2021 NBA Playoff Odds: Game 2 Picks & Predictions for 76ers-Wizards, Knicks-Hawks, Jazz-Grizzlies
Wednesday night features a trio of interesting Game 2 games and BetRivers.com is proud to provide a wide variety of 2021 NBA Playoff odds for 76ers-Wizards, Knicks-Hawks and Jazz-Grizzlies on May 26. Bet on the latest sport bets odds with BetRivers and increase your chance to win real money.
The 76ers took control of Game 1 in the third quarter, leading to a seven-point win over the Wizards in the series opener. The Hawks pulled off the road upset thanks to a Trae Young floater with time running down to spoil the Knicks’ first playoff game in a very long time, and the Memphis Grizzlies shocked the NBA world with a Game 1 win over the top-seeded Jazz.
Longtime basketball writer Rob Dauster, the co-founder of The Field of 68 Podcast Network is here to provide his thoughts on the 2021 NBA Playoff odds for Wednesday, May 26, with picks and predictions for Game 2 of 76ers-Wizards, Knicks-Hawks and Jazz-Grizzlies.
Wednesday BetRivers Specials: NBA Boosts
- Each team to have at least one player score 25+ points. Now +500
- Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook to combine for Over 23.5 assists. Was +125. Now +145
- Julis Randle and Trae Young to record a double-double. Was +225. Now +275
- Knicks and Jazz both win. Was +120. Now +140
- Rudy Gobert to record Over 3.5 blocks. Now +200
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2021 NBA PLAYOFF ODDS: WEDNESDAY, MAY 26
#8 WASHINGTON WIZARDS (0-1) at #1 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (1-0)
GAME 2: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBATV
MONEYLINE: 76ers -400, Wizards +295
SPREAD: 76ers -8
OVER/UNDER: 229.5 points
Click here for the full list of 76ers-Wizards Game 2 Odds
In the first game of their postseason, the 76ers got off to what can only be called an inauspicious start. Joel Embiid found himself in early foul trouble, Brad Beal’s hamstring was magically healed and Philly couldn’t throw a cheesesteak in the Delaware River in the first half.
That all changed once Embiid was able to get on the floor for consistent minutes. He finished with 30 points in 30 minutes, shooting 9-for-16 from the floor and getting to the free throw line 13 times. The attention he drew inside opened everything up for Tobias Harris, who popped off for 37 points as the 76ers avoided an embarrassing loss despite not covering in their opener.
The problem here for the Wizards is that, for about the first 30 minutes, they played about as well as they can play while getting one of the worst performances that Philly is going to muster in the postseason. And they still lost.
I fully expect tonight’s matchup to look more like the final 18 minutes than the first 30, which means that Philly (-8) is a great buy-low spot on a team that we all think is the overwhelming favorite to win this series.
I’d also be interested in the points overs for Tobias Harris (21.5) and Joel Embiid (32.5). The juice on the Harris line is creeping up a little bit too high for my taste (-127), but I just don’t see how the Wizards are going to be able to stop JoJo.
#5 ATLANTA HAWKS (1-0) at #4 NEW YORK KNICKS (0-1)
GAME 2: 7:40 p.m. ET, TNT
MONEYLINE: Knicks -136 ML, Hawks +112 ML
SPREAD: Knicks -2
OVER/UNDER: 213 points
Click here for the full list of Knicks-Hawks Game 2 Odds
As good as Trae Young was in his first career playoff game — can you ask for more than 32 points, a near-triple-double and the game-winning bucket in front of a packed MSG??? — the return of De’Andre Hunter ended up being enormous as well. One of the best defenders in the NBA, Hunter improves the Hawks’ defense by 7.4 points per 100 possessions, according to data drummed up by Cleaning The Glass, and I don’t think that it is a coincidence that he was on the floor and Julius Randle struggled as much as he did in Game 1.
How much of that was Playoff jitters? How much of that was nerves settling in in front of a packed house? It’s hard to say, but I do know this: if the Knicks are going to have a real chance in this series, they need to win tonight. And if they are going to win tonight, then they are going to need to get more than 12-for-38 shooting out of Randle and Barrett. You cannot bank on Alec Burks being able to give you 27 off the bench again.
I think they will. Thibs will have an answer for Young on both ends of the floor. I think that he will find a way to be able to take advantage of the lack of size on the defensive end. And there’s just no way that Randle can struggle as much as he did on Sunday night.
I like the Knicks (-2) to bounce back in a must-win spot.
#8 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (1-0) at #1 UTAH JAZZ (0-1)
GAME 2: 10:10 p.m. ET, TNT
MONEYLINE: Jazz -455 ML, Grizzlies +350 ML
SPREAD: Jazz -9.5
OVER/UNDER: 219.5 points
Click here for the full list of Jazz-Grizzlies Game 2 odds
Memphis was playing their third game in five days at elevation, they trailed a team that went 31-5 at home by 14 points in the second quarter and, somehow, they came away with a win in Game 1.
So what happened?
Donovan Mitchell sat out with the ankle injury, Rudy Gobert got into foul trouble and played just 25 minutes, the Jazz — the best three-point shooting team in the NBA — finished the game just 12-for-47 from beyond the arc and the Grizzlies were able to force a whole bunch of turnovers that led to easy baskets.
That’s all.
Mitchell is going to be back tonight. That will be a huge boost, not only in preventing the turnovers that lead to easy baskets but in helping to create open threes. And Gobert avoiding foul trouble will change things as well.
Utah was the best team in the NBA for a reason this season. It was because they had Mitchell, Gobert and that cast of shooters. All of that was missing Sunday, and I fully expect it to be back tonight.
Jazz (-9). Book it.