by Team Del Genio
Sunday, May 18, 2025The days of Game 7s in the NBA playoffs being almost automatic under bets are probably gone for good. Oddsmakers have consistently adjusted to the past Game 7 under trends and it was inevitable that this “tax” would eventually be too costly. The league continues to feature offense over defense in philosophy, the rules, and the officiating. Going into the Round 1 seventh game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets, the previous sixteen Game 7s in the first round of the NBA playoffs have eleven of those games finish over the total.
We concluded that the over was the correct play for that Game 7 earlier this month. Granted, the pace of play in this series had been slow, and it was getting more methodical. The 91.25 adjusted possessions per game in this series had been the second slowest in the playoffs, and Game 6 had 88.5 adjusted possessions. Yet did that justify the oddsmakers initially installing the over/under at 204.5 for this game? The market bet this number up a bit into the 207 range.
However, the offensive attacks had the edge for both teams as this series progressed. The Clippers made 52.4% of their shots in Game 5 before shooting 50% in their 111-105 victory on Thursday. The Nuggets made 55.8% of their shots in the Game 5 win at home before shooting 52.4% in their Game 6 loss.
The oddsmakers installed the over/under for Game 1 of this series at 224.5. The lowest the total dropped in this series was at 209.5 in Game 5. After 246 combined points were scored in that game, the oddsmakers pushed the over/under for Game 6 to 213, yet that game finished over that number with 216 combined points scored. The Game 7 under tax looked too stiff.
Denver had the advantage of playing at home for this Game 7, and they have generally played higher-scoring games on their home court. The Nuggets had played twenty-seven of their forty-four games at home over the number this season. The Clippers had a 48.2% field goal percentage for the year, and Denver has played seventeen of their last twenty-six games at home against opponents who shoot 46% or better from the field. Denver had played thirteen of their last eighteen games over the total after losing on the road in their previous game. They had played eight of their last eleven games over the number when playing with revenge from a previous loss to their opponent. It just be the fourth game all season that Los Angeles is playing on the road in a game when the oddsmakers installed the over/under from 200 to 209.5. All three of those previous games finished over the total, and we expected that trend to continue despite it being a Game 7.
Denver’s scoring attack did show up for that game as they made 52.2% of their shots and dominated the game in a 120-101 victory. Those 221 combined points easily surpassed the 207 over/under number installed by the oddsmakers.
The next day, the Golden State/Houston Game 7 finished well below the 206 over/under number installed by the oddsmakers in the Warriors’ 103-89 victory. The over trends in Round 1 Game 7s are far from being a new rule to follow.
It is also noteworthy that Round 2 Game 7s unders are just 9-6 after Oklahoma City’s 125-93 victory against Denver. Unfortunately, we were on the under in that game. The sample size is small, yet the recent trends fall in line with our observations about Round 1 Game 7 unders. The Thunder got to 125 points in large part by forcing 22 turnovers. More teams are likely to adopt the pressure defense that has worked so well for them this season, and that will be yet another dynamic that will put pressure against lower-scoring games. Pressure tends to create quicker scoring opportunities for both teams either from the forced turnover or breaking the press. Officials tend to call more fouls when teams are pressuring the basketball, and scoring when the clock is stopped does no favors for under bets.
The NBA Game 7 under trends were a great ride for a long time, yet nothing lasts forever. Successful handicappers know when it is time to adapt.
Good luck - TDG.
We concluded that the over was the correct play for that Game 7 earlier this month. Granted, the pace of play in this series had been slow, and it was getting more methodical. The 91.25 adjusted possessions per game in this series had been the second slowest in the playoffs, and Game 6 had 88.5 adjusted possessions. Yet did that justify the oddsmakers initially installing the over/under at 204.5 for this game? The market bet this number up a bit into the 207 range.
However, the offensive attacks had the edge for both teams as this series progressed. The Clippers made 52.4% of their shots in Game 5 before shooting 50% in their 111-105 victory on Thursday. The Nuggets made 55.8% of their shots in the Game 5 win at home before shooting 52.4% in their Game 6 loss.
The oddsmakers installed the over/under for Game 1 of this series at 224.5. The lowest the total dropped in this series was at 209.5 in Game 5. After 246 combined points were scored in that game, the oddsmakers pushed the over/under for Game 6 to 213, yet that game finished over that number with 216 combined points scored. The Game 7 under tax looked too stiff.
Denver had the advantage of playing at home for this Game 7, and they have generally played higher-scoring games on their home court. The Nuggets had played twenty-seven of their forty-four games at home over the number this season. The Clippers had a 48.2% field goal percentage for the year, and Denver has played seventeen of their last twenty-six games at home against opponents who shoot 46% or better from the field. Denver had played thirteen of their last eighteen games over the total after losing on the road in their previous game. They had played eight of their last eleven games over the number when playing with revenge from a previous loss to their opponent. It just be the fourth game all season that Los Angeles is playing on the road in a game when the oddsmakers installed the over/under from 200 to 209.5. All three of those previous games finished over the total, and we expected that trend to continue despite it being a Game 7.
Denver’s scoring attack did show up for that game as they made 52.2% of their shots and dominated the game in a 120-101 victory. Those 221 combined points easily surpassed the 207 over/under number installed by the oddsmakers.
The next day, the Golden State/Houston Game 7 finished well below the 206 over/under number installed by the oddsmakers in the Warriors’ 103-89 victory. The over trends in Round 1 Game 7s are far from being a new rule to follow.
It is also noteworthy that Round 2 Game 7s unders are just 9-6 after Oklahoma City’s 125-93 victory against Denver. Unfortunately, we were on the under in that game. The sample size is small, yet the recent trends fall in line with our observations about Round 1 Game 7 unders. The Thunder got to 125 points in large part by forcing 22 turnovers. More teams are likely to adopt the pressure defense that has worked so well for them this season, and that will be yet another dynamic that will put pressure against lower-scoring games. Pressure tends to create quicker scoring opportunities for both teams either from the forced turnover or breaking the press. Officials tend to call more fouls when teams are pressuring the basketball, and scoring when the clock is stopped does no favors for under bets.
The NBA Game 7 under trends were a great ride for a long time, yet nothing lasts forever. Successful handicappers know when it is time to adapt.
Good luck - TDG.
