🍀 Friends that win together

Welcome back to the Inner Circle Newsletter, where we deliver the top stories in sports and gambling directly to your inbox, every Sunday.

In today's email:

• Best Friends: split $1M power ball prize money in NJ.

• Squad Ride: the group of friends on IG that cashed in BIG on McBride/Knicks SGP at +780 odds.

• NHL/NBA Playoffs: snapshot of the first round series.

Let's gamble...

FRIENDS THAT WIN TOGETHER

Two best friends are $1 million richer after winning the Powerball prize in New Jersey.

The lottery draw date took place on April 3 and the lucky pair bought the ticket at a deli in Atco, which is part of the Philadelphia-Camden metro area.

The odds of winning the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are roughly 1 in 256 Million. Here are 7 things that are more likely than winning the jackpot:

• Finding a pearl in an oyster (1 in 12,000)

• Date a supermodel (1 in 88,000)

• Get struck by lightning (1 in 15,300)

• Be an NBA draft pick (1 in 6,800,000)

• Get attacked by a shark (1 in 3,700,000)

• Become a ‘saint’ (1 in 20,000,000)

• An asteroid destroys earth (1 in 700,00)

I actually achieved the second one on that list, so I’d argue those odds.

Question: if you won the lottery - would you split the winnings with anyone?

SQUAD RIDE MCBRIDE

Whole squad cashed in on Deuce McBride’s huge night.

IG User @Noah_Shangold posted this video showing himself and friends with their winning prop tickets after the New York Knicks took down the 76ers last night.

This prop bet included McBride to have 10+ points and New York Knicks to win at +780 odds.

Meaning, if you bet $100 you cashed out $780.

There’s no better feeling than when you and your friends ride the same bet and it hits. The total winnings for these guys was over $3k from under $500 risked.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

NBA Preview:

EAST

(1) Celtics vs. (8) Heat: After a stellar 64-win season and the fifth-best point differential in NBA history (11.34), the top-seeded Celtics seek revenge against the Heat, who knocked them out in last year’s East finals.

(2) Knicks vs. (7) 76ers: These teams last clashed in the 1989 postseason, where Patrick Ewing’s Knicks swept Charles Barkley’s Sixers.

(3) Bucks vs. (6) Pacers: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s strained calf casts a shadow over this series, but the battle between All-Star point guards Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton is highly anticipated.

(4) Cavaliers vs. (5) Magic: A treat for defensive aficionados, with the Cavs entering as favorites despite struggling post-All-Star break, owning the worst record among playoff teams.

WEST

(1) Thunder vs. (8) Pelicans: The 2023-24 Thunder, top-seeded despite lacking playoff experience, face the Play-In Pelicans, who will sorely miss the injured Zion Williamson.

(2) Nuggets vs. (7) Lakers: The reigning champs Nuggets, dominant in recent matchups (11-3 over the past three seasons) and last year's sweep in the West finals, face LeBron James and the Lakers.

(3) Timberwolves vs. (6) Suns: The overachieving Timberwolves and the underperforming Suns promise an exciting series, showcasing a clash of size against skill.

(4) Clippers vs. (5) Mavericks: The Mavericks, leading the West in the last six weeks, bring momentum against the seasoned Clippers, who have ousted them in their last two first-round meetings (2020, 2021).

NHL Preview:

EAST

(1A) Florida Panthers vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning: The Panthers, boasting a league-high 312 goals, face the playoff-hardened Lightning, with their impressive 22-14 playoff record over the last three seasons. Expect a high-tempo series driven by regional rivalry.

(2A) Boston Bruins vs. (3A) Toronto Maple Leafs: Boston’s second-best defense in the conference (196 goals allowed) clashes with Toronto’s top three offense (289 goals scored). Historically, Boston has won 14 of the last 16 playoff games against Toronto.

(1M) New York Rangers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals: The top-seeded Rangers, with a solid 28-9-4 home record, host the Capitals, entering playoffs with a modest 88 points, the lowest among Eastern playoff teams. Playoff history leans in favor of the Rangers, winning 60% of previous meetings.

(2M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3M) New York Islanders: Carolina’s league-best power play (25.7%) meets the Islanders’ top-five penalty kill (83.2%). This matchup is set to highlight special teams' performance.

WEST

(1C) Dallas Stars vs. (WC2) Vegas Golden Knights: Central leaders Dallas, scoring 275 goals this season, face Vegas, who scraped into playoffs but are known for their strategic gameplay. Expect depth and strategy to be at the forefront.

(2C) Winnipeg Jets vs. (3C) Colorado Avalanche: The Jets, with a league-low 180 goals against, confront Colorado’s robust offense, which posted 260 goals. This series will test Winnipeg’s defensive fortitude against Colorado's scoring ability.

(1P) Vancouver Canucks vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators: Pacific champions Vancouver, with an impressive 50-21-11 record, take on Nashville, who are playing without their top scorer due to injury. The series will depend on Vancouver’s ability to exploit this gap.

(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings: Edmonton, with the league's second-best goal tally (282), faces the Kings’ balanced team that has a playoff record of 10-8 over the last two seasons. Look for Edmonton’s high-powered offense to challenge L.A.'s resilience.

MEME

THE WRAP UP

Thank you Bandit Betting Nation for tuning into this week’s edition of the Inner Circle Newsletter.

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