Wednesday NBA Playoffs Betting Picks: Our Best Bets for Raptors vs. Celtics and Clippers vs. Nuggets (Sept. 9)

It's now or never for the Toronto Raptors in Game 6 against the Boston Celtics and the Denver Nuggets are looking to keep pace with the dynamic Los Angeles Clippers offense in Game 4.

So, where's the value today? Our staff is here to break down their favorite NBA bets for today's slate and has found angles in both matchups:

• 6:30 p.m. ET: Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics
• 9 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Denver Nuggets

Wednesday NBA Betting Picks

Odds via DraftKings. Get up to a $1,000 sign-up bonus at DraftKings today or see more offers and reviews for the best online sportsbooks.

Brandon Anderson: Raptors vs. Celtics

Have you finally started paying attention to the Celtics defense?

The Raptors sure have. They opened Game 5 with one of their worst quarters in franchise playoff history, scoring a meager 11 points against the Celitcs' swarming defense. The Raptors had 35 points at halftime and continue to struggle offensively against the C's — though the Celtics haven't been stellar offensively either.

All five games this series have gone under the closing total. Raptors playoff unders are now 7-2 while Boston’s under is 8-1, and the Celtics still have yet to allow 107 points in any playoff game. Oddsmakers have wised up, dropping the over/under as the series has gone, but they haven’t gone far enough yet.

Here are the closing over/unders and actual totals for each game so far:

• Game 1: 217.5 | 206
• Game 2: 218.5 | 201
• Game 3: 216.5 | 207
• Game 4: 215.5 | 193
• Game 5: 212 | 200

That’s an average of 201.4 point per game for the series, with every game going under this reduced line of 210. The Raptors have shown the heart of a champion, and they may find a way to push this to Game 7.

But if they do, it’ll be because of another outstanding defensive effort, not because they suddenly started scoring. I’m still riding the under in this series and would play it down to 208.5.

The Pick: Under 209.5

[Bet the under at DraftKings and get a $1,000 sign-up bonus.]

Raheem Palmer: Raptors vs. Celtics

Marc Gasol has been a shell of his former self.

In five post season games against the Celtics, Gasol has scored a combined 27 points on 12-of-29 shooting while shooting 0-for-10 from behind the arc. The Celtics have been trapping Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet in the pick-and-roll, which leaves Gasol open, but he’s been unable to convert on his many uncontested shot opportunities.

As if his offensive ineptitude hasn’t already made him unplayable, in 113 minutes on the floor, he has ONE offensive rebound. Gasol is averaging 22.6 minutes per game in this series, but in an elimination game where the Raptors need scoring we should expect a shorter leash.

I like the under on his rebounds and points prop. He hasn’t gone over 6.5 rebounds the entire postseason while scoring more than seven points just once during this series.

The Pick: Gasol Under 6.5 rebounds (-145) | Gasol Under 7.5 points (-105) 

[Bet Gasol at PointsBet and get $250 FREE.]

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Malik Smith: Clippers vs. Nuggets

After Games 1 and 2 of this series went under the closing total, I expected both teams to come out firing on offense and they did … for three quarters. The Nuggets' offense stalled a bit in the fourth and the total that I bet (220) pushed.

As I mentioned on Monday, the Nuggets have the third-worst Defensive Rating of all playoff teams (118.2), but they bring it on offense. When Jamal Murray had an off night in Game 3, Nikola Jokic stepped up on the offensive end, despite playing with a sprained right wrist.

The Nuggets have come out firing early in every game and I still think both offenses can be potent to open Game 4. The Clippers and Nuggets are averaging a combined 121.4 points per game in the first half. So, I'm back on the over, but I'm taking the first half this time in the hopes that the early scoring trend holds true.

The Pick: Over 114.5 1H (+105)

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