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Best bets to consider for Saturday's NBA playoff slate

Chris Schwegler / National Basketball Association / Getty

With four more games on tap for Saturday's NBA playoff slate, let's break down every matchup from a betting perspective.

Philadelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets

Line: 76ers -1.5
Total: 233

The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers followed up a relatively low-scoring Game 1 with two meetings that easily cashed the over.

The Sixers shot 56.1 percent from the floor to boost their numbers in Game 2, and the two clubs racked up 59 combined points from the free-throw line in Game 3. The Nets looked comfortable pushing the pace early in Thursday's loss, but they quickly turned frenetic after losing the lead, and then completely unraveled.

Brooklyn has been undisciplined while allowing the Sixers to attempt an average of 36.3 free throws per game in the series. The only stroke of good fortune was Philadelphia shooting 3-for-25 from three in a Game 1 loss.

The Nets need to slow the pace and force the 76ers to beat them on the perimeter. With the number jacked up to a series-high 233 points, we're leaning toward a lower-scoring game.

Denver Nuggets at San Antonio Spurs

Line: Spurs -3.5
Total: 208

The Nuggets' defense doesn't typically get exposed like it did during Thursday's 118-108 loss to the Spurs. The team had allowed 118-plus points in just one of its previous 12 games coming into Game 3.

Had it not been for Spurs point guard Derrick White's heroics - 36 points on 15-for-21 shooting - Denver may have had a chance to take a 2-1 series lead. Instead, the Nuggets need to even things up at 2-2.

That effort will start on defense.

In their last 10 games following a loss, the Nuggets have allowed just 102.6 points per contest. While White - who averaged 9.9 points per game this season - going off deserves a spot in Spurs postseason lore, getting 30-plus points from him on a nightly basis is unlikely.

The Nuggets have been close in their two losses, and we think the series heads back to Denver knotted up.

Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons

Line: Bucks -8.5
Total: 217

The disrespect here is real. Most series underdogs will lay a couple of points at home, but nobody is giving Detroit a chance against the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Blake Griffin's absence during the first two games of this series has led to 36- and 21-point Pistons losses. How much would the forward help? A lot, but probably not enough to stretch the series to even five games.

Detroit probably knows a comeback - or just winning once - is exceedingly difficult at this point. But if there's any spot to feel comfortable backing the Pistons, it's their first home playoff game with Milwaukee feeling good.

We recommended the Bucks in Game 1 and the over in Game 2. On Saturday, take the points.

Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz

Line: Jazz -3
Total: 216

Utah has been a tough place to play this season. The Jazz are just one of four teams allowing fewer than 105 points per game at home. Overall, they're No. 2 in defensive efficiency, just behind the Bucks.

Utah received a reality check during the first two games in Houston, allowing the Rockets to shoot 49 percent from the floor while falling into an 0-2 hole.

Being contrarian when picking sides or totals in the postseason is lazy. However, Utah hasn’t played well yet in this series, and the Jazz now return home for what’s essentially a must-win game. Following a Game 2 that saw the Rockets cover and the game go over, we like the Jazz and the under.

Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.

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