Phoenix did win all 3 regular season meetings, but the playoffs will be a different beast. This is the coming out party for Anthony Edwards, I have him asserting his dominance in Game 1. Rudy Gobert should also clog up the paint, making it difficult to score for Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the rest of the Suns. Minnesota is 30-11 SU in home games this season, back them to win the series opener.

The Knicks dominated the regular season 3-1 vs Philadelphia, all 3 of their wins were by double digits. Games should be a lot more competitive in the playoffs, but I still expect a response from New York in Game 1. Jalen Brunson has been playing at an All-NBA level this year, the Knicks are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at MSG. Back them to cover in the series opener.

The defending champion Denver Nuggets enter Game 1 as heavy favorites against the Los Angeles Lakers, with the smart money backing them to cover the -7 point spread. Nikola Jokic’s sustained excellence, Denver’s depth, and their recent dominance over the Lakers make them a safe bet to assert control early in this series.

The smart bet for Game 1 between the Nuggets and Lakers is the UNDER 224 total points. Denver’s deliberate pace and disciplined defense could frustrate the up-tempo Lakers. With Nikola Jokic controlling the game flow and the Nuggets capable of limiting LeBron James and Anthony Davis, expect a low-scoring affair as Denver imposes their style.

The Knicks dominated the regular season 3-1 vs Philadelphia, all 3 of their wins were by double digits. Games should be a lot more competitive in the playoffs, but I still expect a response from New York in Game 1. Jalen Brunson has been playing at an All-NBA level this year, the Knicks are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at MSG. Back them to cover in the series opener.

The defending champion Denver Nuggets enter Game 1 as heavy favorites against the Los Angeles Lakers, with the smart money backing them to cover the -7 point spread. Nikola Jokic’s sustained excellence, Denver’s depth, and their recent dominance over the Lakers make them a safe bet to assert control early in this series.

The smart bet for Game 1 between the Nuggets and Lakers is the UNDER 224 total points. Denver’s deliberate pace and disciplined defense could frustrate the up-tempo Lakers. With Nikola Jokic controlling the game flow and the Nuggets capable of limiting LeBron James and Anthony Davis, expect a low-scoring affair as Denver imposes their style.

The Knicks are great outsiders to win the Eastern Conference but backing them each-way for the title offers a better return. The Knicks were second in the regular season and they’ve improved since adding OG Anunoby midway through the campaign. The former Toronto Raptor has been on a title-winning roster, while he’s a solid postseason option and a defensive superstar. The Knicks have Jalen Brunson in the form of his life, so they’re fantastic outsiders to win the East.

The Timberwolves’ huge frontcourt is fancied to cause problems for a Suns side who lack the defensive options for a long postseason run. The Suns have struggled to impress in the last couple of playoff runs and they finished eight games behind a Timberwolves side who were the clear best side in the West before Karl-Anthony Towns went down with injury. With Towns back to fitness, back Minnesota to progress.

The Mavericks are flying right now and they meet an LA Clippers side who have gone cold. The Clippers roster is packed with players known for shrinking in the postseason and their star man Kawhi Leonard is an injury doubt.

The Bucks had a shaky finish to the season and they lost four of five meetings with Indiana this season. The Pacers’ chances will be boosted by the news that Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss out early in this series.

The Magic have all the tools to expose this Cavs side and they rank third defensively this term, which bodes well for the postseason. Cleveland lost 15 of their final 25 games this season, with their roster lacking cohesiveness and rumours swirling that star man Donovan Mitchell is heading for the exit.

The Bucks had a shaky finish to the season and they lost four of five meetings with Indiana this season. The Pacers’ chances will be boosted by the news that Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss out early in this series. His return could drag things out, but the Pacers should progress.

The Magic have all the tools to expose this Cavs side and they rank third defensively this term, which bodes well for the postseason. Cleveland lost 15 of their final 25 games this season, with their roster lacking cohesiveness and rumours swirling that star man Donovan Mitchell is heading for the exit. The pair split the regular season series 2-2, but that was before the Cavs fell apart in the run-in.

The Mavericks’ 16-2 run down the stretch proved they can be a postseason force. They’ve got the best backcourt in the West, while defensive upgrades in February have made them really hard to stop. The Mavs have become very efficient offensively in the back-half of the campaign and in Luka Doncic they boast a near unstoppable offensive force, alongside NBA champion Kyrie Irving.