The Power of Betting NBA Underdogs in Playoffs First Round

• Underdog betting the NBA playoffs has been profitable 6.6 units over 35 games.
• The Atlanta Hawks win on Tuesday was the largest underdog hit of the playoffs’ first round.

ATLANTA – Despite having a 13-22 record, NBA bettors would be up $661 if betting $100 on every NBA underdog this playoff round.

The largest underdog hit of this NBA playoff happened Tuesday with the Atlanta Hawks. Aside from the Miami Heat’s run, many other teams earned a victory with odds +140 or longer at legal sports betting sites this postseason too.

Big NBA Underdogs Wins

• Hawks +650 (Game 5)
• Heat +370 (Game 1)
• Clippers +275 (Game 1)
• Heat +275 (Game 4)
• Hawks +188 (Game 3)
• Knicks +180 (Game 1)
• Lakers +175 (Game 1)
• Wolves +160 (Game 4)
• 76ers +140 (Game 4)

With four NBA games Wednesday, that means four underdogs take the court.

NBA Underdogs Wednesday

• Knicks +190
• Lakers +155
• Heat +475
• Kings +110

The Miami Heat are the most profitable against legal NBA sportsbooks this postseason as an underdog. Even further, all four underdogs Wednesday have made bettors money as such.

Most Profitable Teams To Bet

Teams Giving Bettors A Headache

Other teams are within a game of jumping from being profitable or not. The Knicks (1-1, +$80) lead the way, with the Clippers (1-4, -$125) being the bottom of the four.

Using The Data For Wednesday

While past results don’t equate to future success, there could be some trends pointed to still. Seven of the 35 games saw teams as +120 underdogs or shorter. Turning a profit of $148, the Sacramento Kings fall into this category.

Despite winning as +370, +275, and +118 underdogs, fading Game 5 seems wise based on the Heat’s road underdog record this season. They went 7-14 SU (average) and 9-12 ATS (bottom 25%).

The NY Knicks won Game 1 as +180 underdogs and find themselves at +190 Wednesday. Since the start of the season the Knicks are 14-10 SU as road dogs of two possessions or less. The last three were all within a month and against the Cavs (2-1 SU and ATS).

The LA Lakers were a sixth-best 14-20 (41.2%) as a road underdog this season. Since Christmas, they went 10-2 SU as away underdogs of six points or less. In that same span, they’ve broken 120 points nine times.