NBA Playoffs Odds, Picks & Predictions: Sunday (4/20)
The NBA playoff action continues on Sunday with a whole slew of first-round games. With four matchups on the schedule, there are plenty of opportunities for value on sides and totals. Here are a few NBA best bets for Sunday.
Sunday’s Best NBA Picks
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
The two slowest-paced teams in the NBA will square off in this first-round series. The Magic rode an elite defense to the seventh seed and will take on the defending champs. These teams met three times in the regular season, with Orlando taking two of the three meetings.
Understandably, the market thinks this will be the lowest-scoring series of the first round. As stated, these are the two slowest-paced teams in the league. Orlando finished third in defensive rating while the Celtics finished sixth. However, this total has probably gone too low.
The Celtics will be welcoming back Jaylen Brown, which is bad news for Orlando. In the only game Boston had their full starting lineup against Orlando this season, they managed to score 121 points against the Magic. And don't sleep on an Orlando offense that has started to find its stride, scoring 113.4 points per game PPG in April. I'll be taking the over.
Pick: Over 206 Points (-108)
Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers
The Heat became the first No. 10 seed to make the playoffs after their trip through the NBA Play-In tournament. They'll take on the top-seeded Cavaliers in the East. Miami had some success against the Cavaliers this year, going 2-1 against the spread (ATS), and there is reason to believe they can do the same on Sunday.
The Heat finished the season strong, going 13-3 ATS in their final 16 games, including the NBA Play-In Tournament. This is a team that battled injuries all season long and had to navigate a tumultuous situation with Jimmy Butler. Now that the dust has settled, they are as healthy as they've been all year and still have a core that has played in an NBA Finals, something Cleveland cannot boast.
The Cavaliers are the better and deeper team, but I expect the Heat to make a series of this. Miami should continue its hot streak and cover in Game 1.
Pick: Heat +12.5 (-112)
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
This is one of the most highly anticipated first-round series. The young Rockets had a phenomenal regular season, led by a frenetic defense that made things very difficult for their opposition. Meanwhile, this edition of the Warriors allowed their defense to shine as they were a below-average shooting team.
By adding Jimmy Butler, the Warriors went all in on their defensive identity, and it worked well. They were top five in the league at creating turnovers, and no team in the league forced more mid-range jumpers than the Warriors. The Rockets aren't a particularly good shooting team at any level, but they shot a putrid 40.4% from mid-range. For a team that wasn't too strong offensively, this could be a difficult series for the Rockets.
On the other end, Ime Udoka shaped Houston into a defensive juggernaut. The Rockets were fourth in defensive rating and in the top three in the league at preventing three-point shots. Keeping Steph Curry off the three-point line will do a lot to help Houston keep the Warriors in check. Neither team is going to give up an inch. We should expect a defensive battle throughout the entire series.
Pick: Under 213 Points (-110)