Tuesday's NBA Playoffs slate features four heavyweights in conference in matchups that are essentially three-game series. The night opens with 76ers vs. Celtics Game 5 (7:30 p.m. ET) and closes with Suns vs. Nuggets Game 5 (10 p.m. ET) in what should be two massive matchups.
Action Network's NBA analysts have four best bets today for today's playoff games, including picks on the spread in each game, a first-half trend and player prop. Read on for their betting analysis and expert picks for Tuesday night.
NBA Odds & Best Bets
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Bostons Celtics
Jacob McKenna: I wrote the betting guide for 76ers-Celtics Game 5 — you can read it here — and with the series tied at two games apiece entering Game 5, we've seen both teams have won a game at home and on the road.
The 76ers may have tied the series, but getting to this point has been far from easy for the Eastern Conference's No. 3 seed. The inconsistency of Philadelphia's offense has often held them back in the past, and I think that is going to be its biggest hurdle moving forward.
James Harden scored 45 points in the series opener, a game where every point was necessary. He then fell off in Games 2 and 3 (28 points combined) before erupting for 42 in Game 4. However, even with Harden crossing the 40-point mark twice, the 76ers won by just a combined five points in those matchups, even with Embiid scoring 34 points in Game 4.
Being able to match Philadelphia from three is crucial to beating the 76ers, and the Celtics have been able to do that. Combine the 3-point shooting with Boston's bench advantage and I think we see Boston take care of business at home on Tuesday night.
I would play the spread to 8.5.
Pick: Celtics -7 | Play to -8.5 |
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Bostons Celtics
Andrew O'Connor-Watts: I've been on the Celtics first half all series and the only time it caused me pain was last game. The reasons for betting it again today are similar as they were in Games 1-4. Boston is a great first half team and Philly is not.
After an embarrassing effort in Game 4, the Celtics should look to kick off Game 5 with a fire. Their first half energy last game was sluggish at best. Only Malcolm Brogdon and Al Horford seemed to care that a basketball game was being played. And as frustrating as that first half was to watch, I'm not letting it steer me from my initial read of the situation, which is that the Celtics will win these first halves way more often than not against the Sixers.
Last game I argued how proficient the Celtics are after a win, but after a loss they're even more deadly. Since Tatum was drafted in 2017, the Celtics are 20-9 against the spread in the first half of playoff games.
This is a spot play for me and I'd take the Celtics at any number.
Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets
Bryan Fonseca: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope couldn't buy a 3-pointer in Phoenix, and barely shot them. He was 0-of-4 across both Games 3 and 4 in a combined 68 minutes.
But at home, he was unconscious. In Game 1, he hit 3-of-8 from deep en route to a meaningful 10 points. And in Game 2, he hit all four of his 3-point attempts and finished with 14 points.
He hit this over twice in each round, and has hit this in three of their five playoff home games. He's due to break out of the short slump, and being back in Denver should serve him well. He hit 43% at home and 41% on the road from beyond the arc in the regular season. In the playoffs, KCP is 4-of-14 from deep on the road, but 11-of-24 at home — nearly 50% when in Denver.
I like him to bounce back in Game 5.
Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets
Brandon Anderson: I wrote the betting guide for Game 5, in which I explained why I'm also betting Nuggets futures in addition to the spread in this game (you can read that here).
This is a spot I've had circled since the series schedule came out. I love Denver here.
The Nuggets are a different animal at home. They went 34-7 at Ball Arena in the regular season and are 5-0 in the playoffs, all but one win by at least nine points.
Denver had a +9.6 Net Rating at home this season versus -3.0 on the road. The defense ranked sixth at home, 22nd on the road. The Suns were just 17-24 on the road.
Part of Denver's home advantage comes by way of location. The Nuggets play at elevation, which is tough on visitors' conditioning. This is a third game in five days with both Durant and Booker playing 42 MPG. That duo is doing almost everything for Phoenix, and this is the game where that wear and tear catches up.
Denver has been elite in the fourth quarter this season while Phoenix struggled there and in the clutch — even if the Suns hang around, the Nuggets should pull away late.
Despite stellar performances from Booker and Durant, plus off-nights from the non-Jokic Nuggets, Denver still had a shot to tie late in both losses. The Nuggets have been the better team through four games. The deeper, fresher team will get more from its role players at home and retake control.
I grabbed Nuggets -3.5 at open on the app for multiple units and still love them at -5.5.
Planning to wager on NBA? Ensure you have the BetMGM bonus code to maximize your bets.
Pick: Nuggets -5.5 |
