Atlanta Hawks vs. Boston Celtics Game 5 Prediction, NBA Odds
The C’s are priced as 12-point favourites on the NBA odds.
Hawks vs. Celtics NBA Playoff Betting Odds
With Boston winning 129-121 in Game 4 on Sunday for a 3-1 series lead, the Celtics are -10000 on the updated series line with the Hawks +1264. That it finishes in five games is -667, followed by six at +666 and seven at +923. The favoured exact result is Celtics in five at -625. Atlanta rallying to win the series in seven is +1264.
It’s perhaps especially important for Boston to end this series as soon as possible because the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers await in the conference semifinals. Sixers star and sure-fire NBA MVP Joel Embiid missed the final game of the first round vs. Brooklyn due to injury and the sooner the conference semifinals start, the less likely he is to be ready for Game 1. Philly probably can’t beat Boston in a seven-game series regardless but definitely can’t without Embiid.
Atlanta is 0-6 against the spread in its past six in Boston.
Atlanta Hawks
Game 4 was a good summary of Atlanta’s season: Good on offence in scoring 121 points but terrible on defence in allowing 129 in the loss. Trae Young had his best game of the series with 35 points and 15 assists but was 11-for-26 from the field. Not out of the question that this will be Young’s final game with the franchise as some believe the team is better off trading him and moving forward. Dejounte Murray has been great this series and had 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists in Game 3 but appeared to make contact with referee Gediminas Petraitis intentionally as Murray was walking off the floor at the end. That might lead to a suspension. In October, Celtics forward Grant Williams was suspended for a game for making contact with a game official. The Hawks are 1-5 ATS in their past six games.
Boston Celtics
Boston’s 129 points scored in Game 4 were a series high. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both had 31 points. Brown has been wearing a black shield on his face since mid-February but took it off during Game 3 after a 1-for-7 start and then couldn’t miss. The Celtics are now 22-1 when Tatum and Brown both score 30 points, including the playoffs. That .957 win per centage is the best among duos all-time, minimum 20 games. Guard Marcus Smart was in question, but the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year did go and had 19 points, four assists and four rebounds. Robert Williams added 13 points and 15 rebounds off the bench. Boston outscored Atlanta 56-44 in the paint and 18-8 in fast-break points. The Celtics are 7-1 ATS in their past eight.
ATL
BOS