Although the start of baseball receives a lot of attention, the NBA season is now intensifying. With the shortened year nearing the postseason, the significance of this final stretch of the schedule is growing.
Residents of West Virginia have the opportunity to bet on NBA games through online sportsbooks available in the state. These platforms offer a diverse range of betting options for every matchup in the league.
ESPN will be airing two captivating matchups on Monday night featuring playoff teams.
In the first match of the day, the Philadelphia 76ers will welcome the Golden State Warriors at their home court. Later on, the Utah Jazz will embark on a journey to Los Angeles to face off against the Lakers in the second game of the day.
Apart from the increased number of games, this season is witnessing numerous challenges due to injuries. The condensed schedule implemented by the league appears to be causing a higher occurrence of teams grappling with the absence of key players.
Going forward, it will be intriguing to observe how organizations manage their injured stars.
We will analyze these captivating games and provide a preview of how WV sportsbooks could establish their odds.
NBA betting at WV sportsbooks
Warriors vs. 76ers preview
Both the Warriors and Sixers have faced numerous significant injuries throughout this season, requiring them to adapt and overcome.
Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors suffered another injury prior to the start of the year, adding to the team’s existing concerns. Of particular note is the team’s top draft pick, James Wiseman, who has faced multiple forced absences and will now be sidelined for the rest of the season.
Despite the Sixers’ improvement in that aspect, they had to endure a period without Joel Embiid.
Nevertheless, both teams find themselves in a favorable position with approximately 15 games remaining in the regular season.
With its recent three-game winning streak, Philadelphia reclaimed the top spot in the East from Brooklyn. The team is highly likely to secure one of the top three positions in the conference, but securing home court advantage could prove to be crucial.
Currently sitting in 9th place, the Warriors find themselves just half a game behind Memphis, signaling a more challenging route to secure a spot in the playoffs.
Golden State’s remarkable four-game winning streak, achieved despite their incomplete roster, positions them favorably to secure a spot in the postseason. The exceptional performance of guard Steph Curry in 2021, with an impressive scoring average exceeding 30 points at a 49% shooting accuracy, further adds to their chances.
This year’s playoffs will commence with the play-in games, which include the 9th and 10th-place teams, even if they fail to secure one of the top eight seeds. Given Curry’s exceptional performance, many fans are eagerly anticipating this spectacle.
When the Warriors go up against the Sixers, the key question is whether they can effectively contain Embiid. The absence of their center Wiseman may have negative consequences, especially when facing teams with a skilled big man.
Last month, a clash ensued between the two teams, however, both Embiid and Curry were absent from the lineup. Philadelphia emerged victorious with a 108-98 triumph away from home.
When both stars are in the game, anticipate a substantial increase in the total score. Additionally, bettors can anticipate the Sixers to have a favorable spread, particularly when playing at home.
Lakers vs. Jazz preview
The nightcap on Monday has the potential to give us a glimpse of what the Western Conference finals could be like.
Currently, Utah holds the top position in the Western Conference, leading the second-seeded Suns by a single game. With the highest number of victories in the entire league, Utah continues to perform exceptionally well at the moment.
Out of their most recent 10 games, the Jazz emerged victorious in seven.
Just like Philadelphia, Utah is also aiming to secure the top spot to have the advantage of home court during the entire playoffs. This could have a significant impact in a series against the reigning champions.
Despite being in fifth place, the Lakers’ chances of advancing past the opening round of the playoffs seem unlikely due to the absence of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on their roster.
Fortunately, both will eventually return, although determining the exact time remains uncertain.
Even though LA currently sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, it is determined not to drop any lower. Portland trails by two games, while Dallas lags behind by three.
As stated earlier, if the Lakers drop to the 7th spot, they would be required to compete in the qualifying round.
Davis is close to coming back, although the team remains uncertain about the exact timing of his return.
In February, when the Jazz and Lakers faced off, the Jazz dominated. Despite LeBron’s presence on the court, the Jazz secured a 25-point victory.
Nevertheless, the Lakers have the advantage of playing both of their remaining games against Utah at home. On the other hand, the Jazz have shown to be less impressive on the road, in contrast to their remarkable 25-3 record at home.
If both Lakers stars are unable to play, Utah is likely to secure another effortless victory. However, the odds at WV sportsbooks will experience a significant shift if Davis is able to participate.
However, despite these injuries, the books do not appear to be worried. According to DraftKings WV Sportsbook, the Lakers still have the second-best odds (+350) to win the title, only behind the Nets.
Despite their performance up until now, the online sportsbook only gives the Jazz the fifth-highest likelihood, with odds of +900.
Before placing any bets, bettors should ensure that they check the starting lineups for this game.
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