Coronavirus (COVID-19) NBA Update – August 18th Edition

Coronavirus (COVID-19) NBA Update – August 18th Edition

The 2019-2020 NBA Playoffs are underway! Check out an update on what’s happened so far in the playoffs as well as how the coronavirus pandemic has fallen off the radar so you can start planning ahead your bets for the playoffs against their NBA odds.

NBA COVID-19 Update – August 18th Edition

2020 NBA Championship

  • When: September 27 – October 17
  • Where: Disney World Resort, Orlando, FL

2020 NBA Championship Odds

  • Los Angeles Lakers +250
  • Milwaukee Bucks +250
  • Los Angeles Clippers +270
  • Boston Celtics +1200
  • Toronto Raptors +900
  • Houston Rockets +1200
  • Denver Nuggets +2500
  • Philadelphia 76ers +5000
  • Miami Heat +3000
  • Dallas Mavericks +4000
  • Utah Jazz +5000
  • Brooklyn Nets +20000
  • Indiana Pacers +10000
  • Oklahoma City Thunder +6500
  • Portland Trail Blazers +4000
  • Orlando Magic +30000

NBA not even discussing the coronavirus

Since the playoffs started, the National Basketball Association hasn’t said a word about the coronavirus pandemic. That could be because of how well star players and how hard teams have competed.

In the first full day of NBA playoff action, only Toronto dominated their opponent. The Raptors blasted the Brooklyn Nets 134-110. But outside of the Raptors shredding the Nets, the other three playoff games were close.

The Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 109-101. The Dallas Mavericks fells 110-118 to the L.A. Clippers.

In the Celtics-Sixers game, Philadelphia star Joel Embiid scored 26 points while Boston’s best player, Jayson Tatum, dropped 32. The teams’ respective stars in the Mavericks versus Clippers game also stepped it up.

Dallas superstar Luka Doncic scored 42 in a losing effort. Kawhi Leonard, who won the NBA Title while a Toronto Raptor last season, scored 29.

Even though the Clippers, Celtics, and Raptors played great first playoff games, the real story on Monday was the Denver Nuggets versus the Utah Jazz.

Although he didn’t lead his team in scoring, Jamal Murray did with 36, Nuggets’ star Nikola Jokic dominated. Nikola had 29 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Jokic is the reason the Nuggets beat the Jazz 135-125 in overtime.

Donovan Mitchell scored 57 points in a losing effort. The Jazz are one of the biggest longshots on the board to win rings. If Mitchell’s performance is any indication, Utah won’t go away quietly.

Expect Jazz-Nuggets to remain one of the most entertaining first round NBA Playoff series in Orlando.

What NBA betting fans should look for in Rockets-Thunder and Lakers-Blazers

On Tuesday, the Orlando Magic battle the Milwaukee Bucks and the Indiana Pacers take on the Miami Heat. Although both games should be fun to watch, let’s not kid ourselves.

The two games that all NBA fans and handicappers are paying attention to are the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Houston Rockets and the L.A. Lakers versus the Portland Trail Blazers.

In Rockets versus Thunder, make sure to see how Oklahoma City counters the Rockets’ small-ball attack. Houston plays with three guards and two forwards. 

Russell Westbrook is out for Game 1. Westbrook has a problem with one of his quadriceps. That means the Rockets will start Jeff Green. Will the Thunder counter the Rockets’ small-ball lineup or start Steve Adams at center?

In Lakers-Blazers, check out the Jusuf Nurkic versus Anthony Davis battle. Also, see if the Blazers can dominate the backcourt with C.J. McCollum and Damian “Dame Dolla” Lillard. 

Dame Dolla won the Orlando bubble MVP. Lillard has cored 51, 61, 42, and 31 in the Blazers’ last four games. He had 12 assists and 10 assists in the last two Portland games.

If Lillard stays hot, the Blazers can bounce the Lakers in Round 1.

Have a great week!