The NBA Playoffs Round 1 are now underway, and all eight of the series got started this past weekend. It was an exciting weekend of basketball, and it should lead to an exciting couple of months during the entire postseason.
There are some great NBA matchups taking place in the NBA Playoffs, and several games went down to the final few minutes on Saturday and Sunday. Even though following the NBA during the regular season provides some great entertainment, everything goes up a notch when the postseason begins.
NBA Playoff odds will continue to shift throughout the playoffs based on what takes place during each individual game.
Here is a look at what went on around the league, and also what to expect with the NBA schedule moving forward.
Surprising Results
Making NBA Playoffs picks is never easy to do because there are going to be some surprising results every single day. That was the case in the series opener for many matchups as there were some underdogs that came away with a win.
The NBA standings in the Eastern Conference were very close throughout the season, and it shouldn’t have been a big surprise to see upsets take place in the series opener. The upsets started on Saturday afternoon when the New York Knicks went into Cleveland and picked up a win over the Cavaliers.
Miami Heat Pull Off Shocking Upset Against Milwaukee Bucks
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the weekend took place on Sunday when the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks by 13 points. The NBA Playoffs odds had the Bucks as the favorites to win the title, but losing Game 1 immediately puts some pressure on them.
Things got a bit crazy in the Western Conference as well as the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers both pulled off surprising upsets on the road. The Clippers got past the Phoenix Suns and the Lakers were able to knock off the Memphis Grizzlies.
Clippers and Lakers Stars Shine Bright in Playoff Wins
The Clippers and Lakers both have players that put up great NBA player stats throughout the year, and those stars were able to help pull off the win. While there were some great games throughout the postseason, the best matchup appears to be the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings.
Sacramento was able to pick up a win in Game 1 of that series behind a massive game from De’Aaron Fox. The Kings are going to have to play just as well in Game 2 to continue to win, but you should also expect a big response from the Warriors.
Odds Have Flipped in Some Matchups
The NBA Playoffs round 1 odds have shifted in several series already, and that’s going to continue to be the case as things develop. Betting on the series winner is actually a good way to make some predictions, and finding the right time to bet is the way to go.
The Los Angeles Lakers are now favored over the Memphis Grizzlies after picking up a win in Game 1. New York is also now a betting favorite in their series against the Cleveland Cavaliers after picking up a Game 1 win.
The NBA stats still seem to favor the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns to win their matchups even though they are already facing after just one game. If you are going to be betting on the series winner in any of the NBA matchups taking place then you will want to keep a close eye on the odds that are posted after each game.
Injuries Could Impact Future Games
Not only have the Playoffs round 1 been wildly entertaining, but they have also been disappointing for several teams. There were some big injuries to key players throughout the weekend, and those injuries could impact how some of the matchups play out.
It’s hard to figure out what the NBA team stats truly mean when teams are missing some of their best players. The Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, and Memphis Grizzlies all suffered a major loss this weekend.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a back injury after a hard fall, and it’s unclear if he will be able to play in Game 2.
- Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies hurt his hand after falling to the floor, but X-rays were negative.
- The Miami Heat will be without Tyler Herro for the remainder of the playoffs after he suffered a broken hand.
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