After a rare day off, NBA betting odds are on the board and getting action for a pair of Tuesday playoff games. The Los Angeles Clippers hope to finally put away the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals, preceded by Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.
The SuperBook provided insights on NBA opening lines and early line movement, sharp money and public betting for Tuesday’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 8:15 P.M. ET TUESDAY: The Clippers opened -7.5 at William Hill US and reached -7.5 midday Monday, and that's where the number is now. The total opened at 208, dropped to 206.5, then rose to 208.5 late this afternoon.
UPDATE 5:45 P.M. ET TUESDAY: PointsBet USA's Patrick Eichner said the Heat-Celtics line is holding steady at Boston -1.5. The total opened 211.5 and is down to 208.5. Nuggets-Clippers opened at Los Angels -7 and moved to -7.5, where it's been steady today.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET TUESDAY: At BetMGM sportsbooks, the Clippers opened -6.5 and moved to -7.5 against the Nuggets. The total opened at 208 and dropped to 207, but is now up to 208.5. The Heat-Celtics line opened Boston -1.5 and is still there this afternoon, while the total fell from 211.5 to 208.5.
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Denver already rallied from down 3-1 once in the NBA playoffs, beating the Utah Jazz in seven games, and will try to do it again in a 9 p.m. ET tipoff against Los Angeles. In Game 6 on Sunday, the Nuggets trailed by 16 at halftime, but blew out the Clippers 64-35 in the second half to post a 111-98 victory.
For Game 7, The SuperBook opened the Clippers -6.5 and moved to -7.5, where the line remained through Monday night. The total opened at 208, dropped to 206.5, then rebounded to 207.5.
Meanwhile, Miami has been on a tear the entire playoffs, going 8-1 SU and ATS while sweeping the Indiana Pacers, then dumping the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in five games. So once again, the Heat are well-rested, having not played since Sept. 8. Boston had to duke it out over seven games with the Toronto Raptors, clinching the series with a 92-87 win Friday.
The SuperBook opened the Celtics -1.5 and moved to -2 for a couple of hours over the weekend, then went back to -1.5. The total opened at 211.5 and is down to 209.5 for a 6:30 p.m. ET start.
NBA sharp money
UPDATE 5:45 P.M. ET TUESDAY: Eichner said PointsBet USA saw sharp money immediately on the Heat-Celtics total, helping to drive that number down.
NBA public betting
UPDATE 8:15 P.M. ET TUESDAY: Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US, said point-spread betting was running even on Nuggets-Clippers, with good handle.
UPDATE 5:45 P.M. ET TUESDAY: Perhaps the most intriguing element of Heat-Celtics action at PointsBet USA is that there's more handle on the moneyline than on the point spread. And Miami is getting the bulk of moneyline play, at 60 percent of tickets and handle. On the spread, Boston is attracting 63 percent of bets and 69 percent of money. Ticket count on the total is dead two-way, but the Over is getting 60 percent of dollars. On Nuggets-Clippers, Eichner said it's two-way play, with 56 percent of bets on Denver, but money split right down the middle. On the total, 60 percent of tickets and money are on the Over, currently 208.5.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET TUESDAY: Despite the Clippers moving from -6.5 to -7.5, it's the Nuggets getting the large majority of support among BetMGM customers. Denver is taking 80 percent of tickets and 74 percent of handle on the point spread. Among the larger wagers, one bettor has $50,000 on Clippers moneyline -320. Bettors are also on the Over, which is landing 80 percent of bets and 81 percent of dollars. In the Heat-Celtics tilt, although the line hasn't moved, Boston is attracting 73 percent of bets and 67 percent of handle on the spread. However, the big move on the total is apparent in the betting splits, with 87 percent of money taking the Under, on 62 percent of tickets.
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Covers Consensus shows point-spread bettors have faith that the Nuggets can at least cover, with Denver getting 63 percent of early picks against the Clippers. And through Monday night, 76 percent of picks were on the Over, with the bulk of those picks on the current total of 207.5.
Heat-Celtics was drawing two-way play in Covers Consensus, with Boston attracting 52 percent of picks and the Under getting 57 percent of picks.
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