Wizards vs. Celtics Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
The second Eastern Conference play-in tournament game of the 2021 postseason on Tuesday features the seventh-seeded Boston Celtics hosting the No. 8 Washington Wizards. Boston opened as a 1.5-point favourite on the NBA odds with a total of 233.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The winner of this game will be the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and face the star-studded and second-seeded Brooklyn Nets in the first round. The Nets are NBA championship favourites and almost certainly would end either Boston’s or Washington’s season fairly quickly.
The loser of this game will host the winner of Tuesday’s Charlotte at Indiana matchup for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs and the right to play the No. 1 Philadelphia 76ers. To win the East, Boston is +2500 and Washington +4000.
Boston won the regular-season series 2-1, but it’s hard to take too much from that considering the teams last played on Feb. 28. Washington was well under .500 then and they are much better now. The Celtics, meanwhile, have since lost their second-best player, second-leading scorer and All-Star Jaylen Brown to a season-ending injury. That essentially killed any chance Boston had of making noise in the playoffs.
Washington is 3-12-1 against the spread in their past 16 games in Boston. The under is 5-0 in the past five meetings overall.
Washington Wizards
Washington has arguably the NBA’s best backcourt in All-Stars Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook – just not all that much else. Beal finished second in the NBA in scoring at 31.3 points per game. Westbrook somehow averaged a triple-double again this season (22.2 ppg, 11.7 apg, 11.5 rpg) and easily won the NBA’s assist crown. He also passed Oscar Robertson for the most career triple-doubles. Coach Scott Brooks was considered on a very hot seat earlier this year, but the Wizards have gone 15-5 since mid-April. Beal missed a few games in the final week with a strained hamstring but was back for Sunday’s 115-110 finale victory over Charlotte and had 25 points. Westbrook had 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 184th career triple-double — three more than Robertson’s previous NBA record — and 38th this season, by far the most in the league. The Wizards are 8-1-1 ATS in their past 10 road games and finished 15-21 away.
Boston Celtics
No question that Boston (36-36) was one of the East’s biggest disappointments this season as the Celtics were supposed to be title contenders after reaching the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals. Injuries were definitely an issue this year, but the team’s defence took a major step back. Jayson Tatum had a great season in averaging 26.4 points, but Kemba Walker (19.3 ppg) looked old at times. The Celtics also are lacking in frontcourt size. Tatum, Walker, Evan Fournier and Tristan Thompson (Brampton native) all missed the regular-season finale against the Knicks with mild injury issues but should play here. Ditto guard Marcus Smart, who missed the final two games. Robert Williams sat the last four games of the regular season dealing with a case of turf toe, and he may not go Tuesday. The Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their past four home games. They were 21-15 at home this year.
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