NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Jalen Brunson, Pascal Siakam and a Celtics-Nets Sweep)

The first round of the NBA playoffs is heating up, as we have a pair of crucial Game 5s on the slate for Monday, April 25. 

Not only that, but who had on their NBA Playoffs Bingo card that the Brooklyn Nets could be the first team eliminated? Brooklyn is looking to avoid a sweep against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 tonight. 

Since the playoffs started, my best bets in the NBA are 23-15, so we’re looking to build on that with three more picks tonight: 

All odds via WynnBET:

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record: 208-185-5 (+5.0453 units)

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.

NBA Best Bets Today

• Boston Celtics Moneyline vs. Brooklyn Nets (+100)
• Jalen Brunson OVER 27.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-125)
• Pascal Siakam OVER 24.5 Points (+100)

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets: Celtics Moneyline (+100) 

Why don’t we all get out our brooms?

The Nets simply haven’t been able to counter Boston’s defense all series, as Kevin Durant is shooting just 36.5 percent from the field while Kyrie Irving has struggled since his 39-point outburst in Game 1. 

Brooklyn has also struggled to guard the Celtics, as Steve Nash has been forced to use Seth Curry, Irving, Patty Mills and Goran Dragic to guard Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum at times. 

That is a recipe for disaster, especially in crunch time, and Boston’s only going to get better with Robert Williams back in the lineup. 

The Nets have shot over 41.0 percent from 3-point range in each game in this series, but even that hasn't been enough to grab a win. Durant and Irving simply haven’t had answers against Ime Udoka’s scheme, and I don’t expect that to change with the team looking checked out after Game 3. 

Boston’s No. 1 defense is the real deal, and I think the Celtics close this series out in Brooklyn. 

Jalen Brunson OVER 27.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-125)

Jalen Brunson has been a revelation for the Dallas Mavericks in the playoffs, and he continued his strong play even with Luka Doncic in the lineup in Game 4. 

Brunson took 18 shots, scored 23 points and added five rebounds and three assists in the 100-99 loss. 

Brunson has played 35-plus minutes in every game in this series, and Game 5 is about as critical as they come for Dallas to avoid having to win two straight to advance. As long as Brunson’s usage continues to stay around the way it was in Game 4, he should have no problem reaching this against Utah's weak perimeter defense. 

During the regular season, Brunson averaged 25 points, rebounds and assists per game. Given his play in the postseason, I think 27.5 is actually a bit of a discount in Game 5. 

Pascal Siakam OVER 24.5 Points (+100)

The Toronto Raptors will be without guard Fred VanVleet in Game 5, which means Pascal Siakam is going to have an even bigger role offensively. 

While Siakam has cleared this line just once in the series (34 points in Game 4), the volume has been there for him. 

The All-Star forward has taken 19, 16, 20 and 18 shots through the first four games of this series, and he said he needs to be more aggressive going forward. 

I love getting this prop at even money, especially since Siakam has been the focal point on offense in this series.

Can an underdog come back and win in the first round? Check out the latest episode of Bet & Breakfast for our picks!