The NBA Playoffs will resume with a trio of crucial Game 3s tonight — Friday, April 24.
Our staff of betting experts dug into the latest NBA odds and identified best bets for all three of today's matchups — including picks for Celtics vs. 76ers, Lakers vs. Rockets, and Spurs vs. Trail Blazers.
Continue below for our NBA best bets, picks and predictions for Friday's playoff games.
NBA Picks, Predictions for Friday, April 24
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 10:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Celtics vs. 76ers Prop Bet
I’m looking at Tyrese Maxey Under 6.5 Assists tonight, and honestly, this feels like a total honey-trap. Maxey’s playmaking has been elite over the first two games of this series, but if you’re taking the over here, you are buying his production at the absolute peak of the market.
He’s averaged 11.5 potential assists over the first two games, which means he is currently converting those chances at an unsustainable clip. You have to expect some regression, especially against a Boston team that can be devastating defensively when they’re locked in.
The Celtics are fresh off a loss, and I’m expecting to see peak-Boston tonight. This is a classic spot for them to flex, even with Philly being at home.
While the energy in the building for a first home playoff game is hard to quantify, my way of betting into a Boston-dominant script is by fading Maxey’s playmaking.
The Celtics know they have to start by slowing him down and preventing guys like VJ Edgecombe from getting easy looks.
If you look at the larger sample size, the math backs this up. Prior to dishing out nine and eight assists in his last two outings, Maxey fell short of this 6.5 mark 62% of the time in his previous 15 games.
We’re chasing a number that relies on a hot streak continuing against an elite defense that is desperate to respond. I’ll take the under and bet on the Celtics' defense to shut the water off.
Pick: Tyrese Maxey Under 6.5 Assists (-120)
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Lakers vs. Rockets Player Prop Pick
By Kyle Murray
I’m taking Kevin Durant Over 23.5 Points tonight. KD missed the series opener with a knee injury, but he showed us exactly where his conditioning is at Game 2, logging a massive 41 minutes in Game 2 against the Lakers. He only finished with 23 points last game, as the volume simply wasn't there yet—he only took 12 shots.
That is going to change tonight. The Rockets are headed back home down 0-2, and in a spot like this, you expect a superstar like Durant to be aggressive and assert himself from the jump. If this game stays close, we could easily see him push toward 42 or 43 minutes.
I’m also looking to ladder him up to 30+ and 35+ points. You can get 30+ at around +327 on DraftKings, and if you want to swing for the fences, 35+ is sitting right around +900.
The Lakers' defense has been solid this postseason, and Marcus Smart did a great job making things tough on KD in Game 2 — but a player of this caliber isn't going to get locked up twice in a row.
Expect Durant to find his rhythm in front of the home crowd and carry the load in a must-win situation.
Pick: Kevin Durant Over 23.5 Points (-115)
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Spurs vs. Trail Blazers Spread Prediction
I’m looking at the Trail Blazers +2.5, and honestly, this is my favorite bet on the board tonight.
Portland has been absolute money in this spot all season—they are 62% ATS as a home underdog, and I’ve loved them in this position all year.
In fact, I think the Blazers should actually be favored in this game. My numbers have this pinned at Blazers -3 without Victor Wembanyama, so getting 2.5 points feels like a gift.
We saw the Blazers' confidence skyrocket the second Wemby went down in Game 2; they started attacking the bucket immediately. It’s no surprise, really. Losing that kind of generational rim protection is massive for any opponent, but it’s a death knell against a team that wants to live in the mid-range and throw lobs to Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams.
Without Wemby, those lanes are wide open for Deni Avdija to get to the cup and generate free-throw opportunities.
On the other side, the Spurs' offense becomes a massive question mark. You’re essentially relying on De'Aaron Fox to be the lead scorer, and we saw how that went in Game 2—he was a brutal 1-for-6 in the fourth quarter.
While San Antonio has been surprisingly pretty good without Victor this year (going 12-6), I’m just not convinced Fox is equipped to carry that load in a playoff environment without his primary safety net. Give me the Blazers +2.5 in Game 3 tonight.
Pick: Trail Blazers +2.5 (-110)
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