The playoffs are officially here, and the Lakers vs. Grizzlies and Suns vs. Clippers series scheduled to start Sunday are two of the most star-filled matchups in the first round. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Ja Morant, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Kawhi Leonard, and more will be in action on Sunday, April 16.
The favorites are clear in these matchups, but fans and analysts have both series on upset watch. If you’re a fan of sports betting, these are two series you should have your eyes on. For more insight into the matchups, check out the NBA Playoffs betting odds and previews below.
All of these odds are available at the country’s top sports betting apps.
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NBA Playoffs Betting Odds and Preview for Sunday, April 16
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 3 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Game 1 Point spread from FanDuel Sportsbook: Memphis -3.5
- Game 1 Total: 227 points
- Series Odds: Memphis -142 | LA Lakers +120
The Lakers barely escaped the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Play-in Tournament to make the playoffs, and yet, their odds of beating the No. 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies aren’t as vast as many may have expected. The teams matched up three times this season with the Lakers taking the series 2-1. Neither team was at full strength in any of the matchups, and LA’s Russell Westbrook was a part of the team in the first contest. However, there was a key takeaway that provided valuable insight into the matchup.
That is that the Grizzlies have no answer for Anthony Davis. Against the Grizzlies, Davis had 28 points and 19 rebounds in his first outing, and he had 30 points and 22 rebounds in his second outing. James did not play for the Lakers in either of those contests. If Davis can maintain his aggressiveness with James on the court against the Grizzlies, the Lakers are going to be a very tough out.
That’s especially true barring Morant’s play. Outside of his short but dominant series against the Warriors in 2022, Morant’s playoff history isn’t the best. His performances from the field range from good to shaky at best. If the Lakers can force him into bad play, their chances get a lot better, despite the quality of players around Morant.
Los Angeles Clippers at Phoenix Suns, 8 p.m. ET (TNT)
- Game 1 Point Spread from DraftKings Sportsbook: Phoenix -7
- Game 1 Total: 225.5 points
- Series Odds: Phoenix -500 | LA Clippers +370
The Suns are in the top three across the major sportsbooks to win the Finals. However, there are still plenty of questions the newly formed “super team” has yet to answer. For starters, Kevin Durant hasn’t played a good number of games in a Suns uniform. How that will impact team chemistry and decision-making down the stretch of games are two of the biggest questions surrounding the team.
In the last game Durant played, he scored 29 points in his fifth game after returning from injury. However, it was against the Denver Nuggets in a game the Suns won by four without Nikola Jokic or Aaron Gordon on the court. The Suns are still figuring out how to play with each other and that makes them vulnerable.
Not many teams have been dominant, despite the odds, after adding a player the quality of Durant mid-season. The good news for the Suns is that the Clippers are expected to be without Paul George in this one, but they are still an incredibly talented team with a known leader in Leonard, who has been with them for years now. Westbrook is just as new to the Clippers as Durant is to the Suns, but his health has kept him on the court and allowed him to get more familiar with his new team.
With defenders like Leonard, Nicolas Batum, and Norman Powell, the Clippers have options to throw at Devin Booker and Durant to keep things competitive. Down the stretch of close games are where things may get interesting, as Booker and Durant figure out who takes the big shots. The Suns should be favorites, but an upset wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world given the history of the Suns’ stars.
The Rest of the Sunday Schedule
Sunday’s slate includes two other games that will be series openers.
At 5:30 p.m. ET, the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks (-9) will play host to the No. 8 Miami Heat. Then, at 10:30 p.m. ET, the No. 1 Denver Nuggets (-7.5) will play host to the No. 8 Minnesota Timberwolves.
