The Brooklyn Nets were already a difficult team to figure out how to bet on NBA. While the Nets have two superstars, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn hasn’t had much time to figure out how to play together this season with both players missing time due to injury. Sports betting guides show the Nets are in big trouble approaching Game 4.
Not only will Brooklyn once again be without Ben Simmons, who has yet to play with the Nets since being traded to the team, but they are starting at a 3-0 series deficit. Teams holding a 3-0 series lead have gone on to win the series all 143 times it has happened in the league’s history. Boston, which has staged several intense comebacks in these games, will want to close out the series without any more drama.
Last Games Records
Boston beat Brooklyn 109-103 Saturday at Barclays Center. The Celtics lead the series 3-0.
Matchup Information
Celtics at Nets Betting Analysis
Boston Betting Analysis
No one is going to pretend Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who has averaged 21.7 points per game in his playoff career, wasn’t a known entity before this series started. However, the Boston star has been building up his profile even more. In Game 1, Tatum made the dramatic game-winner at the buzzer, while in Game 3 he helped Boston build its series lead by scoring a team-high 39 points.
The Celtics had to overcome a poor 3-point shooting night to take a commanding lead. Boston shot 30.8 percent from the outside, which is well below its season average. Boston made up for it by outsourcing Brooklyn 40-42 in the paint and forcing the Nets into 18 turnovers.
The Celtics shot at a good clip from the field, making 50 percent of their attempts from the field and 92.9 percent of their free throws. Boston also received a strong performance from Jaylen Brown in Game 3, as he finished with 23 points.
Brooklyn Betting Analysis
The Nets are a mess. In Game 3, Durant and Irving were limited to 32 total points. Irving’s 3-point shoot in particular, was way below his typical expectations. Irving was 0-of-7 from beyond the arc. Forward Bruce Brown Jr. led Brooklyn by scoring a career playoff-high 26 points.
Betting guides show that the Nets lost their last game despite shooting a slightly higher percentage from the field and much better from the 3-point line. What sunk Brooklyn was turnovers and a slow third quarter. The Nets were outscored by six points in the third quarter and trailed by nine entering the fourth quarter. But without a push from their superstars, Brooklyn couldn’t climb back into the game.
The Nets will need for their superstars to step up if this game has a chance of coming back to Brooklyn for Game 6.
Updates
Simmons is listed out with a back injury for Brooklyn. The Celtics don’t have any injuries of note.
- Brooklyn is 33-51-2 against the spread.
- Boston is 47-38-1 against the spread.
- The over is 41-44-1 in the Nets’ games this season.
- The over is 42-42-1 in the Celtics’ games this season.
- Boston is 18-13 against the spread following a win.
- Brooklyn is 16-22-2 against the spread following a loss.
Celtics at Nets Betting Preview
NBA betting odds have Brooklyn as a 1.5-point favorite. The Nets are -118 on the moneyline, while the Celtics are -103. For anyone looking to make a different kind of NBA pick, the over/under is set at 220.
Celtics at Nets Betting Prediction
The Nets don’t appear to have the makeup to rally from a 3-0 deficit to create basketball history. What Brooklyn needs to ask itself now is how much desire it has left to prevent itself from being swept out of the playoffs entirely. The Nets are only a couple of plays away from having made this series much tighter than the current count would indicate.
Boston may have played its best game the last time out on the road. Tatum is establishing his position among the top of the NBA’s younger superstars left. Finding a way to close out Brooklyn on the road would be a nice feather in his cap. However, the Nets won’t be ready to go out just yet. Brooklyn will eke out a win and head back to Boston hoping to accomplish a miracle comeback.
The Nets have their share of problems, but their talent will prevent them the embarassment of being swept away.
Bet Brooklyn -1.5.
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