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Best bets to consider for Wednesday's NBA playoff slate

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With three more games on tap for Wednesday's NBA slate, we dive into the matchups to deliver all the ins and outs from a betting perspective.

Indiana Pacers at Boston Celtics

Line: Celtics -7.5
Total: 204.5

The Pacers and Celtics slugged it out in the opener, as Boston's 84-74 win is the lowest combined score of the first round. Falling short of the 210.5 total by more than 50 points forced the oddsmakers to open the number six points lower for Wednesday.

Neither offense played well Sunday, as Boston shot 36 percent from the floor to Indiana's 33 percent. The two combined to shoot 29 percent from three in a game which also featured 33 turnovers. It was ugly.

We knew before this series that the Pacers were a defense-first team that's light on offensive star power. However, it isn't inconceivable that they score enough points to, at the very least, remain competitive in games.

Indiana can still fill the bucket efficiently, as it ranked No. 4 in the NBA in field-goal percentage, and should shoot better from the perimeter after going 6-for-27 from three on Sunday.

Zigzagging on both the side and total each game in the postseason is lazy, but the Pacers aren't as bad as they appeared in Game 1.

Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks

Line: Bucks -15.5
Total: 213

The Bucks raced out to a 20-point lead in the first quarter of Game 1 and never looked back. Blake Griffin, who missed the opener due to a knee injury, is questionable again for Wednesday's affair (though head coach Dwane Casey hopes he's ready to return tonight). However, even with Griffin, Detroit is completely outmatched.

We recommended laying the points with Milwaukee in Game 1. On Wednesday, we think there's more of an edge on the total rather than the side considering Griffin's status is unclear.

Milwaukee did whatever it wanted offensively on Sunday. The Bucks shot nearly 50 percent from the floor and were able to top the 120-point mark despite hitting just 69.2 percent of their free throws and missing 28 threes.

The Pistons will be forced to shoot more 3-pointers if Griffin is out again, which doesn't exactly hurt Detroit, as Milwaukee has struggled all season to guard the perimeter. And, if he's back in the lineup Wednesday, Griffin gives the Pistons the scoring threat they need to keep things somewhat close on the scoreboard.

We liked the pace in Game 1 and think more shots go down in the second installment.

Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets

Line: Rockets -7
Total: 214

The Jazz were simply outplayed by a better team in Game 1. Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were a minus-20 and minus-23, respectively, the offense committed 18 turnovers, and the team went 7-for-27 from beyond the arc against a Rockets offense that shot better than 50 percent from the floor. That's not the recipe for winning games on the road as an underdog.

However, all hope is not lost for Utah.

The box score shows a 32-point blowout, but the Jazz were very much in it before they were outscored by 20 in the fourth quarter. Utah has been able to respond this year, too, as it's held opponents to an average of 99.8 points per contest in its last five games following a loss. You can expect a better effort from Quin Snyder and Co. in Game 2.

Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.

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