Now that the NBA has finished its 2019-20 regular season with 22 teams each playing eight games in the league’s “bubble” in Orlando, it’s time for the postseason to begin. All of the games will take place at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports, just like the “bubble” games, with each series going best-of-seven, just like the traditional format. Today we’re taking a look at the conference quarterfinal rounds and giving you some sports betting insights on each of the eight series.
In this article, we look at the four matchups on the Western Conference side of the bracket.
NBA Betting:
Early Predictions: Western Conference Matchup Games
Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs Portland Trail Blazers (8)
It’s hard to believe this, but the Lakers have not qualified for the postseason since 2013. Now, though, thanks to having LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers are one of the top favorites to win the whole thing.
The two players have done well for the Lakers. An interesting fact is that LeBron has delivered 184 assists to AD this season, the most that one player has provided for another in the 2019-20 season, well ahead of the pair of Damian Lillard and Hassan Whiteside (132). James is averaging double figures in assists this season, adding distribution to scoring at this phase in his game.
The last time James took on Carmelo Anthony in the postseason, James was still in Miami and Anthony was in New York. Both of these stars averaged 27.8 points per game in the series, and this is a rivalry that dates all the way back to high school.
Damian Lillard is far and away the “bubble” MVP, putting up 37.6 points per game, including a 61-point effort against Dallas. Portland has scored 126.0 points per game in the “bubble,” while the Lakers have just put up 106.4 points per game here, second worst among the 22 teams. Portland has rolled into the playoffs on a high note — can they pull off the upset? Or will James and AD elevate their game to a new gear?
Series Prediction:
Lakers in six | Bet on the Game Now!
Los Angeles Clippers (2) vs Dallas Mavericks (7)
Kawhi Leonard has a chance to win two titles in a row after leading Toronto to a championship last year? He is scoring 27.1 points per game this season, a career best. In three games against Dallas this season, he is averaging 31.0 points per contest, and the Clippers have won all three.
Dallas has Luka Doncic, who has led the Mavericks to an offensive rating of 113.7, the second best ever, behind the Warriors a year ago (113.9). The Clippers have a rating of 111.1 for the season. Luka has put up 30.0 points, 10.1 assists and 9.7 boards per game in Orlando, with three triple-doubles, including one with 20 boards. The problem for Dallas is its inability to get stops on defense.
Series Prediction:
Clippers in six | Bet on the Game Now!
Denver Nuggets (3) vs Utah Jazz (6)
Thanks to Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles, the Utah Jazz are shooting 38 percent from behind the arc, best in the “bubble” — but their defense has betrayed them, as they have permitted over 110 points per game in their last seven contests, going 2-5 over that stretch.
Denver swept the season series against Utah, but it is worth noting that no game was decided by more than six points. Nikola Jokic will determine how far the Nuggets go. Can he keep distributing? He averages seven assists per game in 2019-20, the best among all NBA centers. If the inside-out game keeps working, the Nuggets should advance.
Series Prediction:
Nuggets in seven | Bet on the Game Now!
Houston Rockets (4) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (5)
The Rockets lean heavily on their starters, who average 89.1 points per game, more than any other team’s first five. James Harden is averaging 34.3 points per game this season. Russell Westbrook will take the court against his former team — who has Chris Paul running the offense. They are looking to get beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2016, when they led Golden State 3-1 in the Western Conference finals but let that lead get away.
Series Prediction:
Rockets in seven | Bet on the Game Now!
