It’s night 2 of the 2017/18 NBA Playoffs, here are our NBA picks for tonight’s games.
*Original betting lines and lineups taken game morning, adjust accordingly.
The original lines for each game are taken a couple of hours prior to the tip-off, so adjust your picks accordingly should a line change.
Tonight’s NBA Playoff Picks
Milwaukee @ Boston
Eastern Conference – Game 1
H2H Trends –
Over is 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings in Boston.
Milwaukee are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings.
Over is 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings.
Season Series
| 04.04.18 | Milwaukee | Boston | 106 : 102 |
| 05.12.17 | Boston | Milwaukee | 111 : 100 |
| 27.10.17 | Milwaukee | Boston | 89 : 96 |
| 19.10.17 | Boston | Milwaukee | 100 : 108 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Boston | 55 | 27 | 27-14 | 28-13 |
| Milwaukee | 44 | 38 | 25-16 | 19-22 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Boston | 104.0 | 100.4 | +3.6 |
| Milwaukee | 106.5 | 106.8 | -0.3 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Milwaukee | Under | Boston |
| +4.0 | 201.5 | 113-107 1OT |
Since the Kyrie Irving season ending surgery, the Celtics have lost a little hope. Injuries have just about costs them a Championship opportunity. Big concerns will be on the offensive end.
With the Bucks making the playoffs in unconvincing style, Giannis being the best player on the court could begin to show how close he is to being the best in the league.
With playoff basketball being a completely different game, low scoring is on the cards.
Best Bet = Under 201.5
Indiana @ Cleveland
Eastern Conference – Game 1
H2H Trends –
Over is 4-0-1 in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
Indiana are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Cleveland.
Under is 3-1-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Season Series –
| 27.01.18 | Cleveland | Indiana | 115 : 108 |
| 13.01.18 | Indiana | Cleveland | 97 : 95 |
| 09.12.17 | Indiana | Cleveland | 106 : 102 |
| 02.11.17 | Cleveland | Indiana | 107 : 124 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Cleveland | 50 | 32 | 29-12 | 21-20 |
| Indiana | 48 | 34 | 27-14 | 21-20 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Cleveland | 110.9 | 109.9 | +0.9 |
| Indiana | 105.6 | 104.2 | +1.4 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Cleveland | Over | Indiana |
| -6.5 | 212.5 | 98-80 |
The Pacers got the best over the Cavs in the regular season, winning the series 3-1. All contests were prior to the deadline trades. Victor Oladipo looks certain to win the Most Improved Player award but for a team that was deemed to miss the post season, going any further will be a tough ask.
This is when LeBron goes underground and a different beast resurrects. We will see the best of the King again.
Best Bet = Cleveland WIN
Utah @ Oklahoma City
Western Conference – Game 1
H2H Trends –
Utah are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Oklahoma City.
Under is 21-7 in the last 28 meetings.
Utah are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Season Series –
| 24.12.17 | Utah | Oklahoma City | 89 : 103 |
| 21.12.17 | Oklahoma City | Utah | 107 : 79 |
| 06.12.17 | Oklahoma City | Utah | 100 : 94 |
| 22.10.17 | Utah | Oklahoma City | 96 : 87 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Oklahoma City | 48 | 34 | 27-14 | 21-20 |
| Utah | 48 | 34 | 28-13 | 20-21 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Oklahoma City | 107.9 | 104.4 | +3.4 |
| Utah | 104.1 | 99.8 | +4.3 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Oklahoma City | Under | Oklahoma City |
| -3.5 | 206.5 | 116-108 |
The Jazz have returned to the post season, to the same position as last season where they won the series in LA with Gordon Haywood in the lineup. Utah were able to best the Thunder way back in October, the first week of the season. Since then, Westbrook and the Thunder have had their way.
For OKC, the big question will be is there a playoff version of this team that delivers or will they continue to be their inconsistent disappointing selves?
Best Bet = Under 206.5
Minnesota @ Houston
Western Conference – Game 1
H2H Trends –
Minnesota are 0-4 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
Over is 14-3 in the last 17 meetings.
Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings in Houston.
Season Series –
| 19.03.18 | Minnesota | Houston | 120 : 129 |
| 24.02.18 | Houston | Minnesota | 120 : 102 |
| 14.02.18 | Minnesota | Houston | 108 : 126 |
| 19.01.18 | Houston | Minnesota | 116 : 98 |
Win/Loss
| TEAM | W | L | HOME | AWAY |
| Houston | 65 | 17 | 34-7 | 31-10 |
| Minnesota | 47 | 35 | 30-11 | 17-24 |
Season Points +/-
| TEAM | PPG | OPP PPG | DIFF |
| Houston | 112.4 | 103.9 | +8.5 |
| Minnesota | 109.5 | 107.3 | +2.2 |
Picks against the spread
| Spread | O/U Points | Result |
| Houston | Over | Houston |
| -11.0 | 216.5 | 104-101 |
The Rockets were able to sweep the series against the Wolves in the regular season with an average winning margin of 15 points. Harden had an MVP season managing to secure the number 1 seed in the West. They still have a lot to prove with some disappointing playoff performance in the last few years.
The Wolves stumbled into the post season with the Butler injury de-railing their home court advantage. The defensive end has been their issue all season long not forgetting their road record.
The Rockets had the second best offense in the league and equal best home court record with 34-7.
Best Bet = Houston -11.0
