NBA Conference Semifinals Recap: Knicks Crush 76ers by 39, Wolves Pull Massive Upset in San Antonio

The NBA Conference Semifinals kicked off with a bang on Monday night, delivering one of the most dominant blowouts in playoff history and a massive upset that completely shifted the betting markets. If you had the Knicks and Timberwolves both winning Game 1, your bankroll is looking pretty healthy this morning. Let's break down what happened and what it means for bettors moving forward. Knicks Make History, Annihilate 76ers 137-98 The New York Knicks came into Game 1 as -7.5 favorites against a Philadelphia 76ers team riding high after a 3-1 series comeback against the Celtics. The oddsmakers expected a competitive game. The Knicks had other plans. New York obliterated Philadelphia 137-98 at Madison Square Garden, covering the spread by an absurd 31.5 points. Jalen Brunson continued his absolute tear through the postseason, dropping 35 points on highly efficient 12-for-18 shooting. But it wasn't just Brunson. The Knicks shot the lights out, finishing with an effective field goal percentage of 74.4%—the third-highest single-game mark in NBA playoff history. OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns combined to shoot 8-for-12 from deep. The dominance was so complete that Sixers coach Nick Nurse essentially waved the white flag with over five minutes left in the third quarter, pulling Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. Betting Takeaway: The Knicks have now won three straight playoff games by 30+ points, becoming the first team in NBA history to accomplish that feat. They are outscoring opponents by an average of 20.6 points per game in these playoffs. Until the market adjusts and starts laying double-digit spreads, fading this Knicks team at MSG feels like setting money on fire. Timberwolves Stun Spurs 104-102 in San Antonio While the Knicks handled business as favorites, the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled off the shocker of the night. Entering Game 1 as heavy +300 moneyline underdogs against the 2-seed Spurs, the 6-seed Wolves walked out of the Frost Bank Center with a 104-102 victory. The biggest story was the return of Anthony Edwards. After suffering a bone bruise and hyperextended knee in Game 4 against Denver, Edwards was supposed to be week-to-week. Instead, he returned seven days later, coming off the bench to drop 18 crucial points in 25 minutes. Julius Randle added 21 points to help pace the offense. The Spurs had a chance to tie or win at the buzzer, but Julian Champagnie missed a 3-pointer as time expired, cashing the +9.5 spread for Minnesota bettors with ease. Betting Takeaway: This upset caused a seismic shift in the series odds. Before Game 1, the Spurs were massive -600 favorites to win the series, while the Wolves were sitting at +950. After stealing home-court advantage, Minnesota's series odds have shortened dramatically to +156. If Edwards continues to look healthy, the Wolves have serious value as underdogs in Game 2. --- Related reading: - NBA Playoff Madness: Two 3-1 Comebacks, Celtics Eliminated, and Conference Semis Are Set - NBA Playoffs Are Here: Wembanyama Sets Record, Magic Steal Game 1 in Detroit - Knicks Make History With 51-Point Closeout Win Over Hawks