We went 2-1 on our NBA playoff prop picks for Monday, and we’re back with three more from Wednesday’s games with odds from BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review), one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at Scotiabank Arena
Fred VanVleet
- Over/Under 28.5 Points + Assists
With so few games on the schedule, we are going to have some repetition in these picks. We won on over 26.5 points + assists for Raptors All-Star Fred VanVleet in Toronto’s 15-point loss in Philadelphia in Game 2 to fall down 0-2 in the series.
Our thinking was that VanVleet would have to carry a much larger load with starting guard Gary Trent Jr. and stellar rookie Scottie Barnes both expected out.
In a surprise move, Trent actually did play through his illness but probably shouldn’t have as he had as many points in 10 minutes as you and I did combined: Zero. Trent and Barnes are both in question for Wednesday.
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It sure looked like VanVleet would go way past 26.5 points + assists as he finished the first quarter with 15 points but then went ice cold, a big reason his team lost. It took some garbage time, but VanVleet just went over by finishing with 20 points and seven assists in 44 minutes.
The Prop Pick
I expect more than 20 points in this one because one of the Sixers’ best perimeter defenders, guard Matisse Thybulle, is not allowed to play in Canada because he’s not vaccinated against COVID. For our NBA picks, that can only help VanVleet, who shot much better at home in the regular season as it is.
I also expect the Raptors to get to the free-throw line a lot more in Game 3 as the referees sure seemed to be in the Sixers’ pockets in the first two games. VanVleet has attempted all but two free throws in this series. James Harden gets more than that on one lean-in three-pointer.
NBA Prop Pick: Fred VanVleet Over 28.5 Points + Assists (-120) at BetOnline
Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - 07:00 PM EDT at TD Garden
Jayson Tatum
- Over/Under 31.5 Points
It’s an absolute crying shame that this series is in the Eastern Conference’s first round and not the conference finals. When is the last time you saw a buzzer-beating layup to win a big game? Not a dunk like when NC State upset Houston at the buzzer in the National Championship game all those years ago, but a layup?
Jayson Tatum’s spinning layup to win Sunday was almost impossibly the first buzzer-beater by a Celtics player in a home playoff game in franchise history. I find that impossible to believe with all the postseason history of the Celtics.
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It was also Tatum’s first career NBA buzzer-beater to win. And it came on a broken play! Tatum finished with 31 points, his fourth straight game of at least 30 points in the postseason. That ties Larry Bird in 1987 for the longest such streak in Celtics history. Did Coach Ime Udoka ride Tatum a bit too hard, though?
He played a whopping 45 minutes and that could catch up to him in this series if not Wednesday. There is talk around the team that Udoka wants to cut back a bit minutes-wise. Obviously, Tatum had to have that last basket to reach 31 points, yet his total for Game 2 is 31.5? That’s too high so give me the under on those NBA odds.
Kevin Durant
- Over/Under 29.5 Points
On the flip side, Kevin Durant was arguably the reason the Nets lost. He was just 9-for-24 from the field for 23 points and 1-for-5 from deep with six turnovers.
His late miss led to Boston’s game-winning shot. Durant is a proud guy. He’s going to come out like gangbusters in Game 2 and re-establish himself as perhaps the best scorer in the world. “They did a good job forcing me away, helping in the paint. I just have to be more fundamental in my moves,” Durant said.
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“Some shots went in and out for me. I played fast and turned the ball over. I’ve just got to slow down and play my game. But they did a good job of making me see bodies. Sometimes I rushed my shots,” he added.
The last time Durant had a “bad game” on April 4 vs. Houston with 18 points on 4-for-13 shooting, he had 32 points at the Knicks next time out.
NBA Prop Pick: Jayson Tatum Under 31.5 Points (-105) at BetOnline
NBA Prop Pick: Kevin Durant Over 29.5 Points (-125) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
