NBA Playoffs 2nd Round Thursday
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6:30pm cst: Boston Celtics (-2.5) vs. Philadelphia 76ers
If you have been watching the NBA Playoffs you would say how did Nikola Jokic not win the NBA MVP? He is clearly the best player on the floor every time he touches the ball. Our 2023 MVP is Joel Embiid and he has the opportunity to prove that he is worthy of the award. The 76ers earned the position they are in tonight by going up 3 games to 2 with two road wins in Boston but can they finish the job? Can the 76ers, Doc Rivers, James Harden and NBA Joel Embiid win a close out game at home to advance to the conference finals? I know there is plenty of pressure on Philly but how about the pressure on Boston? Joe Mazzulla had 2 timeouts on the final possession in Game 4 and decided not to call a timeout to set something up for the last play of the game to win. Instead Marcus Smart missed a wide open 3PT shot and the Celtics eventually lost in OT. Is Mazzulla ready for this type of close out game? Will Tatum and Jaylen Brown show or will they no show like in the NBA Finals? Jaylen Brown earned NBA 2nd Team honors this week which means he will be due for a huge payday but will Boston be the team to fork up the cash? If Boston doesn’t advance then I expect changes coming but we will wait and see. Back to tonight, I feel like the 76ers get the job done and they will be led by Joel Embiid. James Harden has the experience and nobody on the floor can guard Joel Embiid. This is his chance to proves he is deserving of the NBA MVP award and that it is not just a sympathy award so Jokic did not win 3 in a row. Everyone will pitch in tonight and the Philly defense will lead to shot making on the offensive end. Pressure either makes diamonds or busts pipes. Which will it be for Joel Embiid and the 76ers tonight?
Pick: 76ers +2.5
Joel Embiid Points Over 29.5 (-130)
James Harden Points, Rebounds & Assists Over 35.5 (-120)
De’Anthony Melton Points Over 7.5 (+115)
9:00pm cst: Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns (-2)
It sounds like the flu or some sort of sickness is going around the Nuggets’ locker room with no scratches up to this point. Jamal Murray will be playing with this sickness tonight. What we do know is that DeAndre Ayton will be out with a rib injury, which you could make the argument that it may help the Suns if they start or give more playing time to Bismack Biyombo. Nobody can truly guard Nikola Jokic anyway so it doesn’t matter who the Suns start. The spread has the Suns laying 2 points at home which tells me there is a good chance the Nuggets take this win. Will Booker and Durant both shoot 80% and go for 40 points each with a role player contributing for a Suns win? The way the Suns won both home games is unsustainable but could still happen one more time to send this to a 7th game in Denver. There is no telling the health of the Denver players. I personally feel like the Nuggets can close this game out but you cannot discount the way Devin Booker has been playing at home this series. So, I’m thinking with tired legs on both sides we see plenty of scoring in a run and gun track meet especially without DeAndre Ayton playing tonight. Points. Points. Points.
Pick: Over 226
Devin Booker Points Over 32.5 (-105)
Kevin Durant Points Over 31.5 (-115)
Nikola Jokic Points, Rebounds & Assists Over 53.5 (-120)
***The other games will be posted once more lineup information is available.
