The first round of the NBA Playoffs begins its first Game 2 Monday night with two Eastern Conference games and Lakers-Nuggets in the West. Game 1 kicks off at 7 p.m. ET between the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers against the New York Knicks and ending with a clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
Will Paolo Banchero and his most improved Magic be able to turn on the offense to earn a victory against Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs? Is there hope for the Sixers if Embiid fails to reach 100% after another injury scare in Game 1? What about LeBron James and his Lakers? Can anyone compete with the Nikola Jokić-Jamal Murray power couple?
We have the odds, previews and predictions for all three games below, in order of index.
All odds from BetMGM. Find the best deals on StubHub for tickets.
No. 5 Orlando Magic vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers
How to watch: 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Series odds: Cleveland -400, Orlando +310
After the Cavaliers’ 97-83 victory Saturday night, Cleveland’s chances of winning the series moved further away from Orlando’s. The Magic are a very competent team defensively, and their physicality is probably the Cavs’ biggest challenge. But all that energy spent on defense comes at the expense of solid offensive play.
The light offensive production from Game 1 will likely continue throughout the series. The Cavs struggle to score against the physical Magic, but the Magic struggle to score thanks to their defensive focus. It would be an accomplishment to see Orlando score 100. Could they experiment with a different lineup in Game 2 to try to open up the offense?
The Cavs have enough shooting ability to win and cover in this game. Their starters showed up in Game 1, with Donovan Mitchell getting 30 points, Evan Mobley 16 and Jarrett Allen 16. We’re keeping an eye on role players like Georges Niang and Sam Merrill to step up in Game 2.
Expert Picks for Cavs vs. Magic
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No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 2 New York Knicks
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Series odds: New York -275, Philadelphia +225
Embiid’s knee: the cloud over this entire series. Sunday night, Embiid is doubtful for Game 2 as he continues to recover from a left knee injury. An incredible T-Mac-style self-alley-oop play by Embiid almost ended in disaster when he landed on his injured leg and fell, and remained on the ground for several minutes in the first match.
Fortunately, he subbed out and returned to the game in the third quarter, but played the second half showing some fatigue.
And with that, the Sixers went from neck and neck with the Knicks in the series odds to the Knicks being favored by a good margin. Of course, the Sixers also had other issues in Game 1, with rebounds and missed shots. But, in the words of Athleticism Mike Vorkunov, “With Embiid, they are contenders. Without him, they are not.
The series will be competitive if Embiid reaches 100 percent (or even 90 percent). Tyrese Maxey is on fire, and with Embiid, it’s Batman and Robin. But if the Sixers are without their Batman, the Knicks could do it in four or five games.
Expert Picks for Knicks vs. Sixers
Los Angeles Lakers No. 7 vs. Denver Nuggets No. 2
How to watch: 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Series odds: Denver -700, LA +500
The Nuggets’ odds of winning the series have gone from -350 to -700 since winning Game 1 114-103. They are 4-0 against the Lakers this season since sweeping them in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. (The Lakers have not beaten the Nuggets since October 30, 2022.)
Murray-Jokić’s high pick-and-roll is perhaps the most unstoppable play in basketball right now. The Nuggets are the class of the West, and even though Anthony Davis and LeBron James continue to play well, the Nuggets’ supporting class is doing too much for this Los Angeles core. Don’t expect this one to reach seven hours.
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Expert Picks for Nuggets vs. Lakers
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(Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokić in March: Adam Pantozzi / NBAE via Getty Images)