Nets vs. Celtics Game 1: Can KD & Kyrie Down East’s Hottest Team in Boston?

The Brooklyn Nets went into the season favored to win the NBA championship and have two of the best players in NBA history in their squad. The Boston Celtics have been the hottest team in the Eastern Conference over the past three months. Which team will take a valuable 1-0 series lead when the second-seeded Celtics host the seventh-seeded Nets in Game 1 on Sunday?

Over their final 35 games of the regular season, the Celtics posted a 28-7 record, going from a marginal playoff team–at best–to an apparent 2022 NBA championship contender.

As they open the NBA playoffs, Boston has the fifth-best odds to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy, behind the Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat.

But they draw a tough first-round assignment, as they have to take care of business against Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and the Nets. The Nets may have needed to go through the NBA Play-In Tournament in order to qualify as the seventh seed in the East, but Irving is now fully available, and it looks like we could see Ben Simmons make his debut for the team later in the series.

#7 Brooklyn Nets vs. #2 Boston Celtics Game 1 Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Game Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (44-38, #7 seed in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (51-31, #2 seed in the Eastern Conference)
• Venue & Location: TD Garden (Boston, Massachusetts)
• Date: Sunday, April 17, 2022
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Nets vs. Celtics Game 1: ABC

Nets vs. Celtics Game 1 Betting Odds

BetOnline Sportsbook

• Spread: Brooklyn Nets +4.5 (-110), Boston Celtics -4.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 224.5 (-110), UNDER 224.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Brooklyn Nets +158, Boston Celtics -188

Bovada Sportsbook

• Spread: Brooklyn Nets +4 (-110), Boston Celtics -4 (-110)
• Total: OVER 224 (-110), UNDER 224 (-110)
• Moneyline: Brooklyn Nets +155, Boston Celtics -180

BetUS

• Spread: Brooklyn Nets +4.5 (-114), Boston Celtics -4.5 (-107)
• Total: OVER 224 (-110), UNDER 224 (-110)
• Moneyline: Brooklyn Nets +145, Boston Celtics -177

Betting odds for Nets vs. Celtics and the rest of the day’s playoff action can be found on our NBA odds page.

Will We See Brooklyn at Its Best in the Playoffs?

It goes without saying that the Nets have not lived up to preseason expectations. But they are heading into the postseason in playoff form, which enhances the value in their NBA Finals futures odds.

On March 6, the Nets lost 126-120 in Boston to drop to 32-33. At the time, it was their fourth straight loss, and they were looking at a serious fight to land the best possible spot in the play-in tournament.

But they won 12 of their final 17 regular-season games to edge out the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets for the seventh seed, and they handled the Cavs on Tuesday to secure a first round showdown with the Celtics.

They enter the playoffs with five consecutive wins, and each of those wins were by at least seven points.

Can they continue their streak with a Game 1 win in Boston?

Three of the Celtics’ 28 wins during their blistering run came against the Nets: a 126-91 loss in Boston on February 8, a 129-106 loss in Brooklyn on February 24, and the 126-120 loss in Boston on March 6.

But the most recent matchup is the only one of the three in which the Nets had both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the lineup.

And there’s no denying that the Nets are a more dangerous team when KD and Kyrie are playing together. Recent results certainly bear it out.

How Has Brooklyn Fared With Kyrie Irving in the Lineup?

• Prior to the All-Star break: 4-10
• Since the All-Star break: 11-5

It remains to be seen if Simmons can elevate the Nets, but if they continue to play well even with KD and Kyrie, they could stick around for at least a couple of rounds.

Their superstar duo will need to bring it from the outset in Boston, as the Celtics have been excellent at TD Garden during their hot streak, posting a 13-3 record.

This is a situation in which the Nets have done well this season. As a road underdog, they are 10-5-1 ATS, which is tied for fourth in the NBA. However, the Celtics counter that with the league’s best record with a rest advantage, as they are 10-5-1 ATS this season with a rest advantage.

Nets vs. Celtics Game 1 Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction: Nets 126, Celtics 121

Best Bets: Nets +4.5 (-110 at BetOnline Sportsbook) & OVER 224 (-110 at Bovada Sportsbook & BetUS)

Color me skeptical of the Celtics still, but their form over the final few months of the regular season doesn’t really count for much now.

Just look at how things played out yesterday in the Western Conference. The Memphis Grizzlies went 56-26 this season, posting the NBA’s second-best record behind the 64-win Phoenix Suns, but they lost by 16 at home to the seventh-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Nets have not had a fantastic season, but if KD and Kyrie avoid the injury bug in the playoffs–and KD makes sure that his feet are behind the three-point line for any crucial game-saving or game-winning shot attempts–there are not many teams who can and will beat them, Celtics included.

The Nets are playing at a high level at the right time, and that will continue into today’s series opener in Boston.

Best Prop Pick for Nets vs. Celtics: Kyrie Irving OVER 26.5 Points (-125 at Bovada Sportsbook)

While Kevin Durant has a pretty strong argument to be considered the most lethal scorer in NBA history, Kyrie has a pretty strong argument as one of the best all-around talents the game has ever seen.

It can be easy to forget how good he is because of the flat-earthing and vaccine-refusing, but Kyrie Irving is a very, very, very good basketball player.

And one thing that he does really well has been doing especially well recently is score. In six games in April, Kyrie is averaging 30.7 PPG and has hit the 30-point mark four times, including a 42-point performance against the Houston Rockets on April 5.

He will have no shortage of opportunities to rack up points in this matchup. Look for him to take good advantage of many of them on the way to taking this total over.