Only two series in the 2017 NBA Playoffs are dead even through four games. Which teams do the oddsmakers see as the favorites heading into key Game 5’s?
2017 NBA PLAYOFFS ODDS
According to oddsmakers, the San Antonio Spurs are still a clear favorite against the Memphis Grizzlies. Oddsmakers listed the Spurs with a money line of -800 to emerge as the series winner. The Grizzlies are being given odds of +575 to win. When it comes to the Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks, the Raptors are favored. Oddsmakers have the Raptors listed at -220 to win their 2017 NBA Playoffs series, while the Bucks have +185 odds.
SPURS VS. GRIZZLIES
The second-seeded Spurs looked to have control of this series after a pair of sizable wins at home in Games 1 and 2. San Antonio picked up a 111-82 victory in the opener and followed it up with a 96-82 win. When the series shifted to Memphis, the seventh-seeded Grizzlies evened things up. Memphis established a 105-94 win in Game 3 and then had a 110-108 win over the Spurs in Game 4. Saturday’s game was a classic, with it going to OT before Marc Gasol hit the game-winner with 0.7 seconds left on the clock.
Gasol had a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds while Mike Conley had 35 points with eight assists and nine rebounds. Kawhi Leonard had 43 points and eight rebounds in the loss, but he has had a tremendous series, averaging 32.5 points per game while going a perfect 40-for-40 from the free-throw line. Game 5 of this series is set for Tuesday in San Antonio.
RAPTORS VS. BUCKS
The third-seeded Raptors and sixth-seeded Bucks have both had up-and-down games this series. Milwaukee took Game 1 on the road, 97-83, and won Game 3 at home, 104-77. Toronto answered back in both instances, winning Game 2, 106-100, and winning Game 4 on Saturday, 87-76. Shooting woes have been the main culprit this series, as the losing team in three of the four games was held under 85 points.
The Bucks were just 5-of-21 from 3-point land in Game 4 after going 12-of-23 in Game 3. DeMar DeRozan has shot 50 percent or better in the two wins, but just 7-of-29 from the field in the two playoff losses. Game 5 of this series is set for Monday night in Toronto.