NBA Finest Bets: Could 5 Playoff Picks for Celtics vs. Knicks, Nuggets vs. Thunder

The NBA postseason continues in the present day with Celtics-Knicks and Recreation 1 of the Western Convention semifinals between the Nuggets and Thunder. With so many thrilling gamers and groups on the court docket, it’s going to be difficult to plan our NBA “Finest Bets” listing for the day.

However we do a variety of the legwork—sifting via the tons of of markets accessible for every sport, on the lookout for one of the best bets so that you don’t need to (though you must all the time do a few of your individual homework).

Listed here are our NBA “Finest Bets” for in the present day’s playoff video games (odds by way of DraftKings):

New York Knicks (+9) vs. Boston Celtics (-380), o/u 213

New York goes to have an actual problem on its fingers on this sport. Boston dominated the Knicks within the common season, sweeping the collection and successful three of 4 video games by double digits.

They’ll want Jalen Brunson to play even higher than he did towards the Pistons (31.5 factors, 8.2 assists and 4.0 rebounds per sport). It will definitely assist if they may get extra out of Karl-Anthony Cities, too.

In fact, they’ll must decelerate Jayson Tatum (31.2 factors and 11.3 rebounds per sport)—one thing they couldn’t work out how you can do within the common season. There’s no motive to assume they’ll achieve this now.

Choose: Celtics -9

Jayson Tatum, OVER 27.5 Factors (-125)
He averaged over 31 factors within the postseason and scored greater than 27.5 in three of 4 video games vs. the Knicks within the common season (he had 25 within the outlier). There’s no motive to assume the Knicks can sluggish him down. Till somebody does, I’m taking the over.

Jalen Brunson, UNDER 27.5 Factors (-115)
Brunson scored over 27.5 simply as soon as towards Boston within the common season. Whereas he averaged 31.5 per sport towards the Pistons, the Celtics’ protection is way, a lot harder than Detroit’s. If Karl-Anthony Cities struggles, there’s an opportunity Brunson goes off.

However when Cities struggled within the common season matchups, Boston nonetheless held Brunson to the low 20s.

Denver Nuggets (+9.5) vs. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (-420), o/u 225

Oklahoma Metropolis has been the “it” group of the yr as its high-powered offense plowed via opponents. Nonetheless, Denver gave them battle within the common season—the 2 groups cut up the collection 2-2.

With the Thunder having greater than every week off and the Nuggets enjoying Sunday, I’d lean towards OKC. Then once more, Denver was 14-9 in video games with a relaxation drawback, so it might not be an element.

I might make a stable case for both group to win this sport, however with Nikola Jokic enjoying in addition to he’s (24.0 factors, 11.6 rebounds and 10.1 assists per sport vs. the Clippers), I’d be stunned to see the Thunder win by double digits.

Choose: Nuggets +9.5

Nikola Jokic, to file a triple-double (+120)
Jokic averaged a triple-double in the course of the common season collection vs. OKC (24.5 factors, 15.8 rebounds and 11.5 assists). He additionally averaged one within the first spherical vs. the Clippers, although he recorded simply three in seven video games. Within the 4 common season video games vs. OKC, he had two.

The Thunder couldn’t include him then, and with how he’s been enjoying, I’d count on it to be even harder now. Jokic could not rating 20-plus, however he’ll file a triple-double.

Chet Holmgren, UNDER 1.5 Made 3-pointers (+130)
He hit three or extra in three of 4 video games vs. Memphis, however in 4 regular-season video games vs. Denver, he went simply 3-for-15. He did have two makes in a single sport however was shut out in two others. After such a protracted layoff, he’ll doubtless battle to seek out his three-point stroke towards a stable Nuggets protection.