We have betting picks and predictions for the both NBA playoff games on Monday, including Hawks vs 76ers and Mavericks vs Clippers.
Getting off to a good start is important for the Hawks and 76ers. It should be a competitive series and taking a 1-0 lead is huge.
The Clippers and Mavericks battle for a place in the West Semifinals, so all eyes are on the STAPLES Center on Monday morning.
All odds are with Sportsbet – our No. 1 rated bookmaker. You can join Sportsbet by clicking HERE.
NBA Betting Tips
—
Atlanta Hawks vs Philadelphia 76ers @ Wells Fargo Center
The 76ers looked excellent when beating Washington 4-1 in the first round, but it could have come at a huge cost.
Joel Embiid is uncertain about playing Game 1 and perhaps more games in the series. His omission would see the betting market turn on its head and there is already trepidation in backing the 76ers.
They were able to win the most recent game against Washington without Embiid, but beating the Hawks without the big man is another story.
The status on Embiid is unknown, but if he’s not suiting up for Game 1, expect the current odds of $1.69 to move. We expect Philadelphia to pay around $1.90 if he is ruled out, so beware of taking the opening odds.
Atlanta enters after destroying the New York Knicks in five games. It dismantled one of the NBA’s best defences and it wasn’t overly close. Game 5 was a 103-89 smashing and the Hawks won two games at Madison Square Garden.
Beating the Hawks isn’t easy because they have a balance attack, which is highly underrated. Not only do they have superstar Trae Young, but the likes of Clint Capela, Kevin Huerter, John Collins, and Bogdan Bogdanovic can all shoot the ball.
Our only concern for this game is Atlanta’s record on the road during the regular season. It was 16-20, and despite being New York twice on the road, it’s a different story against Philadelphia. The 76ers are 29-7 at Wells Fargo, so they love playing there.
The 76ers were unbeaten in two home games against Atlanta in the regular season, which is a statistic worth noting. However, the uncertainty of Embiid puts too much doubt on backing the 76ers.
We’re going with Atlanta at $2.17 and that price could firm considerably. Take the value available as Embiid won’t be 100% even if he does play.
Bet: Atlanta Hawks to win @ $2.17 – Bet @ Sportsbet
—
Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Clippers @ STAPLES Center
The visiting team has won every game of the series, so the Dallas Mavericks won’t be worried about playing in Los Angeles.
Despite that statistic being in favour of Dallas, it’s the $3.22 underdog to get the job done in Game 7. That’s likely because Kawhi Leonard is heating up after going off on Saturday.
It was a top performance from The Claw and it could be enough to give LA the win, but not being able to win at home has been a problem.
For a team that went 26-10 at home during the regular season, losing three consecutive games at STAPLES Center is a huge shock. Much of that has been put down to poor offence, but Mavericks leader Luka Doncic has been playing injured.
Doncic hasn’t been at his brilliant best, likely due to a neck injury. However, he’s good enough to pull an upset out of the bag. It requires another huge effort and some help from teammates, but the Mavericks are good enough to win on Monday.
Bookmakers are being generous in the head-to-head market but we see more value in the handicap betting line. Dallas gets a +6.5-point head start, which could be tough for the Clippers to overcome.
It has been a tight series throughout and if Kristaps Porzingis can elevate his game, Dallas is a live chance of covering.
Bet: Dallas Mavericks +6.5 @ $1.90 – Bet @ Sportsbet
All odds are with Sportsbet – our No. 1 rated bookmaker. You can join Sportsbet by clicking HERE.
