The Eastern Conference second-seeded Brooklyn Nets look to take a 2-0 series lead over the No. 7 Boston Celtics on Tuesday night in Brooklyn. Which way to lean at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks?
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 – 07:30 PM EDT – at Barclays Center
There are three NBA playoff games on Tuesday night and the first matchup, shown on TNT, is also the only Eastern Conference game as seventh-seeded Boston visits No. 2 Brooklyn in Game 2.
Boston probably wouldn’t be good enough to win this series at full strength but at least could have perhaps pushed it to six games if the Celtics had a healthy Jaylen Brown. Alas, the All-Star was lost for the season a few weeks ago to wrist surgery.
On the updated series line at BMR’s top-rated books, Brooklyn is a -2750 favorite on the NBA odds with Boston at +1200. The Nets are +220 favorites to win their first NBA title and +105 to win the East. The favored Finals matchup is Nets-Lakers at +550, but that could change as soon as Tuesday night if the Lakers fall down 2-0 in their series against Phoenix. The Celtics are 0-7 against the spread in their past seven in Brooklyn. The under is 6-1 on NBA picks in those seven.
Let’s start with the good things Boston did in Saturday’s 104-93 loss to the Nets. Center Robert Williams was no sure thing to play because of turf toe but did and was spectacular off the bench with 11 points, nine rebounds and a franchise single-game record nine blocks in just 23 minutes. Boston outscored Brooklyn by five points with Williams on the court, and I’d imagine he returns to the starting lineup Tuesday in place of Tristan Thompson, who had just four points and was minus-16 in 25 minutes. Jabari Parker also was a bright spot off the bench with nine points and four rebounds in 22 minutes. Boston was plus-7 with him on the court. The Celtics held their own for the first three quarters of Game 1.
However, every starter had a negative rating. Jayson Tatum was just 6-for-20 for 22 points and was minus-8. Kemba Walker was not good, going 5-for-16 for 15 points and was minus-21. Trade acquisition Evan Fournier, who now starts in Brown’s place, was 3-for-10 for 10 points and was minus-14. The Celtics shot 36.9 percent as a team, and that’s just not going to cut it against any opponent, but especially one as offensively gifted as Brooklyn.
"I think that, obviously, I thought we played good defense," Coach Brad Stevens said. "But I think we have to score more than 110 to beat these guys on a normal night. That's where, again, we have to be way better offensively.” Boston is 7-3 against the spread on NBA picks in its past 10 as a dog.
The Nets took control of Game 1 when Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant combined to score nine straight points from the 6:38 mark of the fourth quarter to the 5:08 mark. When that stretch was over, the Nets were up by 12, their largest lead of the game, and it was over. Brooklyn held Boston to 40 second-half points on 32.5 percent shooting, including 15.3 percent from three-point range.
Playing in his first postseason game since tearing his Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the NBA Finals two years ago, Durant finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds in 39 minutes. It was Durant’s 39th career playoff double-double and his 63rd career 30-point playoff game, sixth-most in NBA history.
Irving had 29 points and six rebounds, and James Harden 21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals. That trio combined for 48 of the Nets’ 57 points in the second half. Blake Griffin, though, was invisible with one point in 20 minutes. Steve Nash started the Big 3, Joe Harris and Griffin together for the first time all season. It was the 38th starting lineup Nash has used in 73 games.
“We recognized we could stay close by playing well defensively. I’m proud of that,” said Nash. “There’s still plenty of things to clean up and look at.”
Brooklyn is now 19-3 at home vs. Eastern Conference teams this season and has won 13 in a row there against them. That’s the second-longest home win streak vs. East teams in franchise history – the record is 15 in the 2002-03 season. The Nets’ only three home losses to East teams were vs. Toronto, Washington and Atlanta. The Nets are 7-0 ATS on the NBA odds in its past seven at home. Brooklyn will win this game, but that spread is a few points too big.
NBA Pick: Celtics at +9.5 (-110) with Bovada