Though the Boston Celtics just dropped a head scratching 102-96 decision to the Chicago Bulls at home, Brad Stevens’s squad continues to be one of the hottest commodities in the league for NBA bettors. The outright defeat as 4.5-point favs saw them fall for just the second time in the last 10 games. In the process, the C’s have catapulted themselves up the Eastern Conference pecking order to grab hold of the No. 5 seed. They’ll look to get back in the good graces of those backing them at online sportsbooks on Friday night when they make their second appearance in the Barclays Center looking to log their first win and cover of the 2020-21 season against the division rival Brooklyn Nets. Steve Nash’s troops already have a pair of one-sided triumphs under the belt against the Celtics winning each by an average of 20.0 points per game, but enters this third go-round knowing it will be without James Harden and possibly Kevin Durant.
This Atlantic Division showdown is set to go down live on Friday, April 23, 2021. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Barclays Center with the game broadcast live on ESPN. We'll have NBA odds available at BookMaker.eu for this and every game on Friday’s NBA slate.
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Odds Analysis
In a game KD started but ultimately didn’t finish, the Nets still gave the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat all they could ask for and more. Unfortunately for those that laid up to 5-points at the close, the heroics of Kyrie Irving (20) and Landry Shamet (30) weren’t enough to cover the number or win the game in the 109-107 defeat. The non-cover snapped Brooklyn’s three-game win streak against the linemakers and moved them to a game over .500 overall (28-29 ATS). Brooklyn has been nothing if not a world beater at home where it’s won 23 of 30 games played, but the end results haven’t been kind from a betting perspective with the team just 14-16 ATS. Boston’s recent surge has allowed for it to pull even from a betting perspective (29-29 ATS). The team has also dramatically improved its output on the road in going 13-16 SU and ATS overall. The team will invade Brooklyn having won five of its last six while going a perfect 6-0 ATS as visitors.
Boston Celtics
Before you read too much into the final result of Monday night’s home loss to the Bulls, just know that the Celtics were without the services of some pertinent pieces for that matchup. Both Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart were held out due to an illness that isn’t believed to be COVID related. Big man Reggie Williams III also missed his third straight game due to soreness in his left knee. A check of the injury report is a must before getting involved in this tilt with the Nets. Still, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum came to play against Chicago with the duo combining for 37 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists. Each of those guys have been playing with their hair on fire of late and should be targeted in the player prop market on a gamely basis until each cools off.
Brooklyn Nets
Durant only managed to log four-plus minutes in his return to the hardwood Sunday night against the Heat, but man were those 243 seconds amazing! The All-Star tallied eight quick points by way of draining both shots from deep to go along with a lone 2-point bucket. He then went on to suffer a thigh contusion that sidelined him for the remainder of the game. It’s a shame this guy is simply just made of glass and can’t avoid the injury bug. In his absence, Shamet would go on to register the biggest scoring night of his career by draining 67 percent of his shots from the field which included a solid 7 of 12 showing from beyond the arc. Irving would add 20 points and a game-high 9 assists, but Bam Adebayo and company excelled just enough to prevent Brooklyn from sweeping all three regular season meetings.
Boston vs. Brooklyn Prediction
Nets games have been tough to breakdown with the constant injuries moving in and out of the lineup like a revolving door. Irving has been the lone constant and he’ll likely be in uniform when the Celtics and Nets collide for the third and final time in the regular season. Not knowing whether Smart and or Walker will be made available for this tilt makes it even tougher to forecast the end result. Regardless, I’m going to throw caution to the wind and suggest taking any amount of points we can get with the Celtics in this third go-round. Boston has been playing a determined brand of basketball for a number of weeks now, while the Nets simply look to be going through the motions. With that, hit the dog plus the points pre-game and look to double up in-game should Boston get out to an early substantial lead. Brooklyn has shown a knack of fighting to the bitter end in games it’s lost of late so it’s worth the gamble.
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