Tuesday NBA Playoff Parlay: Celtics, Thunder to Protect Home Floor

I’ve secured the top spots on Tuesday for our NBA picks and parlay bet. The playoff atmosphere is ignited with these two second-round matchups set to tip, and there’s a plethora of bets to explore.

I will adhere to our winning strategy, which has proven successful all season, and construct our best NBA parlay today using NBA picks against the spread and player props. I’ve meticulously reviewed all the odds and have assembled a three-leg parlay. Let’s delve into the NBA’s best bets for Tuesday. The first round was filled with injured superstars and minimal drama, but things should get spicy in this round.

I’m assembling a three-leg parlay. While you could certainly do a ton of your own research, the beauty is that I’ve already done that legwork for you. Let’s dive into the top NBA picks for tonight.

The @nyknicks win Game 1 and the @Timberwolves go up 2-0!#NBAPlayoffs presented by Google Pixel continue Tuesday on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/LQX8UxhxVA

— NBA (@NBA) May 7, 2024

NBA Parlay Pick: Celtics (-12½) vs Cavaliers

I’m not a fan of laying double-digits with any team in the playoffs, but I’m confidently rolling with the Boston Celtics tonight at home in Game 1 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. One of my favorite spots to fade a team in the playoffs is when they are coming off a Game 7.

The Cavaliers just played in Game 7 on Sunday and had to expend a ton of energy to mount a comeback in the second half against the Orlando Magic. Meanwhile, the Celtics wrapped up their first-round series all the way back on Wednesday. Boston has been back at its house for a week while the Cavs were locked into a fierce battle with a young, hungry Magic team.

Boston could have to shake off some rust in the first half after being off for so many days, but I expect the Celtics to pull away from Cleveland in the second half, with the Cavs likely running out of steam. The Cavs were just 19-24-1 ATS on the road this season, which is good for the seventh-worst in the NBA. Boston was the fifth-best ATS team at home at 24-18-2. The Celtics were 2-0-1 ATS with 4+ days off.

There are plenty of interesting nuggets to consider for this series. If a team won 52 games or less (Cavaliers 48 wins) and is playing a team that won 53 or more (Boston 64 wins) during the regular season, they have gone just 2-16 in the second round of the playoffs since 2014. In this same span, teams that played two or more fewer games in the first round have gone 8-5 in the second round.

Favorites of six points or more have gone 14-8 ATS in recent years. The Celtics were a juggernaut at home this season, losing just once to an Eastern Conference opponent at the TD Garden. I expect them to come out and make a statement in Game 1.

Here’s a look at some NBA Odds to consider!

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NBA Parlay Pick: Thunder (-165) vs Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks-Thunder matchup could be my favorite series of the NBA playoffs this season. I expect each game to be a toss-up and for the series to go six or seven games. While plenty of trends exist for the Celtics-Cavs series, we don’t have much for this one.

The Thunder were the second-best team at home during the regular season, behind only the Celtics at 35-8. These teams met four times in the regular season, with OKC taking three of four. The Mavs sat all their starters in the final matchup, so that doesn’t hold as much merit, but I expect OKC to protect home court in Game 1.

Dallas has not played in Paycom Center since January 2022. OKC was 15-4 this season with the rest advantage, and the Mavs went just 6-13 as a road dog. I expect each team to win at home in this series, and the team that advances will be the team that can win on the road as we get to Games 6-7. Roll with the Thunder in Game 1.

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NBA Parlay Pick: Celtics SF Jayson Tatum to Record a Double-Double (-108)

Our third and final leg will be Jayson Tatum, to finish with a double-double in Game 1. Tatum has stepped up his rebounding this season and finished with double-digit rebounds in four of five games against the Miami Heat in Round 1. Tatum recorded five consecutive double-doubles against the Cavaliers in the regular season. He has a double-double in five of his last 12 games without Kristaps Porzingis. The Cavs are a top-10 rebounding team with Jarrett Allen on the floor, but they did allow the fourth-most rebounds per game to opposing small forwards.

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Questions Of The Day

The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.