76ers vs. Celtics Betting Odds – Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs
Carrie Stroup with your NBA Playoffs betting odds for Game 2 of the 76ers vs. Celtics game. All the latest lines can be found here at Sportsbook.
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Boston -4.5 & 173.5
Opening Line & Total: Celtics -4.5 & 174
The Celtics eked out a one-point victory over the 76ers in an extremely even Game 1, but hope to get some more separation in Game 2 on Monday night.
Both teams shot an identical 36-for-82 FG (43.9%), the rebounds were 36-33 in favor of the Celtics, Philly had two fewer turnovers (11 to 13) and one more block (8 to 7) in the 92-91 Boston win on Saturday. The game turned at the start of the fourth quarter when the C’s opened with a 23-7 run. With the SU win and ATS loss, Boston is now 28-9 SU (19-18 ATS) at home this season, and despite being a veteran club, is an impressive 27-14 (25-16 ATS, 61%) with just one day of rest, holding these opponents to 89.3 PPG. Also, road underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points are a paltry 33-62 ATS (34.7%) over the past five seasons when coming off two straight losses against an opponent, the most recent one of which was a cover where the team lost the game straight up as an underdog. The 76ers don’t usually win games they aren’t supposed to (7-17 SU, 10-14 ATS as an underdog this season), and they won’t win Monday either.
With its ATS victory on Saturday, Philadelphia is now 17-20 (19-18 ATS) on the road, and is also a solid 24-18 (22-20 ATS) with one day of rest this season. The 76ers are also decent after an SU loss, going 19-14 (17-16 ATS) in this scenario, allowing a mere 87.1 PPG. SF Andre Iguodala’s strong showing (19 points, six rebounds, six assists) led the 76ers in Game 1, but the PG duo of Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams shot a combined 7-of-24 FG with four assists and four turnovers. SG Evan Turner was the one guard who played extremely well, finishing with 16 points (7-of-13 FG), 10 rebounds, four steals and three assists. C Spencer Hawes (15 points, eight rebounds) and reserve PF Lavoy Allen (12 points, six rebounds) were the other double-digit scorers for Philly. Allen played more minutes (20) than starting PF Elton Brand, who posted underwhelming numbers of four points and one rebound in his 15 minutes of action before suffering a left cervical neck spasm. He and SF Thaddeus Young (right ankle sprain) are both expected to play on Monday night though.
The Celtics made just 2-of-18 threes in Game 1, but were nearly perfect from the foul line (18-of-19) to help erase the 10-point deficit with 11 minutes remaining. Although Boston had the two best players on the court Saturday in PG Rajon Rondo (13 points, 12 rebounds, 17 assists, four steals) and PF Kevin Garnett (29 points, 11 rebounds), the rest of its team did not shoot particularly well, most notably SF Paul Pierce (3-of-11 FG). However, Pierce still contributed six rebounds, six assists and two blocks. PF Brandon Bass posted a game-worst rating of -13, scoring 10 points (4-of-9 FG) with four rebounds in 24 minutes. SG Ray Allen had the game’s best rating (+17), scoring 12 points (4-of-10 FG) in 33 minutes off the bench. SG Avery Bradley chipped in with eight points (4-of-11 FG), but had just one assist and two turnovers.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
