1st Round – NBA Playoff Picks – Sat, 20th April

*These NBA Playoff picks are done the morning of game day, adjust picks should spreads and lineups change.

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ORLANDO @ CLEVELAND

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND – GAME 1

TEAM TRENDS

• The home team has beaten the spread in each of the Magic’s last 6 games.
• The Magic have lost 8 of their last 9 playoff games.
• 10 of the Cavaliers’ last 11 games as favorites have gone Overs.

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

SEASON MATCHUPS

PICKS ATS

THE RUB

The 2023-24 NBA playoffs kick off for the Magic and Cavs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday afternoon, reigniting a postseason rivalry last seen in the 2008-09 Eastern Conference Finals. That memorable series concluded with Dwight Howard leading the Magic past LeBron James’ Cavaliers in six games to advance to the NBA Finals.

This season, the teams ended their four-game regular season series tied at 2-2, with each team securing a win at home and away. Key performers in these matchups included Cleveland’s Darius Garland, who averaged 26.7 points and 8.0 assists, and Donovan Mitchell, who contributed 27.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. For Orlando, Paolo Banchero stood out with an average of 23.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.

PLAYER TRENDS

• Gary Harris scored 8+ points in each of his last 9 road games against the Cavaliers.
• Caris LeVert scored 13+ points in 13 of his last 14 playoff games.
• Wendell Carter Jr. scored 10+ points in each of his last 6 games against the Cavaliers.
• Donovan Mitchell scored 28+ points in 10 of his last 11 games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
• Darius Garland recorded 9+ assists in 7 of his last 8 games as favorites against the Magic.
• Paolo Banchero recorded 6+ assists in each of the Magic’s last 4 games.
• Jalen Suggs scored 18+ points in 4 of the Magic’s last 5 games.
• Max Strus recorded 5+ rebounds in 5 of the Cavaliers’ last 6 games.
• Jarrett Allen recorded 11+ rebounds in 4 of his last 5 home games against the Magic.
• Jarrett Allen recorded a double-double in 6 of the Cavaliers’ last 7 home games.
• Darius Garland made four three-pointers in each of the Cavaliers’ last 3 games against teams with a winning record.
• PICK – OVER 207.5 TOTAL PTS

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PHOENIX @ MINNESOTA

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND – GAME 1

TEAM TRENDS

• The Suns have beaten the spread in their last 9 games against the Timberwolves.
• The Suns have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Timberwolves.
• The last 4 games between the Suns and Timberwolves at Target Center have gone Overs.
• The Timberwolves have lost the first half in their last 5 playoff games.

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

SEASON MATCHUPS

PICKS ATS

THE RUB

The Suns and Timberwolves will face off in an first-ever playoff series starting this Saturday afternoon at Target Center. This marks the first postseason meeting between the two franchises, setting the stage for a historic encounter.

Phoenix surprisingly dominated the regular season series, sweeping all three games against Minnesota. The Suns clinched the sixth seed following a decisive 125-106 victory on the final day of the regular season, where Bradley Beal showcased his scoring prowess with 36 points, including six three-pointers. This loss pushed Minnesota down to the third seed.

Anthony Edwards struggled significantly in these matchups, averaging only 14.3 points on 31.0% shooting. His performance will be critical as Minnesota has a record of 4-5 when he shoots at or below this percentage. The Timberwolves will need him to step up if they aim to challenge the Suns effectively in their playoff debut against each other.

PLAYER TRENDS

• Bradley Beal scored 20+ points in each of his last 9 playoff appearances.
• Devin Booker scored 26+ points in 10 of the Suns’ last 11 playoff games.
• Naz Reid recorded 5+ rebounds in 9 of his last 10 home games against Western Conference opponents.
• Rudy Gobert scored 18+ points in each of the Timberwolves’ last 4 games as favorites.
• Kevin Durant recorded 5+ assists in each of the Suns’ last 4 playoff games.
• Karl-Anthony Towns scored 21+ points in 13 of his last 16 games against the Suns.
• Mike Conley made 3+ three-pointers in 4 of his last 5 home games.
• Rudy Gobert recorded 15+ rebounds in 4 of the Timberwolves’ last 5 games.
• Grayson Allen scored 14+ points in each of the Suns’ last 3 games against the Timberwolves.
• Anthony Edwards scored 30+ points in each of the Timberwolves’ last 3 playoff home games.
• Jusuf Nurkic recorded a double-double in each of his 3 previous Game 1 appearances in a playoff series.

PICK – OVER 214.0 TOTAL PTS

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PHILADELPHIA @ NEW YORK

EASTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND – GAME 1

TEAM TRENDS

• The Knicks’ last 11 Eastern First Round home games have gone Unders.
• The 76ers have won their last 9 games.
• The Knicks have failed to cover 8 of their last 9 home games following a win.
• The underdogs have won the first half in 4 of the last 5 games between the 76ers and Knicks.

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

SEASON MATCHUPS

PICKS ATS

THE RUB

The 76ers and Knicks are set to ignite their 2023-24 playoff journey with a clash at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, renewing a historic Atlantic Division rivalry.

The teams last faced off in the postseason during the 1988-89 season, where the Knicks swept the 76ers in the first round. Historically, these teams have met in eight playoff series, with Philadelphia holding a 5-3 advantage.

This season, the Knicks dominated the regular season series, taking three out of four games, though the results were split at Madison Square Garden. The 76ers secured their playoff berth through the play-in, narrowly edging out Miami 105-104 to continue a nine-game winning streak—their longest since April 2018.

The Knicks enter the series on a strong note, looking to build on their five-game winning streak in division play. This setup promises an intense series as both teams vie to advance in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

PLAYER TRENDS

• Bojan Bogdanovic scored 10+ points in his last 14 playoff home games.
• Jalen Brunson recorded 4+ rebounds in the Knicks’ last 10 playoff games.
• Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 17+ points in his last 7 road games against the Knicks.
• Joel Embiid scored 31+ points in 10 of his last 11 road games against Eastern teams.
• Kelly Oubre Jr. made 2+ three-pointers in the 76ers’ last 4 road games.
• Josh Hart recorded 11+ rebounds in the Knicks’ last 4 games against the 76ers.
• Kyle Lowry recorded 3+ rebounds in his last 4 games against Eastern teams.
• Jalen Brunson scored 35+ points in 6 of the Knicks’ last 7 games.
• Tyrese Maxey scored 24+ points in 4 of the 76ers’ last 5 games as road underdogs.
• Isaiah Hartenstein scored 10+ points in 4 of his last 5 games.
• Donte DiVincenzo made 4+ three-pointers in 6 of the Knicks’ last 7 home games.
• Tobias Harris recorded 3+ assists in 5 of his last 6 games.
• Jalen Brunson recorded 8+ assists in the Knicks’ last 3 games against the 76ers.

PICK – UNDER 209.0 TOTAL PTS

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LA LAKERS @ DENVER

WESTERN CONFERENCE 1ST ROUND – GAME 1

TEAM TRENDS

• The Nuggets have won their last 8 games against the Lakers.
• The Lakers have failed to cover 9 of their last 10 Western First Round games as underdogs.
• 15 of the Nuggets’ last 20 Western First Round games have gone Overs.

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

SEASON MATCHUPS

PICKS ATS

THE RUB

The Lakers and Nuggets are set to commence their 2023-24 playoffs at Ball Arena on Saturday night, marking yet another playoff encounter. Last season, the Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Conference Finals, a big victory as it was Denver’s first win against Los Angeles in eight postseason series.

During the regular season, Denver continued their dominance with a 3-0 sweep over the Lakers, largely due to stellar performances from Nikola Jokic, who averaged 29.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists, and Jamal Murray, who contributed 24.7 points and 9.3 assists per game.

The Lakers, meanwhile, secured their playoff spot via the play-in, overcoming New Orleans 110-106, and are riding a six-game road win streak—their longest since January 2021. As they face off against the Nuggets once more, the Lakers will be keen to challenge Denver’s recent upper hand in this high-stakes playoff series.

PLAYER TRENDS

• Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double in the Nuggets’ last 4 home games against the Lakers.
• Reggie Jackson scored 9+ points in the Nuggets’ last 7 home games.
• Jamal Murray scored 26+ points in each of the Nuggets’ last 3 Game 1s of a playoff series.
• LeBron James recorded 9+ assists in 8 of his last 9 games against Western Conference teams.
• Austin Reaves scored 17+ points in each of the Lakers’ last 5 playoff games.
• Michael Porter Jr. recorded 8+ rebounds in the Nuggets’ last 5 games against the Lakers.
• Aaron Gordon recorded 7+ rebounds in the Nuggets’ last 4 playoff games.
• Nikola Jokic recorded 11+ assists in the Nuggets’ last 4 home games against the Lakers.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 13+ points in 5 of his last 6 games against the Lakers.
• Rui Hachimura made 2+ three-pointers in 5 of the Lakers’ last 6 games against Western teams.
• D’Angelo Russell recorded 6+ assists in 4 of the Lakers’ last 5 games.
• Michael Porter Jr. recorded a double-double in 4 of the Nuggets’ last 5 games against the Lakers.
• Nikola Jokic scored 32+ points in each of the Nuggets’ last 3 home games against Western Conference teams.
• Anthony Davis scored 27+ points in 7 of the Lakers’ last 9 playoff games against the Nuggets.
• Anthony Davis recorded 14+ rebounds in 9 of his last 13 appearances.

PICK – DENVER -7.0

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