With the regular season wrapped up, the NBA playoffs kick off on Saturday. There are four teams from each conference in the purgatory of the Play-In Tournament, fighting for the final two spots in the coming postseason.

However, we already have half of the first round matchups set and we’ve got a full list of outright odds to win the NBA Championship, with the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets already heavy favourites at 8/5 and 3/1 respectively.

However, last season was packed with shocks and in that spirit, I’ve picked out a couple of outright winners and the best bets of the first round. Each of these selections are priced with bet365, the go-to bookie for our NBA Predictions. New bet365 customers can take advantage of this great offer below:

NBA Outright Winner Predictions

Dallas Mavericks to win at 11/1 with bet365

The Mavericks missed the playoffs entirely last season and they had some teething problems early this season, but things have turned around in Dallas. The pairing of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving look unstoppable going forward, while the February additions of PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford have transformed them defensively.

The Mavs secured their place in the playoffs with two games to spare thanks to a run of 16 wins in 18 games, downing some elite Western Conference opposition in that run. There isn’t a player in the NBA who can match the level Doncic has hit in 2024, while there’s no better second option across the league than Kyrie Irving.

The Mavs have height, threat from three, great frontcourt depth and the best backcourt in the league. Take them to win it all.

New York Knicks each-way at 33/1 with bet365

Normally we’d back the Eastern Conference winner second, but there’s better value on offer taking the Knicks each-way. New York are 12/1 for the Eastern Conference title, but at 1/2 returns for a top-two finish, you can get 16.5/1 on them winning the East with an each-way bet on them winning the title.

The Knicks finished second in the Eastern Conference, they were the only side outside of the Celtics to win 50 games. Huge question marks hang over the four teams that finished directly behind them, while there’s plenty to like about this Knicks side.

The absence of Julius Randle plays a part in their price, but I don’t think they need him to spark a run. Jalen Brunson is playing at a level no guard in the East can match right now. On top of that, the mid-season addition of OG Anunoby is being slept on.

Last year the Knicks made the Conference semis, losing to the Miami Heat despite winning the minutes when Brunson was on the court. Their problem was the lack of a defensive specialist and London-born Anunoby is the most versatile defender in the NBA. He’s also proven a clutch playoff option while at the Toronto Raptors, where he won an NBA Championship.

Anunoby’s offensive numbers tick up in the playoffs and he can defend any position on the court. Precious Achiuwa is another stellar defender for the Knicks and this is the time of year when defensive options really show. Tom Thibodeau will have them organised and he’ll happily squeeze every minute he can out of his stars. Take them as the value alternative to a short-priced Celtics side that lacks depth

17/1 & 65/1 First Round Predictions

Playoff series accumulator tip

Indiana Pacers to beat Milwaukee Bucks

Star man Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss the start of this series, a meeting with a Pacers side that won four of five regular-season meetings. Each of those clashes came before the Bucks made the bizarre decision to sack their coach and appoint Doc Rivers, who has a 17-19 record with the team.

Orlando Magic to beat Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs purposely lost on the final day to set up this clash and that looks set to backfire. They were dumped out by a Knicks side who out-rebounded them a year ago and the Magic are arguably even stronger in that department. The Magic rank third in the league defensively and the Cavs went cold in the run-in, losing 15 of their last 25 matches.

Minnesota Timberwolves to beat Phoenix Suns

This is a close one, but I just can’t see how a Suns side that lack strong defensive options can hold Minnesota’s monstrous frontcourt at bay. I’m not that up on their recent roster moves and the Suns have massively underwhelmed in the last two postseasons.

Dallas Mavericks to beat LA Clippers

I’m confident of the Mavericks going all the way so I’m backing them to beat an LA Clippers side who have cooled in recent months. The Clippers have an ageing, injury-prone roster and they exited at this stage a year ago.

65/1 Correct Score Double

Indiana Pacers to win 4-2 vs Milwaukee Bucks

We haven’t seen an Eastern Conference first-round series go to seven games since 2018, which cuts down outcomes in two series where I’m confident the lower seeds will progress. The Bucks were dumped out at this point last season and they’ve been poor in recent months, although the Pacers’ inexperience could cost them a couple of games.

Orlando Magic to win 4-1 vs Cleveland Cavaliers

The Magic have all the tools to trouble a Cavs side which lost 4-1 at this point last season, barely putting up a fight. Their changes since haven’t really improved the team and these two won two meetings apiece by February, before the Cavs’ awful run began. I don’t see how Cleveland clicks back into gear quickly, so back the Magic to catch them out.

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