NBA Playoffs Prop Bets Today: Celtics, Spurs, Knicks Odds & Picks

The Boston Celtics remain one of the favorites to win the Eastern Conference and advance to the NBA Finals. That possibility seems more likely after the Detroit Pistons were handed their third loss in Game 4 of their first round NBA Playoffs series Monday.

Tonight, the C's are back home to face the Philadelphia 76ers. With a win, the Boston Basketball Club will move on to round two of the Eastern Conference playoffs. With a victory, once again the Celtics will hold bragging rights over the Sixers. And when it comes to rivalries, few are as bitter as the one between Beantown and Philly.

(Photo by Pepper Robinson/NBAE via Getty Images)

Other picks in this NBA Playoffs betting preview are the New York Knicks vs the Atlanta Hawks in Game 5, and the San Antonio Spurs out west taking on the Portland Trail Blazers. For the Spurs, like the Celtics, a win will finish off the series.

Odds for basketball betting explained here are from our friends over at FanDuel sportsbook.

Tuesday NBA Playoffs Schedule

• Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Atlanta Hawks at New York Knicks, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock and NBC
• Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

NBA Playoffs Prop Bets: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics (Game 5)

• Moneyline: Celtics -490 | 76ers +380
• Spread: Celtics -11.5 (-108) | 76ers +11.5 (-112)
• Total: Over 213.5 (-110) | Under 213.5 (-110)

It's that time of the postseason when talent is rising to the top. When enthusiasm and hustle is giving way to experience. The Celtics have the latter in great supply. They also have the home-court advantage tonight. The Celtics have won 18 of their last 26 playoff games at home.

A trend I've latched onto is closeout game totals. In nine of the last 10 closeout games the Celtics have played in TD Garden, the score has gone over. Rather than tie myself to the moneyline and the outright winner, I'm going for points tonight. I expect the Knicks and Celtics to shoot well: Boston has been at 46% this series, and the Knicks are due for an uptick from the field.

• 76ers vs Celtics Over 208.5 Total Points: -180 (FanDuel)

INJURY UPDATE: Joel Embiid of the 76ers, who has been out with an abdomen injury, is probable for Game 5 against Boston on Tuesday, according to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com.

NBA Playoffs Prop Bets: Atlanta Hawks vs. NY Knicks (Game 5)

• Moneyline: Knicks -260 | Hawks +215
• Spread: Knicks -6.5 (-108) | Hawks +6.5 (-112)
• Total: Over 213.5 (-114) | Under 213.5 (-106)

The only NBA Playoffs series to get to 2-2 after four games is the less-than-marquee matchup between the Hawks and Knicks. While neither team is the sexy pick to get to the Finals, this series has produced two nail-biters: a pair of one-point games.

Both the Knicks and Hawks have shot fairly well in this series. Their combined success rate from the field (45.5%) is the highest of any playoff series.

That's why I like the teams to score well in Tuesday's pivotal Game 5. In 14 of the 16 quarters played in this series, each team has managed at least 20 points. Which is why I'm laying down a bet on this market:

• Each Team (Knicks, Hawks) To Score 20+ Points in Each Quarter: +115 (FanDuel)

A winning $100 bet will return $215, counting your stake.

INJURY UPDATE: No injuries are reported for Game 5 of this Eastern Conference playoff series.

NBA Playoffs Prop Bets: Trail Blazers vs. Spurs (Game 5)

• Moneyline: Spurs -620 | Trail Blazers +460
• Spread: Spurs -12.5 (-105) | Trail Blazers +12.5 (-115)
• Total: Over 216.5 (-110) | Under 216.5 (-110)

Here's something to think about: the best baseball player (Shohei Ohtani), the greatest hockey player (Connor McDavid), and the most thrilling basketball player (Victor Wembanyama) were all born outside the United States.

That goes to show you that you sometimes need to be resourceful when you're planning your betting strategy. Don't just hop on the current American superstar. Wembanyama is the player to back in this playoff season. Wemby will once again be a force in Game 5.

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This series has pretty much been all Spurs, who have a +43 point differential in the first four games. That's the second-highest of any playoff series, behind the mismatch that was OKC vs. Phoenix.

But here's why I think the Blazers can cover the spread tonight: the Spurs can cruise to a big lead and slow dance their way through the last quarter. I suspect Wemby & Co. will establish a big lead and coast to a victory, but under the 12.5 points they are giving away.

The Trail Blazers are actually 2-2 Against The Spread (ATS) in this playoff series.

• Portland +12.5 vs San Antonio: -115 (FanDuel)

INJURY UPDATE: Both the Blazers and Spurs are fully healthy going into Game 5 of this NBA Playoff game. Victor Wembanyama is fully recovered from a concussion he suffered in Game 2.