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 – Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks (-3.5)
Total: 234.5
| Pick | |
|---|---|
|
Ethan Strauss |
|
|
Seth Partnow |
|
|
Richard Deitsch |
|
|
Sam Vecenie |
GAME 2: Nets 125, Bucks 86
Series: Nets lead 2-0
James Harden hasn’t even logged a full minute this series, but the Nets still have two comfortable wins. Game 2 was a total blowout with the Nets leading 36-19 after a quarter and winning every quarter. Now the series moves to Milwaukee with the Bucks in must-win mode. Harden is out for Game 3, and given the way the games in Brooklyn went, there’s no need to rush him back.
Khris Middleton is 13-43 from the field so far this series and was a whopping -30 on the floor in Game 2. Needless to say the Bucks need more from Middleton to support Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was also a bit off in Game 2. The Nets rained down 21 3-pointers in Game 2, something that the Bucks can’t allow again if they are to stay in this series.
Game 2 – Los Angeles Clippers at Utah Jazz (-3)
Total: 221.5
GAME 1: Jazz 112, Clippers 109
Series: Jazz lead 1-0
Donovan Mitchell was the story of Game 1 in Salt Lake City. Mitchell went off for 45 points and got the Jazz back in the game from a 13-point halftime deficit. With Mike Conley Jr. out, Mitchell picked up the slack and then some. Mitchell’s postseason has been stellar so far, averaging 31.8 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
Meanwhile, the Clippers still had a chance to tie on the final possession of the game only to see Rudy Gobert come up with a block. The Clippers had no break between series after winning Game 7 against the Dallas Mavericks and now must regroup for Game 2. Paul George was 4-17 from the floor, which won’t help his playoff reputation. Kawhi Leonard had 23 points on 9-19 shooting, but the Clippers probably need more, especially if Mitchell is dropping 45 on the other end.
NBA Playoffs picks records
| Record | |
|---|---|
|
Sam Vecenie |
40-15 |
|
Ethan Strauss |
35-18 |
|
Richard Deitsch |
36-19 |
|
Seth Partnow |
35-20 |
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 Kawhi Leonard: Melissa Majchrzak / 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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