The Washington Wizards and the Boston Celtics meet tonight for game 2 of their basketball gambling second round playoff series. Boston withstood an early onslaught by Washington on Sunday and won game 1 123-11 to take a 1-0 lead in the series on the strength of their three-point shooting volume as well as accuracy. The Celtics only scored their first field goal until more than halfway through the first quarter, while the Wizards shot 62% in the selfsame quarter and grabbed the first 12 boards of the game. Ultimately, though, Boston was the turtle in this particular race.
The local team is 0-5 straight-up and against the spread in the last five meetings between Washington and Boston.
Time: 8:05 PM
Venue: TD Garden
Sportsbook NBA online betting odds:
Wizards +5½ (-110) 218 (-110) +185
Celtics -5½ (-110) 218 (-110) -225
Washington
Key players: John Wall entered Sunday fresh off an impressive 42-point performance in game 6 of the Wizards’ first round series against the Hawks, but dropped to his average of 20 points per game versus the Celtics, while Bradley Beal scored 27. Starting power forward Markieff Morris left the game after 11 minutes following a sprained ankle, but intends to play tonight. “It ain’t broke,” Morris said of his ankle. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Recent form: The Wizards have won four of their last seven games overall, but have lost four of the last five on the road and seven of the last nine against Boston.
NBA online betting odds trends: Washington got the wins needed to overcome the Hawks, but covering the spread has been an entirely different matter. The Wizards are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games, 3-7 ATS in the last 10 road games, and 2-6-1 ATS in the last nine versus Boston. The basketball gambling total has gone over in 12 of Washington’s last 18 encounters with the Celtics.
Boston
Key players: Isaiah Thomas had a front tooth knocked out early in the game on Sunday but nonetheless finished with 33 points and nine assists, including five three pointers. Talk about toothless aggression. And he got to collect on that sweet tooth fairy payment. Meanwhile, Al Horford had 21 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. According to Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, 15 Horford points are worth any other guy’s 25.
Recent form: The Celtics have won five in a row after dropping their first two postseason games to the Bulls. Additionally, Boston has won 19 of their last 24 home games – including the Wizards’ five last visits to the Garden.
NBA online betting odds trends: Boston has only covered in three of their last 11 home games but have gone 5-0 against the spread in both their last five games overall and their last five times hosting the Wizards. The basketball gambling total has gone under in four of the Celtics’ last five games, and over in seven of Boston’s last 10 games when playing at home against the Wizards.