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The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics (2-0) head to Barclays Center Saturday for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the No. 7 seed Brooklyn Nets (0-2). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game airs on ESPN. Below, we look at the Celtics vs. Nets odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Boston held serve at home in Game 2 by rallying back from a double-digit deficit to beat Brooklyn 114-107 Wednesday.
The difference-maker in this series thus far has been the Celtics’ defense for Nets All-Star PF Kevin Durant who’s averaging an inefficient 25.0 points on 31.7% shooting (28.6% from behind the arc).
Boston is also getting a vintage performance out of C Al Horford who’s putting up 18.0 points on 72.7% true shooting (.609/.625/.750) with 10.5 rebounds and a plus-37 net rating.
There’s an outside chance of Celtics PF Robert Williams III returns in Game 3 from a knee injury and Williams’ presence makes Boston’s defense even stronger.
Celtics at Nets odds and lines
- Money line (ML): Celtics +133 (bet $100 to win $133) | Nets -165 (bet $165 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Celtics +3.5 (-110) | Nets -3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 221.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
Celtics at Nets key injuries
Celtics
- PF Robert Williams III (knee) questionable
Nets
- PG Ben Simmons (reconditioning) out
Celtics at Nets picks and predictions
Prediction
Nets 113, Celtics 111
Money line
PASS.
Brooklyn should win Game 3 and get back into this series but the Nets (-165) are too expensive considering how evenly matched these teams are. Instead of betting Brooklyn’s Game 3 ML, I’d entertain sprinkling on the Nets (+270) adjusted series price.