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Jump ahead: Game of the night | Picks and props | Analytics edge

All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

What you need to know for Saturday’s playoff games

Crouching Nets, Betting Dragon:With the Nets in a pivotal spot, it’d be easy to blindly back their stars and let the chips fall where they may … and that might be right. But if usage is any indication, there’s some value to be had in one of their reserves: Goran Dragic. The veteran (nearly 1,600 playoff minutes on his NBA resume) has taken 25 shots while committing just one turnover in his 46 minutes through two games, clearly benefiting from the attention his all-world teammates demand. The ceiling isn’t sky-high here, there’s only one basketball, but given his aggression and Boston’s willingness to sell out to stop Brooklyn’s stars, he is worth a look in the prop markets.

Money On Anunoby: Scottie Barnes’ status is in question, leaving the door wide open for OG Anunoby to continue to cash prop tickets. He’s averaging 24 points per game in this series (26 points in both games Barnes has missed), and his versatile skill set was on full display during Wednesday night’s heartbreaker: nine 3-point attempts and nine free throws. Only five times this regular season did a Raptor have that sort of scoring profile, and with the season on the line, it stands to reason that Anunoby will be heavily involved. His scoring prop is under 20 points, and given that he is shooting 47.2% from 3 in his eight games since returning from injury, Anunoby profiles as a good option for those looking to invest in the Raptors’ attempting to extend their season.

Luka’s Status: There is some momentum for Luka Doncic to make his 2022 postseason debut in Utah. Coach Jason Kidd used the word “optimistic” when discussing Donic’s potential to play, but it’s unlikely we will get confirmation of his status until closer to tip on Saturday afternoon. If Doncic is deemed available, not only will the point spread likely tighten, it’s notable that Spencer Dinwiddie sees his usage rate dip by 6.4% with the Slovenian superstar on the floor, the biggest dip on the roster. Center Dwight Powell, meanwhile, has seen his offensive efficiency spike in such scenarios.

Donovan from Deep: Dallas has been one of the best defenses this season and in the playoffs in limiting 3-point volume and success. Even with this agenda in place, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell has lofted 18 shots from beyond the arc during the past two games in the series, evidence his somewhat modest 3-point prop of 2.5 on DraftKings is an intriguing path to betting this critical contest for the Jazz.

Block Party: It’s clear Memphis wants to feature Jaren Jackson Jr. as the team’s primary rim protector in leaning on smaller lineup looks in the series with Minnesota, especially as center Steven Adams has been largely phased out of the rotation. Keep an eye on JJJ’s block props when they post, as he led the entire league in total blocks and block percentage this season. While foul trouble can potentially limit Jackson’s playing time, he has blocked a ridiculous 14% of Minnesota’s 2-point attempts while on the floor in the series.

— Jim McCormick & Kyle Soppe

Game of the night

Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Line: Nets (-5)
Money line: Nets (-170, Celtics (+145)
Total: 211.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 221.2 points
BPI Win%: Celtics (50.8%)

Key players ruled out: Ben Simmons

Notable: The Celtics have failed to cover four of their past five playoff games when they are labeled as underdogs.

Best bet: Nets -3.0. During the Kevin Durant era, the Nets are 6-1 at Barclays Center. Brooklyn is too good to get swept, and the first two games in this first-round series have been extremely close. The Nets have won seven of their 10 home games. Despite being embarrassed by Boston during the regular season, Brooklyn will not allow the Celtics to dominate them at home during the playoffs. — Eric Moody

Best bet: Jaylen Brown over 34.5 points + assists + rebounds. Trying to avoid a 3-0 hole is crucial for the Nets. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a seven-game series. Brown is well aware of this and will aim to take over the game along with Jayson Tatum. In this series, Brown has averaged 22.5 PPG, 4.5 AGP and 4.5 RPG. In Game 3, he has a good chance of surpassing those per-game averages. — Moody

Breaking down the rest of the slate

Memphis Grizzlies at Minnesota Timberwolves
10 p.m. ET on ESPN, Target Center, Minneapolis

Line: Grizzlies (-3.0)
Money line: Grizzlies (-150), Timberwolves (+130)
Total: 232.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 225.4 points
BPI Win%: Grizzlies (50.7%)

Key players ruled out: none

Notable: The Grizzlies somehow covered on Thursday night, and they’ve been a good team to double down on of late. Over their past seven playoff games, the total and ATS results have been tied to each other: In the two games in which the Grizzlies covered, the total went under, and the five that they failed to cover went over the total.

Best bet: Under 232.5. These are two offensive-minded teams that play with a high pace, but this game will not be played in a vacuum. In a Game 4, both teams are familiar with their opponents and their offensive sets. Plus, as the pressure and stakes increase, the possessions become more measured. Game 1 reached 247 points, thanks to 56 made free throws. Memphis has since stepped up its defense, and neither of the next two games came all that close to hitting the over. I expect that trend to continue. — Doug Kezirian

Best bet: Grizzlies -3.0. In this series, Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and other role players have provided the Grizzlies with everything they’ve needed. This season, the Grizzlies are 30-18 against the spread when they are at least 2.5-point favorites. After their comeback for the ages in Game 3, the Grizzlies will prevail against the Timberwolves in Game 4. — Moody

Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors
2 p.m., Scotiabank Arena, Toronto

Line: 76ers (-3.0)
Money line: 76ers (-150), Raptors (+130)
Total: 213.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 216.9 points
BPI Win%: 76ers (54.3%)

Key players ruled out: Matisse Thybulle

Notable: The 76ers have seen six of their past seven playoff games go under Vegas’ projected total.

Best bet: James Harden over 29.5 points + assists. During this series, Harden has averaged 18.3 PPG and 10 APG while shooting 41% from the field. He has been relatively quiet so far. Joel Embiid might be inactive due to pain and discomfort in his right thumb. As the 76ers try to sweep the Raptors in Game 4, they might lean more on Harden to give Embiid some rest for the second round. — Moody

Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz
4:30 p.m ET, Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City

Line: Jazz (-5)
Money line: Jazz (-210), Mavericks (+175)
Total: 211.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 216.9 points
BPI Win%: Jazz (66.5%)

Key players ruled out: none

Questionable: Luka Doncic (calf)

Notable: The Jazz are just 1-6 ATS in their past seven playoff games, and four of their past five have gone over the total.

Best bet: Dallas money line +175. Jazz fans have been frustrated by the team’s inability to put together a complete game. It is surprising that Utah, which ranked ninth in points allowed per 100 possessions during the regular season, is struggling to contain the Mavericks’ offense. Dallas is my money-line pick in Game 4, considering the positive momentum it has right now. — Moody

Best bet: Donovan Mitchell over 30.5 points. Mitchell is the only offensive standout for the Jazz. While shooting 41.3% from the field, he averaged 26.7 FGA, 32.7 PPG and 40.4 MPG. Mitchell should continue to see all of the minutes he can handle as the Jazz look to tie this series. — Moody

Analytics edge

BPI highest projected totals

1. Memphis Grizzlies (112.8 points)
2. Minnesota Timberwolves (112.6 points)
3. Utah Jazz (111.4 points)

BPI lowest projected totals

1. Dallas Mavericks (106.7 points)
2. Toronto Raptors (110.3 points)
3. Brooklyn Nets (110.3 points)

BPI top probability to win (straight up)

1. Utah Jazz (66.5%)
2. Philadelphia 76ers (54.3%)
3. Boston Celtics (50.8%)

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WHILE THE NBA world waited on the offseason’s biggest drama, Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers pondered the future of a point guard not named Ben Simmons.

When Rivers met with his coaches ahead of the 2021-22 season to discuss lineups, he made a bold declaration:

No matter what happened with Simmons, Tyrese Maxey was going to start for the 76ers.

“That [was met] with a little, like, ‘How are we going to start him with Ben?'” Rivers said during practice last week. “And I said, ‘I don’t know, but he’s starting.'”

Maxey had played just 15.3 minutes per game as a rookie, showing flashes of promise, such as a 39-point, 44-minute performance last January, when four 76ers starters were sidelined due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. He dropped 30 points in 35 minutes in the 2020-21 regular-season finale four months later.

But this was a leap to full-time starting point guard for a team with high-profile veterans, championship aspirations and the league’s biggest saga looming over it.

Predictably, as the season began there were plenty of growing pains.

“You couldn’t hear anything but ‘Tyrese! What the hell, Tyrese!'” 76ers forward Georges Niang said, imitating Rivers’ voice.

“And, you’re like, ‘Man, is this kid gonna fold?'”

2 Related

He didn’t. And after escaping that early-season commentary from Rivers, Maxey has not only become a fan favorite, but a critical player next to Joel Embiid and James Harden.

As the 76ers sit one win over the Toronto Raptors away from reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals, it’s Maxey — equipped with bursts of speed and energy and a historically improved jump shot — who could determine just how high this group’s ceiling can be raised.

“In my exit interview [last season], my goal was to get one percent better every single day,” Maxey says. “I stuck with it the entire summer.”

The result? Maxey has evolved from spark-plug rookie to offensive threat whom defenses can’t afford to ignore.

Where Maxey lands on ESPN’s 25-under-25 rankings

FEW GUARDS DART to the basket faster than the lightning-quick Maxey. The problem was what he did once he got there.

As a rookie, Maxey would regularly toss up awkward floaters when he entered the lane, a practice on which he and Rivers agreed the 6-foot-2 guard was far too reliant.

“I always thought, man, if I go in there, I think I’m going to get my shot blocked,” Maxey says.

“But then I just kept doing it and I realized, if I can get to the rim, I’m athletic enough and I have enough touch [that] more than likely it’ll go in.”

So Maxey went to school. While he grew up idolizing another dynamic combo guard in Dwyane Wade, Maxey spent much of the summer studying two of the best small interior scorers in recent NBA history.

Tyrese Maxey is a key reason why the 76ers are one win from the Eastern Conference semifinals. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

“Tony Parker had a floater, but he also would get to the rim and he was able to put the ball on the backboard in different spots where the big couldn’t get it,” Maxey says. “And then Kyrie [Irving] … studied the spots on the backboard where you can spin it and it’ll fall in.”

Now, according to ESPN Stats & Information, Maxey is finding success attacking the rim from every angle. And while he’s going to his floater 4% less than last season, his 72 makes through this regular season and playoffs still rank among the top 10 leaguewide.

Maxey shot 60.5% on layups and dunks during the regular season, up from 54.7% in 2020-21. He’s been automatic in the playoffs, going 13-for-13 from the restricted area.

“He gets to the front of the rim before your help is there because he’s so fast,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said Sunday. “He’s got a lot of the offensive package going, that’s for sure.”

That package wouldn’t be complete without also a massive upgrade to Maxey’s jump shot. That meant a summer of reps from beyond the arc — a lot of them.

“I would get up, and I’d be in the gym,” Maxey says. “First one in the gym at 6 a.m. and I’d try to make at least 700, 800 shots. And then I’d go lift and I’d come back again at 10 [a.m.] and I’m doing the same thing.”

That offseason gauntlet has paid historic dividends.

PlayerCatch
& shootOff the
dribbleDesmond Bane44.0%43.1%Mike Conley40.7%40.9%Tyrese Haliburton42.8%40.7%Kyrie Irving40.5%43.5%Tyrese Maxey44.9%40.3%(min. 100 3-point attempts each)

After shooting 30% on 1.7 3-point attempts per game last season, Maxey leapt to 42.7% on over four attempts per game in 2021-22.

Since the NBA introduced the 3-point line in the 1979-80 season, only two other players — Allan Houston and Todd Day — saw their percentages jump by at least 12% on such a dramatic increase in attempts, per ESPN Stats & Information research.

The season it happened for Houston and Day was 1994-95, when the NBA moved its 3-point line back to 22 feet, meaning Maxey is the only player in NBA history with such an improvement from the standard 3-point line.

Maxey also shot 44.9% on catch-and-shoot 3s, the sixth-best mark among the 175 players who attempted at least 150 such shots this season.

“It changes the dynamic of their team,” Raptors guard Fred VanVleet said last week of Maxey, whose scoring average jumped from 8.0 points per game during his rookie year to 17.5.

“Any time you’ve got a guy that’s got that type of speed and athleticism and has turned into a really good shooter, it just changes the floor spacing and the balance and the way that they operate, and it frees up Joel, it frees up James.”

AS HARDEN DRIBBLED up the left side of the court and surveyed the defense late in the third quarter of Game 1 against the Raptors, he saw a blur in a blue jersey streaking behind Toronto’s retreating defense.

Harden fired a dime, a two-handed, cross-court bounce right to Maxey, who launched and soared to the other side of the rim to finish a left-handed reverse layup, avoiding the block attempt by the chasing Pascal Siakam in the process.

What had started as a typical transition break turned into a lasting image of Maxey’s breakout playoff performance — and season.

Tyrese Maxey’s rise has given the 76ers one of the most exciting big threes of the 2022 NBA playoffs. AP Photo/Matt Slocum

“I saw growth,” Harden said of Maxey’s 2021-22 after his 38-point Game 1. “I saw him from being up-and-down and not really having consistent minutes last year in the postseason to starting and having a huge role on a championship-contending team.”

That growth has taken Maxey, 21, from a rookie who was seen as an intriguing part of the 76ers’ future — and occasionally rumored as a possible inclusion in trades — into a core player deemed untouchable in the Harden-Simmons trade discussions.

Harden’s elite passing, coupled with the defensive attention Embiid commands, has given Maxey the room to thrive in ways few around the league could’ve anticipated.

As Philadelphia moves forward — presumably with Harden receiving a lucrative new long-term contract this summer that would take him into his late 30s — Maxey is on a path to ensuring the 76ers have one of the league’s most exciting big threes.

That hasn’t prevented the occasional grumble from Rivers — usually because of Maxey’s defense, which remains a work in progress — but the 76ers guard of the present and future has deservedly earned the respect of opposing defenses, coaches and his teammates.

“If it was up to me, he would probably be the Most Improved Player in the league,” Embiid said before the start of the playoffs, “[with] what he’s accomplished and the situation we were in all year.

“I’ve always believed it was going to pay off.”

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MINNEAPOLIS — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Friday for giving fans the middle finger during a game Wednesday in Cleveland.

Anderson is appealing the ban and will play until the matter is settled. He remained in the lineup hitting leadoff Friday night at Minnesota.

Anderson had three errors in the first two innings of Chicago’s 11-1 loss Wednesday in the opener of a doubleheader. The frustrated 28-year-old made the gesture toward a fan while out in the field.

“I have to apologize for my actions,” Anderson said Friday. “There are a lot of people who really look up to me. I take full accountability of what I did. But it’s something that I have to learn from and grow from.”

It’s the second time MLB has suspended Anderson this season. He served a two-game ban on opening weekend for making contact with umpire Tim Timmons during the ninth inning of a game on Sept. 27. Anderson successfully appealed that suspension down from three games.

Anderson is batting .300 with five RBIs and a home run. He made his first All-Star team in 2021 and finished the season with a .309 average, 17 home runs and 61 RBIs to help lead the White Sox to an AL Central title.

Anderson made his sixth error in three games Friday night as the White Sox lost 2-1. He committed just 10 errors all of last season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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CHICAGO — After knocking down a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter, extending an already substantial Milwaukee Bucks lead in what was shaping up to be a dominant victory in Game 3 on Friday night, Bucks forward Bobby Portis stopped and shimmed, savoring the basket for a few extra moments.

As Portis walked off the court, he was met by Bucks guard Grayson Allen, and the two dapped up and embraced before heading toward the bench. Their combined effort — Allen led all scorers with 22-points and Portis added 18 after moving into the starting lineup — helped guide the Bucks to a 111-81 victory and play spoiler for a Chicago crowd that was about to head for the exits with the game already out of reach.

In Milwaukee’s first game without forward Khris Middleton, who will miss the rest of this first-round series with a sprained MCL, Allen and Portis stepped in to fill the void to lead Milwaukee to a 2-1 series advantage. Game 4 is Sunday afternoon in Chicago.

“It’s a big game for us, no excuses to be made,” Portis said after the game Friday. “One of our brothers went down and guys had to step up.”

The Bucks planned to lean on their experience to make it through this series in the absence of one of their best players. They closed out the Eastern Conference Finals last season without star Giannis Antetokounmpo. They used 31 different starting lineups to make it through this season and Friday’s super-sized starting lineup featuring Portis, Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez in the front court with Wes Matthews and Jrue Holiday in the backcourt had only played two minutes together, during Game 1, during the entire season. So, the Bucks were ready to make up for Middleton’s absence on Friday.

“We’ve had guys that have been out at different times throughout the season and we’ve had other guys that have had to step up,” Bucks guard Pat Connaugton said at shootaround Friday morning. “This is no different.” In addition to his new role in the starting lineup, Portis was also forced to don a new look for Game 3. He wore protective goggles to play the game, his right eye still red from the aftermath of taking an elbow to the face from Bulls center Tristian Thompson during the first quarter of Game 2.

“I couldn’t see at all,” Portis said about Game 2. “When it happened, I just fell down because I got dizzy and I couldn’t see. I just blacked out.”

Portis acknowledged that his eye was still in some pain, but he played through it, knocking down 7 of 14 shots from the field (4 of 8 from 3) for 18 points in 25 minutes.

“He stepped up and he made big plays,” Bulls guard Zach LaVine said. “He did his job and I think we have to adjust if that’s how they’re going to go moving forward.”

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer went with Portis instead of moving Allen into the starting lineup like he had earlier in the season. But no Bucks player has his production fluctuate so drastically whether Middleton plays.

With Middleton in the lineup during the regular season, Allen averaged 9.6 points in 53 games compared to 17.2 points in the 13 games without him.

And although Allen hadn’t made a 3-pointer during the first two games of the series, he went 5 of 7 on Friday, setting a new playoff career-high with 22 points.

“Mentally my mindset was the same,” Allen said. “Maybe I was a little bit quicker to shoot some of those catch and shoot shots I got, but I think it was just being in different spots. Some of those spots Khris is usually in on offense, I was there and I got the ball.”

“The great thing is, even after I hadn’t hit a three in the series yet, Pat had missed a couple, and Giannis and Jrue were still throwing it to us. They still trust in us after that and it gives us that confidence. We know it’ll eventually go-in.”

While Allen and Portis helped contribute offensively, Holiday and Matthews continued to pester the Bulls best scorers in LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

DeRozan could not replicate anything near his 41-point performance in Game 2, limited to only nine shot attempts on Friday, the fewest he has put up in any game this season.

“I wasn’t frustrated at all, I knew they were going to make adjustments,” said DeRozan, who finished 4-of-9 shooting with 11 points. “I got a feel for it throughout the game, but by the time I got a feel for it, they had it rolling offensively. You’ve got to give them credit, now it’s on us to make our adjustments on how we’re going to counter that.”

The Bulls were hosting their first playoff game since 2017 and fans packed into a sold-out United Center brimming with anticipation before tip-off.

However, they never had much to cheer about. Milwaukee bulldozed Chicago’s playoff homecoming, handing the Bulls their worst home playoff loss in franchise history, surpassing a 26-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1992. “They came out and whooped our butt,” DeRozan said. “Now it’s on us. How are we going to respond?”

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After securing a Game 2 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, one would think that the Chicago Bulls came out firing on Friday night to start Game 3.

That notion would be completely and utterly false, as the Bulls came out flat, lethargic and with zero movement on offense to start the game. After huge performances in Game 2 by DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, the Bulls looked lost to begin the first half at home.

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MINNEAPOLIS — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Friday for giving fans the middle finger during a game Wednesday in Cleveland.

Anderson is appealing the ban and remained in the lineup hitting leadoff Friday night at Minnesota.

Anderson had three errors in the first two innings of Chicago’s 11-1 loss Wednesday in the opener of a doubleheader. The frustrated 28-year-old made the gesture toward a fan while out in the field.

It’s the second time MLB has suspended Anderson this season. He served a two-game ban on opening weekend for making contact with umpire Tim Timmons during the ninth inning of a game on Sept. 27. Anderson successfully appealed that suspension down from three games.

Anderson is batting .333 with five RBIs and a home run heading into this week’s series in Minneapolis. He made his first All-Star team in 2021 and finished the season with a .309 average, 17 home runs and 61 RBIs to help lead the White Sox to an AL Central title.

Anderson has five errors this season, all in his last two games. He committed just 10 all of last season.

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CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs outfielder Clint Frazier will be placed on the injured list after undergoing surgery for appendicitis, the team announced on Friday morning.

Frazier, 27, has appeared in 10 games this season after the Cubs signed him as a free agent during the winter. He was the fifth overall pick by the New York Yankees in 2013 but had injury issues related to suffering multiple concussions while playing in New York.

“We’re keeping him in our thoughts,” manager David Ross said.

Frazier has a career .753 OPS in 238 games. He was part of a crowded outfield mix for the Cubs, hitting .143 in 21 at-bats. Now he’s out for an undetermined amount of time.

The team had not yet announced a corresponding roster move, as their Friday game against the Pittsburgh Pirates was moved from afternoon to evening because of weather in Chicago.

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