Brooklyn Nets (45-38) vs. Boston Celtics (51-31)
April 17, 2022 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Celtics -4; Over/Under: +224
(Get latest betting odds)
The Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics meet Sunday in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. The Brooklyn Nets look for another win after beating the Cavaliers in the play-in game. The Boston Celtics enter the playoffs after winning 10 of their last 13 games.
The Brooklyn Nets are averaging 112.9 points on 47.5 percent shooting and allowing 112.1 points on 45.2 percent shooting. Kevin Durant is averaging 30.1 points and 6.2 assists, while Kyrie Irving is averaging 27.2 points and 4.3 rebounds. Seth Curry is the third double-digit scorer and LaMarcus Aldridge is grabbing 5.5 rebounds. The Brooklyn Nets are shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 80.5 percent from the free throw line. The Brooklyn Nets are allowing 34.5 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 44.4 rebounds per game.
The Boston Celtics are averaging 111.8 points on 46.6 percent shooting and allowing 104.5 points on 43.4 percent shooting. Jayson Tatum is averaging 26.9 points and 8 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown is averaging 23.6 points and 3.5 assists. Marcus Smart is the third double-digit scorer and Al Horford is grabbing 7.7 rebounds. The Boston Celtics are shooting 35.6 percent from beyond the arc and 81.6 percent from the free throw line. The Boston Celtics are allowing 33.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 46.1 rebounds per game.
The Nets are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 road games and 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Celtics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The under is 5-1 in Nets last 6 overall. The over is 10-2 in Celtics last 12 overall. The Nets are 13-6 ATS in the last 19 meetings.
I have no idea how to predict this series, as the Boston Celtics are the better team and have home court, but the firepower of the Brooklyn Nets and the way they’re playing lately is tough to turn down in the underdog role. The Nets are winning their last five games by an average of 10.2 points while shooting 50.5 percent from the field. The Nets are 10-6-1 against the spread this season when an underdog of five or fewer points. This feels like a back and forth series. Give me the free buckets.
