ReadNOW

The NBA postseason continues in the present day with Celtics-Knicks and Sport 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” record for the day.

However we do quite a lot of the legwork—sifting by the a whole bunch of markets out there for every recreation, on the lookout for the most effective bets so that you don’t need to (though you need to all the time do a few of your personal homework).

Listed below 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 arms on this recreation. Boston dominated the Knicks within the common season, sweeping the sequence and profitable three of 4 video games by double digits.

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

After all, they’ll must decelerate Jayson Tatum (31.2 factors and 11.3 rebounds per recreation)—one thing they couldn’t work out tips on how to 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 gradual 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 in opposition to Boston within the common season. Whereas he averaged 31.5 per recreation in opposition to the Pistons, the Celtics’ protection is far, a lot more durable 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 12 months as its high-powered offense plowed by opponents. Nonetheless, Denver gave them a great struggle within the common season—the 2 groups break up the sequence 2-2.

With the Thunder having greater than per 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 is probably not an element.

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

Choose: Nuggets +9.5

Nikola Jokic, to document a triple-double (+120)
Jokic averaged a triple-double throughout the common season sequence 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 anticipate it to be even more durable now. Jokic might not rating 20-plus, however he’ll document 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 recreation however was shut out in two others. After such an extended layoff, he’ll doubtless wrestle to seek out his three-point stroke in opposition to a strong Nuggets protection.