Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 3 odds and best bet

Boston's transformation over the course of the season has been amazing. Nevertheless, there was a lot of talk that they would fall victim to the more talented Nets in the playoffs. 

Now they are up 2-0 in the series thanks to their punishing defense. Essentially they are doing what they did during the regular season when they were the best team in the Eastern Conference over the second half. It looks like they are built to win in the playoffs too.

The same cannot be said of the Nets. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are the best scoring duo in the league, however, those two are not enjoying all the attention and physicality they are getting from the Celtics. If enigmatic Ben Simmons suits up it might help Brooklyn on defense, but he is probably not going to make it any easier for the Nets to score. At least not in the half court unless he has magically developed a shot while in seclusion. 

Brooklyn is in do-or-die mode right now. The players and the coach are on the hot seat.

Game Info

Boston Celtics (2-0) vs. Brooklyn Nets (0-2)
Saturday, April 23, 2022
7:30 p.m.
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y.
ESPN

Betting Odds

Spread: Celtics +3.5 (-110), Nets -3.5 (-110)
Total: 223
Moneyline: Celtics +140, Nets -170

Best Bet

Over 223

Boston wants to play and win a certain way, and that is easier to do at home in the playoffs. We might not want to admit it, but home teams are able to get away with more physicality this time of the year and the Celtics leaned into that in collecting the first two wins of the series. 

With the series now shifting to Brooklyn, I think we are going to see a much more open game (or lots of fouls). If Simmons does play, the Nets could even play a little more in transition due to his skill set. (Boston has scorers in Jayson Tatum and Jaylon Brown who can thrive in a faster-paced game, too)

Durant and Irving both had poor offensive games in Game 2 but their track records have shown that they are rarely held down for long so I expect a bounce back that will be felt when the Nets are on offense primarily.

Throughout the season this Brooklyn team has been very happy to trade baskets when playing with a lead — it is one of the reasons their ATS record for the season is not very impressive. Their style of play suits their personnel and their coach, Steve Nash, a guard who was always happy to play games where the most efficient offensive team wins. 

I don't like the Nets' chances of making much of this series now that they are down a couple of games, but in game 3 I think we see a game that suits what they want to do more than we saw during the first two games. That should lead to the over. Look for both teams to score at least 115.