Round One Series Prices, Value With Winless Teams?
Round One Check-In and Winless Teams Series Price
The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs is underway, and we’ve been treated to a wealth of great games with star playoff performances and exciting matchups. The NBA odds have changed after every game. We look into some series, including some winless teams’ series prices, and have the betting odds explained.
Once we look at the winless teams series price we will also investigate some of the other series and check in on some NBA playoffs bet news.
Here are the current series records and each team’s odds to win their series.
Where Things Stand Right Now
As of Friday afternoon, the first-round series currently stands as…
| Series Score | Odds |
|---|---|
 Minnesota Timberwolves 2-0 Phoenix Suns  | MIN (-480) | PHX (+350) |
 Denver Nuggets 3-0 Los Angeles Lakers  | DEN (-20000) | LAL (+4000) |
 Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0 New Orleans Pelicans  | OKC (-3000) | NOP (+1120) |
 Dallas Mavericks 1-1 Los Angeles Clippers  | DAL (-164) | LAC (+134) |
| Series Score | Odds |
|---|---|
 Boston Celtics 1-1 Miami Heat  | BOS (-3500) | MIA (+1200) |
 Milwaukee Bucks 1-1 Indiana Pacers  | MIL (+120) | IND (-148) |
 New York Knicks 2-1 Philadelphia 76ers  | NYK (-235) | PHI (+185) |
 Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1 Orlando Magic  | CLE (-375) | ORL (+285) |
Will They Sweep?
As things stand three different NBA teams are winless. The first winless team series price is the Minnesota Timberwolves (-480) against the Phoenix Suns (+350). The Wolves’ first two games were fairly emphatic victories at home. But they have yet to prove they can beat the Suns on their home court.
The Suns have won their last three home games against the Timberwolves which makes this series price interesting to us. The Wolves’ performances in games one and two are why they are strongly favored without having won yet in Phoenix. True Suns believers would say that the series won’t start until the Wolves win in Phoenix, which implies this could be the best time to take Phoenix at plus money.
We like the Timberwolves to close this series out in five or six. Taking the money now (even at unfavorable odds) may be the best bet. If Phoenix wins game three, oddsmakers will likely sweeten those Timberwolves odds, making it the ideal time to pounce.
The Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers series is even more straightforward. The Nuggets are not going to let this one get away. Even if **knocks on wood** an important piece for Denver was to get hurt in Game 4, the defending champions closing this series out. We expect this to happen on Saturday, and if not soon after.
At odds of -20000 for the Nuggets to win the series. Go ahead and take what you can get, but you’ll need to bet $20,000 to win $100 on this series.
The last series with a winless team is the Oklahoma City Thunder (-3000) against the New Orleans Pelicans (+1125). These odds are a little confusing to us. The Thunder only won Game 1 on a last-second shot, 94-92 then blew the Pelicans out in Game 2. They haven’t won a playoff series with this core before. Although they are likely, as the one seed and with the Pelicans missing Zion Williamson, to win this series, the odds are too short.
This series becomes much more palatable to bet on if the Pelicans can snag game three, we’d still like the Pelicans, but believe the payout would be much more reasonable.
Other Series Thoughts
Some of the other series have odds that caught our eyes. The Celtics are one of the best regular-season teams ever and have been favored to win the title all season. After a shocking upset to Miami in Game 2, their odds of (-3500) to win the series are as long as can be.
But maybe Miami will make things interesting, win a game at home, or tie the series 2-2. On the other hand, Boston may taste blood from its mouth and never look back. It can dominate the rest of the series as expected. We don’t believe the Heat have enough firepower without Jimmy Butler. If you want to cash on Boston now may be your best time.
NBA Playoffs Round One Series Results
For NBA playoffs predictions, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
