The Insider’s Handicapping Guide to the NBA Playoffs
The Insider’s Handicapping Guide to the NBA Playoffs
The quest for this season’s NBA Championship got underway this weekend with four first-round matchups in both the Eastern and Western Conference. The following is few betting trends for each of the eight matchups to help handicap the games.
Eastern Conference
No.8 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No.1 Chicago Bulls
Philadelphia is 4-10 against the spread in its last 14 games as an underdog and Chicago is 5-0 ATS in its last five games as a favorite including its 12-point victory in Game 1. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last seven meetings and the total has gone ‘over’ in 13 of the last 18 meetings overall.
No.7 New York Knicks vs. No.2 Miami Heat
New York is 11-1 ATS in its last 12 home games and Miami is 1-5 ATS in its last six games on the road. The Knicks have been outscored by 43 points in the first two games of this series and are now 0-5 SU and 1-4 ATS against the Heat this season.
No.6 Orlando Magic vs. No.3 Indiana Pacers
Orlando is 2-5 ATS in its last seven home games and Indiana is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games following a straight-up win. The Pacers won Game 2 both SU and ATS to ties the series 1-1, but they are just 2-6 both SU and ATS in the last eight meetings.
No.5 Boston Bruins vs. No.4 Atlanta Hawks
Boston is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven games following a SU loss and Atlanta is 7-2 ATS in its last nine playoff games as a favorite. The Celtics failed to cover as 1.5-point road underdogs in their 83-74 loss in Game 1, but the underdog is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings. The total has now stayed ‘under’ in four of the last five meetings in Atlanta.
Western Conference
No.8 Utah Jazz vs. No.1 San Antonio Spurs
Utah is 3-1-1 ATS in its last five games as a road underdog and San Antonio is 21-5-1 ATS in its last 27 games at home. The Jazz lost by 15 points as 11.5-point road underdogs in Game 1 to raise the home team’s record in this matchup to 20-8-1 in the last 29 meetings.
No.7 Dallas Mavericks vs. No.2 Oklahoma City Thunder
Dallas is 2-6 SU in its last eight games but 4-4 ATS. Oklahoma City is 6-3 SU in its last nine games but 2-7 ATS. The Mavericks head home in this series in a 0-2 hole but they are 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings including a 2-0 ATS record in this series.
No.6 Denver Nuggets vs. No.3 Los Angeles Lakers
Denver is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games following an ATS loss. Los Angeles is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games following an ATS win. The Nuggets 15-point loss in Game 1 as 4.5 road underdogs dropped them to 6-14-1 ATS in their last 21 games on the road against the Lakers.
No.5 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No.4 Memphis Grizzlies
Los Angeles is 4-1 ATS in its last five first-round playoff games and Memphis is 5-1-1 ATS in its last seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The Clippers dramatic come-from-behind 99-98 victory in Game 1 as 5.5-point road underdogs raised their record to 5-1 SU in the last six meetings and 4-2 ATS.
Dave Schwab
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