Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets Game 2 Prediction, Playoff Odds
Kevin Durant’s 32-point performance was enough to overcome some shaky first half shooting by the Brooklyn Nets in their 104-93 Game 1 win over the Boston Celtics on Saturday. Game 2 in the best-of-seven first round series is set to go Tuesday night in Brooklyn.
The Nets are 9.5-point favourites on the NBA odds to win Game 2, with the total at 227.
Celtics vs. Nets NBA Playoff Odds
Boston’s loss drops them to 1-6 straight up in their last seven games against the Nets. The Celtics haven’t covered in their last seven games in Brooklyn. They’re also just 5-10 against the spread in their last 15 games overall. Saturday is the fifth straight game the total has gone Under for Boston.
The Nets continue to roll and are now 6-0 SU over their last six games overall and 16-2 SU over their last 18 home games. Brooklyn has covered in six straight games. The total has gone Under in seven of the Nets’ last 10 games.
Boston Celtics
The absence of Jaylen Brown was clearly felt in this game, as Boston only managed to put up 40 points in the second half. Jayson Tatum started well, scoring 15 points in the first half, but the offence collapsed after the break. Tatum finished the night with 22 points on 6-for-20 shooting. Without Brown in the lineup, Tatum was swarmed by the Brooklyn defence and struggled to make the difficult shots he is normally known for.
One bright spot for the Celtics was Robert Williams III, who was playing his first game in two weeks after dealing with a turf toe injury. He finished just shy of a triple-double, with 11 points, nine rebounds and nine blocks. The nine blocks is a franchise record, but his toe appeared to still be affecting him at times. If Boston is going to avoid going down 0-2, they’ll need Williams and Tatum at their best on Tuesday.
Brooklyn Nets
It looked like it took some time, but the Big-Three, Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, looked like they were starting to click in the second half. It wasn’t surprising to see them struggling to get familiar with each other at first, as it was just the ninth game they’ve played together this season. Along with Durant’s 32 points and 12 rebounds, Irving finished with 29 and Harden added 21. The trio combined for 49 points in the second half.
Durant made history in his first playoff game since losing the NBA championship to the Toronto Raptors in 2019. He passed San Antonio Spurs legend Tony Parker, for ninth on the All-Time NBA postseason scoring list. It was his 39th career playoff double-double and 63rd career playoff 30-point game. It’s clear this team is just starting to scratch the surface, which doesn’t bode well for any team in the East that will face Brooklyn this year.
BOS
BK