Two underwhelming playoff-bound teams in the midst of frustrating seasons will clash on Sunday night, with the Portland Trail Blazers passing the halfway mark of a six-game road trip with a visit to the Boston Celtics.
Boston is in the thick of a three-team race to finish in the fourth of fifth seed and avoid a date with any of the Nets, 76ers or Bucks, while Portland is trying to stay out of the play-in tournament as it jostles for the sixth seed.
Here are our best free NBA betting picks and predictions for Trail Blazers vs. Celtics on May 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Trail Blazers vs Celtics odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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NBA Sharp Money and Line Movement Report
By Patrick EversonBoston dropped from -2.5 overnight to -1 midmorning at PointsBet USA, then the line jumped the fence to Portland -1 and is Trail Blazers -1.5 as of 5 p.m. ET. "The Blazers are getting 60 percent of spread bet count and 67 percent of spread handle," PointsBet's Mike Korn said. The total shifted from 232.5 to 231.5, then headed up to 234.5 and is now 234, with the Over getting 63 percent of bets and 67 percent of cash.
Check out the full line movement for this gameTrail Blazers at Celtics betting preview
Injuries
Trail Blazers: Zach Collins PF (Out).
Celtics: Kemba Walker PG (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Trail Blazers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as an underdog. Find more NBA betting trends for Trail Blazers vs. Celtics.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
As it's seemingly forced to do every year, Portland has powered through a litany of injuries on the back of Damian Lillard's singular force as a hooper. However, despite having both CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic back in the lineup, the Blazers' season hit a low point in April with five straight losses.
A reported behind-the-scenes meeting followed between high-profile Blazers, and since then, they have reeled off three straight wins (SU and ATS), including an impressive 19-point win over the Nets in Brooklyn. That game saw Lillard finally snap a month-long streak of sub-26-point outings, as he poured in 32 on 12 of 22 shooting.
Though Portland's defense remains atrocious, the theoretical version of its team is beginning to show up on the court, with Lillard, Norman Powell and McCollum offering knockdown shooting and high-efficient scoring, while Robert Covington thrives as an off-ball defender and Nurkic serves as a valuable rim protector.
The Blazers' desire to outscore opponents will be tested on Sunday, with Boston coming into this one after a thrilling comeback against the Spurs on Friday, a win led by Jayson Tatum's 60-point effort. After such a draining overtime thriller on Friday, which saw Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each go over 40 minutes, it wouldn't be surprising to see Boston come out flat. Meanwhile, there are few more foolish choices in the NBA than betting against Lillard when he's feeling himself.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers +2.5 (-110)
Over/Under pick
Despite both teams boasting good-to-great offenses and bad-to-awful defenses this season, neither Boston (33-31 O/U) nor Portland (33-30 O/U) have been reliable Over bets in 2021. The Celtics have been cashing the Over quite a bit recently, however, at 7-3 O/U over their last 10, a stretch that includes a current four-game Over streak.
The Blazers, too, have been cooking lately. On its current three-game win streak, Portland has scored 133, 130 and 128 points, with a 2-1 O/U mark only hurt by a 109-point night from Brooklyn on Friday. When they are on, as they appear to be now, the Blazers can absolutely fill it up and they've remained a Top-5 offense in points per game, despite the health and performance struggles they have faced this season.
Even a flat Celtics team should be able to put up points against this Blazers defense, and we expect Portland to stay hot on offense, as both sides continue their recent stretch of rewarding the Over.
PREDICTION: Over 231.5 (-110)
Player prop pick
As evidenced by a host of clutch performances and killer last-second shots, there are few players in the NBA capable of inspiring a team like Lillard. Similarly, there are few players who get hot like Lillard, who regularly makes heat checks look like mundane jumpers.
After an oddly ineffective month from Lillard, the six-time All-Star woke up to close April out with a great performance in Brooklyn. With the Blazers needing every win down the stretch to avoid the play-in tournament, expect Lillard to carry his form through the end of the regular season—and into the playoffs.
PREDICTION: Damian Lillard Over 26.5 Points (-115)
Trail Blazers vs Celtics betting card
- Trail Blazers +2.5 (-110)
- Over 231.5 (-110)
- Damian Lillard Over 26.5 Points (-115)
Picks made on 5/2/2021 at 8:35 a.m. ET
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