NBA betting: Four bets that stand out for Sunday’s Game 1s
The 2025 NBA playoffs continue on Sunday with four more Game 1s, starting with the Oklahoma City Thunder (-13.5, 229.5) hosting the Memphis Grizzlies at 1 p.m ET. The Golden State Warriors head east to play the Houston Rockets (-1.5, 213.5) in the other big Western Conference showdown.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics (-13.5, 205.5) face the Orlando Magic, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers (-12.5, 215.5) taking on the Miami Heat.
Here are some of the bets that stand out for Sunday’s games.
Odds are as of publication time. For the most up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET
Bets for Sunday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 44.5 points, rebounds and assists (-115). The Grizzlies struggled to contain point guards all season, and now they face the MVP frontrunner in the first round of the playoffs. SGA averaged 36.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, and 2.8 RPG in four games against Memphis this year, clearing this line in three of those matchups. Both teams also rank among the top in pace, which sets up perfectly for another big afternoon from Gilgeous-Alexander.
Cole Anthony over 7.5 points (-105). Boston is elite defensively — they ranked fourth in defensive rating — but Anthony has been a reliable scorer off the bench for Orlando. Behind Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, he’s one of the few guys who can create his own shot. He’s hit this line in 12 of his last 20 games and in all three matchups against the Celtics this season. When he plays 20+ minutes, he’s cleared it in 84% of those games –so if the minutes are there, the points should follow
Evan Mobley over 27.5 points and rebounds (-110). Mobley averaged a career-high 18.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG this season, and he’s built for the playoffs. When the pace slows down, bigs become more important. And against a Heat team that plays two bigs — Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware –Mobley should see heavy minutes. He’s cleared this line in two of three games vs. Miami this season, and in the one miss, he only played 12 minutes.
Amen Thompson over 4.5 assists (+105). This was one bet that immediately caught my attention at plus odds. He’s cleared this line in 14 of his last 20 games. Thompson has averaged 9.5 potential assists per game in 34 minutes over that span, showcasing his playmaking ability. He’s an excellent defender which should keep him on the court against the Warriors this series.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
All times are Eastern.
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder
1 p.m. on ABC
Line: Grizzlies +13.5 (-107) | Thunder -13.5 (-107)
Money line: Grizzlies +750 | Thunder -1400
Total: 229.5 (-107 O, -107 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 10, straight up 79%, 233.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Jaylen Wells, (OFS – Wrist)
Thunder: Ousmane Dieng, (OUT – Calf); Nikola Topic, (OFS – Knee)
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
3:30 p.m. on ABC
Line: Magic +13.5 (-110) | Celtics -13.5 (-104)
Money line: Magic +700 | Celtics -1200
Total: 205.5 (-110 O, -104 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 9.5, straight up 78%, 201.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: None reported
Celtics: None reported
Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. on TNT/truTV/Max
Line: Heat +12.5 (-104) | Cavaliers -12.5 (-110)
Money line: Heat +550 | Cavaliers -900
Total: 215.5 (-110 O, -104 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 11.7, straight up 83%, 220.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Kevin Love, (OUT – Personal); Dru Smith, (OFS – Achilles)
Cavaliers: None reported
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
9:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV/Max
Line: Warriors +1.5 (-112) | Rockets -1.5 (-102)
Money line: Warriors +EVEN | Rockets -120
Total: 213.5 (-102 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 2.4, straight up 58%, 214.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: None reported
Rockets: Jae’Sean Tate, (OUT – Ankle); Jock Landale, (OUT – Knee)
Source: espn.com