NBA Betting: The Three Most Exciting Playoff Matchups Kicking Off this Weekend

Michael Savio pic
By:
Michael Savio
04/19/2024
NBA
Basketball news

Highlights

  • Giannis may miss the Bucks entire series against the Pacers
  • The T-Wolves led the league in opponent scoring
  • Joel Embiid is healthy and back in the Sixers lineup

The NBA Playoffs are here at least, which means now is the time to bet on each series on your favorite betting site.

If you are having a hard time deciding which series to bet, we are here to help. Below, we’ll share the three matchups that our USA Legal Betting experts can’t wait to watch starting this weekend. We’ll include insights into each matchup to help you bet confidently on the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

#6 Indiana Pacers vs. #3 Milwaukee Bucks 

Odds to win series from FanDuel Sportsbook: Pacers -132 | Bucks +106

This Eastern Conference matchup tops our list for a few reasons. For starters, the Pacers enter as the betting favorite despite being the lower seed. This is largely due to the questionable status of Giannis. The Bucks star suffered a calf injury at the end of the season, and it appears it may keep him out for at least the start of this series.

Another reason why Indiana sportsbooks are seeing a flood of bet on the hometown Pacers is their success against the Bucks this season. Indiana took four of their five games against the Bucks, with the lone loss coming when Giannis scored 64 points.

We tend to agree with the Pacers being favored, but they have not faced the Bucks since January 3. The Bucks haven’t been better since then, but they do look far different. That could lead to the Bucks stealing the first two home games, swinging the momentum towards them.

#6 Phoenix Suns vs. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves 

Odds to win series from BetMGM Sportsbook: Suns -130 | T-Wolves +110 

Like Milwaukee, the Phoenix Suns have not lived up to the hype this season. The addition of Bradley Beal has helped a bit, but injuries have prevented the team from having Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and him on the floor together. That led the Suns to come dangerously close to the play-in tournament, and why they enter as the six seed in the West. 

What makes this matchup, so intriguing is how these two teams match up. The Suns have as much offensive firepower as anyone in the league (when healthy), while the T-Wolves led the league in opponent scoring (106.5 PPG). While Minnesota has been the better team all season, Phoenix did win all three of their matchups during the season. Two of those wins came in the final two weeks of the season. 

In addition to the way these teams matchup, we also can’t wait to see the star power both will bring. We can’t wait to see how emerging superstar Ant Edwards fares in the playoffs when facing legends like Durant, Booker, and Beal.  

We aren’t sure who will come out on top in this one, but we do expect it to be close. 

#7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks 

Odds to win series from DraftKings Sportsbook: 76ers -110 | Knicks -110 

The Knicks being able to earns the second seed in the East was a big deal, but their reward is the most difficult first round matchup possible against the 76ers. Philly dropped down the standings in the East after losing Joel Embiid to injury. However, the former MVP is back in the lineup, once again making the Sixers among the best teams in the East.

The biggest reason we love this matchup that both teams have been haunted by playoff failures. The Knicks haven’t won much of anything for decades now, while the Sixers have failed to win a title a massive investment in their roster. That means whoever loses this series will have to answer to an angry fanbase.