The NBA Playoffs feature two Game 4 matchups on Monday night as the Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Boston Celtics before the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the Dallas Mavericks. Our Buckets Podcast crew has cooked up some NBA best bets, so let's dig in.
Check out the NBA best bets from the "Buckets" podcast below.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | Cavaliers +8.5 |
| 7 p.m. | Under 207.5 |
  | 9:30 p.m. | Thunder +2, ML, Alt. Spread -5 |
| 9:30 p.m. | Under 214.5 |
Cavaliers +8.5 vs. Celtics
7 p.m. ET ⋅ TNT
By Matt Moore
Teams that have won one game in the series and lost Game 3 at home are 37-29-1 against the spread in Game 4.
That trend has me on the Cavaliers. I also have the Cavs in a series price at +2.5 games, and that means the Cavs essentially have to win this one. I don't trust Boston, and I think they get lazy anytime they get comfortable in a series. There is a clear pattern in their offense at times that can cause some issues.
The Cavs offense is terrible and shot poorly in Game 3, but they still have guys who can hit shots. I think they lose in six games, and I am willing to bet them here at +8.5, which is a big number.
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Under 207.5 vs. Celtics
7 p.m. ET ⋅ TNT
I think we will get a physical game in Cleveland tonight.
The first three games have lacked the physicality we have come to know in the NBA Playoffs, and consequently, I think they have felt a little vanilla.
In Game 3, there were a lot of open shots, open lanes and open 3s. I think this will be the first playoff-type game with more physicality and defensive effort. I lean Boston on the side, but I like the under a lot more.
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Thunder +2, ML, Alt. Spread -5 at Mavericks
9:30 p.m. ET ⋅ TNT
So much of what I do is track the sharps in the market.
They are clearly on the Thunder here in this spot. They were on them going into Game 3, but that game closed as low as Thunder +1. We have seen signals since this line opened at +2.5 and immediately moved to +2 and now down to +1.5.
Books don't want to take OKC money, and Dallas is the public favorite while the money is on the Thunder. When it comes to alt spreads, I rarely move through the zero and forego value, but there have been so many blowouts in these NBA Playoffs. I think eventually the Thunder will hit their shots and P.J. Washington will cool off.
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Under 214.5 vs. Thunder
9:30 p.m. ET ⋅ TNT
By Matt Moore
I don't have a side here because I think these Thunder vs. Mavericks games are all coin flips.
Luka Doncic is so banged up right now, and he maybe has one more game he can win, and Kyrie Irving and the Mavs defense can win one game each, so I see the Mavs pulling this series out. I don't see much value on this series right now, and there has been a huge shot variance in this series.
The Mavericks defense has challenged better of late, but the Thunder have simply been missing shots. That is where I come down on the under. Either P.J. Washington is going to slow down, or OKC is going to continue to miss these open shots.
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