Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Predictions, Picks, Odds

5 minute read

First Round NBA Playoff action will resume on Saturday night with a crucial Game 3 between heavyweight Eastern Conference contenders in the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets. Coverage begins from Barclays Center in Brooklyn at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Nets 116, Celtics 108

Best Bets

Nets -3 (-110) at Caesars

Betting On The NBA

Best NBA Betting Sites:

Where to bet on the NBA:

Updated on 04/24/2024

BetMGM Exclusive Offer: Get a 20% Deposit Match up to $1,600 in Sports Bonus!

Bonus Code VIBONUS1600 Claim Now

Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Predictions

After finishing seventh in the East with a record of 36-36 SU last year, Boston initially maintained that same underwhelming pace with another mediocre start to this season, as the Celtics opened with a lackluster 15-20 SU and ATS skid, with ten of those SU losses coming by 10+ PTS.

However, Boston has arguably been the hottest team in basketball since mid-January, considering the Celtics closed the regular season with an impressive 36-11 SU and 30-16-1 ATS run, while surrendering just 102.8 DPPG to their opponents during that timeframe.

On the other hand, Brooklyn dominated to open the season despite Kyrie Irving’s absence in home matchups, as the Nets kicked things off with an impressive 26-14 SU run, while surrendering just 108.6 DPPG to opposing squads during that span.

Brooklyn has been on quite the rollercoaster since trading away James Harden though, considering the Nets enter Game 3 riding a head-scratching 19-26 SU skid, which includes a frustrating pair of road losses to open this series.

I’ll back Brooklyn here, as the Nets kept things competitive for the first two matchups of this series despite a pair of dismal offensive performances from Kevin Durant (31.7% FG, 28.6% 3FG), and while Durant’s struggles partially stem from the influence of Boston’s top-ranked defense in a hostile environment (1.038 DE), I expect KD to play much better at home and push Brooklyn over the edge in Game 4.

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Resources

Matchup: Atlantic
Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022
Venue: Barclays Center
Location: Brooklyn, NY
TV-Time: ESPN - 7:30 p.m. ET
Injury Report
NBA Playoff Betting Central

Boston Celtics Betting Analysis

SU: 53-31
ATS: 46-37-1
O/U: 41-41-2

After last year’s frustrating 36-36 SU showing, Boston stumbled out to a similarly lackluster start to this season, as the Celtics opened with a head-scratching 15-20 SU skid, despite getting tagged as favorites in 22 of those contests.

However, Boston turned things around and arguably became the hottest team in basketball during the back-half of the season, considering the Celtics enter Saturday’s Game 4 riding a red-hot 38-11 SU stretch, while scoring 114+ PTS in 27 of those contests (114.4 OPPG), and allowing 100 PTS or less in 21 of them (103.4 DPPG).

Brooklyn Nets Betting Analysis

SU: 45-40
ATS: 34-48-2
O/U: 41-42-1

After a heartbreaking Game 7 loss in last year’s Eastern Conference Semis’, Brooklyn immediately bounced back with an excellent start to this season, as the Nets cruised into January boasting a sturdy 26-14 SU record; however, they still ranked near the bottom of the barrel ATS at that point with a record of 17-22-1 ATS.

Brooklyn completely fell apart during Durant’s 20-game absence across the months of January and February though, considering the Nets enter Game 3 riding a frustrating 19-26 SU skid, with a huge chunk of those losses coming in the absence of KD (16).

**The Nets are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 matchups against Boston. (Getty Images)**

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Head-to-Head

The Nets swept a three-game regular-season set against Boston last year, with the first two matchups going over the total at an average of 224 PPG, while the third event stayed under with a score of 109-104 (U 225). The Celtics and Nets also met up in the first round of last year’s playoffs, which resulted in a relatively comfortable five-game series victory for Brooklyn.

However, Boston went 3-1 SU against Brooklyn this season, with all four matchups cruising over the total at an average of 231.3 PPG. The Celtics also posted a pair of home wins over Brooklyn to open this series, with Game 1 going over the total at a score of 115-114 (O 227), while Game 2 stayed under at 114-107 (U 226).

Key Players to Watch

BOS: Jayson Tatum - SF (26.9 PPG, 8 REB, 4.4 AST)
BOS: Jaylen Brown - SG (23.6 PPG, 6.1 REB, 3.5 AST)
BKN: Kevin Durant - SF (29.9 PPG, 7.4 REB, 6.4 AST)
BKN: Kyrie Irving - PG (27.4 PPG, 4.4 REB, 5.8 AST)

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Conclusion

After posting a pair of impressive home wins over Brooklyn in Games 1 and 2, the Celtics hit the road for Saturday’s third matchup as 3.5-point underdogs against the Nets at Barclays Center – marking the first time Brooklyn has been favored in this series.

I’ll back the Nets here, as Boston practically scored at will during the first two matchups of this series, highlighted by the Celtics averaging 114.5 OPPG on 58% FG across Games 1 and 2 at TD Garden, and while Brooklyn isn’t exactly the league’s cream of the crop when it comes to defense, I still expect them to clean things up at that end and earn a much-needed home victory in Game 3.

Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Trends

The Celtics are 5-1 ATS in their last six games.
The Nets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games.
The total has gone OVER in 11 of the last 14 Celtics' games.
The Nets are 13-6-1 ATS in their last 20 matchups against Boston.
The total has gone UNDER in seven of the last nine Nets' games.
The total has gone UNDER in five of the last six matchups between the Celtics and Nets.

Nba News

NBA APR 24, 2024

Cavaliers vs Magic Game 3 Picks, Odds | NBA Playoffs Prediction

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson