Best Prop Bets for Celtics vs Nets (Back Kevin Durant And Marcus Smart, Fade Kyrie Irving In Game 1)
The most anticipated first-round matchup of the NBA Playoffs is here. Celtics vs Nets is the showdown everyone has been waiting for, pitting Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (and maybe Ben Simmons at some point in this series) against the defensive-focused Celtics led by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the peskiest defender in the NBA, Marcus Smart. It doesn't get any better than this in the first round.
Boston is a 4-point favorite in the game. BetSided's Ben Heisler is backing the under in this game and explained why in his better preview. But here, we're focused on a few other props. Here's what I like for Game 1.
Best NBA Prop Bets Today: Nets vs Celtics
- Kevin Durant 3+ 3-Pointers (+115)
- Marcus Smart OVER 6.5 Assists (-105)
- Kyrie Irving UNDER 27.5 Points (+100)
Kevin Durant 3+ 3-Pointers Made (+115)
Whenever there's a lot on the line, Durant seems to step up, and Game 1 of this series certainly feels like a big deal. Durant took only two shots from deep in the Nets' play-in game win over the Cavs, but averaged 7 attempts in April during the regular season, making 3 of them. The Celtics defense is going to try and force Brooklyn to shoot from deep in this game and I think Durant will be amicable to that arrangement. He averaged 6.5 3-point attempts against Boston in the regular season and made 4 in his last game against them. At plus odds, I'm willing to sprinkle a few dollars on this one.
Marcus Smart OVER 6.5 Assists (-105)
Smart has become one of Boston's primary ball distributors, going over this number in two of the Celtics last four games. In the other two, he had 6 assists. In the Celtics last game against the Nets he had 9 assists. In their previous game he had 6 assists. Point is, he'll either hit the OVER on this or be really close. I like the more favorable odds at -105 for the OVER.
Kyrie Irving UNDER 27.5 Points (+100)
Considering Irving has gone for 34 and 35 points in his last two games, this is a bit bold. But with Smart, the likely defensive player of the year, and Tatum playing defense against him, plus the bad vibes he developed playing for the Celtics, I see him struggling in Game 1 of this series. He was held to 19 points against the Celtics in his lone appearance against them this year and has failed to score 30+ points in three straight games this year. This is going to be tight, but at plus odds I'll take a swing on him struggling to open this series.
Who should you bet on this postseason? Check out BetSided's NBA playoffs edition of Fraud or Future!