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NBA First-Round Series Props: Odds Say Milwaukee Sweeps Detroit

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 13, 2020 · 8:18 AM PDT

Giannis Antetokounmpo dunking
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are favored to sweep the Detroit Pistons in their NBA first-round playoff series. Photo by Keith Allison (flickr) [CC License].
  • Exact series prop wagers released on the first round of the NBA playoffs
  • The Bucks & Warriors are favored to sweep their respective series
  • The Denver Nuggets-San Antonio Spurs set is most likely to go seven games

MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks were the NBA’s best team during the regular season, winning 60 games. The Bucks are projected to win four playoff games rather quickly at the expense of the Detroit Pistons.

There’s sound reason to believe that this will happen.

If there’s one thing we know about the first round of the NBA playoffs, it’s that the chalk rarely gets rubbed off the board. Over the past four years, favorites are 26-6 in the opening round of the road to the NBA Finals.

Bucks vs Pistons Series Props

Prop Outcome Odds
When Will the Series Finish? Game 4 +200
Series Correct Score Bucks to win 4-0 +125
Correct Score After Game 4 Bucks 3-0 n/a

*All odds taken 04/13/19

Bucks Won’t Be Stopped Here

Milwaukee swept all four regular-season meetings from the Pistons during the 2018-19 campaign, and for the most part, the games weren’t even close.

The Bucks won by average point differential of 14.75 points per game.

The Pistons have lost seven straight at Milwaukee. Detroit hasn’t won a playoff game in over a decade.

The Bucks outscored opponents in the paint a league-high 11.1 points per game. The Pistons were outscored five points per game in the paint, fourth-worst in the NBA.

On top of that, Blake Griffin, Detroit’s best player, is day-to-day with a knee injury.

Raptors vs Magic Series Props

Prop Outcome Odds
When Will the Series Finish? Game 6 +310
Series Correct Score Raptors to win 4-2 +425
Correct Score After Game 4 Raptors 2-1 +110

Do You Believe In Magic?

No NBA team struggles with first-round matchups the way the Toronto Raptors do. Over the past three opening rounds, the Raptors are 3-0, but it’s been close to going the other way each time.

The offseason move to trade DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard was designed to help make Toronto more of a playoff team.

Toronto required six games to dispose of the Washington Wizards last spring, and six games to eliminate the Bucks in 2017. The 2016 opening round saw the Raptors pushed to seven games by the Indiana Pacers.

The Magic come into the playoffs on a 22-9 roll and playing a tight defensive system that should work well in postseason basketball.

Since the beginning of February, Orlando has been the most efficient defensive team in the NBA. The Magic will present a challenge and historically, the Raptors don’t well when faced with a challenge.

Nuggets vs Spurs Series Props

Prop Outcome Odds
When Will the Series Finish? Game 7 +200
Series Correct Score Nuggets to win 4-3 +350
Correct Score After Game 4 Tied 2-2 +150

A Homer Series

The Western Conference showdown between the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs looks like a set that will go the distance.

Denver was an NBA-best 34-7 at home. The Spurs were 32-9 on their home court, tied for third in the league.

The Nuggets have won four straight at home from San Antonio. The Spurs own a 13-game home winning streak over Denver.

The young Nuggets are a playoff team for the first time since 2013 and haven’t won a postseason series since 2009. The Spurs are postseason participants for the 22nd successive year.

NBA Playoff Bracket

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