Top NBA Playoffs Odds & Picks: Wednesday (4/24)
We’ve only got a two-game slate in the NBA tonight.
Both games will feature the No. 1 seeds in the Eastern and Western Conference. Therefore, both games have pretty hefty spreads leading up to this game.
Can the No. 1 seeds, the Celtics and the Thunder, cover their home games in Game 2 of the first round? Our best bets for tonight’s action are below!
Wednesday’s Best NBA Bets
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook| All wagers are for 1 unit
Miami Heat @ Boston Celtics
While it would be fun to back a team in this game, the total looks more juicy.
The Celtics scored 129.5 points per 100 possessions against the Heat in Game 1. Boston finished with 114 points and shot a 61.7% effective field goal percentage with only 12.5% of turnovers and more than 30% of offensive rebounds.
That was the third consecutive game where the Celtics scored at least 126.9 points per 100 possessions and added at least a 58.7% effective field goal percentage. There’s ultimately no stopping this Boston offense.
On the other hand, the Heat rarely get to the foul line. It’s also rare for the Heat to succeed on the offensive glass. But there were moments in early April when the Celtics struggled on the defensive glass. The Heat allowed 42.9% of offensive rebounds to the Knicks, 30.8% to the Bucks, and 40.3% to the Blazers. If Miami can be just a bit more aggressive on the offensive glass and earn more second chances, I’d have to imagine they’ll stick around in this game and score at a good enough rate to help this game get Over the total.
After all, the Celtics watched the Heat shoot an effective field goal percentage of 55% and only managed 12.5% of turnovers on the defensive end. The Heat were already slightly above average offensively with 94 points. They need to elevate the offensive rebound percentage and try to be more aggressive for foul-line opportunities.
I’m taking the Over 202.5 in this one.
Bet: Over 202.5 (-115)
New Orleans Pelicans @ Oklahoma City Thunder
If Game 1 proved anything, it’s that the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans will be a tight series after all.
The Thunder escaped the Pelicans, 94-92, in the series’ first game at home. It was a game where the Pelicans will look back with regret for not winning. That said, the Thunder have been excellent defensively for almost all of April.
In their last five games, the Thunder have held teams to 103.6 points per 100 possessions or fewer. They’ve gained a massive amount of turnovers and have held their last five teams to a 44.8% effective field goal percentage in four of those five games.
But to be fair, the Thunder were also weak offensively in Game 1. Oklahoma City shot an effective field goal percentage of 49.4% and added only 21.3% of offensive rebounds against the Pelicans in Game 1. They were killed on the glass and also didn’t get to the foul line much.
This game will come down to the wire. Because of that, I’ll take the Pelicans at +7.5 (-105).
Bet: Pelicans +7.5 (-105)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Wednesday: