The NBA Playoffs are nearing their climax and the Conference Finals get underway this week, starting in the East as the Boston Celtics welcome the Indiana Pacers for Game One of their series at 1am BST on Wednesday morning.
Thursday morning will see the Western Conference Finals begin in Minnesota, as the Timberwolves, fresh from a gruelling seven-game series with the reigning champions the Denver Nuggets, take on the Dallas Mavericks at 1:30am.
Both of these series could begin with a bang and we have you covered with our best bets for each of these Conference Final openers.
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- Boston Celtics – 9.5 handicap @ 4/5
- Over 221.5 points in Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers @ 9/10
- Dallas Mavericks +4.5 handicap @ 9/10
Boston Celtics – 9.5 handicap @ 4/5
The Celtics were the favourites to go all the way before the campaign got underway, with that carrying on into the playoffs after notching a dominant 64-18 in the regular season.
After beating the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers 4-1 in the postseason, it is unsurprising to see them as 8/13 market leaders to land the championship.
The Pacers stand in their way of making the Finals and while they will be no pushovers over the course of the series, Boston could hold the aces early on.
Indiana got through a gruelling, topsy-turvy series with the combative New York Knicks to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, though, and their fatigue may show as a result.
The Celtics haven’t played a game since May 16th and that extra rest should hold them in good stead against the Pacers, who are sure to be tired after a physically demanding series against the Knicks.
The championship favourites have won the last three meetings between the two and seven of their eight playoff wins this season have come by at least 10 points.
With their superior roster depth and greater star power, the Celtics look sure to lay down a marker with a convincing Game 1 victory on Wednesday.
Over 221.5 points in Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers @ 9/10
It could also be worth backing a high-scoring game in Boston, given these sides’ tendency to be involved in exciting matches.
The last two meetings between the pair have featured over 230 points and with the Pacers’ defence being a poor matchup with the Celtics stacked offence made up of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday, a line of 221.5 could be blown out of the water.
Indiana racked up 130 points in their decisive match with New York, highlighting the firepower they possess, and an exciting game could unfold in Boston as a result.
Dallas Mavericks +4.5 handicap @ 9/10
Minnesota pulled off one of the shocks of the playoffs by beating the Denver Nuggets – the reigning champions – in the Western Conference semi-finals, but what helped them win that series could prove ineffective against the Mavericks, who made this stage by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in six.
The Timberwolves’ success came through Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert limiting the MVP Nikola Jokic in the paint and by tiring Jamal Murray out on the perimeter. However, Dallas possess two superstar guards in the form of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and they could hold their own in Game One and potentially the series.
Minnesota won the regular-season series 3-1 but all of those games came before the Mavericks’ acquisitions of PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford, who will both help contain Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards.
Doncic averaged 36.5 points per game against Minnesota this term and even if the Timberwolves manage to limit the Slovenian with the same tactics they used on Denver’s Murray, you can expect proven playoff performer Irving to pick up the mantle.
A win may be beyond Dallas, but even if they fail to get the victory, they are unlikely to get blown out by the Timberwolves for the fourth time this season.
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