yahoo - 5/8/2026 7:28:25 PM - GMT (+2 )
Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.
While the NBA Playoffs might be unpredictable to the masses, BetMGM bettors are wallowing in money following several six-figure wins on Thursday.
According to BetMGM’s John Ewing, more than $700,000 was claimed in select spread bets from yesterday’s playoff matchups.
Key Takeaways- BetMGM reported a series of nine ascending spread bets, all worth at least $20,000, on Thursday.
- The largest individual payout was $110,000 for a $100,000 wager on the Pistons at -4.5 (+110).
- The Thunder have a 62% implied chance to win the championship.
At least one bettor put their money where their mouth was, supporting the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of their ongoing series with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The first in the series of bets was headlined by a $100,000 wager on the Pistons to cover a 4.5-point spread at +110 odds. The full breakdown is shown below.
A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $225,000 on the @DetroitPistons in Game 2:
— John Ewing (@johnewing) May 7, 2026
$50,000 on Pistons +1.5 (-190)
$35,000 on Pistons -1.5 (-150)
$20,000 on Pistons -2.5 (-130)
$20,000 on Pistons -3.5 (-102)
$100,000 on Pistons -4.5 (+110)
Pistons won Game 1 by 10 points
Gambling problem?…
The user’s confidence paid off as the Pistons stormed ahead to a 2-0 series lead. Cade Cunnignham dropped 25 points and 10 rebounds in the winning effort, while Donovan Mitchell’s 31 points and six rebounds weren’t enough to overcome a 10-point disaster by James Harden.
The $225,000 in total spread bets that were submitted resulted in a $419,641.58 payout, or $194,641.58 in profit.
A little over two hours after the Pistons wagers were reported, Ewing shared that another $190,000 in Thunder tickets had been accepted. Once again, the bold bettor was on the money.
A bettor at @BetMGM wagered $190,000 on the @okcthunder to cover in Game 2:
— John Ewing (@johnewing) May 8, 2026
$100,000 on Thunder -9.5 (-230)
$50,000 on Thunder -11.5 (-165)
$20,000 on Thunder -12.5 (-145)
$20,000 on Thunder -13.5 (-140)
Thunder won by 18 points in Game 1
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
The Thunder logged their second straight 18-point victory over the Lakers as three OKC members scored at least 20 points. Austin Reaves had 31 points in a losing effort scarred by controversial refereeing decisions.
PrizePicks, who is a OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE NBA is calling out the refs for helping the Oklahoma City Thunder
— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) May 8, 2026
That’s how bad this has become https://t.co/6NYNdTTKYJ
The winning bets produced a $291,860.10 payout and $101,860.10 in profit.
Altogether, BetMGM paid $711,501.68 total and $296,501.68 in profit to the holder(s) of the tickets. It is unclear if the bets were placed by the same or different individuals.
Tracking the NBA playoff oddsBoth the Pistons and Lakers were favored to win Games 1 and 2 at home. With both now up 2-0, they are unsurprisingly huge favorites to close out their series and advance to the Conference Finals.
The Thunder were the largest second-round favorites in the playoff bracket. They are now -10000 (99% implied chance) in odds to advance, while the Lakers are +1800 (5.3% chance).
The Pistons are a much longer -450, comparatively speaking, although they still have a 81.8% chance to advance. The Cavaliers are +340 (22.7% chance).
Elsewhere around the league, the San Antonio Spurs are -4.5 favorites entering Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with their series tied, 1-1. They’re also -325 (76.5% chance) to win the series despite dropping Game 1 as a 10.5-point favorite at home. The Timberwolves are +250 (28.6% chance) to win the series.
The Knicks, the second-largest favorite of the second round with -1200 series odds (7.7% chance), are 1.5-point underdogs in a road Game 3 on Friday night. Joel Embiid, who played in Game 1 but missed Game 2, is questionable.
NBA Finals odds pictureBetMGM has the Thunder leading NBA Finals odds at -165 (62.3% chance). The Spurs (+325), Knicks (+800), and Pistons (+1500) are the only teams with odds shorter than +5000.
While the Thunder are the clear-cut favorites, they still face a tall task getting out of the Western Conference. They are 6-0 against the Lakers across the regular and postseason, but they were only 2-2 against the Timberwolves and 1-4 against the Spurs.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
read more


