The weekend is almost here! Let's celebrate with more NBA Playoff picks! Our #BucketLine plays and game analysis are below. We've got three plays for you as noted below... so plenty of opportunity to get #InTheMoney! Let's hit the court!!
Bucket Line
*Toronto Raptors -2.5
*Raptors / Celtics Over 217
*Clippers -8
Toronto Raptors -2.5
3:30 PM Pacific
The defending champs are down, but not out. They are down 0-2 after a less than favorable fourth quarter where they only scored 21 points, which is *7 points below their season average. They were outscored by 11 in the quarter, *12.5 point differential over this season (they outscore their opponents by 1.5 on average). Marcus Smart hit five threes in the fourth which is three more than he hit all of round one. Smart is shooting 55% from three-point range this series and is 23% higher than his career average. Is it possible he continues this amazing run? History is not on his side and we do not see him or the Celtics being absolutely on fire from behind the arc. The Celtics are shooting 7% higher from three than their season average as a team. *With equal rest, one day off, and in the bubble, the Raptors are above 64% ATS. Toronto is in win-now mode to make this a series and we are leaning on the Raptors -2.5.
Toronto Raptors / Boston Celtics Over 217
3:30 PM Pacific
Game 1 and game 2 both finished under and you would think we would ride the under in game 3 as well.... but you'd be wrong! Here's why: the Raptors are averaging 11% lower than their season average from three-point range. **Lowry and VanVleet are a combine 17% from three this series. The Raptors average 18.6 fast break points per game this season and in this series, they are averaging 11.5 fast-break points. We see the Raptors having a bit of desperation and will try to get back to their roots of running up and down the court. We see their shooting going up and will be playing the over 217 today. Raptors / Celtics Over 217.
Los Angeles Clippers -8
6:00 PM Pacific
We finally have all four semifinals set and the Western Conference had two phenomenal game 7s. The Denver Nuggets survived their game seven and now draw a well-rested Clippers team that is coming off a tough series against the Mavs. *The Nuggets are 7-11-1 ATS after a win and they had to use every ounce of energy they had to win the last three and move on. *The Clippers are 10-4 ATS in the bubble and have a 3-2 record with four or more days off. The Nuggets are coming off a hard-fought seven game series, while the Clippers have not played since Sunday. **The sharps have pushed this number up, but we got this one early. Taking all this into account we are playing the Clippers -8 today and would play up to -9.5. Clippers -8.
*Stats via Teamrankings.com
**Stats via The Action Network
Hit us up @TTSportsLines and let us what you think!
-TSL
/ As always, please forgive any typos and grammatical errors
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