Nets (+8) @ Sixers (225.5)
Pick: Nets +8
What a pathetic excuse for a playoff game from the Sixers on Saturday. Jimmy Butler was the only player wearing a Sixers uniform that treated it as such. Does this all of a sudden mean the Sixers’ season is over? No, it’s a long series and they could get things going in the right direction tonight. But from a gambling perspective, given the way the Sixers ended the regular season and started the playoffs, you need to see that kind of performance before backing them, especially as close to a double-digit favorite. Joel Embiid is listed as questionable for tonight’s game and even if he plays, as we saw on Saturday, that’s not necessarily a reason to stay away from the Nets. As the Sixers begin to feel the heat in this series, which they might be feeling already, the Nets become more confident as the team with no expectations here. Philly might win this game, but it’s hard to pony up and lay the eight points. Expect a dogfight and take the points.
Clippers (+13.5) @ Warriors (230)
Pick: Clippers +13.5
Saturday’s Game 1 victory for the Warriors wasn’t in much doubt. The 17-point win for Golden State was also enough to cover the massive 13.5-point closing line. While the Clippers are a huge underdog here, expect one of their better efforts in the series tonight. It’s hard enough to win four out of seven against the Warriors much less four out of five which is what the Clippers have to do if they drop Game 2. Nobody is giving Los Angeles the slightest of chances at pulling the massive upset, but that doesn’t mean they’ll roll over. Patrick Beverley seemed to be doing a pretty job of getting in Kevin Durant’s head on Saturday and both of them got ejected in the fourth quarter. The Clippers will need more slop tactics to keep the game competitive long enough to cover here and we’re banking on just that.