Are you willing to back the Lakers against the Grizzlies? If so, you’re not going to get Los Angeles at very long odds.
The Lakers secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs on Tuesday night with a 108-102 win over the Timberwolves in the first play-in game. Los Angeles appeared to have the game won in regulation after a Dennis Schroder 3-pointer, but Mike Conley forced overtime with three free throws after he was fouled on his game-tying 3-point attempt by Anthony Davis.
The Lakers are just +105 at BetMGM to beat the Grizzlies in the first round despite being five seeds lower than the Grizzlies. Memphis is at -130 to take the series and advance to play the winner of the series between Sacramento and Golden State.
Los Angeles’ short odds make sense. The Lakers and LeBron James are a popular team for casual bettors; the presence of James and Davis will entice many fans to think the Lakers can make the Finals. And Memphis will be without both Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke during the postseason.
Adams is reportedly out for the entirety of the postseason as he rehabs a PCL sprain he suffered in January. Clarke tore his Achilles after Adams’ injury. While Xavier Tillman has been an adequate replacement inside alongside Jaren Jackson Jr., the Lakers will have a significant edge in the post if they can get Jackson into foul trouble on a regular basis during the series.
Hawks are massive underdogs
While Los Angeles is just better than even money after winning its play-in game, oddsmakers aren’t giving the Atlanta Hawks much of a chance against the Boston Celtics. The Hawks got the No. 7 seed in the East on Tuesday with a fairly easy win over the Miami Heat. But Atlanta is now +650 to win its first-round series.
The Celtics are -1000 to win as they’re still one of the favorites to win the NBA Finals. Boston beat Atlanta in all three of the teams’ matchups this season and have won their last five games against the Hawks.
Boston is even a 2.5-game favorite over the Hawks in the series spread. If you want to bet the Celtics to win the series either 4-0 or 4-1, those odds are just -140. It’s +110 if you think the Hawks can extend the series to at least six games.
The most likely outcome appears to be five games for that series. Oddsmakers set the line for a five-game series at +190 and a four-game sweep either way at +260. A seven-game series is the most unlikely outcome at +320.