NBA playoff tips: what's in store for Bucks and Suns in second-round Game 1's

Milwaukee and Boston face off after cruising through the first round of the NBA Playoffs - while Phoenix begin their series with Dallas on Monday night.

Milwaukee Bucks @ Boston Celtics

Sunday 1 May, 6pm, Sky Sports Arena 

The real Eastern Conference decider? Certainly, here comes a series to truly savour when the reigning champions butt heads with the defensive dynamism of the Celtics with Game 1 in Boston on Sunday. 

The markets give the Green Machine a 64% chance of drawing first blood. And no doubt that the C’s have been the NBA’s best team since 2022 commenced, going 26-6 down the home straight of the regular season and then dismissing the Brooklyn Nets in a casual sweep in the first round. 

Having overcome the temporary absence of Robert Williams, the extra time to get their pivotal inside power back to full fitness can only complement the stifling strangulation imposed on Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. 

Replicating that on Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a more arduous ask, but with Khris Middleton likely to miss the entire series, Boston can throw a wave of double teams his way, train their other weapons at the likes of Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen, and dare the Bucks supporting cast to back the 2021 Finals MVP up.

Bobby Portis did, however, average 16 points and 13 rebounds as a replacement starter for Middleton and Milwaukee’s defence held gloriously firm in their rampaging of the Chicago Bulls. Jayson Tatum pulled down averaged 29.5 points and 7.3 assists against the Nets but he will see more roadblocks in his path. 

Although Boston outscored their foes 118.3-115.0 in splitting their regular season series 2-2, it feels like scoring will be more at a premium – even if going over 218 total points still seems sensible with adrenaline and excitement cranked up to the max. 

Recommended bet: Back Boston on a handicap of -4 @ 1.83 

Phoenix's Chris Paul scored 33 points to help the Suns beat the Pelicans in the playoffs

Memphis Grizzlies @ Minnesota Timberwolves

Saturday 30 April, 2am 

After letting glorious opportunities slip through their fingers, the Timberwolves now face an elimination game on their home court on Friday night. 

A double-digit lead in Wednesday’s Game 5 evaporated to allow the Memphis Grizzlies – via Ja Morant’s late lay-up - to snatch a 111-109 win and a 3-2 series lead in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. 

Not as painful as coughing up a 26-point cushion in Game 3 in a manner that had Charles Barkley proclaiming Minnesota was “one of the dumbest teams – all the talent – and they're dumber than rocks." But no less damaging.  

But in their corner, here’s the math. Chris Finch’s side go into Friday night’s Game 6 against second-seeded, everybody’s favourites, Memphis with a chance to force a Sunday decider. For a team that started the campaign 11-15, these are heady days despite their status as 2.18 underdogs to avoid an early start to their summer vacation. 

Certainly, if they show their brittle nature once again, one of the steals in the market could be taking the T-Wolves at 7.6 to lead at half-time but to lose in regulation. Yet the previous two games have been decided by an average of 1.5 points. And in what remains a duel between the NBA’s best two offenses, Minnesota is notching 1.4 points more than the Grizzlies over their past ten games. 

Much rests on Anthony Edwards to cope with the pressure of win-or-bust following his costly botched defence on Morant. He has, however, put up 21.3 points per game against the Grizzlies in this series and that’s enough to give the Timberwolves a fighting chance of teeing up a showdown. 

Recommended bet: Half-time/Full-time on Minnesota/Minnesota @ 2.54 

Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns

Tuesday 3 May, 3am

After closing out their respective first round series in six games, the Mavs-Suns dynamic has been shifted by the return of Devin Booker for the overall number one seeds. 

He was not back up to full speed in the closer with New Orleans but it was notable that Phoenix scored 132 points in that victory.

They may not need as much against Dallas, against whom they pulled out a 3-0 sweep in the regular season while scoring an average of 106.6 - Luka Doncic played in only one of those three, notching 28 points. 

But as good as the Mavs are defensively, a full-strength Suns should have enough to prevail in Monday night's Game 1. Series prediction: 4-1

Recommended bet: Back Phoenix on a handicap of -4

Recommended bets 

Boston on a handicap of -4 @ 1.83

Half-time/Full-time on Minnesota/Minnesota @ 2.54

Phoenix on a handicap of -4