NBA Playoffs Round 2: Free NBA Picks Today for Friday, May 5th, 2023

Our free NBA picks are out for Friday, May 5th, 2023! Make sure you check our NBA picks before the action kicks off.

Look below to find our free NBA picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!

Boston Celtics @ Philadelphia 76ers – 7:30pm ET

Tony Battalio

The Boston Celtics come into this game after their dominating victory in game number two of the series. Now they will be looking to pick up another victory as the series heads to Philadelphia for game three and game four later on this week. Boston is the odds on favorite in the Eastern conference to reach the NBA finals. As long as they remain healthy, their toughest test is the Philadelphia 76ers team. If they can get another, went over Philadelphia here in this game and take a two games to one advantage heading into game four, they will be in a pretty good spot to wrap up the series when it has back to Boston for game five.

The Philadelphia 76ers looked fantastic in their victory in game number one of the series. Then things fall apart for them in game number two in Boston and now they will be looking to rebound here at home for game number three on Friday evening. Philadelphia is very capable of making a deep run during this year’s playoffs. As long as they remain healthy and Joel Embiid can return to the lineup before too long they still have a realistic shot. They will likely have Embiid back for this one but I still expect Boston to pick up the victory here on Friday night.

Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns – 10pm ET

Tony Battalio

The Denver Nuggets have looked incredible throughout the first two games of this series, and now they will be looking to pick up a victory in game number three and put the Phoenix Suns on the brink of elimination. Denver will be looking to steal a couple games on the road from Phoenix and it starts here on Friday night in game number three as they will be looking to take a three games to zero lead over the favored Suns. As long as Nikola Jokić and their supporting cast continues to play the way they played throughout the first two games of the series, then Denver has a good shot at winning this one in Phoenix.

The Phoenix Suns will be looking to regroup and bounce back from their two losses on the road in Denver to pick up a must win game three here on Friday night at home. Another loss for Phoenix will put their backs against the wall and put them on the brink of being eliminated, when they are the likely favorites in the Western Conference at the moment. Durant, Booker, and Ayton will have to play a lot better as they will likely be without Chris Paul, for this one which is a huge loss for the Phoenix Suns team. That is why I have the Denver Nuggets picking up the victory here on Friday night.

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.