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NBA Playoffs Picks, Predictions, Odds

14 minute read

NBA Playoffs Picks
Series Odds | Expert Picks
Free Picks | Prop Picks | Parlay Picks

Our NBA Playoffs Picks page provides Picks, Predictions, Betting Market Analysis, Futures Prices, Series Odds Updates and much more to keep you informed throughout the NBA postseason.

NBA Series Odds - NBA Finals

1 Nuggets -480 vs. vs. 8 Heat +330

To view all the odds, updates and betting trends on the series, check out the link below:

NBA Finals Series Odds

Finals Betting Results

  • Straight Up (SU)
  • Against the Spread (ATS)
  • Over-Under (OU)

Favorites-Underdogs (SU): 4-1
Favorites-Underdogs (ATS): 3-2
Home-Away (SU): 2-3
Home-Away (ATS): 1-4
Over-Under: 1-4

NBA Series Odds - Conference Finals

Eastern Conference
2 Celtics -550 vs. vs. 8 Heat +400

Western Conference
1 Nuggets -280 vs. 7 Lakers +240

To view all the odds, updates and betting trends on the series, check out the link below:

Conference Finals Series Odds

Conference Finals Betting Results

  • Straight Up (SU)
  • Against the Spread (ATS)
  • Over-Under (OU)

Favorites-Underdogs (SU): 4-7
Favorites-Underdogs (ATS): 1-10
Home-Away (SU): 4-7
Home-Away (ATS): 3-8
Over-Under: 4-7

NBA Series Odds - Second Round

Eastern Conference
2 Celtics -310 vs. 3 76ers +250
5 Knicks -158 vs. 8 Heat +134

Western Conference
1 Nuggets -162 vs. 4 Suns +136
6 Warriors -158 vs. 7 Lakers +134

To view all the odds, updates and betting trends on the series, check out the link below:

Second Round Series Odds

Second Round Betting Results

  • Straight Up (SU)
  • Against the Spread (ATS)
  • Over-Under (OU)

Favorites-Underdogs (SU): 20-5
Favorites-Underdogs (ATS): 17-7-1
Home-Away (SU): 18-7
Home-Away (ATS): 15-9-1
Over-Under: 12-13

NBA Series Odds - First Round

Eastern Conference
1 Bucks -1200 vs. 8 Heat +750
2 Celtics -1000 vs. 7 Hawks +660
3 76ers -800 vs. 6 Nets +560
4 Cavaliers -215 vs. 5 Knicks +176

Western Conference
1 Nuggets -500 vs. 8 Timberwolves +385
2 Grizzlies -130 vs. 7 Lakers +108
3 Kings +215 vs. 6 Warriors -260
4 Suns -590 vs. 5 Clippers +440

To view all the odds, updates and betting trends on the series, check out the link below:

First Round Series Odds

First Round Betting Results

  • Straight Up (SU)
  • Against the Spread (ATS)
  • Over-Under (OU)

Favorites-Underdogs (SU): 28-15
Favorites-Underdogs (ATS): 23-19-1
Home-Away (SU): 26-17
Home-Away (ATS): 23-19-1
Over-Under: 21-22

NBA Finals Betting Trends & Action Report

The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Thursday June 1, 2023 and the futures betting market has seen plenty of action all season. VegasInsider Senior Reporter Patrick Everson provides his latest update on where the money is going and what the bookmakers will need to profit this summer.

NBA Finals Betting Trends

NBA Playoffs Matchups

Finals

1 Denver Nuggets vs. 8 Miami Heat

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference

2 Boston Celtics vs. 8 Miami Heat

Western Conference

1 Denver Nuggets vs. 7 L.A. Lakers

Second Round

Eastern Conference

2 Boston Celtics vs. 3 Philadelphia 76ers
5 N.Y. Knicks vs. 8 Miami Heat

Western Conference

1 Denver Nuggets vs. 4 Phoenix Suns
6 Golden State Warriors vs. 7 L.A. Lakers

First Round

Eastern Conference

1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. 8 Miami Heat
2 Boston Celtics vs. 7 Atlanta Hawks
3 Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6 Brooklyn Nets
4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5 N.Y. Knicks

Western Conference

1 Denver Nuggets vs. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves
2 Memphis Grizzlies vs. 7 L.A. Lakers
3 Sacramento Kings vs. 6 Golden State Warriors
4 Phoenix Suns vs. 5 L.A. Clippers

Today's Expert Picks

NBA Playoffs Play-In Game Schedule

The NBA Playoffs field consists of 16 teams but only 12 of the seeds are won during the regular season.

The remaining eight teams must win one or at least two games to capture the 7th and 8th seeds in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Tuesday, April 11

Play-In Game 1: (7) Hawks 116 (6) Heat 105
Play-In Game 2: (6) Lakers 108 (7) Timberwolves 102 (OT)

Wednesday, April 12

Play-In Game 3: (10) Bulls 109 (9) Raptors 105
Play-In Game 4: (10) Thunder 123 at (9) Pelicans 118

Friday, April 14

Play-In Game 5: (6) Heat 102 vs. (10) Bulls 91
Play-In Game 6: (7) Timberwolves 120 vs. (10) Thunder 95

The Lakers outlasted the Timberwolves to earn the No. 7 seed in the West. (Getty)

2023 NBA Playoffs Field

Eastern Conference

  1. Milwaukee Bucks
  2. Boston Celtics
  3. Philadelphia 76ers
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers
  5. New York Knicks
  6. Brooklyn Nets
  7. Miami Heat
  8. Atlanta Hawks
  9. Toronto Raptors
  10. Chicago Bulls

Western Conference

  1. Denver Nuggets
  2. Memphis Grizzlies
  3. Sacramento Kings
  4. Phoenix Suns
  5. L.A. Clippers
  6. Golden State Warriors
  7. L.A. Lakers
  8. Minnesota Timberwolves
  9. New Orleans Pelicans
  10. Oklahoma City Thunder

Odds to win 2023 NBA Finals

Listed below are the opening odds prior to the start of the NBA Play-In Games, which are scheduled to begin on Tuesday April 11, 2023.

The Golden State Warriors enter the 2023 NBA Playoffs as a +750 choice to repeat as champions. (Getty)

NBA Futures Odds Comparison

Odds to win 2023 NBA Eastern Conference

Eastern Conference Odds Comparison

Odds to win 2023 NBA Western Conference

Western Conference Odds Comparison

Odds to win 2023 NBA Finals MVP

Listed below are the opening odds to win the 2023 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player prior to the start of the 2023 NBA Playoffs.

NBA Finals MVP Odds

NBA Playoffs History

NBA Finals History

The NBA Finals is the pro basketball championship of the National Basketball Association. The game pits the winner of the two conferences, Eastern and Western. The NBA Finals starts in June as two teams square off in a best-of-seven series.

NBA Champions

Last 5 Years

2023: Denver Nuggets
2022: Golden State Warriors
2021: Milwaukee Bucks
2020: L.A. Lakers
2019: Toronto Raptors

NBA Finals History

NBA Eastern Conference History

The Eastern Conference Finals is one of two pro basketball conference series of the National Basketball Association. The winner of this best-of-seven series matchup will advance to The NBA Finals.

NBA Eastern Conference Champions

Last 5 Years

2023: Miami Heat
2022: Boston Celtics
2021: Milwaukee Bucks
2020: Miami Heat
2019: Toronto Raptors

NBA Eastern Conference Finals History

NBA Western Conference History

The Western Conference Finals is one of two pro basketball conference series of the National Basketball Association. The winner of this best-of-seven series matchup will advance to The NBA Finals.

NBA Western Conference Champions

Last 5 Years

2023: Denver Nuggets
2022: Golden State Warriors
2021: Phoenix Suns
2020: L.A. Lakers
2019: Golden State Warriors

NBA Western Conference Finals History

2023-23 NBA Futures Markets

Listed below are the opening odds for each team and player prior to the start of the 2022-23 NBA Regular season.

Playoff Teams

2022-23 NBA FINALS OPENING ODDS

2022-23 EASTERN CONFERENCE OPENING ODDS

2022-23 WESTERN CONFERENCE OPENING ODDS

2022-23 NBA MVP OPENING ODDS

2022-23 NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR OPENING ODDS

2022-23 NBA SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR OPENING ODDS

2022-2023 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR OPENING ODDS

Odds Provided by FanDuel - Subject to Change

BETTING ON THE NBA

Best NBA Betting Sites:

bet365 | BetMGM | Caesars Sportsbook | DraftKings | FanDuel | FOX Bet | PointsBet | Unibet | Best US Sportsbooks

Where to bet on the NBA:

Arizona | Colorado | Illinois | Indiana | Louisiana | Michigan | New Jersey | New York | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Virginia | West Virginia

HOW DO I READ THE PLAYOFF PROPS ODDS?

For example, the Milwaukee Bucks odds of making the 2021 NBA Playoffs are listed at Yes (-6000) and No (+1600).

If you bet $100 on the Bucks to be one of the eight teams to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, you would win $1.66 on "Yes" wagers. Or in order to win $100 on the Bucks-Yes combination, then you would have to risk $6,000.

Bettors believing that the Bucks could stumble this season or perhaps injuries could wreck their season, a "No" wager would bring back a return of 16/1 odds (Bet $100 to win $1,600).

NBA PLAYOFFS HISTORY

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games of the 2021 NBA Finals.

History Archive

NBA PLAYOFFS Matchups

The NBA Matchups are an essential betting tool for the novice or professional, and it has so many features to follow. The NBA regular season spans six months, and it’s rare to see the league take a day off, so analyzing the matchups and betting trends is vital.

The NBA Matchups lists all the NBA in order of Rotation, which is controlled the sportsbooks. Every matchup has a designated Home and Away team, and both are given a rotation number. The games are show the Time as well, which is Eastern Standard Time Zone (ET) on this matchup page.

NBA BETTING TRENDS

As you can see in the chart above, all the NBA Betting Trends from sportsbooks and what users are playing are available.

The Betting Trend Section receives percentages on three categories.

The three NBA betting trends are fairly simple to follow, and they’re more volatile as tip-off approaches.

The Spread percentage is for the point-spread, while the ML is for money-line wagers, and that field usually skews heavily to favorites since not many bettors expect huge upsets, especially when the point-spread is high. The Total is the Over/Under, and the Over is always listed on top of the Under. Most bettors lean to favorites and overs.

Keep in mind that it’s not uncommon to see 100% to 0% listed for a particular matchup, especially after the betting line is just made available. These trends fluctuate based on the action and until the volume rises, that’s a common occurrence.

NBA PLAYOFFS SCOREBOARD

The NBA Scoreboard not only provides the scores for the NBA Playoffs, but so much more.

The key feature is the Betting Odds and the NBA Scores provides a consensus line that is created by multiple sportsbooks in the United States. The Betting Odds display which team is the favorite in the matchup and that can be determined with a minus (-) sign followed by a number.

Also, the NBA Scores section features Betting Trends for each matchup and this shows you how much money is being wagered on each team. It’s a great tool if you want to ride or against the betting public. Another great resource is the Line Movements because knowing how a sportsbook adjusts to the action.

If you are in a state where sports betting is legal, please check out our online sportsbook directory to find the best and most secure places to make bets on today's NBA games.

NBA PLAYOFF FORMAT

"THE FIRST TO WIN 16"

After the field of 16 is determined, the first team to win four best-of-seven series will be deemed the NBA Champion.

In each of the best-of-seven series, the team with the higher seed will have home-court advantage and they will host the first two games.

The lower seed will then host the next two games and the remaining three games, if necessary, will be alternated with the higher seed hosting Game 5 and 7 while the lower seed hosts Game 6.

In simple terms, the NBA Playoffs Format for a best-of-seven can be viewed as 2-2-1-1-1.

NBA PLAYOFF BETTING TYPES

  • Money-line: This is an easy one. Simply pick which team will win outright. Say the Lakers are up against Clippers in a series matchup – pick one team over the other to bring home the win. New bettors especially bet on the money-line as it's the simplest way to bet on a game.
  • Point-Spread: Like money-line, here you choose a team to win or lose outright. However, the difference lies in guessing how much they win/lose by. This number is a specific points total set by the sportsbooks. Our advice? Check out the team’s average points per game over the season.
  • Totals: Also called over/under, this bet determines whether the final score will – combined – will be over or under what the sportsbook thinks.
  • Props: This betting market continues to rise in popularity and betting on both specific player and team statistics will increase your viewing pleaure.
  • Live Betting: Forgot to put your bet in? No problem, just pull up the latest Live Betting markets or what many also call In-Game Wagering. These wagers can allow you to press, chase or even get out of wagers that you don't want any part of. The options are limitless and the action is Live!
  • Futures: Feeling the itch to bet already? Futures can be placed weeks or sometimes months ahead of the game. For example, maybe you think the Boston Celtics will bring it home this year in your NBA Playoffs Picks. Place a bet now ahead of the postseason to get in on the ground floor. Just pay attention as the odds can change, and your choice can even be knocked out!
  • Parlays: Called accumulator bets in the UK, parlays are a series of bets. The NBA Playoffs is the perfect time for parlays, where you can lay down a small bet of say $10 across five games. Win all five and you could be looking at a hefty return with your NBA Playoff Picks.

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