The NBA Playoffs resume with a solid trio of Game 3s tonight. Celtics vs. Magic will tipoff the festivities at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by Pacers vs. Bucks at 8:00 p.m. ET, and then we'll close out the evening with Lakers vs. Timberwolves at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified prop picks and predictions for all 3 of tonight's playoff games. Continue below for our NBA prop bets for Friday, April 25.
NBA Prop Bets, Picks, Predictions for Friday, April 25
- Celtics-Magic First Quarter Under 51.5 Total Points (-125, DraftKings)
- Tyrese Haliburton Over 22.5 Points + Rebounds (-135, BetMGM)
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 6.5 Points (-130, Fanatics)
Celtics vs. Magic Prop Bet for Tonight
First Quarter Under 51.5 Total Points
Celtics vs Magic, 7:00 p.m. ET
These two teams haven't come close to combining for 50 points in either first quarter so far this series. The defense has been tremendous on both sides. The offense… not so much.
Boston will likely be without Jayson Tatum tonight, who is listed as doubtful. Jrue Holiday is also questionable. The Celtics have the depth to recover from those losses, but it's not ideal.
The bigger factor here might be the pace. These were the two slowest teams in the regular season, and they've maintained that standard in the playoffs. Boston and Orlando have posted an insanely slow 87.75 pace through two games of this series.
The postseason is a different beast of course, but to put that number into context, the last time a team played at a pace below 87.75 in the regular season was 2005-06 (Memphis).
The Magic have struggled to create good shots all season, and the Celtics will likely be without their best player. It's a lot to ask these two teams to be efficient enough to crack 50 points given the limited possessions.
Pick: First Quarter Under 51.5 Total Points (-125, DraftKings)
Pacers vs. Bucks Prop Bet for Tonight
Tyrese Haliburton Over 22.5 Points + Rebounds
Pacers vs Bucks, 8:00 p.m. ET
By Joe Dellera
I’m running this back after cashing in Game 2. Haliburton has been able to cook against Damian Lillard, as he can exploit the soft Milwaukee defense. He just dropped 21 in Game 2 while taking 19 shots, and there was volume for even more.
I like adding the rebounds to this bet, as he’s had 5 and 7 in the two games this series, and has averaged 5.4 rebounds per game against the Bucks since 2022.
I prefer the combo prop with the rebounds floor, but he could easily go over this number on points alone too.
Pick: Tyrese Haliburton Over 22.5 Points + Rebounds (-135, BetMGM)
Lakers vs. Timberwolves Prop Bet for Tonight
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 6.5 Points
Lakers vs Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET
Nickeil Alexander-Walker has shot the ball terribly to start this series, but everything from a role perspective is pretty much as expected, so the production is destined to turn at some point.
NAW shot 2-for-9 in Game 1 and still went over this number, and he shot 2-for-6 in Game 2, including 3 wide-open jumpers.
The Wolves' defense is elite with NAW on the floor instead of Mike Conley (plus Rudy Gobert's excellent rim protection), as he's an elite on-ball defender and the Lakers cannot hunt him like Conley.
So, NAW's role should only continue to grow, especially when some shots start to fall.
Pick: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 6.5 Points (-130, BetMGM)
Fridays's NBA Prop Bets
- Celtics-Magic First Quarter Under 51.5 Total Points (-125)
- Tyrese Haliburton Over 22.5 Points + Rebounds (-135)
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 6.5 Points (-130)
