The NBA postseason rages on with three more games on Friday, April 25. Two of the series will feature teams with a 2-0 lead, while the other is tied at 1-1.
(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
The games include:
- Orlando Magic vs Boston Celtics (Boston up 2-0)
- Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers (Pacers up 2-0)
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers (series tied 1-1)
Below, I'll provide my best bets tonight for these NBA games.
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NBA Best Bets Today:
- Celtics ML (-192) at DraftKings Sportsbook
- Bucks ML (-205) at DraftKings Sportsbook
- Lakers ML (+130) at Caesars Sportsbook
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Celtics ML
On the road, the Celtics are slight favorites against the Orlando Magic at -4.5. Instead of taking the spread, I'm going to take the moneyline.
The Celtics beat the Magic in Game 2 without Jayson Tatum but didn't cover.
Now, it seems Tatum may be doubtful for Game 3, too.
Despite Tatum not playing in Game 2, they scored 109 points. Jaylen Brown had a monstrous game with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, and Derrick White, who had a fantastic Game 1, followed that up with 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists.
While they put up points, it was certainly not the same Celtics team with Tatum in the lineup.
They shot 12 of 37 from 3-point range (32.4%), a far cry from their 36.9% shooting from there over the course of the season.
Boston's 109 points were also down from their season-long total of 116 points per game. That said, they're down to 101.7 points over their last three.
Yes, Tatum's absence is part of that, but the Magic do have arguably the best defense in basketball.
This season, they're holding teams to 105.4 points per game (1st), 46.6% shooting from the floor (tied for 12th), and 36.4% (15th) on 3-point shots.
But also consider this: The Celtics may be without Tatum, but the Magic are still without Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner.
The Magic are at home here, so I expect them to play with a bit more fire to avoid going down 3-0.
I don't think that'll happen, but this will be a closer game with the Celtics winning outright.
Bucks ML
Down 2-0 in the series, I'm taking the Bucks to win this one at home.
Currently, they're favored by 5.5 points.
In Game 2, the Pacers secured a 123-115 win.
Pascal Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, and Andrew Nembhard led the way for the Pacers.
- Siakam: 24 points, 11 rebounds, three assists.
- Haliburton: 21 points and 12 assists
- Nembhard: 17 points and six assists
The team played well, shooting 48% from the floor and 44.4% from 3-point range (16 of 36).
There was a bit of an outlier, though, as they scored 40 in the first quarter and immediately looked to have a 15-point lead in the first frame.
They still held on to win by eight, despite the Bucks bringing it to a 2-point deficit with about 2.5 minutes to go.
The Bucks did get massive contributions from Giannis Antetokounmpo (34 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists) and Bobby Portis (28 points and 12 rebounds) off the bench.
I think the Bucks will win at home. The Pacers' 40 points in the first quarter set the tone, but the Bucks made it closer at the end.
The Bucks will need to get a bit more from Brook Lopez and Damian Lillard, though.
Lopez had just eight points and Lillard had 14. Lillard's is a bit more alarming in that he played 37 minutes.
These teams are also without the usual suspects, as Isaiah Jackson is dealing with an Achilles injury, and Tyler Smith is dealing with an ankle issue.
Over their last three games, the Bucks are averaging 117.7 points per game (fourth).
Their defense leaves a bit to be desired, allowing 124.3 points per game over their last three (third), but if there's a silver lining, their season average is 112.8, which is more middle of the pack.
I think the Bucks offense does enough at home to get the win, but it'll be close.
Lakers ML
After taking two favorites, I'll round out my best NBA bets with the Lakers, a road underdog, at +130.
I was feeling good about the Timberwolves after their 117-95 road win in Game 1, but Game 2, where they lost 94-85, is giving me some pause.
I don't love that the Lakers haven't cracked 100 points in a game since April 11, but they have the star power on their side with LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
In Game 2, Doncic put up 31 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists.
James added 21 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while Austin Raves contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
I do worry about the Lakers depth overall.
James, Doncic, and/or Reaves cannot afford to have an off night.
The Lakers are averaging 92.4 possessions per game over their last three outings which is dead last in the NBA over that stretch.
Given their lack of depth and age, that might be the game plan moving forward—slow the game down and rely on the stars to make buckets when needed to come away with scrappy wins.
They'll get it done here.
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