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Sports Betting

Celtics vs. 76ers prediction: 2 Boston player props for Game 5

Action Network
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Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown during the second half of Game 3 in an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff series, Friday, May 5, 2023, in Philadelphia.

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown during the second half of Game 3 in an NBA basketball Eastern Conference semifinals playoff series, Friday, May 5, 2023, in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP)

It’s the all-important Game 5 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series, so we have a pair of 76ers vs. Celtics predictions to share.

I expect a bounce-back game from Boston, and I project two Celtics players for tremendous performances on Tuesday.

Look for Jaylen Brown and Malcolm Brogdon to stuff the stat boxes, and bet these player props accordingly.

Odds courtesy of BetMGM, current at time of writing and subject to change.

76ers vs. Celtics Best Player Prop Bet No. 1

Jaylen Brown over 24.5 points (-105)

It’s so clear that Brown can dominate this series. He’s far more athletic than any Philadelphia player, and Brown has cooked his defenders in short spurts during the series.

Yet, Brown hasn’t put together a great game for 48 minutes yet. He had 16 points in the first quarter of Game 1, only to finish with 23. Then, he posted 12 points in the first quarter of Game 4, only to finish with 23 again after taking only three field-goal attempts over the final 17 minutes of play.

The Celtics need to get Brown the ball more, and I’m praying that he and coach Joe Mazzulla make that adjustment, pronto.

I think it’s a good spot for that adjustment now that the Celtics are back at TD Garden. Brown is averaging 26 points per game at home during this playoff run and has eclipsed 25 points in 68% of his home games since the start of the year.

He has been on the cusp of a massive performance during this playoff run. However, if the Celtics are to win this Game 5, Brown needs to be a high-level scoring option.

The Action Network’s Player Prop Tool projects Brown for over 26 points on Tuesday, so there’s value in this prop regardless. But I feel the C’s will look Brown’s way early and often in Game 5.

76ers vs. Celtics Best Player Prop Bet No. 2

Malcolm Brogdon over 21.5 points + rebounds + assists (-125)

While the Celtics haven’t figured out Brown’s usage yet, they’ve figured out Brogdon’s.

When Brogdon enters off the bench, he provides the Celtics an instant talent and energy boost. He also can overpower Philly’s bench, as the 76ers are noticeably less deep.

Brogdon has pressed during this playoff run, and the results are in the numbers. Brogdon has cashed over 21.5 PRA in every game of this series and eight of 10 total playoff games.

Brogdon has also smashed his PRA prop. He’s averaging 27.5 PRA over the past four playoff games, recording 29 in Game 4.

The Action Network’s Player Props Tool projects Brogdon for 22.8 PRA in Game 5, giving us value at the current market price. However, given the great matchup and recent trends, I think our projections undersell him.