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NBA Playoffs Best Bets, Picks & Predictions: Friday (4/21)

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We have two games with a team up 2-0, and a win could put those series out of hand, while we have one series tied at one with both games being very competitive.

Today's Best NBA Bets

(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)

Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks (-2) | O/U 211 (-112/-108)

In this series, we've seen the defensive aspects be more prominent, which was expected from the Cavaliers and their top-ranked adjusted defense, but the Knicks, who are in the top half of the league in points allowed, have also kept Cleveland in check offensively.

The Cavs need Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to be on the same page in order to win this series. In the Game 1 loss, it was all Mitchell, who scored 38 on 14-of-30, but Garland had just one assist and didn't attempt a shot in the fourth quarter. The Game 2 win was more balanced, with Garland scoring 32 and Mitchell having  13 assists.

The Knicks need Jalen Brunson to be the guy he was in Game 1 when he shot 11-for-24. Cleveland put pressure on Brunson in Game 2, and he went just 5-for-17.

New York caught Cleveland off guard in Game 1, especially on the boards, but they made the adjustments. The Cavs have the formula and the talent to beat the Knicks, and that will help them take Game 3.

Pick: Cavaliers +2 (-110)

Denver Nuggets (-2.5) at Minnesota Timberwolves  | O/U 222.5 (-110/-110)

Maybe it was fatigue from the Play-In Tournament, but the Timberwolves were blown out of the building in Game 1. 45%-37% in field goal percentage, 41%-30% from three, and Denver had a +16 in rebound and +12 in points in the paint.

In Game 2, don't let the final score fool you, the Nuggets were the better team for three-quarters of that game. Minnesota had a +17 scoring differential to put them in reach, but Denver regrouped thanks to Jamal Murray, who had ten points in the fourth, 22 in the second half, and his franchise-record fifth 40-point playoff performance.

Karl-Anthony Towns missed a lot of games during the regular season, but his scoring is missing in these first two games. KAT is a dreadful 8-for-27 from the floor, and they need him in the paint to rival Jokic.

Denver is getting great performances from every position, and it's been impossible for the T-Wolves to stop.

It could be a short series if it’s just Anthony Edwards contributing on offense.

Pick: Nuggets -2.5 (-110)

Boston Celtics (-5) at Atlanta Hawks  | O/U 228 (-112/-108)

The Celtics/Hawks series has been one of the least dramatic so far, as Boston has cruised to two 13-point wins. The final score does not reflect how much better the Celtics have been in this series.

In this series, Boston has a large advantage in shooting percentage (51.7%-40.7%), three-point percentage (42.4% – 27.3%), and rebounds per game 51-47.

Trae Young hasn't been able to make any difference, and the Hawks have a -32 scoring differential when he's on the floor.

Boston is 6-0 in first-round games over the last two years, and the difference in setting won't make a difference.

Pick: Celtics -5 (-110)

Check out our other best bets for Friday:

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