NBA Playoffs Betting Preview - 14 April 2019 (AEST)
LA Clippers at Golden State
The Warriors (1st) host the LA Clippers (8th) at Oracle Arena.
Golden State are looking to win three championships in a row, and come up against a surprise-packet eighth-placed Clippers side who seem undermanned to match a Warriors outfit. Having won six of their last seven games, the Warriors look primed to take out the first round of the playoffs with the help of their all-star starting line-up adding to their white-hot form.
The Clippers’ latest win against the Jazz was impressive in overtime, yet the game before was a comprehensive loss against their first match-up in the playoffs (Warriors). Lou Williams will need to star to get his team up and running early in the piece for them to have a chance to cause an upset.
Over the season, the Warriors boast a 3-1 season series win and look to add to it come Saturday.
Tip: Golden State -8.5 @ $1.48
San Antonio Spurs at Denver
The Nuggets (2nd) host the Spurs (7th) at Pepsi Centre.
The Nuggets are coming off a close win against the Timberwolves, and were scouted as a team to rise through the ranks that could go far in the post-season. Boasting star players in Nikola Jokic and Paul Millsap, they have the ingredients to create history and a strong start against the Spurs at home will go a long way.
The Spurs are on a three-game winning streak, admittedly to teams that aren’t in the playoffs. Their last loss was against a Nuggets outfit who towelled them up (85-113) in Denver. But a team consisting of DeMar DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay and coach ‘Pop’ at the helm must put them on the contenders list. Although they will have their work cut out for them early.
A 2-2 split during the season suggests that this series may be closer than what the seeds suggest.
Tip: Denver @ $1.45
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia
The 76ers (3rd) host the Nets (6th) at Wells Fargo Centre.
Having won just two of their past five games (both against the Bulls), the 76ers seem to be in a form slump. However, they’ve rested the big guns to prepare for the playoffs, and a starting line-up of Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid could prove to be too strong for opponents once they get into their groove.
Clinching their first playoff berth since 2014, the Nets, led by D’Angelo Russell, have proven to be quite a surprise with big wins over competition leaders Milwaukee and contenders Indiana in the last week. The quick rise to form could prove to be a challenge for the 76ers and it wouldn’t be a surprise if this goes deep into round one of the playoffs.
Each team has won and lost at their home court, proving it may not be much of an advantage after all.
Tip: Philadelphia @ $1.29
