Clippers vs Celtics Props – Best Player Prop Bets March 2nd

• The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers matchup on Tuesday, March 2nd
• Jaylen Brown (knee) is questionable for the opener of the TNT doubleheader 
• Which player props represent the best betting value?

The struggling Boston Celtics face the Los Angeles Clippers on March 2nd. Boston is 3.5-point underdogs for Tuesday’s game, with All-Star Jaylen Brown questionable due to a knee issue. Marcus Smart remains sidelined for Brad Stevens, too. The Clips are expected to have Paul George and Kawhi Leonard available for this game as they aim to bounce back from a weekend loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Los Angeles has lost four of their last seven. Boston are sitting at .500 despite winning their last two games.

Clippers vs Celtics Player Props

Odds taken on Mar. 2nd from FanDuel

Kawhi Stays Efficient

The Boston Celtics defense has been poor of late. They own the same defensive rating as the Brooklyn Nets over the last 10 games, leaving them 20th in the league. Kawhi Leonard has gone under the radar this season, but he’s building a campaign of near-MVP level play. The two-time Finals MVP is averaging a shade under 27 points per game on 61.9% true shooting, the best mark of his career.

Boston’s defense has not only dropped off, it also is happy to give up the mid-range shot. They rank 26th in the league in mid-range attempts conceded. This is usually a positive profile to have, but this becomes problematic against Leonard. The former Raptor is deadly from mid-range – Boston ranks 24th in the NBA in opponent shooting percentage on all mid-range attempts, and 25th on opponent shooting percentage at the rim.

Leonard is in the 97th percentile in mid-range attempts. He’s shooting 75% at the rim. Jayson Tatum might seem a good defensive matchup for him on paper, but the Celtics’ scheme is perfect for Leonard to score on. They give up the shots he wants. While he might not have the massive scoring nights like many other superstars, Leonard is as reliable as they come. He’s only scored less than 20 three times this season.

Leonard has gone over 26.5 in seven of his last 10 games. Extend that for the season, and it’s 17 out of 29 games. He went for 28 last time he faced the Celtics, despite going 0-for-5 from three.

This bet really leapt off the page. Even without the long ball falling, Kawhi can easily go past 27 points.

• Pick: Kawhi Leonard over 26.5 points (-108)

Clips to Win, PG goes Big

Paul George has scored 26 or more points in 11 games this season. The Clippers have won nine of those games. It’s perhaps unsurprising that the Clippers win most of the games when their second-best player scores above his season average, but it’s also indicative of how powerful this offense is when George is firing. He’s scored 25 or more in half of his appearances this season.

George is on a cold spell. He’s scored 42 points across his last three games. With the Celtics’ defense struggling, though, and Jaylen Brown questionable, this could be a great opportunity for George to regain some offensive rhythm. He’ll still get plenty of shots (he took 21 against the Bucks), and with Tatum likely taking the Leonard assignment, the Celtics have limited options to guard George.

The recent performances will put many off backing George to score over 25 on Tuesday. That’s understandable, but it’s worth remembering the scoring power he possesses. If the three-ball starts dropping, George can score in bunches, as we saw earlier in the season.

The Clippers are rightly favored to take this one. George’s three-game slump is going to come to an end at some point, and he’d scored 25 or more in five of seven before this poor run. The +300 price makes this a very good bet.

• Pick: Paul George 25+ points, Clippers to win (+300)