The NBA Playoffs continue this this Friday, the 5th of May as the Celtics-Wizards series heads to Washington after the Celtics secured a commanding 2-0 series lead on Wednesday. We preview the big game three as well as game two of the Golden State-Utah series below.
Boston Celtics at Washington Wizards (10am AEST)
Once again, the Wizards took a commanding lead and once again the Celtics were able to pull them back in to ultimately win game two to take a massive 2-0 lead to Washington. After being up 13 at quarter time, the Celtics outscored the Wizards by 10 in the 2nd quarter, then the game was played in runs all the way till the final buzzer, at which time the scores were tied at 114.
Isaiah Thomas had yet another monster fourth quarter, scoring 20 points to bring his team back into the game on multiple occasions, before scoring 9 of the Celtics 15 overtime points to lead them to victory. As much as it is Isaiah Thomas’s offence that has been telling in the Celtics 2-0 lead, it’s also been the extraordinary defence of Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley playing on John Wall and Bradley Beal.
While Wall still went off for 40 points in game 2, his back court running mate Bradley Beal struggled for most of the game trying to deal with Avery Bradley. Shutting one of those two down would have been the major key for the Celtics, and doing so is the reason they have a 2-0 lead. Marfieff Morris had to have arguably one of his better games for the Wizards to stay in it, something which you can’t count on him for. We like the Celtics as a value play to snatch a 3-0 lead.
TIP: Boston Celtics +5.5 - $1.95 at Sportsbet
Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors (12.30pm AEST)
The Jazz will be looking for ideas on how to stop the offensive (and defensive) juggernaut that is the Golden State Warriors after a 12-point loss in game one on Wednesday. The margin was definitely not indicative of the domination that Golden State displayed throughout the game, with stand in coach Mike Brown opting to put in the bench late in the game with a big lead.
All of the big four in Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green scored over 15 points in a well-rounded opening game for the Warriors while the Jazz simply couldn’t get their offence going against the Warriors defence, with Rudy Gobert top scoring with just 13 points.
Very hard to find a scenario in which Utah can steal a game here, especially at Golden State. With Kevin Durant back in the line-up they just have way to many avenues to the basket and as good as However, 13.5 points is a bit much for our liking, especially with a defence as good as Utah’s.
TIP: Utah Jazz +13.5 - $1.95 at William Hill
