NBA Playoffs Best Bets, Picks, & Predictions: Tuesday (4/25)
The stakes are high tonight as all three of the NBA Playoff games see teams facing elimination. Action gets underway out East with the Celtics (3-1) hosting the Hawks. The night rolls on as the Timberwolves take on the Nuggets (3-1) and the Clippers square off against the Suns (3-1).
Let’s dive into each matchup and lock in a few best bets.
Today’s Best NBA Bets
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Atlanta Hawks (+625) vs. Boston Celtics (-900) | O/U 229.5 (-110/-110)
It’s looking like we’ll get a gentleman’s sweep in this Eastern Conference series between the Hawks (1-3) and Celtics. This one’s all but over when you factor in that Atlanta will be without Dejounte Murray (suspension). Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET from TD Garden in Boston, MA.
I’m not sure I can convince myself to lay 13 points with Celtics here, although if I was going to play a side, that’s probably where I’d lean. Boston’s margins of victory over the four games have been: 13, 13, -8, 8. So, without Murray, who is the Hawks’ second-leading scorer with 25.3 points per game, I would say it makes sense to lay the points if you want to take a side.
With that being said, I’ll go ahead and lock in the over tonight at the Garden. It’s going to take a herculean effort from Trae Young to keep this game close, and everybody, including him, knows this. He’s averaging 26.8 points per contest this series and I feel like we’re in for a game where he drops 40+ in a losing effort.
On the flip side, look for the second-seeded Celtics to lean on what they do best – play offense. The C’s finished the regular season ranked second overall in offensive efficiency, averaging 115.7 points per 100 possessions. I think we’ll see a good old-fashioned barnburner in Boston where the over cashes for a third consecutive game.
Bet: Over 229.5 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves (+360) vs. Denver Nuggets (-450) | O/U 221.5 (-110/-110)
If you like center play, then this Timberwolves/Nuggets series has your name written all over it. In Game 4, the duo of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns combined for 31 points en route to a 114-108 overtime victory to extend the series. The two sides are back at it tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET from Ball Arena in Denver, CO.
With the line at 9.5 points in favor of the Nuggets, it’s worth noting that Denver would be just 1-3 against that number in their four games thus far. However, I’m going to lay the points here as the Nuggets return home to close out the series.
Denver’s offense is simply too dynamic to be shut down by Minnesota’s defense. Even with three-time Defensive Player of the Year Gobert down low, Nikola Jokic is still having his way with this club. He dropped 43 points in the losing effort Sunday and is now averaging 25.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. I think Jokic, Jamal Murray (25.3 PPG), and Michael Porter Jr. (18.5 PPG) show out at home and blow the Timberwolves out. Let’s lay the points here.
Bet: Denver Nuggets -9.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Clippers (+575) vs. Phoenix Suns (+800) | O/U 223.5 (-110/-110)
The drama continues in Los Angeles as the Clippers are confirmed without Paul George and Kawhi Leonard for Game 5, i.e. they’ve thrown in the towel. The Suns will look to close out the series tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET from Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ.
Originally, I thought I might play the over as this seems like one of those games where Russell Westbrook will put up a triple-double in a barnburner. While he may still score 35+ points, I think the Suns will bring their best effort to avoid letting this series spill over into a sixth game. They were the seventh-ranked defense in terms of efficiency this season (110.1 points allowed per 100 possessions), so I expect them to put the clamps on and stifle this depthless Clippers offense.
That being said, I just don’t know if we’ll make it over the total, so I’ll play the Suns -12.5 in this spot. Their championship-caliber defense should crush Westbrook (26.0 PPG), Norman Powell (20.5 PPG), and Eric Gordon (12.0 PPG) while the offense does enough to cover. Look for Phoenix’s stars to close out this series in a big way – give me the Suns.
Bet: Phoenix Suns -12.5 (-110)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts