NBA Betting Tips: Can LeBron’s Lakers upset the odds against OKC?

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Detroit Pistons -3.5 (vs Cleveland Cavaliers) @ 20/21

This should be a fascinating series, as both teams emerged from round one in seven games. The pair even split the four regular-season meetings, too, so there isn't a great deal to split the sides, on paper at least.

However, I'm not surprised to see the Pistons as the favourite for game one, and I'm also predicting a Detroit win on Tuesday night.

They finished as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference for a reason, and despite making hard work of their opening-round series against the Orlando Magic, I think this Pistons team match-up more favourably with the Cavs.

Jalen Duren, who struggled against Orlando, is now facing Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, who he averaged 21.7 points per game and 12.3 rebounds per game against in three regular-season meetings, shooting over 63% from the field. Cade Cunningham is an elite guard for Detroit and should get the better of his opposite number, James Harden, on both ends of the floor.

The Pistons will be looking to set the tone here in game one, especially at home.

Oklahoma City Thunder -15.5 (vs Los Angeles Lakers) @ 20/23

If the regular season is anything to go by, then the Thunder shouldn't run into too many problems in this series against the Lakers. OKC dominated all four meetings between the teams, winning by 29, 9, 43 and 36 points for an average win margin of 29.3.

The Lakers, while they have the invaluable play-off experience of LeBron James, remain with Luka Doncic who would certainly make this series more interesting if he were available. LeBron demonstrated in the Rockets series last round that he can turn the clock back for one game, but it's a lot to ask for the 41-year-old to try and lead the charge for four-straight games. Especially, against the defending champions and best team in the NBA.

The Thunder have had a week's rest and were the only team sweep their way through the opening round of the post-season. Even if they are potentially a bit rusty, they have much better all-round team and depth than LA, so I'm taking them to cover a double-digit spread in game one.