Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics predictions pick betting line spread

The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics (1-0) host the No. 7 seed Brooklyn Nets (0-1) Wednesday for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. Tip-off at TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (TNT). Below, we look at the Nets vs. Celtics odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

Boston beat Brooklyn 115-114 Sunday an instant classic thanks to a buzzer-beater layup by Celtics All-Star wing Jayson Tatum as time expired.

Nets G Kyrie Irving was sensational, scoring a game-high 39 points on 60.0% shooting, but Kevin Durant struggled with 23 points on just 37.5% shooting.

Celtics got 20-plus points from starters including an efficient 31 out of Tatum and a throwback performance from veteran big Al Horford.

Nets at Celtics odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:10 p.m. ET.

Money line (ML): Nets +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Celtics -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
Against the spread: Nets +3.5 (-112) | Celtics -3.5 (-108)
Over/Under: 226.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)

Nets at Celtics key injuries

Nets

PG Ben Simmons (reconditioning) out

Celtics

PF Robert Williams III (knee) out

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Nets at Celtics picks and predictions

Prediction

Nets 118, Celtics 113

Money line

SPRINKLE on the NETS (+130) with the plan of hitting their spread harder because the only thing that’s different in Game 2 of this series will be KD’s production.

We cannot expect the Celtics (-160) to have the same success defending KD regardless of how good Boston’s defense has been this season. Durant averaged an efficient 29.0 points in 2 games versus the Celtics this season and 32.6 points in last season’s first-round playoff series with Boston.

Furthermore, I actually think Brooklyn has more depth than Boston, which is a point that hasn’t been made enough by the NBA community when previewing this series. Give me Nets guards Goran Dragic, Seth Curry and Patty Mills over Boston’s backup guards.

Again, only SPRINKLE on the NETS (+130), if at all, because Brooklyn’s spread is the sharper play.

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Against the spread

Definitely BET the NETS +3.5 (-112) instead of or heavier than their ML because, as we saw in Game 1, these are coin-flip games, and I’ll be tempted to bet either side getting 3 or more points.

Also, Brooklyn has been steamed down by a sharp line movement from being an opening 4-point underdog, and the Nets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games versus teams with a 60.0% or better winning percentage.

The NETS PLUS THE POINTS is my favorite wager in this game.

Over/Under

LEAN OVER 226.5 (-107) because this feels like a trap line since most of the action is on the Over, but the total has been lowered from a 229-point opener down to the current number, according to Pregame.com.

That said, all four referees assigned to this game have officiated more Overs than Unders this season and free-throw attempt rate is my biggest factor in betting totals for NBA playoff games.

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The No. 7 seed Brooklyn Nets stop by TD Garden Sunday to start their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC). Below, we look at the Nets vs. Celtics odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.

Brooklyn advanced to the postseason by beating the Cavaliers 115-108 in Cleveland Tuesday in the 7- versus 8-seed play-in game but failed to cover as a 9.5-point road favorite. The Nets won four consecutive games to end the regular season.

Boston clinched the 2-seed and won the Atlantic Division on the final day of the season by crushing the Grizzlies 139-110 in Memphis. The Celtics are 34-12 straight up (SU) with the best net rating in the NBA at plus-12.7 since Jan. 1, and the next closest team is the Phoenix Suns with a plus-8.1 net rating.

The Celtics are 3-1 SU and against the spread (ATS) versus the Nets this season, which includes three straight victories, and the total is 4-0 Over/Under (O/U). However, Brooklyn eliminated Boston 4-1 in the first round of the postseason last year and covered in all four victories (4-1 ATS).

Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NBA April 17 playoff breakdown

Nets at Celtics odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:22 a.m. ET.

Money line (ML): Nets +140 (bet $100 to win $140) | Celtics -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
Against the spread: Nets +4.5 (-120) | Celtics -4.5 (-105)
Over/Under: 224.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Nets at Celtics key injuries

Nets

PG Ben Simmons (reconditioning) out

Celtics

PF Robert Williams III (knee) out

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Nets at Celtics picks and predictions

Prediction

Nets 115, Celtics 111

Money line

LEAN to the NETS (+140) because Brooklyn’s spread is the sharper play. However, there’s some value in betting the Nets to steal Game 1 since PF Kevin Durant is the best player in this series and I expect KD to ball out this postseason.

KD averaged 40.5 points per game (PPG) on 61.4% shooting in the two Nets-Celtics games in Boston during their series last postseason.

Boston likes to run a lot of iso-sets through its two All-Star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown but Brooklyn has two better 1-on-1 players in KD and PG Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie has also always played well versus Celtics PG, and Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Marcus Smart. Kyrie is averaging 24.5 PPG on .513/.403/.904 shooting with 6.1 assists in their 11 head-to-head meetings.

All of Brooklyn’s 5-man lineups with both KD and Kyrie on the floor are scoring 13.2 more points per 100 possessions, which is in the 98th percentile of the NBA for all 5-man units, according to CleaningTheGlass.com.

Granted, Boston’s defense has been far better than Brooklyn’s this season but the Celtics will be without their best defensive player in Williams and I think the Nets’ defense shows up in this series.

Again, it’s more of a LEAN towards the NETS (+140) because I prefer Brooklyn’s spread.

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Against the spread

Definitely BET the NETS +4.5 (-120) instead of or heavier than their ML because Brooklyn is 10-6-1 ATS as a road favorite with a plus-3.1 ATS margin and 12-9 ATS on the road versus teams with a winning record.

This is also a more profitable price point for the Nets who are 4-3 ATS as 3-to-4.5-point underdogs whereas the Celtics are 4-6 ATS as 3-to-4.5-point favorites.

The NETS PLUS THE POINTS is my favorite wager in this game.

Over/Under

PASS with a “lean” to the Over 224.5 (-110) because the four regular-season Nets-Celtics meetings all went Over the total but there should be fewer possessions and tighter defense in their playoff series.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO, NJ and soon IA. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Geoff Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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