NBA First-Round Series Props: Odds Say Milwaukee Sweeps Detroit
By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Updated: April 13, 2020 at 8:18 am EDTPublished:
- Exact series prop wagers released on the first round of the NBA playoffs
- The Bucks & Warriors are favored to sweep their respective series
- The Denver Nuggets-San Antonio Spurs set is most likely to go seven games
MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks were the NBA’s best team during the regular season, winning 60 games. The Bucks are projected to win four playoff games rather quickly at the expense of the Detroit Pistons.
#NBAPlayoffs are finally here 🙌 pic.twitter.com/49HrPRLBGF
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 13, 2019
There’s sound reason to believe that this will happen.
If there’s one thing we know about the first round of the NBA playoffs, it’s that the chalk rarely gets rubbed off the board. Over the past four years, favorites are 26-6 in the opening round of the road to the NBA Finals.
Bucks vs Pistons Series Props
| Prop | Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| When Will the Series Finish? | Game 4 | +200 |
| Series Correct Score | Bucks to win 4-0 | +125 |
| Correct Score After Game 4 | Bucks 3-0 | n/a |
*All odds taken 04/13/19
Bucks Won’t Be Stopped Here
Milwaukee swept all four regular-season meetings from the Pistons during the 2018-19 campaign, and for the most part, the games weren’t even close.
Waiting on the NBA playoffs like…@Bucks @Giannis_An34 @NBAonTNT #NBAPlayoffs #greekfreak pic.twitter.com/zCIxijVpFQ
— TheMoneyTrain (@TheMoneyTrainCo) April 10, 2019
The Bucks won by average point differential of 14.75 points per game.
The Pistons have lost seven straight at Milwaukee. Detroit hasn’t won a playoff game in over a decade.
The Bucks outscored opponents in the paint a league-high 11.1 points per game. The Pistons were outscored five points per game in the paint, fourth-worst in the NBA.
We hear from Blake Griffin, who clearly looks hindered by a sore knee Sunday but refuses to use it as an excuse, and says the focus now is playing with desperation in the final two games. pic.twitter.com/kybcnYO9KQ
— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) April 7, 2019
On top of that, Blake Griffin, Detroit’s best player, is day-to-day with a knee injury.
Raptors vs Magic Series Props
| Prop | Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| When Will the Series Finish? | Game 6 | +310 |
| Series Correct Score | Raptors to win 4-2 | +425 |
| Correct Score After Game 4 | Raptors 2-1 | +110 |
Do You Believe In Magic?
No NBA team struggles with first-round matchups the way the Toronto Raptors do. Over the past three opening rounds, the Raptors are 3-0, but it’s been close to going the other way each time.
The offseason move to trade DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard was designed to help make Toronto more of a playoff team.
reporter: how can you and danny help the raptors get over the hump?
kawhi: what hump? pic.twitter.com/wosM0O3e9q
— Yahoo Sports Canada (@YahooCASports) April 12, 2019
Toronto required six games to dispose of the Washington Wizards last spring, and six games to eliminate the Bucks in 2017. The 2016 opening round saw the Raptors pushed to seven games by the Indiana Pacers.
The Magic come into the playoffs on a 22-9 roll and playing a tight defensive system that should work well in postseason basketball.
Get hype @OrlandoMagic fans, @D19J is taking the Magic over the Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/YI0ymEvVRn
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 12, 2019
Since the beginning of February, Orlando has been the most efficient defensive team in the NBA. The Magic will present a challenge and historically, the Raptors don’t well when faced with a challenge.
Nuggets vs Spurs Series Props
| Prop | Outcome | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| When Will the Series Finish? | Game 7 | +200 |
| Series Correct Score | Nuggets to win 4-3 | +350 |
| Correct Score After Game 4 | Tied 2-2 | +150 |
A Homer Series
The Western Conference showdown between the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs looks like a set that will go the distance.
It's been 2️⃣,1️⃣7️⃣2️⃣ days since our last playoff game…
BUT WE HERE NOW!!!#MileHighBasketball https://t.co/jzRoldKo5h
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 13, 2019
Denver was an NBA-best 34-7 at home. The Spurs were 32-9 on their home court, tied for third in the league.
The Nuggets have won four straight at home from San Antonio. The Spurs own a 13-game home winning streak over Denver.
From the NBA playoff guide: A No . 2 seed has lost to a No . 7 seed in a best-of-seven first-round series only once: the San Antonio Spurs over the Dallas Mavericks in 2010 . (The other four No . 2 vs . No . 7 up- sets were in five-game series.)
— Paul Garcia (@PaulGarciaNBA) April 13, 2019
The young Nuggets are a playoff team for the first time since 2013 and haven’t won a postseason series since 2009. The Spurs are postseason participants for the 22nd successive year.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
