The Celtics host Boston in Game 3 on Saturday night while the Suns are home to the Lakers in Sunday basketball betting. Let’s take a look at both of the matchups in Boston and Phoenix. Basketball playoffs betting normally favors the home team in the playoffs and that will be the case in these two games although the numbers will be small. The Lakers and Magic were the favorites before these series began so they will get respect in basketball betting, even on the road. Let’s take a look at how the games may go now that the home court has shifted.The Eastern and Western Conference Finals in basketball playoffs betting shift to Boston and Phoenix for games 3 and 4 this weekend.
Celtics and Orlando have split their last ten meeting in Boston. This season the Magic won both of the games at Boston. They won 83-78 back in late November and then won 96-89 in early February. Both of those games went under the total. In fact, the last four meetings and six of the last seven between the two teams in Boston have gone under. With both teams having excellent defenses, that could happen again on Saturday night.
The Suns have won six of the last ten at home against the Lakers but they are just 3-7 against the spread. The teams split their two meetings in Phoenix this season. The Suns won 118-103 in late December while the Lakers won 102-96 in mid-March. That game went under the total while the game in December just barely went over. Three of the last four at Phoenix between the two teams have gone under the total. That is somewhat surprising since the Suns don’t play much defense. What has happened though is that the odds makers adjusted and made the totals on Phoenix games quite high. After what happened in Game 1 of this series it could be that the totals get near 220 before this series is over.
When the site changes for an NBA playoff series the pace and the outcome of the games can also change. When it gets down the final four teams in the playoffs it is less likely that a sweep will occur so the games are normally tight and competitive. That should make Saturday and Sunday’s games in Boston and Phoenix worth watching and wagering on.