1. In Game 5, Nikola Jokic scored 44 points with 15 rebounds, but lacked support from his teammates. Jamal Murray struggled in the second half, and Michael Porter Jr. is playing through a shoulder injury. The Oklahoma City Thunder, after a dominant regular season, bounced back from losing close games to the Nuggets by winning the next two. Key contributions have come from rotation players such as Cason Wallace, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort. The Thunder's bench production has been a significant advantage, outscoring the Nuggets' bench 57-18 in the last two games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has not been at his peak, yet the team is still winning, highlighting their overall quality. The Thunder's deeper rotation is advantageous, especially with the frequent game schedule. DaRon Holmes is out for the Nuggets, and Nikola Topic is unavailable for the Thunder. The prediction is that the Denver Nuggets will cover the +6.5 spread, expecting their experience to help them push the series to a Game 7.

Betting Information:

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