NBA Best Bets Today: Expert NBA Betting Picks for 04/25/2025

The Celtics have established clear dominance in this series, winning both games in Boston despite playing Game 2 without their star Jayson Tatum.

Jaylen Brown has stepped up magnificently, dropping 36 points with 10 rebounds in Game 2, showing Boston has the scoring depth to maintain their advantage even if Tatum remains limited.

Orlando has particularly struggled with their outside shooting, going just 7-of-29 from deep in Game 2, a weakness the Celtics' defense will continue to exploit on the road.

While home court might boost the Magic's role players, the data shows Boston has covered the spread in each of their last four Eastern Conference First Round road games.

The Magic have lost each of their last 10 playoff games as underdogs, highlighting the talent gap that even home-court advantage is unlikely to overcome against the top-seeded Celtics.

This total appears to be set too low for a playoff game featuring the high-powered Celtics offense that can explode even without Jayson Tatum at full strength.

Game 2 saw both teams combine for 209 points, with Jaylen Brown dropping 36 and Paolo Banchero responding with 32 for Orlando, showing the offensive talent is there to push this total over.

The Magic should get a boost from their role players now that they're back at home, particularly from the supporting cast that struggled in Boston.

Analytics models give this Over bet a 3.2% edge with a 55.1% probability of hitting, making it one of the strongest value plays on today's slate.

While playoff basketball often sees tighter defense, the desperation from Orlando to avoid going down 0-3 should lead to a faster pace and more scoring opportunities for both teams.

The Bucks find themselves in a must-win scenario down 0-2 in the series but returning home to Fiserv Forum where they've had considerable success against the Pacers.

History shows that teams down 0-2 that return home for Game 3 have traditionally performed well against the spread, making this a prime bounce-back spot for Milwaukee.

Damian Lillard should be more comfortable after shaking off the rust in Game 2, providing the perfect complement to Giannis Antetokounmpo who has been dominant (34 points, 18 rebounds in Game 2).

The Pacers were just .500 on the road this season and nearly squandered a big lead late in Game 2, suggesting their grip on this series isn't as firm as the 2-0 lead might indicate.

With Milwaukee's season essentially on the line, expect a focused performance from start to finish with the Bucks covering the spread in what should be their best showing of the series.

The Under has been a perfect 6-for-6 across all meetings between the Lakers and Timberwolves this season, including both playoff games and all four regular-season matchups.

Game 2 showed this series continues to be a defensive slugfest, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm as the intensity ramps up in this playoff matchup.

Minnesota's home court has been particularly challenging for the Lakers, who have lost their last 4 visits to Target Center by an average of 12 points, suggesting the Timberwolves' defense performs even better at home.

The physicality is increasing with each game as evidenced by four Lakers players logging 39+ minutes in Game 2, which typically leads to more deliberate offensive possessions and lower-scoring affairs.

With the series lead on the line, neither team will want to allow the game to turn into a shootout, making the Under a strong play as both defenses should continue to dominate.

The Timberwolves return home with home-court advantage back in play after splitting the first two games in Los Angeles, giving them a prime opportunity to regain control of the series.

Minnesota has dominated the Lakers at Target Center recently, winning their last 4 meetings there by an average of 12 points per game.

The Timberwolves' role players like Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo and Nickeil Alexander-Walker typically perform much better at home, which should provide the offensive boost they lacked in Game 2.

Analytics models give the Timberwolves ML a 2.7% edge with a 62.4% probability of winning, indicating strong value even at the current price.

With the Lakers coming off a physically demanding Game 2 where four players logged 39+ minutes, fatigue could be a factor with this series now playing every other day.