The Celtics vs Heat series heads to Miami for Game 3 with both sides sitting on a win a piece.

The Celts were shocked in Game 2 in Boston, losing by 10 points despite being -14 point favourites!

Boston has all the advantage in regard to talent and depth, what they don’t have is that HEAT Culture, that Dog, and Erik Spoelstra.

It’s hard to see the Heat getting blow-out at home.

The Lakers are staring down the barrel of suffering a second straight playoffs sweeping at the hands of Denver.

Despite AD and LeBron playing their socks off in game 3, the Lakers had no answers for the Nuggets starting five.

With LA’s defence hyper focused on the exploits of Jokic and Murray, the likes of Gordon and Porter Jr. enjoyed a field day, scoring 29 & 20 points respectively.

I think if safe to say the Lakers are shell shocked, Darvin Ham is simply out of ideas, and unless the Nuggs have a absolute stinker, I can’t see them avoiding the sweep.

The Mavs and the Clippers head into Game 3 with the series tied at 1-1.

Luka Doncic (32) and Kyrie Irving (23) combined for 55 of the Mavs 96 points in game 2, and the duo are expected to take the lion share of shots throughout the series.

The Clips shot at a woeful 36.8% from the field and 26.7% from deep and were only bettered by 3 points in game 2.

With another game under Kawhi’s belt, I believe the Clippers will be humming at both ends of the court and have them covering the +4.5 point line on offer.

The T-Wolves take a 2-0 advantage into game 3 in Phoenix.

The Suns have been thoroughly outplayed in the opening two fixtures, losing by 25 & 12 points.

Phoenix looks seriously rattled in this series, struggling to match the size and tenacity of their younger opponents.

I’m backing the T-Wolves to make a big statement on the road, covering as underdogs.

The Knicks head to Philadelphia with a 2-0 series lead.

New York stole victory from what looked to be an unwindable position in Game 2, trailing by 5 points with 30 seconds to spare, the Knicks rallied late knocking down 8 unanswered points to win by 3.

They’ll start Game 3 as +4.5 point underdogs, a position they’ll  surely relish in front of a hostile Philly crowd.

The Knicks have continue to find a way to win despite playing below their best, I’m backing Brunson to lift his output in Game 3, helping his side cover the +4.5 point spread.

10 straight wins over the Lakers and the bookies only have the Denver Nuggets heading into Game 3 as (-1) point favourites!

The Lakers blew a 20-point lead in Game 2, eventually going down to a Jamal Murray buzzer beater.

Jokic had a lazy 27-20-10 in game 2, and he looked like he had more to give.

I think the Lakers are mentally cooked here, any belief they can beat the Nuggs has well and truely been extinguished.

The Celtics look to go 2-0 against the Heat, when the pair meet at TD Garden.

Boston has been far and away the best side throughout the entire season, and will be confident in sweeping a Miami side without Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.

The Celts were 20-point victors in game one, with Tatum (23), Porzingis (18), White (20) and Brown (17) all dropping 15+ points.

I can’t see the depleted Heat making this a competitive fixture, I’m taking the Celts in a blowout.

OKC and the Pelicans take to the court for game two after the Thunder pinched the opener by two points.

Both young outfits displayed obvious nerves in game one, the Pels shooting a rank average 38.5% from the field, while OKC hit at a clip of 43.5%.

Jonas Valanciunas’s work on the glass was a massive reason NOLA were competitive in G1, collecting 20 rebounds, 9 of which were on the offensive end.

I’m backing Val to have his way in the paint again, picking up 16+ rebounds.

The Timberwolves lead the Suns 1-0 in their first round series, following a 25-point blowout in game 1.

Phoenix will need to address their rim protection heading into game 2, after allowing the T-wolves 13 second chance scoring opportunities last time out.

The Suns have the experienced heads in KD, Booker and Beal, all of which will be able to make the appropriate adjustments to compete in game 2.

I’m backing Phoenix to rally and equal the series heading into game 3.

The Mavs enter game 2 as the bookies favourite, despite losing out by 12-points against a Kawhi-less Clippers outfit.

The Clippers have now won their last three matchups against the Mavs, covering the line on each occasion.

In fact, the Clippers have covered the spread in seven of the last nine games against the Mavs.

I’m backing the Clippers to cover as home underdogs.

New York look to go 2-0 up in this series when they host the 76ers in game 2.

The Knicks we’re 7-point victors in game 1, with 20+ point contributions from Brunson (22), Hart (22), and McBride (21) off the bench.

Alternatively, the Sixers were heavily reliant on two stars, with Ebbed dropping 29 points despite an injury scare, while Maxey chipped in with 33.

New York had no answers for Embiid when he was on the court, if the big man can play through the pain, I have the 76ers covering the +5 line on offer.

Defending Champs Denver endêver to claim their 10th straight victory over the Lakers and take a 2-0 lead into game 3 of this series.

The Nuggets have covered the line in their last 6 straight games against LA.

The Lakers shot poorly from deep in game 1 (27.6%), an area they’ll hope to improve on here.

Game 1 was much closer than the 114-103 scoreline suggests, if the Lakers role players find their grove I give LeBron and co a huge chance of breaking their duck.

Lakers to cover.

Philly head to MSG to take on the Knicks in the opening game of the first round of play-offs.

New York finished the regal season with five straight wins to knick the 2nd seed in the West away from Milwaukee.

Meanwhile, the 76ers are looking to secure their 10th win on the trot and their first win at MSG this season (2L).

The best players step up when we hit the post season, with extended minutes, I’m expecting the likes of Brunson, Embiid and Maxey to all fill up the stat sheet.

I’m going to steer clear of the H2H market, instead backing those three to find the bucket at a regular clip.

All eyes will be on the first round matchup between reigning champs Denver and the Lakers.

The Nuggets swept LA in the 2023 Western Conference Final, though every game went down to the wire.

Denver also swept the Lakers across their three games during the regular season, with Jokic averaging 29-12-9 in those fixtures.

I’m backing the Nuggs to secure game 1, combined with 50+ PRA from the Joker!

Miami play host to Chicago in the Eastern Conference 8th Seed Game, with the winner earning the right to face Boston in the opening round of NBA Play-offs.

This pair meet four times during the regular season, with the series split at two wins a piece, Bulls winning one of two games at Casey Center.

Unfortunately from the home side, they look to be without leader and play-off specialist Jimmy Buttler, who went down with a knee injury during the Heats defeat to the Sixers.

The Bulls were very convincing in their victory over the Hawks last time out, and I am backing them to keep this game within a bucket.

Disaster for the Pels, as they prepare to take on the Kings without the unstoppable force that is Zion Williamson.

Well almost unstoppable. Zion suffered a hamstring injury, during his side’s close defeat to the Lakers, an injury which undoubtably swings the advantage in the Kings favour.

Meanwhile, Sacramento made easy work of 2022 Champions, Golden State, with all of the Kings starters finishing with 15+ points.

NOLA don’t have the firepower to cover the absence of Zion, as such I’m taking the Kings outright here.

The 76ers and the Heat take the floor in Philly, with the winner set earning the right to play the Knicks in the opening round of the play-offs.

This pair split their regular season series ate 2-2, though both of Miami’s victories came in the absence of Joel Embiid.

The Sixers with and without Joel Embiid is like chalk and cheese. Philly were the 3rd best side in the league before the reigning MVP suffered a knee injury, and almost snuck buck into the top six with 8-straight wins following the big man’s return.

Embiid has averaged 36 points at Wells Fargo this season and should put up 30+ in this high stakes contest.

I’m backing the home side to get over the line, combined with a stat stuffing performance from Joel.

Two sides who should be nowhere near the 2023/24 play-offs are set to meet in Chicago, as the Bulls play host to the Hawks.

Atlanta capped off a disappointing season with a six games losing streak, finishing 10th in the East with a 36-46 record, 15-26 on the road.

Meanwhile, Chicago went 5-5 across their last 10 games, finishing the year with a losing record both home (20-21) and away (19-22).

I’m taking the Bulls to get up at home here, combined with 25+ points from DeRozan, who has averaged 30 points across his last 10 starts.

The Pelicans play host to the Lakers in the first 2023/24 NBA Play-in fixture.

These two sides met on four occasions in the regular season, with the Lakers winning that series 3-1, including a win in New Orleans on the 15th April.

NOLA finished the season with a 49-33 record, though they were only 21-19 at home.

Meanwhile, LA finished with a 47-35 record, 19-21 on the road.

We can crunch the numbers all we want, but at the end of the day the Lakers have something the Pels never will, LeBron James.

King LeBron has more finals experience than the entire New Orleans franchise dating back to day dot.

I have the Lakers standing up under pressure and securing a Play-offs spot against the reigning champs.

Age & Experience vs Youth & Enthusiasm

The decaying Dubs head up the road to Sacramento to take on the Kings in a do-or-die play-in match-up.

The winner of this fixture will take on the loser of Pels vs Lakers for the right to play top seed OKC in the opening round of the Play-offs.

This pair met four times in the regular season, winning two games a piece, with both fixtures in Sacramento decided by under 1.5 points!

I’m expecting a similar arm wrestle to occur here, with the game decided by the last shot.

The Warriors have been in play-off mode for about 5 weeks now, scrapping their way up to 10th spot in the West.

I think old might make way for new here, with the Kings coving the generous +3 handicap at home.