NBA
Sunday, April 16
Sunday’s NBA playoffs betting preview and odds
The defending Western Conference champion Warriors are 13.5 favorites at home and are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
The remaining four series tip off on the hardwood Sunday, including the Golden State Warriors who are looking to purge last years NBA finals from their memory. That journey begins Sunday afternoon against when Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers travel to Oracle Arena. We break down the betting angles for each and every matchup.
Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards (-5, 211)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (43-39 SU, 39-43 ATS, 32-48-2 O/U): Atlanta won four straight in impressive fashion before falling in the regular-season finale while resting most of the its key players. The last time the full squad took the floor it put together one of its biggest wins of the campaign, a 103-76 drubbing of the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. Center Dwight Howard, who will be playing in his 90th career playoff game on Tuesday, recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win and enters the postseason averaging a double-double at 13.5 points and 12.7 boards.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (49-33 SU, 42-39-1 ATS, 51-31 O/U): Washington brushed off the slow finish to its season and is looking for a little revenge after losing to the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals two years ago. "We're one of eight teams that have a chance to advance and we’re excited about the opportunity," Wizards coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "I’m looking forward to seeing how we’ll play, and I’m very confident with how we’re going to play. I know we’re going to play with great effort." Brooks doesn't need to worry about effort from Wall, who posted career highs in points (23.1), assists (10.7), steals (2.0) and field goal percentage (45.1) in the regular season.
LINE HISTORY: The Wizards opened as 5 point home favorites against the Hawks and the line hasn’t moved off the opening number. The total hit the betting board at 210, was quickly bet up to 211 and has since faded back to 210.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Hawks - C Dwight Howard (Probable, back)
Wizards - PG John Wall (Probable, quadricep), C Ian Mahinmi (Late April, calf)
TRENDS:
* Hawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Wizards are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 6-1 in Hawks last 7 games following a ATS loss.
* Under is 4-1 in Wizards last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Washington.
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (-14.5, 222.5)
ABOUT THE BLAZERS (41-41 SU, 40-42 ATS, 44-37-1 O/U): While Damian Lillard was the star of Portland's surge down the stretch, center Jusuf Nurkic was a key piece and helped jumpstart the team after being acquired from the Nuggets. Nurkic, who averaged 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds in 20 games with the team, sat out the final seven games with a nondisplaced fracture in his right leg, and his return for the postseason is undetermined, according to head coach Terry Stotts. "If it’s up to me, I play right now," Nurkic told reporters. "I do my part and I feel better. I make great progress the last couple of days but I’m not there yet, so we're still waiting on that right now. Undecided."
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (67-15 SU, 40-39-3 ATS, 32-50-0 O/U): Kevin Durant averaged 29.3 points on 60 percent shooting in four games during the regular season against Portland - all Golden State wins. He also did not show any sign of being hampered by the knee injury while scoring 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, in the regular season finale against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors developed a solid chemistry prior to Durant's injury and are hoping to find that again in the playoffs while hanging onto the increased production that Stephen Curry enjoyed with his fellow former MVP sidelined.
LINE HISTORY: The defending Western Conference champion Warriors opened as 13.5 point home chalk over the Blazers and that number wasn’t high enough for bettors and he been bet up to 14.5. The total hit the betting board at 223 and has been dropped half point to 222.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Blazers - PG Damian Lillard (Probable, foot), SG Allen Crabbe (Probable, foot), C Jusuf Nurkic (Questionable, leg), SG C.J. McCollum (Questionable, hand), C Festus Ezeli (Out for season, knee), PF Ed Davis (Out for season, shoulder)
Warriors - C Zaza Pachulia (Probable, knee), SF Kevon Looney (Questionable, hip), SF Matt Barnes (Doubtful, ankle)
TRENDS:
* Trail Blazers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
* Warriors are 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games overall.
* Over is 12-3 in Trail Blazers last 15 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
* Over is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics (-7.5, 207.5)
ABOUT THE BULLS (41-41 SU, 42-40 ATS, 32-49-1 O/U): Rajon Rondo came off the bench for much of the season but re-entered the starting lineup in the final month and looked - at times - to be his old self, averaging 12.5 points, 8.8 assists and 8.5 rebounds over his final six games. Veteran star Dwyane Wade returned late in the season from en elbow injury while All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler finished with career highs in scoring (23.9), rebounding (6.2) and assists (5.5), and he is excited to help slow down Thomas. "I look forward to that matchup, especially what he's done this year for that team. I know it's going to come at some point," Butler told reporters of the potential matchup. "I'm going to make it tough for him. ... I'm going to get beat at times, and I'm going to need guys to be there."
ABOUT THE CELTICS (53-29 SU, 40-40-2 ATS, 39-39-4 O/U): Isaiah Thomas averaged 24.8 points while shooting 53.8 percent against the Bulls - his highest percentage against any Eastern Conference opponent - as Boston gained a four-game season series split. Fellow guard Avery Bradley had his best season with averages of 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds, although he missed 27 games, while center Al Horford had a dip in many statistical categories in his first season with the Celtics but brings loads of playoff experience after appearing in 74 postseason games with Atlanta. "He's been really important to my success," Thomas said of Horford. "I remember earlier in the year he told me like, 'I'm here to make things easier for you. You're gonna lead this team and I'm gonna make things as easy as possible.' He's been exactly what he said since Day 1."
LINE HISTORY: The top-seed in the Eastern Conference Celtics opened as 7.5 point home favorites against the Bulls and that number has yet to move. The total hit the betting board at 205.5 and has been bet up two full points to 207.5.
INJURY REPORT:
Bulls - No injuries to report
Celtics - SG Avery Bradley (Probable, hand)
TRENDS:
* Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
* Celtics are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 home games.
* Under is 5-0 in Bulls last 5 overall.
* Under is 6-1-1 in Celtics last 8 vs. NBA Central.
* Home team is 7-0 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets (-7, 228)
ABOUT THE THUNDER (47-35 SU, 45-36-1 ATS, 37-44-1 O/U): Russell Westbrook led the NBA in scoring (31.6), ranked third in assists (10.4) and was 10th in rebounding (10.7) to join Oscar Robertson (1961-62) as the lone players to average a triple-double over an entire season. His superb performances equated to victories as the club was a stellar 33-9 in his triple-doubles and coach Billy Donovan expects his star to rub off on his teammates in the postseason. "I think he's excited from a leadership role to try to help guys that don't have that kind of experience, haven't been through it or are going through it for the first time," Donovan told reporters. "I think he'll be the same as he always is. As the season's gone on, I really haven't seen a whole lot of change in Russell from the first day of training camp to now."
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (55-27 SU, 42-40 ATS, 41-40-1 O/U): James Harden finished second in scoring (29.1), led the NBA in assists (11.2) and averaged 8.1 rebounds during the regular season and he is eager to compete with the tenacious Westbrook. "He brings it every night," Harden said of Westbrook. "Definitely a team game. Stats don't matter. You have to go out there and try to get as many wins, first one to four. I just want to win." Houston set an NBA record with 1,181 3-point baskets -- an average of 14.4 per game -- with Harden (262), backup shooting guard Eric Gordon (246) and forward Ryan Anderson (205) all over 200 and forward Trevor Ariza (190) not far off the pace.
LINE HISTORY: The Rockets opened as 7-point home favorites against the Thunder and that line briefly went up to 7.5, before returning to the opening number. The total hit the betting board at 228.5 and has been lowered a half point to an even 228.
INJURY REPORT:
Thunder - SF Doug McDermott (Questionable, knee)
Rockets - SF Sam Dekker (Early May, hand)
TRENDS:
* Thunder are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
* Rockets are 0-9 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
* Under is 6-1 in Thunder last 7 games following a ATS loss.
* Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Thunder are 1-9 ATS in the last 10 meetings.