Updated NBA Series Prices for All First-Round Matchups: Lakers Now Favored Over Grizzlies
By Sascha Paruk in NBA Basketball
Published:
- The first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs is in full swing
- While the Celtics are cruising, the top-seeded Bucks are in trouble in the East against Miami
- See the updated odds to win each first-round series
Less than a week into the 2023 NBA playoffs, the odds have already undergone some seismic shifts, both the odds to win the NBA Championship and the prices for several first-round series.
The table below lists the updated odds to win each first-round series along with the current series score and opening series price.
Updated NBA First-Round Series Odds
| Matchup | Current Series Odds | Series Score | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucks vs Heat | -225 / +180 | 0-1 | -1200 / +700 |
| Celtics vs Hawks | -5000 / +1500 | 2-0 | -1000 / +650 |
| 76ers vs Nets | -4000 / +1500 | 2-0 | -900 / +600 |
| Cavaliers vs Knicks | -115 / -105 | 1-1 | -200 / +160 |
| Nuggets vs Timberwolves | -900 / +600 | 1-0 | -500 / +375 |
| Grizzlies vs Lakers | +230 / -295 | 0-1 | -140 / +120 |
| Kings vs Warriors | -170 / +140 | 2-0 | +225 / -290 |
| Suns vs Clippers | -280 / +225 | 1-1 | -600 / +400 |
The biggest swing in line movement comes from the Bucks vs Heat series. Milwaukee was the biggest first-round favorite before the first round commenced, but after dropping Game 1 (130-117) – and potentially losing Giannis Antetokounmpo for Game 2 due to a back injury – the Bucks’ odds have faded from a seemingly-inevitable -1200 to just -225.
Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook on April 19.
Kings Favored After Taking 2-0 Lead on Warriors
The Sacramento Kings, playing their first postseason games in 16 years (since the 2006 playoffs), have ridden inspired fourth-quarter performances from De’Aaron Fox to a 2-0 series lead on defending-champion Golden State.
The odds to win the series, which heavily favored the Dubs (-290) at the outset, now see the Kings as -170 chalk.
As the series shifts to the Bay Area, oddsmakers are chalking up two wins for the Warriors. Golden State is currently a -215 moneyline favorite to win Game 3. The major issue for the Warriors is that they have been abysmal on the road all year (11-32 including postseason), and they will not only need to win all three of their home games, but also steal a game in Sacramento if they’re going to mount a comeback in the series.
Lakers Take Early Lead on Grizzlies, Odds Shift Heavily to Los Angeles
LeBron James and the Lakers put in a dominant second-half performance in Game 1 against Ja Morant’s Grizzlies, overcoming a 6-point halftime deficit and cruising to a 128-112 victory.
Encouragingly for the top-heavy Lakers, it wasn’t just James and Anthony Davis contributing on offense. Indeed, LA’s top-two scorers in Game 1 were Rui Hachimura (29 points) and Austin Reaves (23 points),
Before Game 1, the series price for Grizzlies/Lakers was the narrowest on the board, with Memphis listed as slight -140 chalk. After stealing home-court advantage, Los Angeles is now a heavy -295 favorite.
The Lakers are also listed as slight favorites to win Game 2 on Wednesday evening (-115/-105). If they do, expect Memphis’ odds to win the series to fade to double-digit territory.
Stay tuned to SBD’s NBA odds page for the latest odds for each postseason game, and track how the public is wagering with our NBA public betting splits.
Managing Editor
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
