The first round of the NBA playoffs gets underway with the first two games on Monday night, with two Eastern Conference games and a Lakers vs. Nuggets matchup in the West. The first game tips off at 7:00 pm ET between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks, and finally the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. Ends with a battle.
Can Paolo Banchero and his most improved Magic turn on the offense to pick up a win against Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs? Is there hope for the Sixers if Embiid, who suffered another injury scare in Game 1, isn't at 100%? What about LeBron James and his Lakers? Is there anyone who can compete with the power coupling of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray?
We have odds, previews and predictions for all three games below, ordered by tip-off.
All odds are from BetMGM. Find great ticket deals on StubHub.
5th place Orlando Magic vs. 4th place Cleveland Cavaliers
How to watch: 7pm ET on NBA TV
Series odds: Cleveland -400, Orlando +310
After the Cavaliers' 97-83 win on Saturday night, Cleveland's odds to win the series have been inch away from Orlando's odds. The Magic are a very talented team defensively, and their physicality is probably the Cavs' biggest challenge. But all the energy spent on defense comes at the expense of strong offensive play.
The light offensive power of Game 1 will continue throughout the series. The Cavs have a hard time scoring against the Magic's physicality, while the Magic have a hard time scoring due to their emphasis on defense. It would be an accomplishment to see Orlando score 100 points. Maybe they try a different lineup in Game 2 to expand their offense?
The Cavs have enough shot-making ability to win and cover this game. In Game 1, the starters played well, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 30 points, Evan Mobley scoring 16 points, and Jarrett Allen scoring 16 points. It will be interesting to see if role players like George Niang and Sam Merrill step up in Game 2.
Cavs vs. Magic expert picks
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7th place Philadelphia 76ers vs. 2nd place New York Knicks
How to watch: TNT 7:30pm ET
Series odds: New York -275, Philadelphia +225
Embiid's knee: The cloud that hangs over this entire series. As of Sunday night, Embiid is doubtful for Game 2 as he continues to recover from an injury to his left knee. An incredible T-Mac-style self alley-oop play by Embiid nearly ended in disaster, landing on his injured foot and going down, leaving him down for several minutes in Game 1.
Fortunately, he was ejected and returned to the game in the third quarter, but played in the second half with some fatigue.
As a result, the Sixers went from being even with the Knicks in series odds to favoring the Knicks by a significant margin. Granted, the Sixers had some other issues in Game 1 as well, including rebounding and missed shots. However, in the words of athletic Mike Volkunov: “For Embiid, they're a competitor. They can't do it without him.''
If Embiid is 100 percent (or even 90 percent), this series will be competitive. Tyrese Maxey is a hot shot, and when paired with Embiid, he becomes Batman and Robin. But if the Sixers are without their batsman, the Knicks could get it done in four or five games.
Knicks vs. Sixers Expert Pick
No.7 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No.2 Denver Nuggets
How to watch: 10pm ET on TNT
Series odds: Denver -700, Los Angeles +500
The Nuggets' odds to win the series have ballooned from -350 to -700 since winning Game 1 114-103. Since overwhelmingly defeating the Lakers in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, their record against the Lakers this season is 4-0. (The Lakers haven't beaten the Nuggets since October 30, 2022.)
The high pick-and-roll between Murray and Jokic is probably the most unguardable play in basketball today. The Nuggets are the class of the West, and while Anthony Davis and LeBron James continue to play well, the Nuggets' support class is too much for this Los Angeles core. Don't expect this to be a 7.
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Nuggets vs. Lakers Expert Pick
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(Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic in March: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
