NBA Betting: Previewing the Four Remaining Teams in the 2024 NBA Playoffs

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By:
Michael Savio
05/21/2024
NBA
Basketball news
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Highlights

  • Pascal Siakam leads the team in scoring and rebounding in the playoffs
  • Kyrie Irving is making 44% of his three-point attempts
  • Boston has only needed ten games to reach the ECF

The Conference Finals are set with a pair of exciting matchups kicking off this week. In the East we’ll see a young and exciting Indiana Pacers team facing off against a powerhouse in the Boston Celtics. In the West, we’ll see the fifth-seeded Dallas Mavericks take on a Minnesota Timberwolves team that just knocked off the reigning champions.

If you are looking for help wagering on these series at betting sites, we have you covered. We will share the latest insights from our USA Legal Betting experts, giving you the information you need to win big at NBA betting sites over the next two weeks.

Indiana Pacers – Fifth Seed in East

Odds to win series: +600 at BetMGM Sportsbook

While Tyrese Haliburton gets all the headlines, Pascal Siakam has been leading the way. He leads the team in postseason scoring (21.1 PPG) and rebounding (7.5 RPG) and has been a veteran leader for this team. Siakam won a title with the Raptors a few seasons ago, and his experience has been invaluable.

The key for the Pacers will be how they can handle a Celtics team that is great on defense. Haliburton will likely be dealing with a lockdown defender in Jrue Holiday. Boston also has a lot of size, which will push Siakam and Myles Turner down low. As impressive as the Pacers have been, they did beat two teams with significant injuries. That won’t be the case against Boston in the ECF.

Dallas Mavericks – Fifth Seed in West

Odds to win series: +145 at BetRivers Sportsbook

Luca Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been incredible together, making them near impossible to stop. Doncic leads the team in scoring in the playoffs (27.3 PPG) while Kyrie has been on fire from deep (44.0 3P%). As good as Doncic is, we think Kyrie is the key. He is one of the best playoff players in history, especially in clutch games.

The key for the Mavs in the WCF will be their ability to handle the Minnesota down low. Rooke Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford have been reliable down low for Dallas so far, but now they’ll be dealing with the likes of KAT, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, and Naz Reid. As good as Kyrie and Doncic are, they won’t be enough if Minnesota is able to dominate in the paint.

Minnesota Timberwolves – Third Seed in West

Odds to win series: -185 at Borgata Sportsbook

This is one of the best-built teams in basketball, and now it appears they have found a superstar in Anthony Edwards. The guard is averaging 28.9 PPG during the playoffs, making over 50% of his shots from the field. He has also been distributing the ball well (5.4 APG), rebounding (6.2 RPG), and playing aggressive defense (1.7 SPG).

Edwards combines with a big Minnesota team to make them incredibly difficult to beat over a seven-game series. The team rotation includes three centers and a good young power forward in Jaden McDaniels. The Mavs have been rebounding well (43.8 RPG) during the postseason, but they the Wolves have the tools to win that battle, which could be enough to land them a trip to the NBA Finals.

Boston Celtics – First Seed in East

Odds to win series: -900 at bet365 Sportsbook

We haven’t heard much from Boston during the playoffs, but that’s because they have only needed to play ten games. They have looked great, even with Kristaps Porzingis out. Jayson Tatum (24.3 PPG) and Jaylen Brown (23.1 PPG) have been incredible, as has guard Derrick White (18.2 PPG). The team has the talent and depth needed to win a title, but they’ll be tested against a dangerous Pacers team in the ECF.

While that has been impressive, Boston has had an easy run. The Heat were without their top scorer in Jimmy Butler, and the Cavs lost top-scorer Donovan Mitchell after Game 3. Indiana is both healthy and carrying some major momentum, which could catch the Celtics flat. We have seen Boston choke as a heavy favorite several times in the Tatum-Brown era, making it hard to trust them in the 2024 ECF.