With the Play-In games winding down today, the final field is almost set to determine which teams will represent the Eastern and Western Conference for the NBA Playoffs. 

Over the next several weeks, we’ll make our way through multiple best-of-seven series to see which teams will represent the West and East and, ultimately, win the NBA Finals.

Here, we’ll look at the odds for the first round we currently offer at WynnBET and provide the best bet for a favored and underdog team in the opening round. 

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2023 NBA First-Round Odds

First-Round Best Bets

Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors

The most intriguing thing about this matchup is that we can almost overlook the regular season matchups between these teams.

Why? Three of the four games these teams played during the regular season came before November 14. The fourth matchup was at the end of the season, with the Kings resting some players. 

However, we can look at the season-long stats for these teams. No teams score better than the Kings and Warriors, who average 120.7 and 118.9 points per game, respectively. 

Both teams also allow their opponents to score, with Sacramento allowing 118.1 and Golden State at 117.1. 

The Kings are a top seed in the West, but they’re young and haven’t had nearly the same level of playoff experience as the Warriors. 

The Warriors may not have the shutdown defense we’ve seen in years past. They may be susceptible in ways that the Kings can score, but this is a perfect matchup for the Warriors to get things on track and advance as a No. 6 seed to take on the winner of Memphis and the Lakers.

Best Bet: Warriors win the series (-286). 

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Speaking of the Grizzlies and Lakers, let’s look at this series.

Like Golden State, you have a team in the Lakers with tried and true players, but they’re a mere No. 7 seed. 

Ja Morant leads the Grizzlies, but the Lakers still have LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Now, the key to the Lakers success has a lot to do with Davis’ health.

The Lakers average 117.1 points per game (seventh in the league), but like the Kings and Warriors, the Grizzlies aren’t far behind at 116.9. 

Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of great regular season data to look at, as these games were either before the trade deadline or without James, Morant, or both. 

In a matchup so close, the one stat we like to look toward is free throws, whether it’s getting to the line or preventing teams from getting to the line. 

Of the points the Lakers score, 17.6% come from the line, while Memphis is less than 15%. 

The Lakers don’t commit a lot of fouls. They commit the least amount of personal fouls per game, with 17.8.

Look for an upset in this series that could go all seven games. 

Best Bet: Lakers win the series (+110).