Washington in Must Win Situation for Game 3 Against Boston
The Boston Celtics visit the Washington Wizards Thursday night at the Verizon Center in the nation’s capital for Game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference best of seven semifinals series.
The current line has Washington favored by 5.5 points with the over/under point total on 218.5. Boston leads the series 2-0.
Boston’s Isaiah Thomas has preserved through tragedy in his person life and has put his team on his shoulders. He has dedicated this offseason to his sister, who died in an auto accident just prior to the opening series of the postseason.
Thomas scored 53 points on Tuesday, with 29 coming in the final quarter and overtime on a day that would have been his sister Chyna’s 23rd birthday. Boston won Game 2 over Washington 129-119.
Washington’s point guard John Wall scored 40 points while handing out 13 assists in the Game 2 loss.
Thomas lost a tooth during Game 1 and then had to have dental surgery prior to Tuesday’s Game 2 to have it fixed prior to the start of the game. Thomas has had a great deal of help in this series from Al Horford, Boston’s center.
Horford has hit 16 of his 22 shots during the series ending up with a pair of double-doubles in the first two games, and only one rebound short of a triple-double in Game 1.
Washington had problems with Thomas when the Boston guard drove into the paint. Center Marcin Gortat and forward Markieff Morris did not defend well in those situations. Morris scored 14 points for Washington in Game 2, but fouled out after playing only 27 minutes.
Washington guard Bradley Beal made just 1 of his 9 shots from 3-point territory during Game 2.
Boston guard Avery Bradley has made just 13 of his 36 shots during the first two games.
Boston backup guard Terry Rozier has a plus-38 plus-minus rating during the 40 minutes he has played between Games 1 and 2.
Boston is 6-0 ATS in its past 6 games played.
Washington is 1-5 ATS in its past 6 games played.
Prediction: Boston is on a roll, but Washington is tough at home. The lean straight up is toward the Wizards, while Boston will keep it close and cover the number.
