All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.
What you need to know for tonight’s playoff games
Jayson the creator? Jayson Tatum is turning into a superstar before our eyes, and it’s more than just his elite ability to score. Tatum has become a playmaker for Boston’s role players, tallying 32 assists in four home games this postseason and 19 dimes in four road games. His 3-point prop from him is also worth looking at tonight. While Tatum has missed 13 of 16 3s over the past two games, he has made 45.2% of his 3s at home this postseason, compared to 32% on the road. Big-time players step up in big-time games, and Tatum is in for a strong showing tonight.
Getting Wiggy With It: The Warriors have no interest in playing their big men. Even with Steven Adams nearly doubling his playoff minute total in Game 4, Golden State played Jonathan Kuminga and Kevon Looney for only 20 minutes. Instead, they continue to trot out their wing players like Andrew Wiggins and Otto Porter Jr. That should continue tonight as the Warriors look to close out the series in Game 5. The versatile rotation has lots of positives. While the Warriors don’t appear to have a traditional rebounder on the court, Wiggins has averaged 9.0 boards in three of the past four games. Targeting his rebound prop is the best play tonight given his role as a pseudo big man.
— Jim McCormick & Kyle Soppe
Breaking down tonight’s games
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics7:00 p.m. ET, TD Garden, Boston
Line: Celtics (-5.5)
moneyline: Celtics (-210), Bucks (+175)
Total: 214.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 219.7 points
BPI Win%: Celtics (82.3%)
questionable: None
Ruled Out: Khris Middleton (knee)
Note: BPI numbers factor in players who are ruled out but assume questionable players will play.
Remarkable: The Celtics are 10-2 ATS over their past 12 games, and there might be an angle to go under this total. Under tickets have cashed in 56.9% of games in which Boston is favored by more than three points.
Best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo over 51.5 points + assists + rebounds. The Bucks have relied heavily on Antetokounmpo this series, especially with Khris Middleton out. Game 4 was Antetokounmpo’s 14th career playoff game with 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, scoring Wilt Chamberlain for fifth in NBA history. Antetokounmpo should be able to get his 15th from him tonight. –Eric Moody
Best bet: Bucks +5.5. This has been the epitome of a tight, back-and-forth series. Both teams have won on the other’s home court, and the past couple of games have featured multiple fourth-quarter lead changes. It would be hard for me to give 5.5 points on either side, and especially with the Bucks trying to bounce back, I’ll take them and the points. — Andre Snellings
Best bet: Under 214.5
Game 4 totaled 153 points through three quarters before a 71-point explosion in the fourth. That huge fourth quarter has been the outlier in this series thus far. Through the first three games, the under won by an average of more than 17 PPG. In a pivotal Game 5 between two physical, defensive-minded teams, I believe the low scores will return. –Snellings
Bestbet: Brook Lopez over 17.5 points + assists + rebounds. Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday accounted for nearly 58% of the Bucks’ total shot attempts in Game 4, and at the end of the game, they looked worn out. The Bucks will need someone else to step up in Game 5, and Lopez is a likely candidate. — Moody
Best bet: Jrue Holiday over 1.5 steals. Holiday has averaged 2.3 SPG thus far in the series, and the Bucks lead the NBA in defensive efficiency (99.4) during the playoffs. Holiday has averaged 1.7 SPG through the nine playoff games he has played this year. He should continue to have success on defense in Game 5. — Moody
Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
9:30 p.m. ET, FedExForum, Memphis, Tenn.
Line: Warriors (-4)
moneyline: Warriors (-170), Grizzlies (+145)
Total: 218.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 222.1 points
BPI Win%: Warriors (51.7%)
questionable: None
Ruled Out: Ja Morant, Gary Payton II (Elbow), Andre Iguodala (Neck)
Note: BPI numbers factor in players who are ruled out but assume questionable players will play.
Remarkable: The Grizzlies have covered three of four games as the underdog this postseason after going 13-6-1 ATS over their last 20 regular-season games as the underdog.
Best bet: Warriors -4. This series is a wrap. The line moved from -2.5 to -4 after Ja Morant was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs, and while Memphis was able to cover in Game 4, tonight will be a different situation. The Warriors had to adjust to how the Grizzlies play without Morant, and Stephen Curry did not get going until the fourth quarter. I think free throws also played a role, as the Warriors shot 91% from the charity stripe, compared to the Grizzlies’ 60%. Golden State is the better team offensively and defensively, and it has the sharpshooters to cover this number and advance to the Western Conference finals. –Erin Dolan
Best bet: Klay Thompson over 20.5 points. I’m playing my gut a bit here. It just feels like it’s time for a signature Klay game. Thompson was on a hot streak for most of the first round and averaged 29.7 PPG on 53.0 FG% and 50.6 3P% in his last three games of the regular season, too. His shooting of him has cooled off in this series, culminating in an 0-for-7 effort from 3-point range in Game 4. Thompson is too pure of a shooter to stay cold forever, and he will look to bounce back in Game 5 – snellings
Best bet: Jordan Poole over 28.5 points + assists + rebounds. Poole’s work ethic during the regular season has paid off handsomely this postseason. The Warriors have the Grizzlies on the ropes heading into Game 5 and will look to deliver a knockout punch. Poole has averaged 23 PPG, 5.3 APG and 5.3 RPG in the series thus far. — Moody
Best bet: Stephen Curry over 28.5 points. Curry tied James Harden for the 12th-most 30-point playoff games in NBA history (45) on Monday night and is one 30-point game shy of tying Dirk Nowitzki for 11th. I believe Curry has another 30-point performance in Game 5. He has a track record of performing well in elimination games, averaging 27.9 PPG. — Moody
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