Suns & Celtics Try to Triumph at Home in Basketball Playoffs

Basketball playoffs betting normally favor the home team in the playoffs and that will be the case for these two games, even if the numbers could be small. Los Angeles and Orlando were the preferred teams before these series got started, and they will get respect in basketball odds, even on the road. Let’s take a look at the results now that the home court has shifted. 

The Celtics and the Magic have split their last ten meeting in Boston. This season the Magic trumphed in both of the competitions at Boston. They won 83-78 back in late November and then won 96-89 in early February. Both of those matches fell under the total. In fact, the previous four meetings and six of the previous seven between the two teams in Boston have gone under. With both teams having excellent defenses, that could happen again on Saturday night. 

Phoenix has won six of the last ten at home versus the Los Angeles Lakers, yet they are just 3-7 against the spread. Phoenix and Los Angeles split their two games in Phoenix this season. The Suns won 118-103 in late December whereas the Los Angeles Lakers won 102-96 in mid-March. That game fell under the total while the game in December squeaked over. Three of the last four at Phoenix involving the Suns and Lakers have gone under the total. That is somewhat unexpected seeing as the Suns don’t tend to play defense. What has happened though is that the odds makers adjusted and made the totals on Phoenix games pretty high. After the events of in Game 1 of this series it might be that the totals get close to 220 before this series is over.

When the location changes for an NBA playoff series the pace and the final score of the games can also change. When it gets down the final four teams in the playoffs it is less likely that a sweep will happen so the matches are normally tight and competitive. That should make Saturday and Sunday’s games in Boston and Phoenix worth watching and wagering on.