Steve Starr
- BetOnline has 2021 NBA Playoffs Second Round Series odds for each of the four matchups
- The Suns (-205) and Jazz (-150) are favored to defeat the Nuggets and Clippers and advance to the Western Conference Finals
- Brooklyn (-217) drew first-blood versus Milwaukee (+187) but could be without James Harden for the remainder of the series
There’s something different about this year’s NBA playoffs – and it isn’t just that LeBron James was eliminated in the first round for the first time ever. Or that the second round of the postseason will not feature the defending NBA champions.
Led by a new generation of stars, the teams who advanced to Round 2 have just six titles in the 75-year history of the league. And of the eight franchises still alive, the Philadelphia 76ers are the most recent champions (1983)
As we continue to inch closer to the NBA Finals, let’s check out the latest odds for each second-round series and make our picks. And if you need any help or advice, review these tips for betting on basketball.
NBA 2nd Round Series Odds
 |
|
| Bucks To Win Series | +187 |
| Nets To Win Series | -217 |
| Nuggets To Win Series | +175 |
| Suns To Win Series | -205 |
| Clippers To Win Series | +130 |
| Jazz To Win Series | -150 |
| Hawks To Win Series | -110 |
| 76ers To Win Series | -110 |
Nets and Hawks draw first blood
James Harden didn’t even last a minute into Game 1 against the Bucks, leaving the Eastern Conference semifinals with a right hamstring injury. Luckily for the Nets, their two other superstars came to play. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined for 54 points to lead Brooklyn to a 115-107 victory.
The Beard missed over a month of the regular season with a right hamstring strain and has already been ruled out of Game 2, however, the Nets are still -217 favorites to advance. Considering many NBA analysts were picking the Bucks before Harden went down, getting Milwaukee at +187 is a bargain. But, Giannis Antetokounmpo and company will have to amp up their defensive intensity to draw even in the series on Monday night.
James Harden is out Game 2 with right hamstring tightness pic.twitter.com/O9E9MXPQOT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 6, 2021
Both the 76ers and Hawks are at -110 to reach the Eastern Conference Finals after Atlanta scored a 128-124 road-upset in Game 1 on Sunday. The good news for Philadelphia is that Joel Embiid’s small lateral meniscus tear in his right knee didn’t slow him down as he finished with a game-high 39 points.
The bad news is the Hawks are a red-hot 31-12 since March 1. Trae Young put up a team-high 35 points and 10 assists, but only went 3 of 10 from the field in the second half. If Ben Simmons can shut the young guard down, Philly will take this series in 7.
Suns and Jazz favored out West
Basketball has traditionally been a sport where the team with the best player wins the series, but while the Nuggets (+175) have 2021 MVP-to-be Nikola Jokic, Phoenix is a -205 favorite to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Devin Booker scored 47 points to close out LeBron James and the Lakers on Thursday night and he might just be getting started.
After opening the season 8-8, the Suns went 47-15 (a 62-win pace) and have only lost back-to-back games twice all season. While Chris Paul is still nursing a shoulder injury, this finally looks like the year the point “God” will make it to his first-career NBA Finals.
Devin Booker had Kobe Bryant in mind during his 47-point Game 6 performance. 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/C7VYPqIRCf
— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2021
After dropping Game 1 against Memphis at home, the Jazz won four-straight and will have a five-day rest advantage against the Clippers when the series opens up in Utah on Tuesday. In eliminating the Mavericks on Sunday, Los Angeles became just the fifth team in league history to lose the first two games at home and come back to win a playoff series.
The Jazz were 2-1 against the Clip in the regular-season and a league-best 31–5 at home, but two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard is once again playing inspired playoff basketball. Against Dallas, he became only the fourth player in postseason history to have at least 200 total points while shooting at least 60% from the floor in a single series.
We’ll take the Clippers at +130 to score the upset.
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