FREE NBA PLAYOFF PICKS
*Original NBA Playoff picks and research are done a game day morning, adjust your selections accordingly should spreads and lineups change.
DP’S PLAYER PROP
SEASON RECORD: 58-32
MILWAUKEE VS ORLANDO
It came as no surprise to see Orlando roll the Bucks in Game 1. Why would it…when you take into consideration the flat/disconnected lead in where Milwaukee lost 6 of 8 games to see out the regular season with limited reps going into their starters in the bubble. Welcome back to the Playoffs, Milwaukee.
The play I’m keen on in Game 2 of this series is to attack Khris Middleton’s points line. In Game 1, Khris returned a soft 14 points on 12 shot attempts with by 3 trips to the FT’s line.
The Bucks cannot solely rely on Giannis for his points production wire-to-wire (because at times we know the scoring will stop — just like it did in G1 where Giannis didn’t have a bucket in the final 11 minutes).
Middleton is a guy who can flat out stroke from 50% from the floor at either 6 feet or 23 feet – it doesn’t matter. He just need minutes and volume. And that is exactly what he is going to get in Game 2.
Expect Milwaukee’s less profiled All-Star (yes that’s right, All-Star) to score early and give us little to chase in the second half as the Bucks tie up this series 1-1.
DP’S PICK – KHRIS MIDDLETON OVER 22.5 POINTS
TREND BETS
HOUSTON VS OKLAHOMA CITY
HOUSTON
- Under is 4-1 in last 5 vs teams above .500.
- Under is 6-2 in last 8 overall.
- Under is 46-21-1 in last 68 games vs teams above .600.
OKLAHOMA CITY
- Under is 7-3 in last 10 games vs teams above .600.
- Under is 9-4 in last 13 vs teams above .500.
- Under is 45-19-1 in last 65 games as an underdog.
MATCHUP
- Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings.
TREND BET – UNDER 227.5 TOTAL POINTS
LA LAKERS VS PORTLAND
LA LAKERS
- 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
- 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games as a favorite.
- 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 1 days rest.
PORTLAND
- 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games vs teams above .600.
- 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 games vs teams above .500.
- 7-3-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
- 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
MATCHUP
- Trail Blazers are 47-22 ATS in the last 69 meetings.
TREND BET – PORTLAND +6.5
*Strongest trend bet of the night. If trends are your thing, these are your picks.
INDIANA VS MIAMI
MIAMI LEAD 1-0
PLAYER BETTING TRENDS
- Tyler Herro has 15+ points in the Heat’s last 6 games. (13.5)
- Goran Dragic has 20+ points in 4 of the Heat’s last 5 playoff games. (17.5)
- Duncan Robinson has made 4+ three-pointers in 5 of the Heat’s last 7 games. (3.5)
() = BOOKIE LINE
MATCHUP TRENDS
- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
SEASON SERIES
| GAME 1 | IND | MIA | 101 : 113 |
| 15.08.20 | IND | MIA | 109 : 92 |
| 11.08.20 | MIA | IND | 114 : 92 |
| 09.01.20 | IND | MIA | 108 : 122 |
| 28.12.19 | MIA | IND | 113 : 112 |
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| IND | 45 | 28 | 25-11 | 20-17 |
| MIA | 44 | 29 | 29-7 | 15-22 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | AV. TOT |
| IND | 109.4 | 107.5 | +1.9 | 216.9 |
| MIA | 112.0 | 109.1 | +2.9 | 221.1 |
PICKS ATS
| Spread | Points | Result |
| MIA | OVER | MIA |
| -4.5 | 214.5 | 109-100 |
In Game 1 Miami outscored Indiana by 11 points in the 4th quarter, pulling out to a 113-101 win. The Heat connected on 13-for-35 from the 3-point line and shot 49% overall.
Jimmy Butler got help, a lot of it, and when they meet in Game 2, T.J. Warren can only hope he gets some support also.
Butler scored 28 points and came up big down the stretch, leading a tag-team defensive effort that slowed down Warren.
Indiana G Victor Oladipo (eye) had no significant damage and is being listed as questionable for this contest.
PICKS – OVER 214.5 TOTAL POINTS
HOUSTON VS OKLAHOMA CITY
HOUSTON LEAD 1-0
PLAYER BETTING TRENDS
- Chris Paul has 9+ assists in his last 5 playoff games against the Rockets. (7.5)
- Dennis Schroder has 19+ points in 8 of his last 10 games with the Thunder as underdogs against Western opponents. (16.5)
- James Harden has 5+ three-pointers in 4 of the Rockets’ last 5 playoff games. (4.5)
- Danilo Gallinari has 23+ points in each of the Thunder’s last three games against the Rockets. (21.5)
() = BOOKIE LINE
MATCHUP TRENDS
- Under is 9-4 in the last 13 meetings.
- Thunder are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
SEASON SERIES
| GAME 1 | HOU | OKC | 123 : 108 |
| 21.01.20 | HOU | OKC | 107 : 112 |
| 10.01.20 | OKC | HOU | 113 : 92 |
| 29.10.19 | HOU | OKC | 116 : 112 |
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| HOU | 44 | 28 | 24-12 | 20-16 |
| OKC | 44 | 28 | 23-14 | 21-14 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | AV. TOT |
| HOU | 117.8 | 114.8 | +3.0 | 232.6 |
| OKC | 110.4 | 108.4 | +2.0 | 218.8 |
PICKS ATS
| Spread | Points | Result |
| HOU | UNDER | HOU |
| -2.5 | 227.5 | 111-98 |
The Rockets didn’t see a 3-pointer they didn’t like in Game 1, launching 52 shots from behind the arc in their 123-108 win, and the won’t be looking to change it up much going into Game 2.
Gallinari scored 29 points in the loss for the Thunder, while Chris Paul scored 20 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out 9 assists. Steven Adams the leading rebounder with 12 and scored 17 points.
Houston was led by 37 points from Harden, who also pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds. Russell Westbrook (quadriceps) did not play and is doubtful. In Westbrook’s absence, Jeff Green scored 22 points while Eric Gordon chimed in with 21. The Rockets bench scored 42 points.
PICK – HOUSTON -2.5
MILWAUKEE VS ORLANDO
ORLANDO LEAD 1-0
PLAYER BETTING TRENDS
- Evan Fournier has made 3+ three-pointers in the Magic’s last 5 games against the Bucks. (2.5)
- Eric Bledsoe has 18+ points in 7 of his last 10 games against the Magic. (14.5)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo has made 2+ three-pointers in the Bucks’ last 3 playoff games. (1.5)
- Terrence Ross has 18+ points in 3 of the Magic’s last 4 games against the Bucks. (16.5)
- Nikola Vucevic has 26+ points in the Magic’s last 2 games as underdogs. (23.5)
() = BOOKIE LINE
MATCHUP TRENDS
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
SEASON SERIES
| GAME 1 | MIL | ORL | 110 : 122 |
| 09.02.20 | ORL | MIL | 95 : 111 |
| 29.12.19 | MIL | ORL | 111 : 100 |
| 10.12.19 | MIL | ORL | 110 : 101 |
| 02.11.19 | ORL | MIL | 91 : 123 |
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| MIL | 56 | 17 | 30-5 | 26-12 |
| ORL | 33 | 40 | 18-17 | 15-23 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | AV. TOT |
| MIL | 118.7 | 108.6 | +10.1 | 227.3 |
| ORL | 107.3 | 108.3 | -1.0 | 215.6 |
PICKS ATS
| Spread | Points | Result |
| ORL | UNDER | MIL |
| +12.5 | 227.0 | 111-96 |
Vucevic dominated Milwaukee in Game 1, and the Magic stunned the East’s top seed in a 122-110 shock win as -11.5 underdogs.
Vucevic tallied 35 points and 14 rebounds, and etched his name in the Orlando record books by becoming just the 4th player to have a 35/10 playoff game, joining Shaq (4 times), Dwight Howard (3) and Tracy McGrady (1).
The Magic outshot the Bucks 49.4% to 43.3% from the floor, producing another of the game’s head-scratching disparities. Milwaukee ranked 3rd in the NBA during the regular season in field goal percentage at 47.6%, while the Magic were 27th with 44.4%.
PICK – ORLANDO +12.5 & UNDER 227.5 TOTAL POINTS
PLAYER PROP – EVAN FOURNIER UNDER 17.5 POINTS
LA LAKERS VS PORTLAND
PORTLAND LEAD 1-0
PLAYER BETTING TRENDS
- Anthony Davis has 12+ rebounds in 4 of his last 5 playoff games. (11.5)
- Jusuf Nurkic has 13+ rebounds in 4 of his last 5 games against the Lakers. (10.5)
() = BOOKIE LINE
MATCHUP TRENDS
- Trail Blazers are 47-22 ATS in the last 69 meetings.
SEASON SERIES
| GAME 1 | LAL | POR | 93 : 100 |
| 01.02.20 | LAL | POR | 119 : 127 |
| 29.12.19 | POR | LAL | 120 : 128 |
| 07.12.19 | POR | LAL | 113 : 136 |
WIN/LOSS
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | ROAD |
| LAL | 52 | 19 | 25-10 | 27-9 |
| POR | 35 | 39 | 21-15 | 14-24 |
SEASON POINTS +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPPG | DIFF | AV. TOT |
| LAL | 113.4 | 107.6 | +5.8 | 221.0 |
| POR | 115.0 | 116.1 | -1.1 | 231.1 |
PICKS ATS
| Spread | Points | Result |
| POR | UNDER | LAL |
| +6.5 | 229.0 | 111-88 |
Portland look for their 5th-straight after taking Game 1 of the series 100-93.
Lillard scored 34 points in the Game, slightly under his 37.4 ppg average since the restart.
The Blazers were balanced on offense with CJ McCollum scoring 21 points and Jusuf Nurkic adding 16. On defense, they held the Lakers to 35.1% shooting from the field and 15.6% from 3-point range.
LeBron James did his part for the Lakers with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 16 assists, while AD had 28 points and 11 rebounds. But the rest of the team combined for just 42 points on 17 of 53 shooting (32.1%).
Lakers look flat.
PICK – PORTLAND +6.5
