We’re onto Game 2’s and Game 3’s in the 2023 NBA playoffs. Among the matchups, we’ve hand-picked the three NBA playoff games most worth betting on. Stick with us to get our free betting picks!
Game 2: Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis Grizzlies Betting Pick
Los Angeles stole Game 1 and home-court advantage away from Memphis last time out. Now the best NBA betting sites are backing the Lakers are marginal one-point favorites on the moneyline. Here are the odds for Wednesday’s tilt:
Not only did the Grizzlies lose the first game, but they may have lost the services of its best player, Ja Morant. He suffered a hand injury which ended his night early and now Morant is listed as a game-time decision for Game 2. Even if he plays, we can’t imagine he’ll be anywhere near 100 percent. A video surfaced on Tuesday of Morant being heavily wrapped during practice. ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski said he doesn’t sense “a great deal of optimism” that Morant will play.
The other question going into Game 2 is whether the Lakers’ role players can sustain their Game 1 heroics. The team’s best player in that game was not Anthony Davis. It was not LeBron James. Heck, it wasn't even D'Angelo Russell. It was Austin Reaves. The second-year man finished with 23 points, four assists, one steal, and one block. Fellow role player, Rui Hachimura, also poured in 29 points. Consistency from those two even close to those levels will make Los Angeles hard to beat — not only in this series but the rest of the postseason.
We’re taking the Lakers here. A Morant-less Grizzlies team will struggle against a Los Angeles side that’s as hot as anyone in the league. They’re eyeing a sweep and will capitalize on a hobbled enemy Wednesday night.
Game 2: Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks
Miami pulled off the biggest upset of the Game 1’s as they beat Milwaukee on the road — albeit with Giannis Antetokounmpo injured most of the matchup. They meet again on Wednesday, and we’re more inclined to bet the Heat-Bucks over/under more so than anything else. Oddsmakers have set the line at 222 points:
Antetokounmpo’s injury is why we’re skipping any moneyline or over/under bets. He suffered a contusion in his lower back in the opening quarter last time out. The two-time MVP sat out practice on Tuesday, but the reports are that Milwaukee is optimistic he’ll play in Game 2. At the very, Antetokounmpo will be less effective than usual if he suits up. This is a seven-game series and the Bucks would be smart to “lighten his load.”
If so, this could be a low-scoring affair, which is advantageous to an under bet. Miami poured 130 points in Game 1, but expect Milwaukee to tighten up needing a win and being less reliant on its star player. Plus, the Heat are notoriously inconsistent so we expect them to "return to Earth" per se. Less than 222 points combined is the bet to make in a game we expect to be a slugfest.
Game 3: Sacramento Kings at Golden State Warriors
The defending champions are on the ropes. The Dubs dripped two super close games on the road to find themselves in a must-win scenario for Thursday’s Game 3. Cause of that, we're drawn to the Golden State-Sacramento moneyline, which is set as follows:
This is actually uncharted territory for these Warriors. We mean, Curry has never once been down 2-0 in a playoff series during his career. Never! However, being in this scenario might just be what he needs to get unstuck. Curry has been pedestrian shooting from three so far. In both matchups, Curry is only 9-of-27 from the arc. But our prediction is being at home will spur Curry to a huge game.
Golden State is another team when playing at the Chase Center. During the regular season, they were 33-8 at home, whereas the Dubs went a paltry 11-30 on the road. The offense is the big difference as the Warriors average just a hair under 120 points when at home. This should propel them to a blowout win over a Kings team that remains inexperienced.
How To Bet On NBA Playoff Games?
There’s an NBA playoff game to bet on every single day right now. We love the three wagers detailed above, but of course, there are a ton of opportunities out there. To get a full list of NBA wagers, hit one of the bookies mentioned on the table. We’ve listed only the best NBA bookmakers, as highlighted in our newest online sportsbook reviews.
There are also lucrative sign-up bonuses to take advantage of. Via these deals, bettors stand to gain hundreds to thousands of dollars in free play by merely signing up for a site and depositing money into it. Money earned can be used to bet on the NBA freely so we wouldn’t pass on these. The table underneath marks the best welcome bonuses currently available.
