NBA Playoffs Prediction: Will the Wizards cover vs. the Celitcs? 5/2/17
The Boston Celtics hope to establish a 2-0 lead in their NBA Playoffs series with the Washington Wizards when the two meet up tonight at 8PM ET.
GAME 2 ODDS
According to oddsmakers, Boston is favored in Game 2 this NBA Playoffs series, as the Celtics are getting odds of -5.5 points against the Wizards. The over/under total for the game is listed at 218.5 points.
RECORDS
These two met four times this season, with the Spurs winning three of the four meetings. These two both went 2-2 against the spread in the four games. The Celtics took the series opener on Sunday, 123-111 to take a 1-0 lead. The home team has now won and covered the spread in all five meetings between these two this season. Boston is now 58-31 overall, 32-13 at home and 45-42-2 against the spread. Washington is 53-36 overall, 20-25 on the road and 45-43-1 against the spread.
GAME 1 RECAP
Washington jumped out early on the Celtics in Game 1, but Boston rallied back and eventually took the lead for good behind a 36-16 third quarter. The Celtics went 46-of-90 shooting from the field and 19-of-39 from 3-point land.
Isaiah Thomas had another big game, scoring 33 points with nine assists. Al Horford added 21 points with nine rebounds and 10 assists. John Wall had 20 points and 16 assists for the Wizards, but he also had eight turnovers. Martin Gortat added 16 points and 13 rebounds.
NBA PLAYOFFS PREDICTION
Washington had a tough turnaround from playing in Game 6 on Friday to playing on the road in Game 1 in Boston on Sunday. It showed with their legs giving out in the second half of Game 1. I think the Wizards will be able to regroup tonight. Wall isn’t someone that will stand for an 8-turnover performance.
I also see Washington improving their defense on the arc. I don’t see Boston hitting nearly 20 3-pointers game in this one. That should allow Washington to keep things close.
NBA Playoffs Prediction: Washington Wizards +5.5
