NBA Playoffs 2020: Schedules, news, odds and latest updateson August 15, 2020 at 12:34 pm

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Are the Lakers truly the favorite to win NBA title? (0:33)Doug Kezirian explains how Caesars is skewing the odds when it comes to the Lakers in an effort to manage financial risk. (0:33)

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The 2020 NBA playoffs are almost here. Once the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies face off to determine who’ll be the final playoff team in the Western Conference, things will be as close to normal as they can be in 2020: 16 teams (eight from each conference) playing best-of-seven series to determine an NBA champion.

Everything you need to know about the first bubble playoffs will be right here from now through the middle of October, when instead of getting ready for the 2020-21 season, we’ll be crowning this season’s champion (good news: they won’t have to travel far for a celebratory parade at Walt Disney World Resort).

o Everything to know about the teams that can win the title
o Finding the biggest flaw with every NBA playoff lock
o Zach Lowe’s 10 Things: Michael Porter Jr. and a power rising in the East
o NBA play-in prediction: Why the Grizzlies have a chance to beat the Blazers
o Experts’ picks: Predictions for the play-in and every first-round series

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BPI series odds: MIL (95%) | Caesars betting odds: MIL -15000

Kendrick Perkins cites the Bucks’ poor defense as why they have been the most disappointing team in the NBA bubble.

Game 1, Aug. 18: Magic vs. Bucks | 1:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 2, Aug. 20: Magic vs. Bucks | 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 3, Aug. 22: Bucks vs. Magic | 1 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 4, Aug. 24: Bucks vs. Magic | 1:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 26: Magic vs. Bucks | TBD
Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 28: Bucks vs. Magic | TBD
Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 30: Magic vs. Bucks | TBD

o How to beat the Bucks: Three ways to topple this juggernaut
o Magic’s Mo Bamba leaves bubble for post-coronavirus evaluation, to miss playoffs
o How Markelle Fultz finally found his place in the NBA

BPI series odds: TOR (86%) | Caesars betting odds: TOR -5000

Jay Williams reacts to the Raptors’ win vs. the Lakers over the weekend and explains why their defense can fuel them to another NBA title.

Game 1, Aug. 17: Nets vs. Raptors | 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 2, Aug. 19: Nets vs. Raptors | 1:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 3, Aug. 21: Raptors vs. Nets | 1:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Game 4, Aug. 23: Raptors vs. Nets | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 25: Nets vs. Raptors | TBD
Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 27: Raptors vs. Nets | TBD
Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 29: Nets vs. Raptors | TBD

o Start considering the Raptors real NBA title contenders
o Zach Lowe on the most exciting nerd thing in the NBA

BPI series odds: BOS (71%) | Caesars betting odds: BOS -460

Kendrick Perkins and Paul Pierce agree the 76ers won’t go far in the playoffs because of the injuries to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

Game 1, Aug. 17: 76ers vs. Celtics | 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 2, Aug. 19: 76ers vs. Celtics | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3, Aug. 21: Celtics vs. 76ers | 6:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 4, Aug. 23: Celtics vs. 76ers | 1 p.m. ET on ABC
Game 5 (if necessary), Aug. 25: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD
Game 6 (if necessary), Aug. 27: Celtics vs. 76ers | TBD
Game 7 (if necessary), Aug. 29: 76ers vs. Celtics | TBD

o The Celtics will go as far as Brown and Tatum carry them
o What to expect from the Sixers with Ben Simmons out

BPI series odds: MIA (57%) | Caesars betting odds: MIA -300

Jimmy Butler sits down with Rachel Nichols to discuss his beef with T.J. Warren and the Pacers, as well as his confidence that the Heat can take home the championship.