Where to find the best odds on these two series

NBA fans have been waiting 180 long days to get into the NBA Playoffs, and now they’re finally here.

There’s no substitute for the drama that the postseason brings, and this year’s first round matchups offer our pundits plenty of betting opportunities.

Our NBA crew trawled through odds books to find the best bets for two series starting on Saturday.

Grizzlies vs Timberwolves

Schmidt: Grizzlies win in seven games (+340, DraftKings)

The Grizzlies tied their overall wins in the franchise season when they captured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. They have arguably the strongest team in the league, which they proved by going 20-5 this season without Ja Morant. Backup point guard Tyus Jones was incredible in Morant’s absence as he recorded the best single-season assist-to-turnover ratio (7.04) in NBA history.

Speaking of Morant, he’s the first guard to lead the league on points scored in the suit. He averaged 27.4 points per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field. Morant is making headlines, but Jaren Jackson Jr. leads the league in blocks while Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane both average over 18 points per game.

The Timberwolves beat the Clippers at home to take the No. 7 seed. They did so on the back of Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell, who combined for 59 points.

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Karl-Anthony Towns was a major disappointment in their play-in game as he was fouled in 24 minutes and only had 11 points. However, Towns is averaging 23.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game against the Grizzlies this season.

This series has a real chance to go the distance. During the season both won two games on their home ground. The talent and playoff experience is nearly identical. The Timberwolves have been more inconsistent, but they have the pieces to make this a real challenge for the Grizzlies. I think the Grizzlies escape in seven games.

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Jazz against outsiders

Wang: Mavericks win streak (+250, Caesars)

This one could backfire if Luka Doncic is seriously injured, but if not then that award is gone. Calf strains are tricky but I’m a perpetual optimist and I’m counting on the 23-year-old recovering quickly and getting back on the pitch.

Look, I’m just as surprised as all of you. How did the Mavericks do it? There was so much turmoil in the front office during the off-season and they saw tremendous turnover in their coaching staff and roster. They had a 17-18 record through 2022, but they reeled off a huge run, finishing 52-30. What a tremendous turnaround thanks to their commitment in defence, the solid play of their role players and of course Doncic’s play.

Jazz was the opposite. They finished the season 4-7, squandered a string of double-digit leads and displayed some major team chemistry issues. They’ve also battled the top teams in the league, winning 6-13 against teams with a win ratio of 60.0 or more.

The Mavericks are one of the best teams in the league with a 29-12 record at home, while the Jazz were 20-21 and had a under-.500 record on the road. Also, the Mavericks can play smaller and sideline Gobert.

That line has an implied 27.28 percent probability of Dallas winning, which is disrespectful. Take the Mavericks at that price and if Doncic is healthy you can expect to be in a favorable position.