The Scout: NBA Best Bets

Posted on August 18, 2020August 18, 2020 | Posted by The Scout

Orlando Magic vs Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA (56-17) and come up against a Magic side that was seven games under .500 – only making the playoffs because of the poor Eastern Conference.

The Bucks are the number one scoring team in the NBA (averaging 118.7 points per game) and also rebound more than any other side with 51.7 per game. MVP favourite Giannis Antetokounmpo leads them in both of these categories with 29.5 and 13.6.

This looks to be (and should be) a one sided affair. Led by Giannis, Milwaukee are a high tempo team who even the best sides in the league struggle to keep up with.

Suggested Bet: Milwaukee -12.5 (Line) @ $1.90*

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Oklahoma City Thunder vs Houston Rockets

OKC have been the surprise packet of the season, finishing 5th in the West when most expected them to be a lottery team.

Houston have leant all the way into small-ball basketball, playing run and gun and shooting A LOT of three pointers. Unfortunately for them they will be without Russell Westbrook for this game, and possibly most of the series.

Chris Paul has been playing with a chip on his shoulder all season and will relish the chance to get one over his old side. Paul is averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists on 49% shooting, and most importantly enters the playoffs at full health.

Rebounding is a big problem for the smaller Rockets, and without Westbrook the problem could be fatal. Steven Adams will have the opportunity to dominate the offensive glass in this matchup giving the Thunder plenty of second chance opportunities. His pick and roll play with Paul should also lead to easy buckets and possible foul trouble for Houston.

Suggested Bet: Thunder 1-10 (Margin) @ $2.65*

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Portland Trail Blazers @ Los Angeles Lakers

Damian Lillard put the Blazers on his back, carrying them to the 8th seed, and a highly anticipated matchup with LeBron James and the Lakers.

The Lakers haven’t played well in the bubble, but they had top seed in the West sewn up a long way from home, and should be ready to explode now the real stuff has begun.

There are matchup problems for both teams in this series, but perhaps the biggest of them all will be how the Blazers curtail Anthony Davis.

Portland don’t have an obvious opponent for Davis, so will rely on the committee of big men Collins, Nurkic and Whiteside. None of these three have the length of Davis, and Nurkic and Whiteside will feel particularly uncomfortable meeting Davis on the perimeter.

Across three meetings this season, Davis has averaged 33 points against Portland. He has so many weapons at his disposal, pick and roll with LeBron, mid-range jump shots and a respectable three point shot.

Suggested Bet: Anthony Davis 35+ Points @ $3*

*Odds correct as at 10am, 18th August 2020.

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