The NBA Playoffs get off to a strong start on Saturday with a full four-game slate to get things going. The defending champion Denver Nuggets are among the teams in action in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Other action on Saturday includes the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the Orlando Magic in a series pitting two franchises with something to prove. Elsewhere, the New York Knicks will face the Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves will host Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.
Here is an overview of Saturday’s matches with the staff’s choices.
All odds from BetMGM. Find the best deals on StubHub for tickets.
Magic #5 at Cavs #4
How to watch: 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Series odds: Cavs -190, Magic +155
Orlando had the most improved record in the Eastern Conference this year, going from 34 wins to 47 and just two years removed from a 22-win season. It’s been four years since the Magic made the playoffs and 14 years since the last series victory.
Meanwhile, Cleveland is looking for its first series win without LeBron James since 1993. Sure, there was plenty of playoff success when LeBron wore a Cavs uniform, but winning this series would be huge for one or the other franchise.
The Cavs are favorites on Saturday and in the series overall, but lost as a No. 4 seed (to the Knicks) last season. Cleveland came in fourth place as Evan Mobley missed 32 games, Donovan Mitchell missed 27 games and Darius Garland missed 25 games.
This will be the first playoff action for 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, who averaged 22.6 points and 6.9 rebounds this season to lead the Magic.
Expert Picks
No. 6 Suns vs. No. 3 Timberwolves
How to watch: 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Series odds: Suns -130, Timberwolves +110
Minnesota won 56 regular season games, the second most in franchise history. Only the 2003-04 team that reached the conference finals won more (58). This is also the only season Minnesota has won a playoff series, which is a crazy stat for a franchise in its 35th season.
Don’t expect another series victory this year for the Timberwolves. Phoenix is favored in this series. The Suns have Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The main reason the Suns aren’t a sixth seed is because they had injury issues early in the season. The Timberwolves are a slight favorite in the first game, however.
Anthony Edwards averaged 31.6 points per game in the last five playoff games against Denver. He may need to do something similar to get past Phoenix. The idea of Edwards and Durant (or Booker) facing off late in games in this series is enough to make any basketball fan salivate. The question is whether Edwards will get enough help from Karl-Anthony Towns, who has had his share of stinkers in the playoffs over the years.
Expert Picks
Free daily sports updates straight to your inbox. Register
Free daily sports updates straight to your inbox. Register
Buy
No. 7 76ers to No. 2 Knicks
How to watch: 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
Series odds: 76ers -115, Knicks -105
It’s not often that a No. 7 seed is favored against a No. 2 seed in a playoff series, but it’s not a big surprise in this case. The 76ers have the slightest edge moving forward, but it’s practically a toss-up at BetMGM.
Philadelphia is not a normal No. 7 seed. Joel Embiid is an MVP candidate when healthy, and the 76ers have been tough to beat when he’s on the court. Including Wednesday’s win against Miami, the 76ers are 32-8 when Embiid plays this season (and 16-27 in games he has missed). Embiid wasn’t at his best against Miami (23 points and 15 rebounds, but 6 of 17 from the field), but it was just enough in a one-point victory.
The 76ers’ reward is a Knicks team missing one of its best players. Julius Randle has been out since late January, but the Knicks were a respectable 21-15 without him. Can the Knicks contain Embiid without Randle?
The Knicks won the regular season series 3-1, but Embiid only played in one of those games (a 128-92 Knicks victory in Philadelphia).
Expert Picks
No. 7 Lakers at No. 2 Nuggets
How to watch: 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Series odds: Nuggets -350, Lakers +275
This is a juicy matchup in some ways, with the defending champions taking on LeBron James in a rematch of last year’s conference finals. It’s also a matchup that has been completely one-sided as of late. The Nuggets have won eight straight against the Lakers, including last year’s playoff sweep. Denver has won all three regular season games this season by an average of 10 points.
Anthony Davis said the Lakers are “not dodging smoke.” It’s not like they have a choice, but Los Angeles is playing some of its best basketball. The Lakers are 12-3 in their last 15 games, including Tuesday’s play-in victory at New Orleans.
Not only are the Nuggets a significant favorite to advance (-350 odds), but a short series is expected. Taking the Nuggets -1.5 games (to win the series in six games or less) is -175. It’s a fun series with the players involved, but it may not be competitive.
Expert Picks
More NBA Playoff coverage
NBA playoff coaching levels: What’s at stake for Rivers, Ham, Mazzulla and others?
Lakers-Nuggets factors: who stops Nikola Jokić? Can D’Angelo Russell make an impact?
(Photo by Kevin Durant: Harry Comment / Getty Images)