NBA Betting Picks: Predictions for 76ers vs Celtics, Mavericks vs Clippers
Both betting favorites covered the spread Monday night but how will things play out on Wednesday? Here are NBA odds and betting picks from online sportsbooks for the Sixers vs. Celtics and Mavericks vs. Clippers.
2020 NBA Playoff Betting Odds for Today
76ers (0-1) vs. Celtics (1-0) Betting Preview
Time: 6:40PM ET
Updated Series Prices
76ers +600 at FOX Bet (Previously +315)
Celtics -750 at FanDuel (Previously -357)
Updated Odds NBA Championship Odds
76ers +8000 at FanDuel (Previously +6000)
Celtics +1600 at PointsBet (Previously +1600)
The Celtics won Game 1 against the 76ers 109-101 but it didn’t come without a price.
In what was a tightly contested game throughout the entire 48 minutes, Gordon Hayward sprained his ankle, an injury that might keep him out up to four weeks.
The main story, though, was the Celtics containment of Joel Embiid following an 11-point first quarter where he shot 5-for-5.
Boston slowed Embiid down from there, as the big man finished with 26 points, making only three more field goals in the final three quarters. Embiid’s additional 9 points came from the free-throw line.
Game 2
The Celtics’ defense exhausted Embiid with tough physical defense and double teams down low in Game 1. They’ll use the same recipe to slow Embiid down in Game 2, challenging Sixers’ head coach Brett Brown to draw up a game plan that will create better looks for his superstar.
However, Brown won’t combat the Celtics’ defense by placing four players around the perimeter to create space. Brown believes that will just make him easier to double team.
Instead, Brown wants to keep a dunker down low, just outside of the paint, referencing his experience with Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.
Here’s why Brown’s game plan could keep the point total low and slower-paced:
Instead of kicking it out for a barrage of three-pointers, a shot that will either accumulate more points when they go in or lead to more transition baskets off defensive rebounds, the Sixers will ask Embiid to look down low at Al Horford and Tobias Harris.
We saw this play out in Game 1. The Sixers shot only 27 three-pointers compared to their season average of nearly 32 attempts per game. Their pace (92) in Game 1 was significantly slower than what they averaged (97.38) in four regular-season games against Boston. All of this comes despite having an additional shooter on the court in place of an injured Ben Simmons. Remember, Simmons didn’t make his first NBA three-pointer until last November!
We saw these two teams go Under with a cushion of 8 points in Game 1. There’s reason to believe it does so again Wednesday night.
Additionally, Brown’s apparent game plan should set up Embiid for at least four assists.
NBA Betting Picks
Under 215 (-110)
Embiid Over 3.5 Assists (+128) at FanDuel
Clippers (1-0) vs. Mavericks (0-1) Betting Preview
Time: 9:10PM ET
Updated Series Prices
Clippers -833 at PointsBet (Previously -500)
Mavericks +800 at FOX Bet (Previously +450)
Updated NBA Championship Odds
Clippers +280 at BetMGM (Previously +325)
Mavericks +6600 at PointsBet (Previously +5000)
In their first playoff game in three years, the Mavericks experienced a volatile Game 1 against the 2-seed Los Angeles Clippers
The most efficient offense in NBA history struggled out of the gates, allowing the Clippers to jump to an 18-2 lead early in the first quarter. The Mavericks fought back behind the 1-2 punch of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis in their NBA playoff debuts.
Issuing Porzingis two technicals before the halfway mark of the third quarter, the Mavericks quickly had one hand tied behind their back.
What was as 71-66 lead when Porgzingis was ejected turned into a 110-118 Game 1 loss, and the Clippers covered the 6.5-point spread.
Game 2
Considering the circumstances, the Game 1 loss was about as encouraging as loss can be if you have any type of money behind the Mavericks to win the series.
Despite their early struggles and a controversial ejection, the Mavericks showed they could score against and compete with arguably the best team in the league even while missing their second-best player down the stretch.
They should have plenty of confidence in Game 2 but this time it might not be the officials who keep Porzingis off the court.
Porzingis Questionable with a Sore Knee
Reportedly dealing with irritation in his knee, the Mavericks listed Porzingis with a questionable status ahead of Game 2.
While it seems more likely than not that Porzingis will be ready to play, his status is important for those playing NBA DFS and betting on the game.
With Porzingis playing, I like the Over for both the game and the Mavs’ team total, as Porzingis gives the Mavs offense a boost but he is also a liability on defense. The same is true for Seth Curry, who saw 33 minutes in Game 1. If he has a similar role tonight AND Porzingis returns, things look even better for the Over.
NBA Betting Picks
Over 229.5 (-110)
Mavs over 112 (-115)
Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images