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The NBA playoffs officially tip-off Sat., April 15 and bettors can get in on the action right from the start of the first round.
Here’s everything you need to know to bet on the 2023 NBA playoffs.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 East (Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls)
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Game 1, April 16: No. 8 East at Milwaukee, 5:30 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 19: No. 8 East at Milwaukee, 9 p.m., ET
Game 3, April 22: Milwaukee at No. 8 East, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 24: Milwaukee at No. 8 East, TBD
Game 5, April 26: No. 8 East at Milwaukee, TBD
Game 6, April 28: Milwaukee at No. 8 East, TBD
Game 7, April 30: No. 8 East at Milwaukee, TBD
Milwaukee will be a heavy favourite regardless of who they play in the first round. The Bucks have won two of four games this season against Miami and two of four against Chicago.
Best bet:Ignore the series line and take Milwaukee to win the East (+104)
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Atlanta Hawks
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Game 1, April 15: Atlanta at Boston, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 18: Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m. ET
Game 3, April 21: Boston at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 23: Boston at Atlanta, 7 p.m. ET
Game 5, April 25: Atlanta at Boston, TBD
Game 6, April 27: Boston at Atlanta, TBD
Game 7, April 29: Atlanta at Boston, TBD
Season series: Celtics won 3-0
Oddsmakers have very little faith in the Hawks as Boston is a massive favourite to win. The main question in this series is, can Atlanta at least keep things competitive?
With Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and Bogdan Bogdanovic leading the Hawks’ offence and an improved defensive scheme under new head coach Quin Snyder, Atlanta could sneak out a couple of wins.
Best bet: Boston wins series 4-2 (+320)
No. 3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets
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Game 1, April 15: Brooklyn at Philadelphia, 1 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 17: Brooklyn at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 3, April 20: Philadelphia at Brooklyn, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 22: Philadelphia at Brooklyn, 1 p.m. ET
Game 5, April 24: Brooklyn at Philadelphia, TBD
Game 6, April 27: Philadelphia at Brooklyn, TBD
Game 7, April 29: Brooklyn at Philadelphia, TBD
Season series: 76ers won 4-0
This series seems like a slam dunk for a Sixers team that is a massive series favourite to win against Brooklyn.
Philadelphia big man Joel Embiid has dominated all year and will likely win his first career MVP award. And don’t forget former Nets guard James Harden, who has averaged 26 points per game against Brooklyn this year.
Best bet: Series total under 5.5 games (-167)
No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 5 New York Knicks
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Game 1, April 15: New York at Cleveland, 6 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 18: New York at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 3, April 21: Cleveland at New York, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 23: Cleveland at New York, 1 p.m. ET
Game 5, April 26: New York at Cleveland, TBD
Game 6, April 28: Cleveland at New York, TBD
Game 7, April 30: New York at Cleveland, TBD
Season series: Knicks won 3-1
Despite the Knicks taking three of four games in the regular season, this is primed to be one of the tighter first-round matchups. Although Cleveland’s defence held opponents to an NBA-best average of 106.9 points per game during the regular season, the Cavs are just 20-21 on the road.
The question for New York is the status of All-Star Julius Randle, who hasn’t played since injuring his ankle on March 29. Randle has returned to practice, but it’s still unclear how injured his ankle currently is.
Best bet:Series goes to Game 7 (+180)
Western Conference
No. 1 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 8 West (Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder)
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Game 1, April 16: No. 8 at Denver, 10:30 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 19: No. 8 West at Denver, 10 p.m. ET
Game 3, April 21: Denver at No. 8 West, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 23: Denver at No. 8 West, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 5, April 25: No. 8 West at Denver, TBD
Game 6, April 27: Denver at No. 8 West, TBD
Game 7, April 29: No. 8 West at Denver, TBD
Denver managed to win two of four games against Minnesota this season, but they dropped three of four against OKC.
Still, this could be another quick series as the Nuggets are fully healthy entering the playoffs and Nikola Jokic, winner of the last two MVPs, has continued to play at an MVP level all year.
Best bet:Denver to win the West (+327)
No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Lakers
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Game 1, April 16: Los Angeles at Memphis, 3 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 19: Los Angeles at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 3, April 22: Memphis at Los Angeles, 10 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 24: Memphis at Los Angeles, TBD
Game 5, April 26: Los Angeles at Memphis, TBD
Game 6, April 28: Memphis at Los Angeles, TBD
Game 7, April 30: Los Angeles at Memphis, TBD
Season series: Lakers won 2-1
There’s one major question surrounding each team in this series. Is there anyone on L.A.’s roster who can help LeBron James? It’s been a struggle over the last two years for the Lakers and 38-year-old James can’t carry the team by himself anymore.
The concern in Memphis isn’t a lack of talent as Ja Morant has emerged as a legitimate star in the NBA. The issue is Morant’s off-court issues and the possibility they become a distraction for the team.
Best bet:Memphis leads series 3-1 after Game 4 (+235)
No. 3 Sacramento Kings vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors
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Game 1, April 15: Golden State at Sacramento, 8:30 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 17: Golden State at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET
Game 3, April 20: Sacramento at Golden State, 10 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 23: Sacramento at Golden State, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 5, April 26: Golden State at Sacramento, TBD
Game 6, April 28: Sacramento at Golden State, TBD
Game 7, April 30: Golden State at Sacramento, TBD
Season series: Warriors won 3-1
These teams have had very different reputations over the last decade-plus. Golden State has won four NBA championships since 2015, while Sacramento is making its first playoff appearance since 2006.
The Kings average an NBA-best 120.7 points per game, while the Warriors are second at 118.9, so you can bank on this being a high-scoring series.
Best bet:Klay Thompson makes most total three-pointers in series (+162)
No. 4 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers
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Game 1, April 16: Los Angeles at Phoenix, 8 p.m. ET
Game 2, April 18: Los Angeles at Phoenix, 10 p.m. ET
Game 3, April 20: Phoenix at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. ET
Game 4, April 22: Phoenix at Los Angeles, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 5, April 25: Los Angeles at Phoenix, TBD
Game 6, April 27: Phoenix at Los Angeles, TBD
Game 7, April 29: Los Angeles at Phoenix, TBD
Season series: Tied 2-2
Oddsmakers see this as more of a mismatch than a typical 4-5 series as Phoenix is a heavy -625 favourite to win. That comes down to the status of Clippers All-Star Paul George, who will miss at least the start of the series because of an ankle injury.
The Suns are loaded with stars. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul will be too much to handle for an injured L.A. squad. If Paul doesn’t play at all, it will be a quick series.
Best bet: Phoenix sweeps series in four games (+368)
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