NBA betting odds are up and getting action for a couple of big conference semifinal playoff games, as both No. 1 seeds are on the court Friday. The well-rested Los Angeles Lakers open their series against the Houston Rockets, and the Milwaukee Bucks look to climb back into their series against the Miami Heat.
Multiple oddsmakers provided insights on NBA opening lines and early line movement, sharp money and public betting for Friday’s matchups. Covers will update this action report with NBA sharp picks vs. public bets and line movement throughout the day.
NBA line movement
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET FRIDAY: After opening the Lakers -6.5 and dropping to -6, The SuperBook moved back to 6.5 a couple of hours ago and is still there. And the total bounced around, opening at 226.5, dipping to 223.5, and now it's at 227.
UPDATE 6:20 P.M. ET FRIDAY: At Station Casinos sportsbooks, spread around Las Vegas, the Bucks opened -5.5 but have spent most of the day at -5. The total is down just a tick, from 223 to 222.5. The Lakers opened -7, dipped to -6 but are now at -6.5 for the nightcap. The total opened 226.5 and dropped to 223.5 this morning, but it's on the rise now, sitting at 226.
UPDATE 3:15 P.M. ET FRIDAY: DraftKings Sportsbook opened the Bucks -5 and reached -6 by lunch hour on the East Coast today, but the line quickly reverted back to the opening number. Details below show why that happened.
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Houston fended off Oklahoma City in seven games, capped by a 104-102 victory Wednesday. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has been resting since Saturday, after beating Portland 131-122 to win that series 4-1. The SuperBook opened the Lakers -6.5 for Friday’s 9 p.m. ET tipoff, and the line moved to 6 late Thursday morning.
The Rockets-Lakers total opened 226.5 and is down a point to 225.5.
Miami got a pair of Jimmy Butler free throws with no time on the clock to win Game 2 116-114 and take a 2-0 series lead over Milwaukee. The Bucks opened -5 at The SuperBook for a 6:30 p.m. ET Game 3 start, and the total opened at 223.5. Both the point spread and total were stable as of late Thursday night.
NBA sharp money
UPDATE 6:20 P.M. ET: Chuck Esposito, sportsbook director for Station Casinos, said the Heat likely got a little respected play to help move the line down a half-point to Bucks -5 for the upcoming tipoff.
NBA public betting
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET FRIDAY: "Most of the money is on Houston in Game 1, but the market moved up to -6.5 on Lakers, so we went with it," SuperBook executive director John Murray said.
UPDATE 6:20 P.M. ET FRIDAY: At Station sportsbooks, the public seems intrigued by the red-hot Heat, and of course public bettors love the Lakers in the late game. "We're definitely Bucks and Rockets fans tonight," Esposito said. "Overall, action has been great. These awesome finishes have been terrific" for handle.
UPDATE 3:15 P.M. ET FRIDAY: The public is definitely loving underdog Miami against Milwaukee. The Heat, 6-0 SU and ATS in the playoffs, are drawing 71 percent of tickets and 72 percent of dollars on the point spread. That said, moneyline bettors lean toward the Bucks at least finding a way to win, if not cover. Milwaukee is getting 58 percent of tickets and 69 percent of cash as a -200 moneyline favorite.
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Although the Rockets are surely weary, early bettors at The SuperBook like the underdog against LeBron James and Co.
“As of now, all the liability we have is on the Rockets,” SuperBook supervisor Cameron Coombs said Thursday night.
Covers Consensus has a Houston lean, as well, with 57 percent of early picks taking the Rockets to cover the spread. Likewise, the streaking Heat – 6-0 SU and ATS in the postseason – were landing 57 percent of Covers Consensus picks, as of late Thursday night.
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