NBA Predictions Today: Tuesday’s Playoff Games and One Surprising Futures Pick

Monday gave us three pivotal NBA playoff games, and fans can expect the same thing on Tuesday. There are two teams facing elimination, as well as a critical Game 5 in a series nobody can seem to figure out.

Looking at Kalshi’s prediction market, we have picks for all three of Tuesday’s games, as well as a long-term prediction to consider.

Best NBA Predictions for Tuesday, April 28

Values courtesy of Kalshi. If you’re new to prediction markets, sign up today using the Kalshi promo code WSN and claim a $10 bonus after trading your first 100 contracts. Find more info in our detailed Kalshi review.

Tyrese Maxey 25+ Points vs Celtics in Game 5 (Yes, 52 Cents)

Maxey has scored at least 25 points in three of his five playoff games, including Philadelphia’s play-in tournament win over the Magic. In Game 4, he was held to 22 points, although he only took 14 shots, as Joel Embiid’s return took the ball out of his hands. However, the injury-plagued Embiid isn’t necessarily going to replicate his 26-point performance in Game 5.

Now that the 76ers are facing elimination, Maxey is more likely to force the issue and be aggressive. He’s not going to give up the ball, giving him more shots and more opportunities to score. Plus, he scored at least 25 points in three of four regular-season games against the Celtics, who struggled to deal with him all season, which is why we feel comfortable with Maxey getting at least 25 points in Game 5.

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Knicks vs. Hawks Over 214.5 Points in Game 5 (Yes, 50 Cents)

The games in this series have been impossible to figure out. That makes us want to stay away from the spread and focus on the over/under. Granted, three of the four games in this series have stayed under the point total. But 214.5 points is tied for the lowest over/under total, and in a game that both teams are desperate to win, we’ll lean toward a high-scoring affair.

Keep in mind, this series has averaged 214.3 total points per game. Game 4 was the only time in four games that both teams didn’t hit triple digits. In other words, there just isn’t much margin for error by taking the under, so we’ll lean toward the Knicks and Hawks getting to at least 215 total points.

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Spurs Beat Trail Blazers by Over 12.5 Points in Game 5 (Yes, 50 Cents)

San Antonio’s three wins in this series have all come by at least 12 points. If they hadn’t lost Victor Wembanyama to a concussion in Game 2, the Spurs probably wouldn’t have lost that game. More importantly, they were utterly dominant in the second half of Game 4, outscoring the Trail Blazers 73-35 after halftime.

On the heels of that performance, Portland has to be completely demoralized, making the Blazers vulnerable to another lopsided loss in Game 5. Upon coming home, the Spurs will look to be at their best and close out the series on Tuesday. If they play anywhere close to their best, it’s hard to envision Portland keeping this game close.

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Pistons Win Series Over Magic (Yes, 31 Cents)

Based on their performance during the postseason, there aren’t a lot of reasons to bet on the Pistons right now. But the value is too much to ignore. This is still the top seed that won 60 games during the regular season. It’s not out of the question that they can win three in a row and take the series.

Assuming the Pistons can push this series to seven games, they’ll get two of the three remaining games at home. Defensively, they’ve had a good series, playing well enough on that end to give themselves a chance to come back from a 3-1 deficit. It’s just a matter of getting it going offensively, so if you believe that can happen, it’s worth taking a flier on Detroit coming back to win the series.

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