NBA Odds, Best Bets and Expert Tips | April 19

The NBA Playoffs start this weekend and I’ve been waiting for this slate. I’ve got three Game 1 tips across NBA betting sites NZ today, led by a Lakers-Rockets series that hinges on Luka Doncic’s hamstring.

Cavaliers -5.5 | $1.90 @ VipLuck

I like Cleveland here more than the line suggests. 

The Harden-Mitchell backcourt hasn’t faced a seven-game series together yet, and this is a good spot to back them. Atkinson confirmed 14 of 15 players were full practice participants this week, including Mitchell and Allen, who were both managing late-season injuries. Only Thomas Bryant is uncertain with a calf strain.

Evan Mobley put up 34 and 17 against Utah late in March and has been their most reliable two-way player all season. Toronto’s problem is Immanuel Quickley, who left the finale against Brooklyn with a hamstring strain and is day-to-day. If he’s out, the Raptors lose their starting point guard against a 52-30 team that used 41 different starting lineups this year.

I’m backing the Cavs at home on the free bets offers floating around for the playoff opener.

Hawks +4.5 | $1.95 @ Betandplay

Atlanta scare me as an underdog here. 

Since trading Trae Young to Washington in January, the Hawks have become a completely different team. CJ McCollum slotted in as a low-maintenance scoring guard, and the offence now runs through Jalen Johnson, who averaged 22.5 points and 7.9 assists this season. The Hawks went 13-2 in March.

Jock Landale is out with a high ankle sprain and won’t be re-evaluated for another two weeks. That’s a downgrade against Karl-Anthony Towns, but I don’t think it’s enough to swing this.

OG Anunoby tweaked an ankle last week and only practiced Wednesday. New York rested most of their starters in the finale and lost to Charlotte 110-96, so they haven’t played a meaningful game in over a week. 

I’d rather take the points with a team that’s been surging since the break and back them to stay competitive at the Garden on best online sports betting platforms.

Rockets -6.5 | $1.85 @ Betista

I don’t see how the Lakers win this without Doncic. 

Their main man suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain against Oklahoma City on April 2 and flew to Spain for injection treatment. He’s expected back in LA on Friday, but nobody is confident he plays Game 1. Austin Reaves strained his oblique in the same game and is out indefinitely with no timeline set.

That’s Houston covering 6.5 on the road, which is worth flagging. But Kevin Durant averaged 26.0 points this season and Alperen Sengun’s playmaking has been a weapon all year. The Rockets won eight of their last 10 and their defence has been top five for a second straight year. 

LeBron James will have Hachimura and Ayton alongside him, but the Lakers won both regular-season meetings with Doncic in the lineup. Without him, this is a different side.