Best bets to consider for Tuesday's NBA playoff slate
With four more games on tap for Tuesday's NBA playoff slate, we dive into the matchups to deliver all the ins and outs from a betting perspective.
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors
Line: Raptors -12
Total: 206
Following a Game 1 loss on their home court, the Raptors responded with three straight wins over the Magic and now have a chance to close out the series in Toronto. All four games have sailed comfortably under the total as Orlando's offense has gone cold, posting no more than 93 points in three straight games.
In addition to the Magic's scoring drought, this series has been played at the slowest pace of any first-round matchup. Until there's an uptick in tempo or Orlando figures it out offensively, you can probably expect another slog in Game 5.
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers
Line: 76ers -8.5
Total: 229.5
The good news for the Nets in Game 4 is they didn't send the Sixers to the free-throw line as frequently as they did in the series' first three contests, an alarming trend we pointed out over the weekend. The bad news is they still allowed the Sixers to shoot 50 percent from the floor, lost, and now head to Philly for a do-or-die situation.
Unlike the Orlando-Toronto series, this matchup is being played at the fastest pace in the postseason, tied with the Los Angeles Clippers-Golden State Warriors series. Outside of a poor shooting night in Game 1, Philadelphia has done whatever it wants offensively, averaging 129.3 points over the last three games. Brooklyn also hasn't been too shabby over that stretch despite losing all three contests, averaging 115.3. After recommending the under in Game 4, we're expecting some fireworks Tuesday as the 76ers look to advance to the second round.
San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets
Line: Nuggets -5.5
Total: 211
If the Spurs and Nuggets continue their pattern of alternating wins in this series, San Antonio would steal its second road victory of the first round and head back to Texas with a chance to advance to the Western Conference semifinals. However, instead of taking the Spurs on the full-game spread, there's another angle that warrants some attention.
Denver's early-game struggles have been this series' other intriguing pattern. The Nuggets have fallen behind at the end of the first quarter in every contest so far, trailing by an average of 7.5 points through the first frame. The Spurs are +2 on the first-quarter spread in most shops.
Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers
Line: Trail Blazers -3.5
Total: 220
The Trail Blazers went 0-4 against the Thunder during the regular season. Now, they're one win away from moving on to the second round.
While this series has been all over the place - including a decisive Game 3 win for the Thunder followed by a Game 4 blowout loss at home - It's been primarily low scoring, with three of the four meetings going under the total.
Another constant in this series has been Oklahoma City's first-half struggles, as the Thunder are 1-3 against the first-half spread after entering the postseason on a 3-21 skid in that scenario. With so much randomness in this series, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.