The Boston Celtics have been the best team in the Eastern Conference during the second half of the regular season. However, that isn’t stopping a large chunk of the betting public from taking the duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving over Boston’s dominance.
According to several sportsbooks including DraftKings, the series betting odds listed Boston as slight underdogs after the Nets defeated the Cavs on Tuesday night in the play-in tournament at Barclays Center.
The Nets series price began at -145 at DraftKings late Tuesday, although that number continues to be adjusted as more people back the Celtics. However, the consensus across most sportsbooks have Brooklyn listed as the favorites, a sign the betting public is backing the Nets in the series.
Boston has gone 3-1 against the Nets in head-to-head matchups this year although two of those victories came without Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving in the lineup. The Celtics are not expected to have Robert Williams available for this upcoming series as he recovers from knee surgery.
However, the biggest wildcard in the matchup could be the availability of Ben Simmons for Brooklyn who continues to progress in his rehab from a herniated disc in his back.
Brooklyn is currently listed at DraftKings as having the third-best title odds (+550) while the Celtics are fifth in the NBA at +1000, in a tie with top-seeded Miami. Phoenix (+260), Milwaukee (+500) and Golden State (+850) are the other title favorites.
Boston will open the best-of-seven series with Game 1 at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET in a nationally televised contest on ABC. Boston is a three-point favorite for that matchup over the Nets.
Story by Brian Robb, masslive.com
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