The NBA playoffs are finally here, with Saturday’s schedule set for the first round. The games on Saturday, April 15, features teams from the East and West who clinched a playoff berth, skirting the purgatory of the play-in round, plus a surprise play-in winner, the Atlanta Hawks.
The day starts with an Eastern Conference matchup at 1 p.m. ET and ends in the West at 8:30 p.m. ET. All of the best online sportsbooks have odds and prop bets for every game. Check out the details below.
Updated #NBAPlayoffs First Round, Game 1 schedule ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IQIsbcYEHr
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 12, 2023
We’ve got a complete betting preview with the best odds for each team and matchup. Here’s everything you need to know about the NBA playoffs betting odds that are tipping off on Saturday.
NBA Playoffs Betting Odds for Saturday, April 15
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Here are the odds for the matchup from Caesars Sportsbook.
- Point Spread: Sixers -8.5
- Moneyline: Sixers -355 | Nets +278
- Total (over/under): 216 points
The Nets looked like they might not clinch a spot in the East, but in the last four games of the season, they widened the gap between themselves, the Heat, and the Hawks, and sealed the No. 6 seed with a regular season record of 45-37.
The Sixers, on the other hand, cruised through the season without much concern about snagging their playoff spot. With a regular-season record of 54-28, they nabbed home-court advantage in the first round. The Sixers went 29-12 at home compared to the Nets going 22-19 on the road.
Philly has also beaten Brooklyn all four times the teams clashed this season — even when the Nets boasted two of the league’s superstars. The Sixers haven’t made it past the second round of the NBA playoffs since 2001. They’ve been through a rebuilding process, and Joel Embiid, James Harden, and Co. will be feeling the pressure this year.
Brooklyn, on the other hand, is just starting its rebuilding process after a plot-twisty trade deadline and a tough year. Our money is on the Sixers to win the opening game.
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Best Prop Bets for Nets vs. Sixers
- Will there be overtime? Yes +1200 | No -3000
- First-half winning margin: Nets 1-3 points (+700) | Sixers 7-9 points (+600)
- Nets first to 50 points: +180
- Sixers first to 50 points: -220
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Here are the odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Point Spread: Celtics -9
- Moneyline: Celtics -420 | Hawks +330
- Total (over/under): 230 points
The Hawks stunned the betting world on Tuesday when they toppled the Miami Heat 116-105. The Heat opened as five-point favorites in the play-in matchup but fell to a surging Hawks troop. The Hawks clinched the No. 7 seed in the East in dramatic fashion, with Trae Young getting 25 points and 7 assists and Clint Capela contributing 21 rebounds.
The Hawks have been slowly building since changing leadership to Quin Snyder, with just 21 games left in the regular season.
Can a team that went 41-41 in the regular season beat the 57-25 Boston Celtics, though? That’s unlikely, at least in a series. Boston is looking as strong as ever entering the postseason and went 3-0 against Atlanta in the regular season, averaging 126.6 points per game against them. Jaylen Brown is expected to be back after a hand injury, and the Celtics should be at full strength to kick off Game 1.
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Best Prop Bets for Hawks vs. Celtics
- Jaylen Brown to get the first basket: +430
- Trae Young to get the first basket: +700
- Will there be overtime? Yes +1500 | No -7000
- Celtics to be winning at the end of every quarter: +108
NY Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers, 6 p.m. (ESPN)
Here are the odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.
- Point Spread: Cavaliers -6.5
- Moneyline: Cavaliers -225 | Knicks +180
- Total (over/under): 214.5 points
The Knicks vs. Cavaliers matchup, on paper, should be the closest matchup of Day 1 of the playoffs. The Cavs are the No. 4 seed with a regular season record of 51-31, while the Knicks are right behind at No. 5 with a 47-35 record.
The Cavs have a clear advantage with the home court, but in the regular season, they went 1-3 against the Knicks. Two of those losses were in Madison Square Garden and the most recent loss in Cleveland. Can the Cavs figure out the matchup to advance past the first round? Can the Knicks recreate their regular season formula in the playoff setting and make it out of round one of the playoffs for the first time since 2013?
We think the Cavs can dig deep and find a clutch factor, but the Knicks have been nothing if not surprising this season. If you like betting for the underdog, this is the most promising matchup to bet Knicks for a few games, but we think the Cavs take the series.
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Best Prop Bets for Knicks vs. Cavs
- Cavs to reach 50 points first: -225
- Knicks to reach 50 points first: +160
- Darius Garland to Double-Double: +240
- Donovan Mitchell to score over 30.5 points: -110
Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
Here are the odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, where you can get better money on the Warriors.
- Point Spread: Warriors -1
- Moneyline: Warriors -105 | Kings -115
- Total (over/under): 238.5 points
The final game on Saturday is our first playoff game in the Western Conference, with the Warriors traveling to take on the Kings. This game is the actual closest matchup of the day in terms of odds, even though it features a three-seed vs. a six-seed.
Golden State went 44-38 in the regular season, just barely squeaking in under the line and clinching a playoff berth as the No. 6 seed. The Kings, on the other hand, clinched their division with a 48-34 record and the No. 3 seed in the West.
Sacramento doesn’t have the strongest home record at 23-18 compared to 25-16 on the road. But when you compare it to Golden State’s abysmal 11-30 record on the road, things start looking better for the competitors in the north. At least for the home games.
But then, consider this: Golden State has a 3-1 record against Sacramento. Plus, Golden State has proven they can shift gears for the playoffs, with veteran finals champs on the roster. Our money is on Golden State to kick it into gear in time for Saturday’s game and potentially the series.
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Best Prop Bets for Warriors vs. Kings
- De’Aaron Fox to get over 24.5 points: -170
- Klay Thompson to score over 19.5 points: -195
- Domantas Sabonis to Double-Double: -1200
Article contributed by Hannah Vanbiber.
