2025 NBA playoffs: 7 postseason betting ideas

Sam Panayotovich

FOX Sports activities Betting Analyst

Now that the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Warmth and Orlando Magic have formally punched their tickets to the 16-team playoff subject, the NBA postseason can start for actual.

Play-in, schmay-in.

I’ll admit, it’s thrilling that we now not want to watch which superstars are taking nights off for load administration or which bum groups do and don’t care concerning the day-to-day basketball grind. Thank goodness.

Listed below are seven NBA betting ideas heading into Spherical 1.

Whew, the Celtics and Thunder are costly!

By way of collection costs, Boston is as excessive as -6000 in Las Vegas to advance previous the Magic within the opening spherical. So, you’ve acquired to put $6,000 to win $100, one thing I wouldn’t advise, regardless of how free an area it appears. Oklahoma Metropolis isn’t as costly in opposition to Memphis, however -4500 can also be steep.

LeBron James may be crushed early in collection

Once I was a younger reporter in Chicago, I lined just a few Bulls’ playoff collection in opposition to King James and his groups misplaced Recreation 1 3 times. It’s most likely not honest to say LeBron doesn’t prioritize a collection opener, however he’s 31-23 all-time in postseason Recreation 1s. Michael Jordan (27-10) would by no means! It’s way more troublesome to dethrone King James the deeper a collection goes, however I used to be glad to wager some Minnesota Timberwolves +5 in Saturday’s premiere.

All people desires a bit of the LA Clippers

Six weeks in the past, the Clips had been 30-1 to win the Western Convention. Then they closed the common season on a ferocious run, profitable 18 of their final 21 contests. That’ll get the eye of any sports activities bettor. Now you’re fortunate to search out something greater than 15-1 within the West market and LA is a horny first-round wager in opposition to the Denver Nuggets. Denver opened as excessive as -190 to advance to the second spherical, however most books are dealing LA -120.

When will Damian Lillard return?

That’s the million-dollar query in Milwaukee. Lillard is now not taking blood-thinning treatment, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, so he’s definitely trending in the correct path. Lillard gained’t play in Saturday’s opener, however given the best way the NBA areas out its first-round video games, possibly he might play subsequent Friday when the collection shifts to Milwaukee. If the Bucks can earn a break up in Indianapolis, the cavalry might be ready to wager ‘em to win the collection.

There’s cash to be made in various markets

Basketball handicapper Rick Camp joined “Guess Sweats” this week, and he mentioned a number of angles in among the unique markets. He positioned bets on Nikola Jokić to make two 3s in each sport in opposition to the Clippers (+2000), Anthony Edwards to have 5 assists in each sport in opposition to the Lakers (+2000), and Mikal Bridges to have essentially the most steals in Knicks-Pistons (+2500). These are enjoyable markets the place you wager a bit of to win loads and Camp loves taking pictures.

Houston is just a bit forward of schedule

There’s a cause the Rockets are a large underdog (+150) in opposition to Golden State regardless of being a 2-seed with dwelling courtroom benefit. Certain, Houston can simply win a few video games, however it’s troublesome to check Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced getting bounced of their first best-of-seven collectively. I’ve no problem laying -170 on the Warriors to advance, particularly contemplating the market opened nearer to -200. Let’s purchase the dip.

Guess the Celtics to succeed in NBA Finals

Kudos to the Cleveland Cavaliers for profitable 64 video games and securing the No. 1 within the top-heavy Jap Convention. I’m nonetheless not a believer. Boston boasts the most effective beginning 5 in basketball and, barring harm, I don’t see it slipping on any banana peels on its approach again to the NBA Finals. You’ll be able to lay a comparatively low-cost -150 value on the Celtics profitable the East for the second straight 12 months and I think about that’ll be costlier down the street.

Sam Panayotovich is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and the BetMGM Community. He beforehand labored for WGN Radio, NBC Sports activities and VSiN. Comply with him on Twitter @spshoot.

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