2017 NBA Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals Game #5
#4 Washington Wizards at #1 Boston Celtics
Best of Seven Series Tied 2-2
Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
TD Garden – Boston, Massachusetts
Opening Line: Boston -4
Current Line: Boston -4 1/2
Opening Total: 216
Current Total: 216 1/2
Opening Money Line: Celtics -175 / Wizards +155
Current Money Line: Celtics -185 / Wizards +160
The home team has won every game in the series between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards all by double digits. The two teams play game five Wednesday night in Boston. The winner of the series will get the well-rested Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals who swept the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
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 47-44-1 ATS and the total is 58-34 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 46-44-2 ATS and the total is 45-43-4 this season.
The Celtics won game one 123-111 and game two 129-119 in overtime, both in Boston. The Wizards got back in the series with a 116-89 win in game three and a 121-102 win in game four Sunday, both in Washington. Washington was a five point favorite in game four and the total was 214.
In game four, Boston outscored Washington 24-20 in the first, but the teams would be tied at 48 at halftime. The Celtics took a 53-52 lead early in the third, but the Wizards then went on a 26-0 run and would never be threatened again. The Wizards would cruise to a 19 point victory.
The Celtics shot 35/79 from the field including 14/31 from three point range. Boston made 18/24 free throws. The Celtics had 39 rebounds, 28 assists, 20 turnovers, 13 steals, and six blocks. Boston had 12 fast break points and 38 points in the paint. Washington shot 44/84 from the field including 9/21 from three point range. The Wizards made 24/27 free throws. Washington had 54 rebounds, 29 assists, 20 turnovers, 13 steals and 3 blocks, The Wizards had 25 fast break points and 56 points in the paint.
Bradley Beal had 29 points and 4 rebounds for the Wizards. John Wall had 27 points, 12 assists, 5 steals and 3 rebounds. Otto Porter, Jr. had 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals. Markieff Morris had 16 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals. Bojan Bogdanovic had 13 points off the bench. Isaiah Thomas had 19 points, 5 assists and 2 steals for the Celtics. Terry Rozier had 16 points and 7 rebounds. Kelly Olynyk had 14 points. Al Horford had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.
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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. He is probable with an elbow injury. 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. He is probable with a hip injury. 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 8-1 ATS on two days rest, 1-4 after allowing 100 points or more, in road games, and against teams with winning home records. The over is 5-2 in this series recently and 8-3 in Boston between these teams.
Boston is 5-1 ATS after scoring 100 points, 6-2 overall, in Wednesday games, after a double digit loss, and against Eastern Conference teams, and 7-19 on two days rest. The home team is 8-0 ATS and the favorite is 5-0 ATS in this series recently. The Celtics have covered the last seven games at home against the Wizards.
These teams have played 8 times this season, and the home team has won every game. I think that trend continues, but this series is due for a close game. I like the Celtics to win another high scoring game.
