The first round of the NBA Playoffs is now in full swing, with 3 Game 5’s taking place on Tuesday night. In 2 of the games, the road team will be fighting for their playoff lives. The Philadelphia 76ers and the Portland Trail Blazers are both just a loss away from elimination. Meanwhile, in New York, it’s all square between the Knicks and the Hawks. Whoever wins tonight will find themselves in the driver’s seat to close out the series. You can find out our expert NBA picks for EVERY GAME throughout the postseason, but first, let’s break down my NBA best bets for each of Tuesday’s games.
76ers vs Celtics NBA best bet: 76ers +11.5 (-110)
Joel Embiid’s return in Game 4 did not go entirely to plan for the 76ers. Despite the center dropping a 26-point double-double, they suffered a 32-point loss. They are now back to full strength, however, and with their season on the line, should have the pieces to put together a fighting performance.
Both the regular-season games that Embiid played against the Celtics were decided by just one point. It is hard to see Payton Prichard putting together a 32-point performance like he did in the previous game, which should make the bench battle a lot more competitive in Game 5. The 76ers have already beaten the Celtics on the road this postseason, so taking double-digit points on them here looks like good value.
Read our full 76ers vs Celtics Game 5 prediction
Hawks vs Knicks NBA best bet: OG Anunoby over 6.5 rebounds (-120)
OG Anunoby has been one of the most consistent performers for the New York Knicks this postseason. His presence has been consistently felt on the glass, with the forward averaging 8.8 rebounds per game, having not recorded fewer than 8 rebounds in any of the 4 games so far. He has seen over 37 minutes in each of the games, too, so he should have ample time on the floor to chase down misses once more tonight.
Anunoby is up against Jalen Johnson, who has struggled to impact the game from the perimeter so far this series, knocking down just 28.6% of his three-point attempts. That should allow Anunoby to drop off from his man and continue to be an influence on the glass.
Read our full Hawks vs Knicks Game 5 prediction
Trail Blazers vs Spurs NBA best bet: Donovan Clingan under 6.5 points (+100)
The Spurs have turned out to be a nightmare matchup for Donovan Clingan. Up against Victor Wembanyama, he struggles to use his length on the offensive glass. The center also does not have the low-post game to consistently beat such a generational shot blocker. It has seen the Trail Blazers try to use him as a floor spacer, but that has been hugely ineffective for them, with Clingan making just 16.7% of his three-point attempts in the series. As a result, he has seen his minutes drop from 24 in Game 2 to 20 in Game 3 and just 14 in his last outing.
Shooting just 28.6% from the field overall should mean that those minutes are unlikely to rise here, as the Trail Blazers are likely to turn to a veteran like Robert Williams III to keep their playoff hopes alive. As a result, the limited role is likely to see Clingan manage fewer than 7 points for the 3rd time in this series tonight.
Read our full Trail Blazers vs Spurs Game 5 prediction
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