Toronto Raptors (-11) vs Brooklyn Nets 1:40 PM
The Raptors played, what? Maybe a C- kind of game in Game 2? Shot 26% from 3, 68% from the line, outrebounded 62-56, and allowed 6 guys to score in double figures. They still won by 5! Now Joe Harris, arguably the Nets second best player remaining on the roster (15 pts, 14 reb. in Game 2), leaves the bubble for a personal matter. Ouch. The Raptors don’t mess around here and blow this team out by 20+. I like the Raptors -11, but also looking at -17 at +240.
Final Score Prediction: Raptors 117 Nets 95
Bet: TOR -11 (-110) & TOR -17 (+240)
Denver Nuggets (1.5) vs Utah Jazz 4:10 PM
The Over is a combined 17-3 in Nuggets and Jazz games in the bubble. Conley returns to the Jazz today and his defense could shift this trend. We started to see a feel for a slower pace and focus on the half court offenses in Game 2, which favors the Jazz here. Maybe the Jazz figured something out here, and now they get their facilitator on offense and a strong lockdown on defense. Jazz to win and the under is a +280, and I like that value a lot.
Final Score Prediction: Nuggets 104 Jazz 110
Bet: Jazz to Win + Under 219 (+280)
Boston Celtics (-5) vs Philadelphia 76ers 6:40 PM
So I guess the big bet here is the first bucket. So let’s dive into Embiid vs. Tatum. Tatum has scored the first Celtic’s bucket in 3 of the last 4 games; 4 of last 5 and 5 of last 7 if you exclude Heyward. Theis and Kanter have been the other first basket scorers in the last 9, but with Embiid’s mismatch against them, Tatum may just do it again. May want to include Theis at +1600 in your equations. Speaking of Embiid, he has only scored the first bucket in 2 of the 76ers last 9 games. If you’re feeling fading Tatum, Richardson has actually scored the first bucket the most for the 76ers, 3 of the last 9, with odds of +800. The move here is Tatum at +500 with some insurance with Theis (+1600) and Richardson (+800). Oh, and by the way, the Celtics have the 76ers number. Brad Stevens 22-6 ATS as a favorite in the playoffs.
Final Score Prediction: Celtics 118 76ers 110
Bet: Tatum First Basket (+500) & BOS -5 (-110)
Los Angeles Clippers (-5) vs Dallas Mavericks 9:10 PM
Clippers bounce back tonight and prove they are still the best in the west. They’re just too good not to. What a series this is though. The Mavs may be able to beat any other team in the West in a best of 7 series, and may even take this one, but I just don’t see it. Paul George, want to wake up buddy? What the hell is that? No wonder you could never get the Pacers over the hump you sack of trash.
Final Score Prediction: Clippers 123 Mavericks 112
Bet: LAC -5 + Cleveland Indians ML (+182)
You may have noticed two things. Number 1, in every game, I have plus money included in my bet. That’s called value and that’s how we beat the books. Suck it Vegas. Number 2, I included a baseball bet with the Clippers. In fact, you may just want to add Indians moneyline (-200) to any and every bet you place today. VanFleet Over 2.5 3’s (-177)? Boom, add Indians moneyline (+136). Raptors ML (-670)? Boom, add Indians moneyline (-138). Here’s why:
The Indians have beaten the Tigers 20 straight times and 45 of the last 53! They have covered the run line of -1.5 in 18 of those 20 games. The have outscored them by 78 runs in those 20 games. The last time the Tigers won against the Indians was in April of 2019. The temperature? 32 degrees. In fact, ready for your absolute crazy stat of the year? The Tigers have not won a series where the temperature was above 50 degrees since 2015! I know you don’t believe in the weather channel app, but temps in Cleveland tonight are in the upper 70s. Ball game!
Oh, by the way, not that it matters, but the pitching matchup is Michael Fulmer (7.56 ERA), who has given up 5 homeruns in 8.1 innings vs. Adam Plutko (3.95 ERA) who is 5-0 in his last 5 games against the Tigers.
Bet: CLE ML EVERYWHERE (-200) & CLE -1.5 (+102)
Jonny the Macedonian 