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Celtics vs. Nets Odds: Game 5 Preview, Picks, & Predictions

by Sloan Piva (SloanPiva) Last Updated 2021-06-02 02:43:03

Nets-Celtcs-Gm3

The Brooklyn Nets can close out their Round 1 playoff series with the Boston Celtics Tuesday night. With the game being played in Brooklyn, Kyrie Irving won’t have to dodge any water bottles. Follow along as Sloan Piva breaks down Celtics vs. Nets odds, picks, predictions and more for Game 5 — Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

Celtics vs. Nets Game 5 Odds

Celtics Odds +12.5
Nets Odds -12.5
Moneyline +550/-833
Over/Under 235
Time 7:30 p.m. ET
TV TNT

All NBA Odds referenced are courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook and accurate as of 5 AM ET, Tuesday, June 1.

NBA Picks: Celtics vs. Nets Odds Update

Continue reading our Celtics vs. Nets Game 5 preview, breaking down basketball odds, picks, predictions, and our favorite betting promos at online sportsbooks.

Celtics vs. Nets Preview

Last week, I predicted as a defeated New Englander that the Boston Celtics would get swept by the Nets in the first round. One week later, I’m here to all but guarantee their elimination via the 4-1 gentleman’s sweep (even though Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant are no gentlemen).

The Celtics stole their first home game of the series 125-119, thanks to the heroic efforts of Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart. However, they promptly got demolished by the new Evil Empire two days later, falling 141-126 in a game that frankly didn’t even feel that close. If you take away Game 3, Boston has been outscored 375-327.

This series is far too much of a mismatch to be anything better than a gentleman’s sweep. The Celtics blew a six-point halftime lead in Game 1, ultimately losing 104-93. They had to be nearly flawless in Game 3, shooting 50.6% from the field and nailing 16 of their 39 three-point attempts. And they still almost blew a 16-point lead late in the game—Brooklyn cut the deficit to just five with a minute left in the fourth quarter.

However, Tatum bailed Boston out by draining a clutch step-back dagger. He finished with a playoff career-high 50 points, becoming just the sixth Celtic in NBA history to register a 50-burger.

Tatum followed that up with a 40-7-5 line Sunday, but no other Celtic logged more than 16 points. Boston has sorely missed its No. 2 man, Jaylen Brown, on both sides of the floor. The fifth-year pro and first-time All-Star was enjoying a career year, averaging 24.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game—and shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from distance—but he suffered a season-ending wrist injury in early May.

Boston doesn’t just miss Brown’s Robin to Tatum’s Batman on the offensive side of the floor. Brown was also the Celtics’ second-best defender behind Smart, able to guard multiple positions. That’s a crucial ability in a series against a top-heavy Nets squad with three superstars as the majority scorers. Smart (and to an extent in Game 3, the TD Garden) can neutralize Irving, but Brooklyn still has two MVPs capable of going nuclear.

Durant, two times a champion and Finals MVP (and four times a scoring champ), often looks like he’s shooting fish in a barrel against Boston. Tatum can be a very good defender, but he’s exerting far too much energy trying to keep the Celts afloat offensively to be a difference-maker against the taller KD. Boston coach Brad Stevens doesn’t have any other wings with enough length or athleticism to stay with him, nor does he have any bigs with the necessary quickness or perimeter footwork. The 14-year vet remains one of the five most difficult players in the league to defend.

Then there’s Harden, who arguably also belongs on that short list. The 2017-18 MVP and three-time scoring champ has only attempted 37 total shots across Brooklyn’s three wins this series, yet he somehow has 105 total points in the series. In Nets coach Steve Nash’s chess match, Harden seems like the resting Queen. Nash knows full well he can unleash Harden’s ridiculous capabilities if he needs to, but he’d rather save him for the next match than needlessly overexert him now. This series will be in checkmate very soon, with or without Harden heroics.

Celtics vs. Nets Predictions

But enough of the Celtics’ eulogy, and my self-loathing metaphorical nonsense. Let’s talk about predictions and betting picks. I hate Brooklyn’s -12.5 spread—that’s just far too many points to be comfortable taking given how inconsistent the Nets defense has been. I don’t particularly like the -800 game line, either. Where’s the value?

I think it’s an absolute lock that Brooklyn wins this game, but I can’t bring myself to recommend betting a moneyline in which you’d see a net profit of $13 on a $100 pick. Nor do I want to advise betting on the Nets to win by 13 points, when they have won by 11, won by 22, lost by 6, and won by 15 in the four games this series (average: 10.5-point win). And you know I am not backing the Celtics in Brooklyn in any way, shape, or form. We just don’t know for certain what Tatum’s supporting cast will or will not do.

Therefore, I’m going with the Nets -400 at the half and Game 5 pick. Brooklyn will be motivated to finish this series at home and get ready for Milwaukee, so it won’t be screwing around early. Irving and his cronies might even have some extra gusto against a hapless Boston defense, after the former Celtic had a water bottle tossed at him in Game 4 by a DB from Braintree, MA (note: native Massholes are not surprised whatsoever at the DB’s demographic).

Irving was unfortunately proven right about Boston’s fanbase crossing the line, and he will get the last laugh in front of his home crowd in Brooklyn Tuesday. The Celtics can go home, nurse their mental and physical wounds, and brainstorm ways to replicate their mediocrity next year. Because as we all know, being a Boston Celtics fan has become an exercise in perennial disappointment.

HALFTIME SCORE PREDICTION: Nets 59-52
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Nets 121-111

Celtics vs. Nets Picks

Schmitto’s Over/Under Pick: It looks like the Brooklyn Nets will put the Boston Celtics out of their misery Tuesday night. Aside from a minor hiccup, the Nets have been dominant throughout the bulk of this series. Despite not playing in live games with each other during the regular season, the three-headed monster that his Irving-Harden-Durant hasn’t skipped a beat during the first round of the playoffs. Sure, it is the NBA Playoffs we’re talking about, but this series feels more like a warm-up for the Nets as they prepare to make a serious NBA Finals run. Of course, the Nets can easily win Game 5 and take the series without covering the spread for Brooklyn bettors. This matchup started with a single-digit spread for Game 1, and now the Nets are favored by 12.5 points as they attempt to win in five. That’s a big gap to cover, and with 81% of bettors laying the points as of 1:30 pm ET, I lean toward fading the public and betting on the Celtics. The bet I really like, though, is Under 234 points. Oddsmakers have made some adjustments with this Over/Under, increasing it from 227 to 234 over the course of the series. The Nets offense is a tough one to stop, to be sure, but 234 sounds about two points too many. If it’s value you want, then bet the Under.

Celtics vs. Nets Pick: Under 234 Points at BetMGM

Celtics vs. Nets Halftime Odds

Image Credit: Imagn

About the Author

SloanPiva
Sloan Piva (SloanPiva)

Sloan Piva is a veteran of the sports journalism industry, and a freelance sports betting analyst. He received his master’s degree in Professional Writing from the University of Massachusetts, and currently resides in East Bay, Rhode Island with his wife and daughter. He covers the MLB, NFL, NBA, NCAA, and PGA, as well as anything related to fantasy sports and sports betting. Shoot him an email anytime at SloanPiva@gmail.com!