Our free NBA picks are out for Wednesday, April 20th, 2022! Make sure you check our expert NBA picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA picks for the three Round 1 games on today’s schedule!
Brooklyn Nets @ Boston Celtics – 7pm ET
We continue with the first round games in the NBA playoffs for 2022 when the Brooklyn Nets face off against the Boston Celtics, in Game 2 of their series. In Game 1 of the series, it was the Celtics that were able to use their home court to their advantage, narrowly beating the Nets in a thriller, 115-114. The Nets will be looking to strike back here and level the series before returning to Brooklyn.
Jeffery Thomas
The Boston Celtics were able to get a huge win on their home floor in Game 1, thanks to a game-winning layup from Jayson Tatum as time expired. It will serve as a huge confidence boost to a Boston team that was ousted by the Nets in 5 games in the first round last season. Tatum had 31 points in the win, which helped the Cs survive a 39-point explosion from former Celtic Kyrie Irving, who had a few noteworthy moments with the Boston fans on Sunday. Tatum also played a key role in holding Kevin Durant to just 23 points on 9-24 shooting with six turnovers.
Now the Nets will try to avoid an 0-2 hole heading back home for Game 3, where Ben Simmons may finally make his Nets debut. It’s been a theme for the past few months and it’s served me well for all this time, so I’m keeping it going. I love the Celtics and how they’ve been playing and will continue to back them and after getting an emotional win Sunday, they will back it up by defending home-court yet again and putting all the pressure on Brooklyn to go home and do the same. This is Jayson Tatum’s year and we’ll get another huge performance in the win on Wednesday.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Boston Celtics (-176)
Noah Dunlap
Game 1 of this Eastern Conference first round series ended up being a thriller, as it took a game-winning buzzer-beater from Jayson Tatum to push the Boston Celtics over the hump at home. Tatum was the key for Boston in the game, as he went for 31, but they also got a tremendously balanced effort, as they had four guys score at least 20. While that’s great, and obviously what they’re going to have to keep doing in order to beat a Brooklyn team that is one of the best seven-seeds we’ve seen in a while, the fact that they had to hang on by a nose to get a win in Game 1 is a bit concerning.
The Nets also played a pretty solid game, especially Kyrie Irving, the former Celtic, as he threw in 39, but the problem was Kevin Durant. KD ended with 23 points of his own, but the problem was the efficiency. If he shoots just a touch better (which he will for the rest of the series), Brooklyn wins that game easily. That’s why I’m a bit concerned with the C’s right now, despite being up 1-0 and having Game 2 in Boston, as well. I’m actually taking Brooklyn here, as I think this time both Kyrie and KD play well, and they sneak away with a win to tie the series up.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Brooklyn Nets (+148)
Tony Battalio
The Brooklyn Nets will be looking to bounce back in this second game after losing an absolute heartbreaker in Game 1. As long as everyone stays healthy for the Nets this series I still think this team may just be the favorites in the Eastern Conference to win a title, even as a number seven seed. They will be looking for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to replicate their Game 1 performances where Kyrie put up 39 points on 60% shooting the basketball. He also added six assists and five rebounds as well, while Durant put up 23 points of his own.
Despite two great performances from two of the top five players on the planet, Jayson Tatum was the real hero in Game 1. His layup at the buzzer gave the Celtics a huge win and a leg up in a series that is likely to go seven games. Boston has been a problem for other teams for years but they have never been able to get over that final hill. Well, if they knock out the Nets in round one I don’t see another team that can stop them in the East and it would likely put them on a collision course with Philadelphia at some point. As for the result of this one however, I’m taking the Brooklyn Nets in Game 2.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Brooklyn Nets (+148)
Philadelphia 76ers @ Toronto Raptors – 8pm ET
It’s Game 3 of the series between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors, and that means this game will be played at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Raptors will be hoping that the change in scenery will provide better results, as they are currently 0-2 down in the series. The 76ers have won both games, in fairly comfortable fashion, 131-111 in Game 1, and 112-97 in Game 2.
Jeffery Thomas
The series now shifts to Toronto with the Raptors in a 0-2 hole to the Philadelphia 76ers who dominated Games 1 and 2. Philly won those two games by an average of over 17 points and it’s been heavily due to the play of Tyrese Maxey. Maxey is averaging over 30 points a game in the series and it’s been a huge compliment to James Harden and Joel Embiid who won’t have to shoulder all of the load. Embiid still did his part in Game 2, after a quiet opening game, going for 31 points. That included 14 trips to the free throw line, which was a hot topic after the game as Embiid had words with Raptors coach Nick Nurse about the amount of calls the superstar is getting. Nurse does have a point, as the Sixers had 30 free throws in Game 2 compared to just 12 for the Raptors so it’ll be interesting to see if Toronto will now get the home town whistle in Game 3.
The Raptors had a quick start in Game 2, and it even looked like for a second they’d be able to hang and even steal a road win there. But the Philly home crowd proved to be too much and the Sixers just kept feeding off the energy and going on scoring runs to put the game out of reach. Now with the crowd on the Raptors side and their backs against the wall you’d have to think Game 3 is theirs for the taking. This team no longer has Kawhi Leonard but still has plenty of key members of the 2019 championship team, so they know how to deal with adversity in the playoffs. I think this is their best chance to dig deep and steal a win against a Sixers team that is prone for a meltdown with Doc Rivers and James Harden’s shaky playoff history. I like the Raptors to win this one outright and make the series a little more interesting.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Toronto Raptors (+118)
Noah Dunlap
Well, if the Toronto Raptors were planning on making a move in this series, it has to come in this one. I was actually reasonably optimistic that Toronto would keep this series reasonably close throughout, but right now, that just hasn’t been the case, as they’ve been destroyed in both of the first two games. Now I understand that part of that is due to the fact that they’ve been undermanned just a touch, as they dealt with an injury to Scottie Barnes, and an illness to Gary Trent Jr. for Game 2. Currently it looks as if Barnes will also be out for Wednesday’s Game 3, as he’s listed as doubtful, while Trent is, at this time, listed as questionable. When fully healthy, and playing at home, I think the Raptors could keep this one close, and potentially get a win, but with the questions surrounding their roster right now, I’m just not optimistic about that.
The Philadelphia 76ers have just been absolutely rolling in this one, and that’s due to the fact that they’re getting solid play from virtually everyone in the lineup, with Joel Embiid, James Harden, and especially Tyrese Maxey, playing at an extremely high level. Being up 2-0, and having to travel, you could potentially look for them to lack in energy just a bit, but I’m still going to roll with Philly in this one, as I think they come out looking to just about wrap this series up, by taking a 3-0 lead. If they can get the win here, they may lay off in Game 4, and then finish it in five, but for Game 3, give me the Sixers by 7.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers -2 (-112)
Tony Battalio
In my opinion the Philadelphia 76ers might be the most boring team to watch in the entire National Basketball Association. The only reason they find themselves up 2-0 in this series is because they outshot the Toronto Raptors by nearly 30 shots at the free throw line in Game 2. Now they will hit the road to the great white north and look to set themselves up for a four game sweep with a win in this one. As long as the foul shooting situation stays so lopsided there isn’t going to be a single team that can touch the Philadelphia 76ers throughout the playoffs.
The Toronto Raptors are backed up against the wall and in a must win situation in this one because if they go 0-3 then they are as good as done for. I will give them the benefit of the doubt as they have been horribly outshot at the free throw line by a margin of 29 shots as the Philadelphia 76ers have shot 64 free throws and the Raptors have shot 35 between the two games. If that problem continues to rise then the Raptors may as well not even show up for Game 4. As for the result of this one, I am going to have to go with the 76ers in Game 3.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers (-138)
Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks – 9.30pm ET
The last game on Wednesday’s slate will see the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks hit the court for Game 2 of their series. It was a fairly low scoring affair in the first game, in which the Bucks were able to win 93-86. The Bulls will be looking to defy the odds in this game, so they can return to Chicago with the series level at 1-1.
Jeffery Thomas
The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks have to feel lucky after holding on to beat the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 93-86. They blew a 16-point lead in the game and couldn’t get much going offensively, but thankfully their defense was there to save the day. The Bucks held the Bulls to a season-low 32.3% shooting performance, including 6-28 shooting in the fourth quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points and 16 rebounds in the win and was the only Bucks player to surpass 19 points. The main Bull who struggled shooting was their most important player, DeMar DeRozan. He shot 6-25 from the field and had just 18 points but promised to not have a game that bad for the rest of the series.
Game 1 was probably the Bulls best chance to steal a game on the road in this series and they couldn’t capitalize. This has been a bad matchup for them, as the Bucks have now won 17 of 18 in this head to head and on Wednesday will make it 18 of 19. You’re not keeping this Bucks team below 100 points often and if you do, they’re going to bounce back in a big way. I think we’ll get big games from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton, alongside Giannis and it will just be too much for the Bulls to handle. When we tip-off for Game 3 in Chicago, Milwaukee will be holding a 2-0 lead.
Jeffery’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (-510)
Noah Dunlap
Milwaukee did what we all kind of expected in Game 1 of this series, as they were cruising right along, opening things up to as many as 16, before they took their foot off the gas and allowed Chicago to get back in it. They did eventually get things going again, at least enough to get the seven-point victory, but it’s one that has to be somewhat concerning for Bucks fans. Giannis did what Giannis does, putting in 27 and 16, but the question is still going to be how well guys like Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday play. If he can get some help, Milwaukee will cruise, if not, they may end up with a real battle on their hands. For Chicago, it was a game of runs, and it just so happened that they had more negative runs than they did positive.
They started pretty poorly, watching an early deficit grow to as many as 16, but then turned things around, and actually seriously got back in the game with the chance to get the win. And then, in the fourth quarter, they allowed Milwaukee to completely shut them down, en route to the win, which has to be disappointing. The most disappointing aspect of this game for Chicago had to be DeMar DeRozan, who has been the leader for this Bulls team all year long, but was a virtually non-factor in this one. If he can get going again, they may have a chance, but seeing that the Bulls have been unable to beat the best teams in either conference all year long, I don’t think that starts now. With this one once again in Milwaukee, I think the Bucks roll in this one, getting out to a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first round matchup.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -10 (-110)
Tony Battalio
The Chicago Bulls will be looking to even the series up in this one after a rare low scoring game in Game 1of this series. Chicago certainly has the talent to get past the reigning and defending NBA champions. The key for them however will be to stop the Greek freak Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 2 on Wednesday. The former two time Most Valuable Player award winner put up 27 points and 16 rebounds on the way to leading his Bucks to a 93-86 win. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will have to come up big for the Bulls again in this one.
The Milwaukee Bucks have their sights set on defending their NBA championship and if Giannis continues to play like he did in Game 1, then I don’t know many teams that will be able to stop them. As his dominating performance on the glass makes it hard to beat anyone when someone is snagging that many boards. If he were to replicate those numbers throughout the postseason, it’s fair to say the Bucks may just go 16-0 and win a second straight title. As for the result of this game, I’m taking the Bucks to go up 2-0.
Tony’s NBA Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (-510)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
