NBA best bets today (Predictions for Celtics Hawks, Jaylen Brown and Saddiq Bey)

The Boston Celtics’ inability to close out the Atlanta Hawks in five games saved NBA fans from a day without playoff action.

Boston and Atlanta tip off at 8:30 p.m. EST in the only game tonight, as the C’s look to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

We’ve already seen the No. 1-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and No. 4-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers go down, so can Boston avoid a Game 7 and end things in Atlanta?

I have a best bet on a side in this matchup as well as two player props. Let’s dive in:

NBA best bets record to date

NBA best bets today

• Boston Celtics -6.5 (-110) vs. Atlanta Hawks
• Saddiq Bey OVER 12.5 Points and Rebounds (-115)
• Jaylen Brown OVER 26.5 Points (-130)

Boston Celtics -6.5 (-110) vs. Atlanta Hawks

I can’t see the Celtics letting this series go to seven games.

Boston blew a late double-digit lead in Game 5, but the team was well in control up until then.

The return of Dejounte Murray is slightly concerning, but Boston was one of the best road teams in the NBA this season, going 25-16 straight up. If Jayson Tatum (8-for-21 FG, 1-for-10 3P FG) plays better than he did in Game 5, it should swing this game in Boston’s favor.
Atlanta is just 4-5 against the spread as a home underdog this season, and the team did lose by eight at home in Game 4. I’ll ride with the defending Eastern Conference champs to close this out before it reaches Game 7.

Saddiq Bey OVER 12.5 Points and Rebounds (-115)

After putting up a goose egg in Game 2, Saddiq Bey has started to turn things around, clearing 12.5 points and rebounds in two of his last three games.

Bey has picked up at least four boards in seven of his last 10 games, and he’s seen some consistent usage shooting the ball (at least seven shot attempts in three straight).

The Hawks need more of a wing presence if they want to compete with the Celtics stars, and Bey, when he’s shooting the ball well, is an extremely valuable piece in the rotation.

He could clear this line on points alone, so I’ll take a shot on him in Game 6.

Jaylen Brown OVER 26.5 Points (-130)

Jaylen Brown was Boston’s best player in Game 5, and he’s picked up 29 or more points in three of the five games in this series.

While Brown isn’t always guaranteed to be the No. 1 option, it’s hard to see Boston going away from him with Jayson Tatum struggling with his 3-point shot. JB, on the other hand, has 31 and 35 points in the last two games while shooting 7-for-11 from 3-point range.

Plus, in both of Brown’s games where he fell short of this number he saw his shot attempts in the teens instead of the 20s. As long as the usage is there, he’s a great bet to clear this line.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.