NBA Betting News

The Jazz host the Grizzlies on Sunday night for Game 1 of the First Round of the West Conference NBA betting Playoffs. Memphis got here by taking a long way. They finished the regular season 9th in the West and were forced to go through two rounds of the play-in tournament. The Grizzlies beat the Spurs in the first game before pulling an upset against the Warriors on Friday. They have now lost only twice in the last 10 games. Their overall record this season is 40-34 SU and 42-31-1 ATS. Utah is coming off a fantastic regular season which they finished as a top seed in the West. They also own the best record in the league with 52-20. Against the spread, the Jazz is 41-30-1. Just like the Grizzlies, they had a strong finish to the season, going 10-5 in the last 15 games. This will be the third time these teams play each other this year. The Jazz won all three previous matchups.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz Betting Odds & Line Movement

The Jazz are favored by -8.5 in this NBA playoffs betting matchup with most bookies, although some are offering the -9 line. The total stands at 216 or 215.5 depending on where you place your bet.

Notes On The Memphis Grizzlies

This is the first taste of playoffs for the new generation of Grizzlies. The young roster is a bit different from a Grit and Grind era as they enjoy playing at a frantic pace. Memphis ranks 8th in the NBA in possessions per game. A lot of credit for this goes to Ja Morant, who is one of the most electric players in the league in transition.

 

However, in two play-in games, the Grizzlies have shown that they can adapt to a slower pace and halfcourt battles. This is where their ability to grab offensive rebounds and score 2nd-chance NBA playoffs betting points comes to light. In their game vs Golden State, the Grizzlies had 16 offensive rebounds, 5 more than the Warriors. On Friday, Ja Morant had probably the most memorable performance of his career. The young point guard scored 35 points and added 6 assists and 6 rebounds.

The only player out for Memphis tonight is Sean McDermott who isn’t a meaningful part of the rotation anyway. It remains to be seen how much will coach Jenkins play Jarren Jackson Jr. The big man played only 14 minutes vs the Warriors.

Notes On The Utah Jazz

Probably the deepest team in the league, the Jazz managed to overcome all health issues this season to claim the No. 1 seed in the West. Tonight will be the first time for a while that coach Snider can count on all of his key players. Utah got where they are by playing their trademark gritty defense led by DPOY favorite Rudy Gobert and shooting the lights out from beyond the arch. They averaged 43.1 attempts from long range which is two more than the next team on the list.

 

The biggest news ahead of the playoff is the return of the franchise star Donovan Mitchell. Still, he hasn’t played in more than a month so there’s no telling how much will he be able to contribute. Luckily for the Jazz, they have plenty of other players that can step up. Despite finishing with the best record, the Jazz is still not considered as a top contender. The fact that they have only the 4th-best odds to win the Championship will certainly fuel and motivate coach Snider’s team.

The only injury worry for the Jazz is Ersan Ilyasova who’s listed as questionable.

Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz Betting Pick & Prediction: Memphis +9

The Grizzlies showed that they are capable of performing when it matters. They did play 2 NBA playoffs betting games while the Jazz rested. However, fatigue likely won’t be an issue for the young team as they had a day off between each of the games. They are 21-10 ATS in the last 31 games playing after a day of rest. On the other hand, the Jazz is 1-5 ATS in the last 6 games on at least 3 days of rest. Utah is still the favorite, but the Grizzlies should be able to keep this one close.

On Saturday, the Nets will host the Celtics for Game 1 of the First Round series in the East. The Celtics booked their place in the playoffs after beating Washington in the play-in game. It was only their 5th win in the last 15 games as they struggled to find the form lately. They finished the regular season 7th in the conference with a 36-36 record. Against the spread, they were 35-38. The Nets, on the other hand, finished the regular season winning 5 straight and 10 out of the last 15 games. Their overall record was 48-24 which got them the 2nd seed in the East. Their ATS record was 38-34. Boston and Brooklyn meet three times already this season. The Nets came out as winners in all three games.

Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds And Line Movement

The Nets opened as the -7.5 NBA online betting favorites but with most of the early action going their way the line has moved to -8. The total also saw some movement. It moved from the opening 225.5 to 228.5.

Notes On The Boston Celtics

The Celtics had their season derailed by the serious injuries and Covid-19 absences. Most of their key players missed some time during the campaign. They’re now heading to the playoffs without Jaylen Brown who got injured two weeks ago and will miss the rest of the season. It comes as a huge blow to Boston’s ambitions. The young guard was having a career year and earned an All-Star appearance. With Brown out, Tatum and Walker will have to carry even more offensive load. They have proven to be up to the task so far, especially in the play-in win over Washington. Tatum destroyed the Wizards dropping 50 on them, while Walker added 29 points of his own. Both of them seem to be hitting the form just in time for the playoffs. Tatum averages 31.2 ppg in the last 9 games while Kemba put up 29.8 in his last 4 appearances. Still, the Celts will need some of the role players to also step up if they are to be competitive in the series.

Besides Brown, the only other injury worry for coach Stevens is Robert Williams who is listed as questionable.

Notes On The Brooklyn Nets

After adding James Harden to their star duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, the Nets are clearly in a “championship or bust” mode. Still, due to the combination of injuries and Covid-19, the trio has rarely played together this season. However, regardless of who’s on the floor, Brooklyn is an offensive force under Steve Nash. They have the best Offensive Rating in non-garbage time minutes in the NBA with 119.4. On the defensive end, the Nets fared much worse. Their defense ranks 21st in the league, allowing opponents 114.07 points per game. The good news is that all three stars are ready for the playoffs. The Nets will be hoping that their defense won’t matter that much as they are clearly capable of outscoring everyone.

On Saturday, the Nets will be without long-term absentee Spencer Dinwiddie. Harden and Joe Harris are day-to-day but should be ready to go.

Boston Celtics vs Brooklyn Nets Betting Pick & Prediction:Brooklyn -8

The three Brooklyn stars may not have had enough time to develop chemistry. Still, their talent alone should be enough for the Celtics without Brown. Also, the Nets feature several quality role players who are ready to step up on any given night. Even without their star trio at full strength, they beat Boston three times this year. Plus, Brooklyn is 6-0 in their last six home games vs Boston.

On Sunday night, the Lakers head out to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans in the last game of the regular season. The LA team needs to win to have any chance of a direct playoff spot. However, they do not have full control over their fate as they’ll also need Portland to lose. The Lakers and the Blazers are currently tied at 6th with one game remaining but Portland owns the tiebreaker. Coach Fogel’s team is in a good form right now, having won 4 straight games. Over the season, they are 41-30 SU and 31-39-1 ATS. The Pelicans, on the other hand, are definitely out of the playoffs and have nothing to play for but pride. Besides, they are without a few key players and have three consecutive losses. New Orleans is tied with Sacramento for 11th in the West with a 31-40 record. Against the spread, they are 34-37 this season. Tonight’s game is the third matchup between two teams this year. The teams split the series so far with each winning at home.

Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans Live Betting Odds & Line Movement

The Lakers are heavily favored in this one and the oddsmakers have set the line at -10.5. The total saw some movement, rising from 221.5 to 223.5.

Notes On The Los Angeles Lakers

The main news for the Lakers is that LeBron James is back and Anthony Davis seems fully prepared and in prime form before the playoffs. LeBron missed 20 games before returning for a short 2-game stint and then missing 6 more. He finally returned last night in the win against Indiana. The Lakers beat the Pacers mainly thanks to the performances of their two stars. LeBron looked healthy and scored 24 points, adding 7 rebounds and 8 assists in 28 minutes on the floor. He also scored the crucial 4 points near the end of the game to stop Indiana’s late push. AD was the leading scorer with 28 points and also had 10 rebounds for another double-double. Four other players also scored in double-digits. The New Orleans game is a second night of the back-to-back, so it’s possible one or both stars will be rested. However, both LeBron and AD have stated that they’re ready to go.

The only two players on the injury report are Alex Caruso and Jared Dudley who are both game time decisions.

Notes On The New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are finishing what has been a disappointing season for them. Although they are the team looking at the future, they still expected to be in the playoffs. However, after losing some of the key pieces near the end of the season, the Pelicans just couldn’t get to the much desired No. 10 spot. They have lost 4 times in the last 5 games, but still played decent basketball and were competitive against some quality opposition. They played close games against Philly, Memphis, and Golen State. Last time out, they lost to the Warriors 125-122. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had a breakout game with 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Rookie Naji Marshall added career-high 20 points and Jaxson Hayes had 19 from the bench.

For tonight, coach Van Gundy is without Williamson, Ingram, Ball, Adams, and Hart. Iwundu and Johnson are listed as questionable.

Los Angeles Lakers vs New Orleans Pelicans Live Betting Pick & Prediction: The Lakers -10.5

With the Lakers likely in full strength, there’s no need to overthink this. They’ll look to build a solid lead from the start, secure the victory, and hope for the Blazers to slip up.

The Clippers will try to move a step closer to securing the 3rd spot in the West as they visit the Rockets tonight. Kahwi and co are only a game ahead of the Nuggets who hold the tiebreaker so they still can’t afford to relax. The Clips are on a decent run at the moment having lost only once in the last 5 games. Overall, they’re 47-23 SU and 39-30-1 ATS. The Rockets are moving in a completely opposite direction and currently hold the worst record in the league. They’re 16-54 for the season and 26-44 against the spread. Currently, Houston is on a 7-game losing streak. Also, they’ve won only twice in the last 15 games. However, the Rockets have been putting a bit off a fight lately and have covered in four straight games. Tonight’s game is the third meeting between the two this season. The Clippers won both previous games.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Houston Rockets Betting Odds & Line Movement

The Clippers are clear favorites in this NBA BETTING matchup and it’s reflected by the -11.5 line. The total for tonight’s game is set at 226.5.

Notes On The Los Angeles Clippers

Ever since Kahwi Leonard returned to the lineup, the Clippers look like contenders again. Their last three wins were all blowout with an average margin of 22points. And, those wins came against decent opposition in the Lakers, Raptors, and Hornets. The Clips have been particularly impressive on the defensive end. Coach Lue has tightened the things up in that department just in time for the playoffs. In their last 5 games, the Clippers have allowed only 97.2 points per contest. They now rank 4th in the league in total points allowed. Last night they notched another convincing win, beating the Hornets 113-90. Paul George led the scoring with 20 points and also had 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Reggie Jackson added 19 from the bench. Kahwi Leonard was quiet for his standards with only 16 points on 9 shots.

Long-term absentees, Serge Ibaka and Amir Coffey, remain out for the Clippers. It’s also possible that coach Lue will rest George and Leonard.

Notes On The Houston Rockets

The Rockets are, without a doubt, the worst team in the NBA this season. Truth be told, injuries have followed them the whole season, but they have been in clear tanking mode ever since the Harden trade. They have now won only 5 times in the last 49 games. Their main goal lately was to give their young players some game time to mature and develop. However, they do put up a good fight from time to time. Two nights ago, they almost surprised the Lakers on the road losing by only two points, 124-122. Kelly Olynik was a standout performer with 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists. Armony Brooks scored 24 off the bench while Kenyon Martin Jr. continued with decent performances with 20 points and 10 boards.

Houston’s injury list is long and it would be easier to name the available players. House, Wood, Porter Jr., Wilson, Brown, Bradley, Gordon, and Nwaba are all expected to miss out. Wall and Exum are out for the season.

Los Angeles Clippers vs Houston Rockets Betting Pick & Prediction: The Clippers -11.5

The Clippers will look to secure the 3rd spot and can’t afford a slip-up. Even if Leonard and George sit out, they’re still too strong for the depleted Rockets.

Nikola Jokic is one of the most promising young players in this year’s NBA MVP race. At just 23 years old, he has already been a key part of two Denver Nuggets playoff teams and his skill level continues to grow. With all that being said, Jokic now finds himself as the odds-on favorite to win this year’s NBA MVP award at the best US online sportsbooks. Let us take a look at how likely it is for him to win!

2021 NBA MVP Betting Odds

NBA betting sites give Jokic the best basketball betting odds to win his first NBA Most Valuable Player award with a 20-1 chance. Some people say that Nikola Jokic is the beneficiary of key injuries to LA Lakers star LeBron James and Philadelphia 76er Joel Embiid. But the fact is, Denver Nuggets are 45-24 SU this season and Nikola Jokic is the reason why.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic now trails Philadelphia 76ers Big Man Joel Embiid in NBA MVP odds at the Las Vegas sportsbooks while Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, who returned to action on Thursday after an ankle injury, has dropped to +10000.

As for former NBA MVPs, reigning back-to-back winner Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is fifth on the NBA betting odds at +5000 and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is third at +1800. Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks opened the preseason favorite at +400 in NBA Odds to Win MVP but has since dropped to +10000.

Who is Favored to Win the 2021 NBA MVP?

Can Nikola Jokic Really Win NBA MVP?

Before the 2017-2018 season started, readers were advised to consider betting on Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic in NBA MVP odds. He began at a high number and he was coming from a run with the Denver team. The team fell to the Lakers who went on to win the championship in basketball.

But the main takeaway from the bubble was that Jokic was on the come-up and you wanted to bet on him before the season began. Well, all of that betting value is gone because Jokic has dropped to -2000 to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.

Jokic is the best passing big man in the NBA. He is sixth in assists per game.

LeBron and Embiid were in the way of James winning MVP. But now he has a new obstacle: the Nuggets’ regular-season results.The Nuggets did not start off well but are now in fourth place in the Western Conference. In 69 games they have won 45 times and lost 24.

Jokic had better NBA MVP odds when Jamal Murray wasn’t hurt. That’s because Jamal Murray was the one who would have helped Jokic. Now that he is, there is less of a need to help Jokic. Since the injury of Murray, Jokic has been playing well. He has averaged 27.9 points, 11.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists in 15 games and the Nuggets are doing well without him because he is working so hard without their second-best player (Murray).

 

 

What Injuries Put Damper on NBA MVP Odds?

 

It’s not quite the Madden cover curse, but being tabbed as the favorite in NBA Most Valuable Player odds was tough for the favorites this season. Shortly after Sixers center Joel Embiid became the favorite for MVP, he twisted his knee. He fell to the ground and it seemed like he was done for the season. But then he returned and is looking strong again.

In two games, Embiid may still have a chance to win MVP. If the Sixers finish first in the Eastern Conference and Embiid plays well, he has a chance to be chosen by voters. He has been great on both sides of the ball.

Even though Embiid has had an injury history, when LeBron James went down, that’s when NBA MVP odds were shaken to the core.

LeBron is a famous basketball player. He has never really been injured in the NBA, but he had an injury that was not too serious.The 36-year-old has been a machine his whole life. After his long time away, LeBron is unlikely to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.