Hawks vs. Celtics Game 1 odds, picks and props

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The Boston Celtics begin what they hope to be a lengthy playoff run against the Atlanta Hawks in Round 1 of the NBA postseason. Game 1 is set for Saturday, April 15th at TD Garden (3:30 PM EST).

Oddsmakers have instilled Joe Mazzulla’s team as nine-point home favorites for the opening game of this best-of-seven. The total is set at 230.5, with oddsmakers projecting no shortage of scoring Saturday afternoon.

Let’s dive into the Hawks vs Celtics Game 1 odds and offer you our betting picks and props to bet.

Boston is a heavy -410 favorite on the moneyline, meaning the Celtics have 80.3% implied probability to get the victory.

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Odds as of April 15th at DraftKings Sportsbook. Sports betting is now live in Massachusetts -- claim the DraftKings promo code to bet on the NBA Playoffs.

Boston enters Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs having comfortably handled Atlanta during the regular season. The Celtics won and covered the spread in all three meetings this year, including a 120-114 victory on April 9th.

Boston has been one of the most profitable NBA teams against the spread overall this season, boasting a 46-36-0 ATS record (56%). Atlanta, on the other hand, hasn’t been profitable, sporting a 37-45-1 ATS record (46%).

When it comes to Round 1 NBA Playoff matchups featuring a clear favorite, it’s important to know how each team performs relative to the quality of competition. The Celtics are 38-35 ATS as a favorite, while the Hawks are 18-16-1 ATS as an underdog.

Boston and Atlanta are two of the highest-scoring NBA teams, but there’s a tendency for these two squads to fall short of the game total. In five of the past seven Celtics vs Hawks matchups, the game has gone under the total posted by sportsbooks.

Not only is Boston a much more complete team than Atlanta, but they also enter this series with a notable rest advantage. The Celtics haven’t taken the court since April 4th, while the Hawks played a play-in game against Miami on Tuesday.

The Celtics injury report is looking minimal with center Robert Williams III (knee) back in the fold. The Hawks don’t rely on three pointers and rank seventh in the league in points scored from inside the key. The return of Williams III in the interior helps neutralize a key strength of Atlanta’s.

The Celtics, though, are powered by their dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The two stars are a key reason the Celtics have the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the league this season. Atlanta, meanwhile, allows the third-highest number of points per contest. Boston will exploit this very vulnerable defense.

The Hawks tend to struggle against good teams, posting a 5-11 ATS mark this year vs teams above .600. They also don’t match up well against this Celtics squad, as they are 0-5 ATS in their last five games against the black and green.

Boston is more talented and holds a valuable rest advantage Saturday. Furthermore, the Celtics are on fire at home, sporting a 6-1 ATS mark in their last seven games at TD Garden. There’s no need to overthink your Game 1 Celtics vs Hawks pick.

Pick: Celtics -9 (-110)

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When it comes to the Hawks vs Celtics player props market, there’s some value on the Boston side. DraftKings Sportsbook is listing star point guard Marcus Smart with an over/under of 2.5 rebounds for Game 1.

Smart sat out the final three games of the regular season due to neck spasms, but he’s off the injury report and expected to play Saturday. This neck injury is one of the reasons Smart’s player prop rebound total is lower than it should be.

Smart has averaged 3.1 rebounds per game this season, and that number increases to 4.4 in games in which he had at least three days of rest prior. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year always turns in a strong effort after an absence.

Smart will be matched up against Atlanta offensive star Trae Young, which is a matchup he’s excelled in. Smart is 8-2 head-to-head against Young, averaging 4.4 turnovers in those games. Over the last two seasons, Smart has averaged 4.4 rebounds per contest against Atlanta. Add his Saturday NBA player prop to your card to create maximum value on your Celtics vs Hawks wager.

Pick: Marcus Smart Over 2.5 Rebounds (-145)

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