NBA Playoffs 2013: Latest Odds and Gambling Guide for Thursday's Action

As the second round of the 2013 NBA playoffs winds down, the level of excitement should only increase.

With two elimination games on tap this Thursday, the only way to make the action even more thrilling is to place a wager down on them.

Whether you are risking big bucks or just anteing up a friendly bet, you're going to want to know more about the two series and the best angles to take in each.

Let’s take a closer look and predict some winners.

*Lines courtesy of ScoresAndOdds.com, trends courtesy of Covers.com.

Indiana Pacers at York Knicks, Game 5, Eastern Conference Semifinals

When: Thursday, May 16 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: TNT

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, N.Y.

Point Spread: Knicks -4.5

Point Total: Over/Under 179

The Pacers have been cover machines during this postseason and should have no problem finishing off the Knicks with a straight up and against the spread victory on Thursday.

Indiana is 5-1 in its last six games ATS and just needs to come within four points to increase that to 6-1. That shouldn’t be an issue, as the Pacers have been absolutely dominant—only dropping Game 2 due to a statistically improbable 30-2 run.

Certainly pick Indy to cover here, but the over/under is a bit tougher to nail down. However, due to the trends that the Knicks have followed after losses, this contest should be on the low scoring side.

New York has went below the total in seven of their last eight games following a loss, pushing in one so that under backers have yet to lose.

The Knicks have also gone under in eight of their last 11 games, a stat that includes their entire postseason.

For that reason, expect a knockdown, drag-out affair at the Garden, where the Knicks struggle to put points up and eventually fall to the Pacers defense.

Prediction: Pacers 84 - Knicks 81

San Antonio Spurs at Golden State Warriors, Game 6, Western Conference Semifinals

When: Thursday, May 16 at 10:30 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, Calif.

Point Spread: Spurs -1

Point Total: Over/Under 195.5

If there’s anything you need to know about the 2012-13 Warriors, it is that they are not to be underestimated or counted out after a heartbreaking loss.

The trends show this too, as the Dubs have gone 5-0 ATS after losing a contest by 10 or more points and 6-1 ATS after failing to cover in the previous game.

This team simply comes back strong and plays hard, and that should once again be the case when they return to Oakland to play in front of the hometown crowd.

Golden State is fighting for its playoff life in this Game 6 showdown and will likely extend the series against the Spurs—who expended much of their energy to win Game 5 in San Antonio.

As for the total, over seems to be the play.

As mentioned, the Dubs come out firing after big losses and have gone over in seven of their last nine games that followed a 10-point or larger margin of defeat.

San Antonio’s roster is likely exhausted after matching and going over the Warriors intensity level in Game 5. It will be tough for the players to clamp down defensively and limit Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry to a total of 13 points again as they managed to on Tuesday evening.

Expect much more free flowing offense from Golden State, while the Spurs lag just a bit behind, as this series is going to Game 7.

Prediction: Warriors 102 - Spurs 99