The 76ers and the Suns were two of the teams that advanced out of the Play-In Tournament. Tyrese Maxey and Devin Booker will look to help their teams secure road upsets in Game 1. However, they will face difficult tasks as double-digit underdogs against the rested Celtics and Thunder.
Let's get into my NBA Same Game Parlay Strategy Guide for 76ers vs. Celtics and Suns vs. Thunder.
NBA Same Game Parlay Strategy Guide for 76ers vs Celtics
The Angle: Maxey Forced to Pass, Celtics Take Game 1
Tyrese Maxey Over 5.5 Assists
Tyrese Maxey was an undersized, score-first guard when he came out of Kentucky, but he has continued to grow as a facilitator each season. Since sliding over to point guard following the James Harden trade, Maxey has averaged over six assists per game in each of the last three years. This year, he averaged a career-high 6.6 assists per game to go along with 28.3 points.
While the 76ers will need Maxey to score to have a chance at pulling an upset, his assists may have more value heading into Game 1. Maxey enters this series having dished out six assists in six of his last 10 games, with eight assists in five of those games. He has also had six assists in seven straight games against the Celtics, averaging 8.4 per game.
Maxey sees a three percent increase in usage when playing without Joel Embiid. He will not have the two-man game with Embiid to rack up a few easy assists today. However, the Sixers have several capable scorers, with Paul George, VJ Edgecombe and Kelly Oubre Jr. among others. Maxey may even get an assist or two from a surprising source.
Pick: Tyrese Maxey Over 5.5 Assists
The Contrarian SGP: Maxey & Drummond Overs, Celtics Spread
Andre Drummond Over 0.5 Three-Pointers Made
Ten years ago, you would be surprised to see Andre Drummond attempt a 3-pointer, much less make one. Drummond made just 5-of-19 3-point attempts through his first five seasons. However, as he attempts to extend his career, he has expanded his range from his center position.
Drummond made 32-of-90 3-point attempts in the regular season, but three of them were against Boston. He has made at least one 3-pointer in two of the last three meetings. He has also made two 3s in each of his last two games.
Drummond is still treated as a non-shooter, so any looks he gets will likely be wide open from the corner. As mentioned, Boston has several other scoring threats to worry about defensively, and it will gladly concede an open look to Drummond.
Drummond may not start this game, but he has played 29 minutes in three of his last four games. His rebounding ability will be needed, and he has more playoff experience than Adem Bona. If he plays close to 30 minutes tonight, that will give him more opportunities to knock one down from the perimeter.
Pick: Andre Drummond Over 0.5 Three-Pointers Made
Celtics -9.5
For the fifth straight season, Boston secured a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference. That also means they are familiar with the layoff and uncertainty of their first-round opponent. Despite that, Boston has won Game 1 in each of their last four first-round series, and they have won three of those games by double digits.
The Celtics have also taken seven of the last 10 meetings from the rival 76ers. They have won four of those games by double digits, including the last meeting in March. They did not have Jayson Tatum in that game, as he will play for the first time against Philadelphia this season.
The week off for Boston also helped them get more rest for Tatum, as well as get more acclimated in this year's Celtics offense with more practice time. Tatum averaged 21.8 points, 10 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 16 games since returning from a torn Achilles, but the Celtics were largely a Jaylen Brown-led show this season, as he averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game.
Their points lines are more even today, with Brown at 25.5 points and Tatum at 23.5 points. If both of the Jays are in top form today, the Celtics should begin this series with a double-digit victory.
Pick: Celtics -9.5
Same Game Parlay Building Blocks (+470)
- Tyrese Maxey Over 5.5 Assists
- Andre Drummond Over 0.5 Three-Pointers Made
- Celtics -9.5
Compounding Angle (+3000)
- Tyrese Maxey 8+ Assists
- Andre Drummond 2+ Three-Pointers Made
- Celtics -9.5
NBA Same Game Parlay Strategy Guide for Suns vs Thunder
The Angle: Jalen Williams Powers OKC to Game 1 Victory
Jalen Williams Over 17.5 Points
Coming off his first championship, this season has been a bumpy ride for Jalen Williams. He has been limited to just 33 games this season because of multiple injuries. However, he closed the regular season scoring 18 points in six of his last nine games, while averaging 17.6 points per game.
Williams made his season debut against the Suns, scoring 11 points in 25 minutes. He also had one of his best games of the season against them, scoring 28 points on 11-for-12 from the field in 20 minutes. In that game, he re-aggravated a hamstring strain, which cost him another 16 games. You could say that may give him added motivation today and in this series. He has averaged 22 points per game in his last five games against Phoenix.
Both Williams and Chet Holmgren averaged 17.1 points per game in the regular season. However, Williams has averaged 18.7 and 21.6 points per game in the Thunder's last two postseason runs. When both he and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are healthy, he is typically the second option. Should that remain the case, he will eclipse 20 points today.
Pick: Jalen Williams Over 17.5 Points
The Correlated SGP: OKC Defense Shuts Down Booker, Fade Phoenix
Devin Booker Under 25.5 Points
In the past three seasons, the Thunder have ranked fourth, first and first in defensive rating. Their stifling defense usually makes life difficult for opponents' No. 1 scoring options, with Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso among their perimeter defenders. In this series, Devin Booker will be the one with increased defensive attention, and he has not handled it well.
Booker has averaged 18.3 points per game over his last six games against the Thunder. He has shot just 37.5% from the field on 12 attempts per game and has fallen under 25 points in all six meetings.
Booker had some big games to close the regular season, but he also scored 22 and 20 points in the team's two Play-In Tournament games. He battled foul trouble in both games, and that could be an issue again if he spends any time matched up with Gilgeous-Alexander. Regardless, I expect him to have a difficult time in Game 1 and this series.
Pick: Devin Booker Under 25.5 Points
Thunder -12.5
The Thunder's defense has led them to many dominant victories over the last three years. They usually start most of their extended runs with their defense, flipping a game from a five-point deficit to a 15-point lead in a hurry.
However, the Thunder also ranked seventh in offensive rating in the regular season. I have touched on Williams' success against the Suns, but they still have the reigning and potentially two-time MVP. While the efficiency has dropped a bit, SGA has averaged 30 points over his last two playoff runs. He has also averaged 34 points in his last seven games against the Suns.
The teams split the season series this year. The Thunder's victories were by 49 and 27 points. They have won eight of the last 10 meetings in this series, and six of them have been by 13 points or more.
Additionally, scheduling is on the Thunder's side in Game 1. The Suns had a 10 p.m. ET tip on Friday night but play at 3:30 today. The quick turnaround is not great for them in terms of recovery time or preparation for Game 1. The Thunder beat the Grizzlies by 51 points in a similar spot in last year's first-round Game 1.
Pick: Thunder -12.5
Same Game Parlay Building Blocks (+308)
- Jalen Williams Over 17.5 Points
- Devin Booker Under 25.5 Points
- Thunder -12.5
Compounding Angle (+1980)
- Jalen Williams Over 22.5 Points
- Devin Booker Under 20.5 Points
- Thunder -19.5
