2017 NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals Game #2
#4 Washington Wizards at #1 Boston Celtics
Celtics lead Best of Seven Series 1-0
Tuesday, May 2, 2017, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
Opening Line: Boston -5
Current Line: Boston -5 1/2
Opening Total: 219
Current Total: 218
Opening Money Line: Celtics -220 / Wizards +180
Current Money Line: Celtics -225 / Wizards +185
The Boston Celtics have won five straight playoff games since going down 0-2 to the Chicago Bulls in the first round. The Celtics are the #1 seed in the East and beat the #4 Washington Wizards 123-111 in game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals Sunday. Game two is Tuesday night in Boston.
Washington is coached by Scott Brooks. The Wizards won the Southeast Division with a 49-33 record and are the #4 seed in the East. Washington beat the #5 seed Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round. The Wizards are 45-43-1 ATS and the total is 56-33 this season.
Boston is coached by Brad Stevens. The Celtics won the Atlantic Division with a 53-29 record and are the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite losing the first two games at home, Boston beat the #8 seed Chicago Bulls in six games in the first round. The Celtics are 45-42-2 ATS and the total is 43-42-4 this season.
Boston was a four point favorite in game one Sunday and the total was 216.5. The Wizards jumped out to a 16-0 lead early. Washington led 38-24 at the end of the first, but Boston cut the lead to 64-59 at halftime. The Celtics dominated the third quarter 36-16 to take a 15 point lead into the fourth. Washington cut the lead to 101-98 with just over 6 minutes to go. They would get no closer though. John Wall scored for the Wizards with 1:14 left to make it 123-111 but neither team would score again.
Washington shot 44/87 from the field including 10/23 from three point range. The Wizards made 13/22 free throws. Washington had 55 rebounds, 27 assists, 13 turnovers, 6 steals and 7 blocks. The Wizards had 9 fast break points and 54 points in the paint. Boston shot 46/90 from the field including 19/39 from three point range. The Celtics made 12/15 free throws. Boston had 44 rebounds, 32 assists, 11 turnovers, 8 steals and 7 blocks. The Celtics had 13 fast break points and 38 points in the paint.
Isaiah Thomas had 33 points and 9 assists for the Celtics. He had a tooth knocked out in game one but is probable for game two. Jae Crowder had 24 points and 6 rebounds. Al Horford had 21 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds. Avery Bradley had 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Kelly Olynyk had 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Bradley Beal had 27 points and 4 assists. John Wall had 20 points, 16 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. Marcin Gortat had 16 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Otto Porter, Jr. had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals.
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Washington is outscoring teams 109-107 this season. The Wizards are #5 in scoring but #21 in points allowed in the NBA. Washington is shooting 47.5% from the field and 37.2% from 3 point range. The Wizards are in the top ten in both categories. Washington makes 78.4% from the free throw line. Opponents are shooting 46.6% from the field and 36.4% from 3 point range. Washington is #20 or worse in both categories. The Wizards average 42.8 rebounds per game and opponents average 43 per game. The Wizards average 23.9 assists, 13.5 turnovers, 8.5 steals and 4.1 blocks per game.
John Wall averages 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists and 2 blocks per game. Bradley Beal averages 23.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Markieff Morris averages 14 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He is probable with a sprained ankle suffered in game one. Otto Porter, Jr. averages 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 12.7 points and 3.1 assists per game. Marcin Gortat averages 10.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Marcus Thornton, Kelly Oubre, Jr., Jason Smith, Ian Mahinmi. Trey Burke and Brandon Jennings will also get time in the rotation. Mahinmi is out indefinitely with a calf injury.
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Boston is outscoring teams 108-105 this season. The Celtics are #7 in scoring. Boston is shooting 45.4% from the field and 35.9% from 3 point range. Boston make 80.7% of their free throws and are #3 in that category. Opponents are shooting 45% from the field and 33.2% from 3 point range. The Celtics are #2 in 3 point defense and #9 in field goal defense. Boston averages 42 rebounds per game and opponents average 44.5 per game. The Celtics are #25 or worse in both categories. Boston averages 24.4 assists, 13.2 turnovers, 8.2 steals and 3.5 blocks per game.
Isaiah Thomas averages 28.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. The MVP candidate is still grieving after the loss of his sister in a car accident the day before the Bulls series started. Avery Bradley averages 16.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Al Horford averages 14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. Jae Crowder averages 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Marcus Smart averages 10.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Kelly Olynyk averages 9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Jaylen Brown, Amir Johnson, Gerald Green, Terry Rozier, Jonas Jerebko, and Tyler Zeller will also get minutes in the rotation.
Washington is 5-1 ATS in Tuesday games, 5-2 after a double digit loss, 3-7 in road games, 4-10 after failing to cover, 3-9 after a straight up loss, 6-19-1 on day rest, 1-4 against teams with winning records, overall, against Eastern Conference teams, and against Atlantic Division teams. The over is 7-3 in Boston in this series recently.
Boston is 5-0 ATS overall and against Eastern Conference teams, 4-0 after a win, after a cover, and after scoring 100 points or more, 4-1 on one day rest, 3-7 against teams with losing road records, 4-10 in Tuesday games and 3-8 at home. The favorite is 8-2 ATS and the home team is 5-0 ATS in this series recently. The Celtics are 7-2 ATS against the Wizards including 6-0 in Boston.
When the Celtics were down 2-0 to the Bulls, many were saying they were the worst ever #1 seed in playoff history. Well, they have disproved that notion with five straight wins. Isaiah Thomas has been incredible with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I think The Celtics take a 2-0 lead with a close win at home.
