Wednesday NBA Playoff Betting – Homecourt will rule
Basketball betting fans watched Philadelphia pull off a big upset on the road in Game 1 in Orlando, and the Sixers are going for a 2-0 stranglehold on Wednesday.
In other action, Atlanta will host Miami, where the Hawks lead 1-0, and New Orleans takes on the Nuggets after losing the opening game in Denver. Sportsbook odds are tilted towards all of the home teams.
NBA playoff betting: Look for wins from all three home teams
- Orlando bench needs to step up
- Wade needs help from his teammates
- Billups up to his usual tricks
76ers vs Magic odds: Game 2, Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. ET at Amway Arena
Line: Magic -10
Andre Igoudala’s winner over Hedo Turkoglu with 2.2 seconds left gave the 76ers a 100-98 win in Game 1, as Orlando let an 18-point lead disintegrate in the second half. The Magic stopped going to Dwight Howard, who had 31 points on 11-of-13 shooting (he even went 9-of-12 from the foul line), so coach Stan Van Gundy has to take the loss on this one.
The Orlando bench was outscored 42-13, so their subs will have to do a better job in Game 2. The vaunted Orlando long-distance attack was also 5-of-18 from beyond the arc, and they’ll be better tonight. Bet on the Magic to bounce back with a vengeance.
Heat vs Hawks odds: Game 2, Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET at Philips Arena
Line: Hawks -5
Six Hawks reached double figures in a 90-64 thumping of the Heat in Game 1, led by Josh Smith’s 23 points. The Heat got 19 from Dwayne Wade, but he shot just 8-of-21. The next highest Miami scorer was Michael Beasley with 10 points.
Many wondered how the Heat would deal with Atlanta’s balance, and this was not the start Miami needed. Unless they get some productivity outside of Wade, it’s going to be a short series. Bet on the Atlanta Hawks.
Hornets vs Nuggets odds: Game 2, Wednesday at 10:30 PM ET at Pepsi Center
Line: Nuggets -5.5
The Nuggets took over in the second half of a 113-84 romp over the Hornets in Game 1, outscoring New Orleans 58-37 after the intermission. Chauncey Billups was out of his mind, hitting eight of nine three-point attempts en route to 36 points. The playoffs don’t faze Billups, who went to six straight conference finals with Detroit, and he earned a Finals MVP when the Pistons won the title in 2004.
Chris Paul had 21 points and 11 assists for the Hornets, who were outrebounded 49-35 and shot 37.2 percent from the field. However, David West shot 4-of-16 for 12 points, and the Hornets need him to be more aggressive to take some of the pressure off Paul. This game will be much closer than the first, but expect Carmelo Anthony to recover after a tough offensive night. Bet on the Denver Nuggets.
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Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
