Andrew Ortenberg
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The NBA playoffs are in full swing and we have a great slate on Sunday with four games. The third game of the day will tip off on the East Coast as the Boston Celtics host the Brooklyn Nets. It will be nationally televised by TNT.
What better way to make this pivotal Game 4 matchup even more entertaining than by betting a same game parlay? We also have some thoughts on the side and total for each of tonight’s mega matchups.
Brooklyn Nets to win by 11+ (+140)
Jayson Tatum to score 35+ points (+128)
James Harden to make 4+ threes (+220)
Parlay odds: +1867
We have a three-leg parlay, one which pays out just shy of 20/1 at FanDuel Sportsbook. We get a huge odds boost by combining a Nets win with a big night from Tatum, when I don’t think it conflicts much. Let me explain:
Brooklyn Nets to win by 11+ (+140)
The Celtics won Game 3, which has helped us get better value on the Nets here in Game 4. Let’s not overreact to one game. Brooklyn dominated the first two games of this series, and they aren’t going to let Boston even things at 2-2. This spread went down a couple of points just because the Celtics won one game, when I don’t think too much changed. Even with Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, and Evan Fournier combining to shoot 14-of-26 from three, the Celtics still only won by six points.
With a little shooting regression from Boston, this should turn into a Nets blowout. Brooklyn won the first two games of this series by at least 11, so getting plus-money here sounds great to me. It’s not like the Nets’ offense struggled in Game 3; they still put up 119 points but simply ran into the Celtics on a hot shooting night.
Jayson Tatum to score 35+ points (+128)
If the Celtics go down, it’s not going to be because of Tatum. The budding superstar put on a show on Friday, dropping 50 points. I’m not sure he’ll get quite that many here, but he should be in for another big game. He was cold in the first two contests but then found his stroke and then some. In his last two regular season games against the Nets he dropped at least 31 both times, so he clearly likes something about this matchup. When Boston has their backs up against the wall, you can count on his volume being off the charts. In Game 3 he played 41 minutes and took 30 shots. If we get that kind of volume again here, I like our chances of cashing.
James Harden to make 4+ threes (+220)
Oddsmakers seem to be underestimating Harden because of the time he missed with a hamstring injury. Harden barely played the last couple months of the season, so everyone seems to have forgotten about him. He’s come back in a big way in the playoffs, dropping 41 in Game 3. He made seven threes on Friday night, and four in Game 2, so I think getting +220 presents a lot of standalone value. He’s attempted at least eight shots from downtown in each of his four games against Boston this year. He made four threes in each of his last two full regular season games before going down with the injury as well.
What is a Same Game Parlay?
Check out our guide on what is a same game parlay and where can I bet it?
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