The fiercely competitive Eastern Conference saw three Game 7s in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and on Tuesday, two winners from Sunday face each other in quick succession.
Many expected the No. 1-seeded Pistons and No. 4-seeded Cavaliers to meet in the second round, but both teams enter this seven-game series with their respective bumps and bruises.
The Raptors gave Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs all they could handle, while Cade Cunningham’s offensive prowess propelled the Pistons to a season-saving three-game winning streak over the Magic.
It wasn’t pretty, but both managed to advance.
Oddsmakers have this one extremely close, with the Pistons at -125 odds to win the series outright and Cleveland at +105 at BetMGM.
Neither team got off to the playoff start they envisioned, but nonetheless, a spot in the East finals is at stake.
The Pistons faced a 3-1 deficit and appeared on the brink of elimination until Cunningham started playing more aggressively and cutting down his turnovers.
He concluded the Magic series with averages of 32.4 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.7 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Tobias Harris offered valuable offensive support, with Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren increasing their hustle and rebounding efforts.
Conversely, the Cavaliers secured the series victory over the Raptors thanks to Jarrett Allen’s standout performance in Game 7.
However, Cleveland was unable to win a single game in Toronto, and their offense, which was expected to thrive with James Harden’s addition, regressed.
While iso plays are common with top scorers Mitchell and Harden, Kenny Atkinson’s team struggled with turnovers throughout the seven-game series. The Wine and Gold accounted for 121 in total, with Harden registering 36 himself.
This spells trouble, especially against the tough Pistons’ defense, which limited the Magic to a playoff-worst 39.7 percent field-goal shooting.
Detroit appears to have reaffirmed its identity, while the Cavs continue to struggle on the road, holding a 17-27 record against the spread this season as of Tuesday.
The Cavs’ difficulty in preventing the Raptors from crashing the glass in the first round also means Duren could have a field day.
I’m expecting a Duren double-double and for the Pistons to take Game 1.
The Plays: Jalen Duren to record a double-double (-135, BetMGM) | Pistons moneyline (-150, bet365)
Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
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