NBA West Playoffs betting tips & top odds – Game 1

The NBA Playoffs officially get underway this weekend with 16 teams going head-to-head competing for a spot in the 2021 NBA Finals. Here are the best bets and top odds on offer for the first-round matchups in the Western Conference.

Utah Jazz (1) vs Winner of Memphis Grizzlies (9) vs Golden State Warriors (8)

The Utah Jazz are eagerly awaiting the result of the final play-in match between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors, who face off on Saturday at 11am AEST.

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert have led the Jazz very well this season, with Utah recording the most wins in the NBA and securing the no.1 seed in the West.

Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are favourites to win their play-in match, but the Jazz should still advance to the second round with ease.

Phoenix Suns (2) vs Los Angeles Lakers (7)

Game 1: Phoenix Suns to win by 1-10

Following a very close game against the Golden State Warriors, the LA Lakers must travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns. Chris Paul and Devin Booker are one of the best front-court duos in the league, while former no.1 draft pick Deandre Ayton has declared himself fit to play. Anthony Davis and LeBron James will struggle to beat the Suns on the road in Game 1, especially since the two Lakers stars have both only recently returned from injury.

Series: Los Angeles Lakers to win 4-3

Although they had to win their spot in this series through the play-in tournament, the Lakers are going to be a force throughout the playoffs. Anthony Davis and LeBron James carried the Lakers to the championship last season, but they now have Andre Drummond and Dennis Schroder by their side. This first-round series should go down to the wire, but we fancy the Lakers to advance after seven matches.

Denver Nuggets (3) vs Portland Trail Blazers (6)

Game 1: Damian Lillard over 41.5 points + rebounds + assists

We cannot look past Damian Lillard in this match between the Nuggets and Trail Blazers, as the six-time NBA All-Star looks ready to explode. Lillard has featured in the last seven playoff tournaments, making him one of the most experienced players in this series. Dame will lead Portland in both points and assists, which could almost be enough to surpass the 41.5 mark without even including rebounds.

Series: Portland Trail Blazers to win 4-2

The Nuggets finished the season with the third-best record in the West, but their starting point guard, Jamal Murray, suffered a torn ACL late in the season. Without Murray leading the way alongside Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets do not have enough offensive avenues to beat Portland. The Trail Blazers should close out this series in six games, but we would not be surprised if they have to play a seventh.

Dallas Mavericks (5) vs Los Angeles Clippers (4)

Game 1: Paul George to score 30+ points

Paul George has fought hard this year to rebuild his reputation after a very poor 2019-20 season where he averaged just 20 points per game in the playoffs. George was rested in the last few matches of the season, so he will be ripe to take on Dallas this Sunday. The Mavs do not have a defender that can stop George when he gets on a roll.

Series: Los Angeles Clippers to win 4-1

The Clippers also faced off with the Mavericks in the first round of last season’s playoffs, which resulted in a 4-2 victory to LA. This series will be decided quicker than the last, as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will have the home-court advantage for the first two contests.

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