NBA Betting Weekend Preview – April 17-18th

NBA Betting weekend preview by Bet Jamaica - The NBA playoffs start this weekend, and most eyes are on the favorites – the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Cavaliers (61-21 SU, 38-43-1 ATS) open the first round on Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Bulls (41-41 SU, 42-38-2 ATS), while the Lakers (57-25 SU, 33-46-3 ATS) kick off Sunday’s action with Game 1 of their first-round set against the Oklahoma City Thunder (50-32 SU, 48-34 ATS).

Cleveland and Los Angeles are attracting plenty of attention – and rightfully so – but bettors shouldn’t sleep on the other six first-round best-of-seven series getting underway this weekend.

Headlining the best of the rest is Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals between the Dallas Mavericks (55-27 SU, 37-44-1 ATS) and San Antonio Spurs (50-32 SU, 44-37-1 ATS) on Sunday night at American Airlines Center.

The Mavericks are pleased after surging down the stretch to secure the second seed in the West, although a date with the veteran Spurs isn’t much of a reward.

Dallas has won eight of its last 10 games both SU and ATS, and took three of four (3-1 ATS) from San Antonio this season, including a 96-89 win as 5-point home chalk to close out the regular schedule on Wednesday night.

Bettors shouldn’t read too much into the win. Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili sat out for the Spurs, who were led by DeJuan Blair’s 27 points and 23 rebounds. Caron Butler scored 20 points for the Mavs, while Dirk Nowitzki dropped 19 points.

Dallas finished below .500 at the window this season, and most of those losses came at American Airlines Center. The Mavericks are just 7-28-1 ATS in their last 36 games at home.

Later on Sunday night, the Phoenix Suns (54-28 SU, 48-33-1 ATS) host the Portland Trail Blazers (50-32 SU, 44-36-2 ATS) at US Airways Center in the opener of their West first-round series.

The Suns clinched the third seed in the West with a 100-86 win as 5-point pups at Utah on Wednesday night, and now they’ll face a Blazers team that could be without its best player.

Brandon Roy (knee) is questionable for Game 1 for Portland, which is already without Greg Oden (knee) and Joel Pryzbilla (knee) for the rest of the season.

If Roy can’t go, or he isn’t effective, the Blazers are hard pressed to keep up with the Suns, who are a sizzling 7-2 ATS (7-2 SU) in their last nine games. At best, Portland could see more favorable odds with Roy on the shelf.

The Blazers have won 13 of their last 17 games (9-7-1 ATS), but the Suns are rolling coming into the playoffs. Phoenix is 12-3-1 against the number in its last 16 games at US Airways Center and 25-9-1 ATS in its last 35 games overall.

Over in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics (50-32 SU, 33-47-2 ATS) tip off with the Miami Heat (47-35 SU, 42-39-1 ATS) on Saturday night at TD Garden in Game 1 of their first-round affair.

The Celtics stumbled into the postseason with only three spread paydays (4-7 SU) in their last 11 games, making them a prime candidate for fade bait against the Heat. Miami has won 12 of its last 13 games SU, going 8-4-1 ATS for backers.

Boston swept the three-game season series, going 2-1 ATS. This includes a 107-102 win at the Garden on February 3, although Miami cashed as 5.5-point underdogs.

Earlier on Saturday, the Atlanta Hawks (53-29 SU, 48-34 ATS) take on the Milwaukee Bucks (46-36 SU, 52-28-2 ATS) in the first game of their East quarterfinals series at Philips Arena.

The most profitable wager in the league this season, the Bucks are 21-5-1 ATS in their last 27 road games, and appear to be a solid underdog wager for Game 1. Problem is, Milwaukee is without starting center Andrew Bogut (elbow, wrist, hand) for the remainder of the season.

Bettors would be wise to consider the ‘over’ on the total. The teams have cashed the ‘over’ in eight straight meetings, during which the Hawks are 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS.

In other games this weekend, the Orlando Magic battle with the Charlotte Bobcats in Game 1 of their East first-round set on Sunday, while the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz play Game 1 of their West first-round series on Saturday.