Every day during the NBA Playoffs, The Athletic’s NBA writers will make their picks straight up. We put our picks and all series coverage, plus the latest odds, all in one place for fans to easily digest and follow. Our in-depth coverage from every team is linked below the picks. If you’d like a free year of The Athletic (or an extension!), BetMGM is running a special offer, which also includes $100 in bonus bets.
Game 3 – Philadelphia 76ers (-1) at Atlanta Hawks
Total: 224.5
GAME 2: 76ers 118, Hawks 102
Series: Tied 1-1
Joel Embiid is playing on a torn meniscus that has him playing at below 100 percent. At least it should be. He was dominant on both ends of the floor in Game 2 with 40 points on 13-for-25 shooting with 13 rebounds. If Embiid is going to play like that, the 76ers title hopes still seem somewhat healthy. Philly got just four points, seven assists and three rebounds from Ben Simmons and didn’t need more on Tuesday.
The Hawks should be pleased with a split in Philly, but Embiid’s performance doesn’t bode well. If Embiid is healthy enough to do what he did in Game 2, Clint Capela is going to have to be better. Capela’s minus-25 was the worst of anyone in Game 2. The betting line has Philly has a small favorite, but the 76ers will head to Atlanta with a lot of confidence.
Game 3 – Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets (-1.5)
Total: 223.5
| Pick | |
|---|---|
|
Ethan Strauss |
|
|
Seth Partnow |
|
|
Richard Deitsch |
|
|
Sam Vecenie |
GAME 2: Suns 123, Nuggets 98
Series: Suns lead 2-0
Two home games and two blowout wins for Phoenix. Will a change of venue be enough for the Nuggets to turn around the series? All five Suns starters have scored in double figures and had double-digit positive plus-minuses.
Nikola Jokic had 24 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in Game 2. He is getting his, but it hasn’t been enough. The supporting cast failed to make a mark at all. Michael Porter Jr. was just 3-for-13 from the field, Facundo Campazzo was 1-for-7 and Austin Rivers had six points. The Nuggets got through the regular season and first round without Jamal Murray, but they needed another scorer in the two games in Phoenix.
NBA Playoffs picks records
| Record | |
|---|---|
|
Sam Vecenie |
41-15 |
|
Richard Deitsch |
37-19 |
|
Ethan Strauss |
35-19 |
|
Seth Partnow |
35-21 |
NBA Playoffs
NBA Power Rankings: Who are the biggest title threats left in the playoffs?
NBA Playoff Betting Guide: Daily picks, odds, team rankings and win probabilities
Scores & schedule | NBA podcasts | Complete NBA coverage
(Photo of Shake Milton: Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images; The Athletic may receive an affiliate commission if you open an account with BetMGM through links contained in the above article.)
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