Boston Celtics Betting Preview: Must Win Scenario?
The Boston Celtics fought admirably in the first game of this playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets. But the Nets were too much for them to handle in the end, as Boston failed to break 100 points and ran out of gas defensively down the stretch. To avoid falling into an 0-2 hole against one of the most talented offensive rosters ever assembled, the Celtics will need to steal Game Two.
If the Celtics are going to steal Game Two, they will need more offensive production from Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker. The two remaining stars from the Celtics shot a combined 11-36 from the field, which is not going to get it done against a team with the Nets’ star power. With Jaylen Brown out and the Celtics in danger of falling behind by two games, both Tatum and Walker will need to score into the 20s or higher here.
Brooklyn Nets Betting Preview: Pulling It Together
The toughest thing for the Brooklyn Nets right now is developing some sort of continuity. James Harden missed significant time down the stretch of the season, while Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both missed time earlier in the year. But the Nets managed to figure things out just well enough to secure a double-digit victory in Game One against the Celtics.
Brooklyn shot an uncharacteristically bad 8-34 from three-point range in the game, and Irving was the only player on the team to shoot better than 50% from the floor. But James Harden made up for a rough shooting night with eight assists, as his ball distribution helped the Nets operate smoothly when they needed to. Brooklyn will now look to regain their shooting touch and could win easily if they find it.
Surprisingly, it was the defense of the Brooklyn Nets that grabbed the headlines after Game One, as they held the Celtics to 93 points on 37% shooting. How well the defense would perform in big games was the question all year for the Nets, and they appear to have passed that test after Game One. Another standout performance on the defensive end of the floor could see them assemble an insurmountable lead in this series.
Boston and Brooklyn Odds and Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook has the Brooklyn Nets as a 9.5-point favorite against the Boston Celtics heading into this matchup.
Free Play of the Night
The Nets did not play well for the majority of the first game of this series. Expect them to shoot the ball better from the floor in Game Two and for them to win convincingly. The Nets -9.5 is the free pick of the night in this game.