NBA Previews & Predictions For Sunday's NBA Playoff Games

NBA Playoffs: Betting Odds, Best Bets

The first round of the postseason continues Sunday and we here at BetQL will have you covered for every game of the NBA Playoffs. As you make your picks, remember, BetQL is here to help you make smart, informed bets with live NBA betting odds, best bets from our model, sharp picks, public bets, line movement data, exclusive NBA articles and much more to help you cash tonight.

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Lakers at Grizzlies Prediction

I have to say, kudos to the Lakers for making it into the playoffs, a feat that I certainly didn't think was going to happen. I've been very down on this team for a long time, and I really thought that in order for them to even get back into contention, they would have to completely blow up the team. Well, they are back in contention technically, but they will be an auto fade for me as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.

The Grizzlies have been one of my favorite bets all year in the NBA, and getting them at 24/1 to win the NBA title was a great value if you ask me. Even though there were some struggles in the middle of the season with Ja Morant and his childish social media posts, the team has still been great even after that whole debacle. They have lost three of their last five games coming into the playoffs, but the line of just -3.5 seems a bit disrespectful to me. This team is 35-6 at home this season, which is just insane, and they are also 23-17-1 ATS on their home floor.

The Lakers, as I mentioned previously, are a team that I simply do not trust in big spots. They are especially not great on the road, going just 20-21 and 19-21-1 ATS.

My pick: Grizzlies -3.5 (-110, DraftKings)

Clippers at Suns Prediction

I think this series will be closer than most people think. I also think that will have a lot to do with whether or not Paul George is able to go at some point. He's critical to their success, and if he misses more than a few of these games, they are sunk. The Suns still don't really have a lot of chemistry playing together, even if they do have a ton of star talent all over the court. It doesn't matter how much talent you have if they don't know each other's strengths and weaknesses really well, and there just hasn't been enough time for them all to play together if you ask me.

Now, that doesn't mean that I don't think they will win this series, as they certainly can do that and are favored to. I just believe that the Clippers will put up much more of a fight than most people think, especially if George is able to go. The addition of Russell Westbrook to the team actually somewhat helped, which I found shocking. Kawhi Leonard is always a threat, and the emergence of Norman Powell on the team gives them a very formidable backcourt.

I'll take the +7.5 with them in this game, and I would suggest sprinkling the series total games over 5.5, which I like.

My pick: Clippers +7.5 (-115, BetMGM)

Heat at Bucks Prediction

The Miami Heat managed to take down the Chicago Bulls in the play-in, so now they get the pleasure of facing the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. This certainly isn't going to be an easy challenge for Miami, as they are outmatched in almost every way in this series. While they probably will put up more of a fight than the Bulls would have, they will have a tough time getting past Giannis Antetokounmpo. Though they managed to take both games at home this season against the Bucks, Giannis did not play in either of those games. When the series moved to Milwaukee, it was no contest who was the better team.

I fully expect the Bucks to come out of this one with a win, and they will very likely win this series, although Miami may manage to steal one down in South Beach. Game 1 in Milwaukee should heavily favor the Bucks, and that is why they are massive -9 favorites in the game. I'm inclined to lay that number in the first game, as the Bucks will be looking to make as statement out of the gate against an overmatched Heat squad.

My pick: Bucks -9 (-109, BetRivers)

Timberwolves at Nuggets Prediction

The Minnesota Timberwolves destroyed the Oklahoma City Thunder in the play-in tournament, and now they have to get past the vaunted Denver Nuggets if they want to move on in the NBA Playoffs. Minnesota was totally dominant in their win over the Thunder, holding OKC to just 36 percent shooting from the field. However, they may find that to be a bit harder when they take on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. Jokic is a perennial MVP candidate, and he'll offer up a slew of problems for the Timberwolves to try and guard defensively. Neither Rudy Gobert or Karl Anthony-Towns have been able to guard him this season, as he averages a triple-double against the Wolves in four games this season.

Minnesota managed to split the series 2-2 this season, and they could surprise with a few victories here in this series. However, in the end, I expect the Nuggets to overwhelm them and take this series. For Game 1 on Sunday, Denver is laying -7.5 points against Minnesota. Those are fair odds, and I'm going to lay it with them. The Nuggets are a far more complete team than the Wolves are, and chemistry problems are all over the Minnesota roster.

My pick: Nuggets -7.5 (-110, FanDuel)

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