NBA Playoffs Round 1 Betting Preview & Outlook

The NBA play-in tournament has concluded, which means we finally have some playoff basketball. With so much young talent on the rise, there are several matchups that could go either way.

Let’s take a look at which teams could emerge from the first round of the playoffs!

Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz

The Mavs will be without Luka Doncic for at least Game 1 due to a calf strain, but they have Spencer Dinwiddie and Jalen Brunson, who are more than capable of stepping up at the guard position.

Donovan Mitchell has proven he can put up high-scoring performances in the playoffs, but chemistry issues between him and Rudy Gobert have been well documented.

The Jazz have a premier offense, but a lot of it comes from shooting the three, which the Mavs defend very well.

This series could go seven games, but expect the Mavs’ defense to win out, especially if Doncic is able to return.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

These two teams treated us to four great battles this season, splitting the season series 2-2.

Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell had huge performances in the Timberwolves’ play-in game, combining for 59 points.

The Grizzlies have the personnel to take Karl-Anthony Towns off his game with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams but expect KAT to make adjustments and look to score in the paint more rather than on drives to the rim and from three.

Ja Morant will attack the rim with no mercy, which will keep Wolves’ defenders on their toes.

Both of these teams were the highest-scoring teams in the league this season, but Minnesota arguably has the best chemistry in the league, so they stand a great chance of pulling off an upset.

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Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors

This series could very well go seven games, as the Raptors have the defensive personnel to disrupt the Sixers’ offense.

However, Joel Embiid is too big and too good of a scorer for Toronto to contain inside the paint, and James Harden is due to prove his haters wrong.

Expect the Sixers to get it done.

Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets

Stephen Curry will be back for the Warriors, albeit on a minutes restriction. 

Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are rounding into form at the right time, Jordan Poole has enjoyed a breakout season, and Andrew Wiggins has found a home in The Bay.

Nikola Jokic has a great chance to be the MVP again this season, but outside of him, the Nuggets have virtually nobody to help him.

Don’t be surprised if Denver gets swept.

Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks

This will be a very fun series as Trae Young continues his rise as one of the best players in the league.

The Heat have a star duo in Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo to do significant damage inside the paint offensively as well as defensively and have several shooters to help space the floor.

The Hawks also have similar personnel with defenders and floor spacers.

This series could go either way despite the Hawks being the eighth seed, but the Heat will likely win.

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets

Led by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Nets have the deadliest scoring duo in the league.

Andre Drummond has embraced the role of being the rebounder and rim protector the Nets have needed, and Bruce Brown has also emerged as a swiss army knife type of player on both ends of the floor, scoring with ease near the rim and playing lockdown defense while doing all the dirty work.

The Celtics have a deadly scoring duo of their own in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Defense is a concern for Brooklyn, but down the stretch of games, KD and Kyrie are as cold-blooded as they come and will be a handful for defenses to contain with their unimaginable ways to create their own shots.

Expect the Nets to make quick work of the Celtics.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be an absolute handful for the Bulls to defend, as Nikola Vucevic does not have the strength nor footwork to contain him inside.

DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine could have a good couple of games, but this is a series the Bucks should have wrapped up in four or five games.

Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans

The Suns should be able to sweep the Pelicans with ease, as Devin Booker’s scoring, Chris Paul’s playmaking, and Deandre Ayton’s interior scoring combined with the bevy of shooters and wing defenders the Suns have will be too overwhelming for a team well under .500.

Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Jonas Valanciunas are capable scorers, but it won’t be enough to carry the Pelicans over a team that got to the Finals just last season.