The NBA Playoffs start in full force on Saturday with a full four-game slate getting things going. The defending champion Denver Nuggets are among the teams in action in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Saturday’s other action includes the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the Orlando Magic in a series pitting two franchises with something to prove. Elsewhere, the New York Knicks open up against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves host Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s games with staff picks.
All odds from BetMGM. Find the best deals on StubHub for tickets.
No. 5 Magic at No. 4 Cavs
How to watch: 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Series odds: Cavs -190, Magic +155
Orlando had the most improved record in the Eastern Conference this year, going from 34 wins to 47 and just two years removed from a 22-win season. It’s been four years since the Magic made the playoffs and 14 years since the last series victory.
Meanwhile, Cleveland is looking for its first series win without LeBron James since 1993. Of course, there was plenty of playoff success when LeBron was in the Cavs’ uniform, but winning this series would be huge for either franchise.
The Cavs are favored Saturday and in the series overall, but lost as the No. 4 seed (to the Knicks) last season. Cleveland got to the No. 4 seed while having Evan Mobley miss 32 games, Donovan Mitchell miss 27 games and Darius Garland miss 25 games.
This will be the first playoff action for 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, who averaged 22.6 points and 6.9 rebounds this season to lead the Magic.
Expert picks
No. 6 Suns at No. 3 Timberwolves
How to watch: 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Series odds: Suns -130, Timberwolves +110
Minnesota won 56 games in the regular season, the second-most in franchise history. Only the 2003-04 team that made the conference finals won more (58). That’s also the only season Minnesota won a playoff series, which is a crazy stat for a franchise that is in its 35th season.
The odds say not to expect another series win this year for the Timberwolves. Phoenix is favored in this series. The Suns have Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The big reason the Suns are down in the No. 6 seed is that they had injury problems early in the season. The Timberwolves are a small favorite in Game 1, though.
Anthony Edwards averaged 31.6 points per game in five games last playoffs against Denver. He may need to do something similar to get past Phoenix. The idea of Edwards and Durant (or Booker) dueling late in games this series is enough to make any basketball fan salivate. The question is if Edwards will get enough help from Karl-Anthony Towns, who has had his fair share of playoff stinkers over the years.
Expert picks
No. 7 76ers at No. 2 Knicks
How to watch: 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
Series odds: 76ers -115, Knicks -105
It’s not often a No. 7 seed is favored against a No. 2 seed in a playoff series, but it’s not a big surprise in this case. The 76ers are getting the slightest of edges to advance, but it’s practically a coin flip on BetMGM.
Philadelphia isn’t a normal No. 7 seed. Joel Embiid is an MVP candidate when he’s healthy, and the 76ers have been tough to beat when he’s on the court. Counting Wednesday’s come-from-behind win against Miami, the 76ers are 32-8 when Embiid plays this season (and 16-27 in the games he missed). Embiid wasn’t in peak form against Miami (23 points and 15 rebounds, but 6-for-17 from the field), but it was just enough in a one-point win.
The 76ers’ reward is a Knicks team that is missing one of its best players. Julius Randle has been out since late January, but the Knicks were a respectable 21-15 without him. Can the Knicks contain Embiid without Randle?
The Knicks won the regular season series 3-1, but Embiid played just one of those games (a 128-92 Knicks win in Philadelphia).
Expert picks
No. 7 Lakers at No. 2 Nuggets
How to watch: 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Series odds: Nuggets -350, Lakers +275
This is a juicy matchup in some ways, with the defending champs going against LeBron James in a rematch of last year’s conference finals. It’s also a matchup that has been completely one-sided of late. The Nuggets have won eight in a row against the Lakers, including last year’s sweep in the playoffs. Denver won the three regular-season meetings this season by an average of 10 points.
Anthony Davis said the Lakers are “not ducking the smoke.” It’s not like they have a choice, but LA does come in playing some of its best basketball. The Lakers are 12-3 in their last 15 games, including Tuesday’s play-in win at New Orleans.
Not only are the Nuggets a significant favorite to advance (-350 odds), but a short series is expected. Taking the Nuggets -1.5 games (to win the series in six games or fewer) is -175. This is a fun series with the players involved, but it might not be competitive.
Expert picks
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(Photo of Kevin Durant: Harry How / Getty Images)
