t’s the best time of the year to be a basketball fan: the NBA playoffs have arrived. Twenty-two teams went to Orlando, Florida, to compete for the NBA championship and the playoff matchups are now set for the best 16 teams in the league.
The best basketball betting sites are just as pumped to have NBA basketball in August as we are and they’ve released first-round playoff series prices for all eight of the matchups. The first round is expected to go from August 17 to August 30, with the conference semifinals expected to begin on August 31.
NBA Eastern Conference Series Prices
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs Orlando Magic (8)
Bucks Vs Magic Series Price (Magic Lead Series 1-0)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Milwaukee Bucks
-5500
-6500
Orlando Magic
+1300
+1325
The Bucks went 3-5 SU and ATS in eight bubble games while the Magic went 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS.
Since the start of the 2018-19 regular season, the Bucks are 6-1 SU and 4-2-1 ATS in seven games vs the Magic. The UNDER was 5-1-1 in those games.
Both teams ranked in the top 10 for fewest points allowed per game during the regular season with the Magic at 108.3 and the Bucks at 108.6.
Toronto Raptors (2) vs Brooklyn Nets (7)
Raptors Vs Nets Series Price (TOR Leads Series 2-0)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Toronto Raptors
-100000
-2200
Brooklyn Nets
+4000
+1000
The Raptors went 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in eight regular-season bubble games while the Nets went 5-3 SU and 6-2 ATS.
The Nets were the most profitable moneyline team in the bubble, netting bettors $1,800 in profit based on $100 bets for their eight seeding games.
Since the start of the 2018-19 regular season, the Raptors are 6-2 SU and 4-4 ATS in eight games vs the Nets. The O/U record in those games was 4-4.
Boston Celtics (3) vs Philadelphia 76ers (6)
Celtics Vs Sixers Series Price (BOS Leads Series 2-0)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Boston Celtics
-5500
-440
Philadelphia 76ers
+1300
+320
Philadelphia will be without all-star Ben Simmons for the remainder of the postseason. The Sixers were 8-9 SU in 17 games this season when Simmons was out of the lineup.
The Sixers were 6-2 ATS for first-quarter spreads in eight regular-season bubble games while the Celtics were 4-4 ATS. In four games this season, the Sixers are 3-1 SU and ATS vs the Celtics.
Jayson Tatum averaged 19 points per game vs the Sixers this season while Joel Embiid averaged 21.3 vs the Celtics.
Miami Heat (4) vs Indiana Pacers (5)
Heat Vs Pacers Series Price (Heat Lead Series 1-0)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Miami Heat
-800
-240
Indiana Pacers
+500
+200
In three games during the regular season, the Heat were 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS vs the Pacers with an average win margin of 12.3 points per game.
The Heat and Pacers both ranked in the top six in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage during the regular season.
The matchup of TJ Warren vs Jimmy Butler will be heavily scrutinized after their scuffle in a game on January 8. Warren is only averaging 10.3 points vs Miami this season (four games) while Butler averaged 17.7 vs Indiana.
NBA Western Conference Series Prices
Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs Portland Trail Blazers (8)
Lakers Vs Blazers Series Price (Blazers Lead Series 1-0)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Los Angeles Lakers
-245
-500
Portland Trail Blazers
+205
+395
The Lakers were 2-1 SU and ATS in three games vs the Blazers this season.
The Blazers were the best OVER team in the bubble at 8-1 in nine regular-season games while the Lakers were 4-4 O/U.
Damian Lillard leads all scorers in the bubble at 37.6 points per game in nine contests.
Los Angeles Clippers (2) vs Dallas Mavericks (7)
Clippers Vs Mavericks Series Price (Series Tied 1-1)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Los Angeles Clippers
-400
-550
Dallas Mavericks
+300
+375
The Clippers were 3-0 SU and ATS in three games vs the Mavs this season with an average win margin of 11.3 points per game.
The Clippers were a league-worst 2-5-1 ATS in eight first-quarter spreads during the regular season in the bubble.
Luka Doncic averaged 29 points per game vs the Clippers this season (three games) while Kawhi Leonard averaged 31 vs the Mavs.
Denver Nuggets (3) vs Utah Jazz (6)
Nuggets Vs Jazz Series Price (Series Tied 1-1)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Denver Nuggets
-160
-220
Utah Jazz
+140
+180
In three games during the regular season, Denver was 3-0 SU and ATS vs the Jazz and won those games by a combined nine points.
Michael Porter Jr. has been the leading scorer for the Nuggets in the bubble by averaging 22 points per game (seven games) while Donovan Mitchell has been the leading scorer for the Jazz at 21.6 (six games).
The Nuggets have been a great OVER team in the bubble with all but one of their eight regular-season games going OVER the total. Those games had an average combined score of 244.1.
Oklahoma City Thunder (4) vs Houston Rockets (5)
Thunder Vs Rockets Series Price (HOU Leads Series 1-0)
Winner
Current Odds
Opening Odds
Oklahoma City Thunder
+290
+210
Houston Rockets
-380
-250
Russell Westbrook is expected to miss one or two games to start the first-round series. The Rockets were 8-6 SU in 14 games during the regular season when Westbrook didn’t play.
In three games during the regular season, the Thunder were 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS vs the Rockets. The UNDER hit in two of those games.
A tale of two playing styles: the Rockets led the NBA in three-point attempts this season (45.3 shots) while the Thunder ranked 27th (30.2 shots).
