NBA playoffs: Previews, schedules, picks and odds

Three things: This is the first time Milwaukee is a No. 1 seed since 1974, when they were in the Western Conference, the NBA had 17 teams and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was their best player. That’s also the last time they reached the Finals, losing to Boston in seven. ... The Bucks haven’t won a playoff series since 2001, which means nothing, says Khris Middleton. “First place in the league, 60 wins, and we have homecourt,” he said Wednesday. “Forget about the things in the past in some ways. Just keep moving forward.” ... Giannis Antetokounmpo, the odds-on favorite for league MVP, has averaged 25.3 points over the last two postseasons. He’s increased his regular-season scoring average in each of his six seasons. It was 27.7 this year.

Series odds (via Westgate SuperBook): Milwaukee -10,000; Detroit +2,000.

The pick: Milwaukee in 5.

Three things: The Raptors traded for Kawhi Leonard in hopes of finally getting an elusive Eastern Conference championship. Leonard played only 60 games this year, but he averaged a career-high 26.6 points. He was the Finals MVP in 2014 and has played 87 postseason games. ... Danny Green, acquired in the Leonard deal, hit a career-high 45.5 percent of his three-pointers (198 for 435). ... Orlando averaged 107.3 points per game, fewest of the 16 playoff teams. They enter the postseason having won 11 of 13.

Series odds: Toronto -1,400; Orlando +800.

The pick: Toronto in 5.

Three things: The Sixers played 24 games after the All-Star break. Joel Embiid missed 14 of them. Philadelphia was 43-21 with him this season, 8-10 without. ... The only 3-seed in the last 10 years to win the NBA title was the 2011 Mavericks. ... Joe Harris, the first Nets player to win the three-point contest during All-Star week, led the league in downtown shooting at a ridiculous 47.4 percent. By comparison, JJ Redick shot a respectable 39.7 percent.

Series odds: Sixers -800; Brooklyn +550.

The pick: Sixers in 7.

Three things: Celtics guard Marcus Smart, an excellent defender and enemy of Sixers fans, is out 4-6 weeks with a partially torn left oblique. ... Boston won three of four against Indiana. All three losses came after the Pacers lost Victor Oladipo to a ruptured quad tendon. The Pacers were just 23-23 without their All-Star. ... Pacers guard Tyreke Evans has never won a playoff game in his 10 seasons. He was swept in his only appearance, in 2015 with New Orleans, by Golden State.

Series odds: Boston -700; Indiana +500.

The pick: Boston in 6.

Three things: The Warriors are going for the NBA’s first three-peat since the Shaq/Kobe Lakers of 2000-02. ... Golden State set a franchise record with 1,087. The Clippers (38.8%) and Warriors (38.5%) were second and third, respectively, in three-point shooting this year. Only San Antonio (39.2%) was better. ... Los Angeles allowed 114.3 points per game, highest among the 16 playoff teams. The Warriors won three of the four meetings, averaging 122.0 per.

Series odds: Golden State -50,000; L.A. Clippers +10,000.

The pick: Golden State in 4.

Three things: The Nuggets snapped a five-year playoff drought by winning the Northwest Division on the final night of the season. Last year, they missed out on the postseason on the final day after an overtime loss. ... Denver was a league-best 34-7 at home, but just 20-21 on the road. ... Nuggets star Nikola Jokic averaged 20.1/10.8/7.3. He’s the first center to average seven assists since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967-68. Yo.

Series odds: Denver -200; San Antonio +170.

The pick: Denver in 7.

Three things: Portland lost all four games against OKC by an average of 7.0 points. “We know that we’re capable of beating them,” said star guard Damian Lillard. “Each game this season came down to a possession here, a possession there.” ... The Blazers finished the season 14-3. They’ve been swept in the first round each of the last two years ... Russell Westbrook had 34 triple-doubles in 73 games this season to tie Magic Johnson on the career list with 138. Only Oscar Robertson (181) has more in the regular season. Westbrook has eight triple-doubles in 93 postseason games, well behind Magic’s 30.

Series odds: Oklahoma City -150; Portland +130.

The pick: Oklahoma City in 6.

Three things: James Harden (36.1) posted the seventh highest scoring average in NBA history. Only Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan posted higher. He averaged 33.5 points in four games against Utah. The Beard had 29 and 15 in losses, and 47 and 43 in wins. ... The NBA does not re-seed after the first round, so the winner of this series gets the winner of the 1 vs. 8 matchup. Would love to see Houston-Golden State in the second round. ... Jazz center Rudy Gobert led the league with 306 dunks, 3.78 per game.

Series odds: Houston -400; Utah +300.

The pick: Utah in 7.