This has been a close series throughout even though only Game 2 was super competitive. The Celtics will aim to stick in this one early in order to ramp up the pressure on the Wizards. Washington, though, seems like it should be a solid favorite based on its performances in Games 3 and 4.
The Cavaliers are waiting in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Wizards hope to keep them in limbo for another couple days by defending their home court in Game 6.
This war on the floor will go down Friday, May 12, 2017, at 8 p.m. ET at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Friday schedule.
NBA Odds
The Celtics were four-point favorites in Game 5 and easily covered that spread in the 123-101 victory. The scoring total was set at 217.5 and the “over” was the correct call as Boston exploded offensively.
Boston improved to 60-33 straight up and 48-44-1 against the spread with the win. The Celtics have gone 27-18-1 against the spread on the road on the season but have failed to cover in either game in D.C. in this series. Boston has gone 11-11-1 against the spread as the underdog on the season.
The Wizards are 55-38 straight up and 47-45-1 against the spread. Washington has covered in 27 of 46 attempts in home games this season and has been really impressive there straight up. The Wizards are 29-23-1 against the spread as the favorite on the year.
Last Time Out
The Celtics scored 67 points in the first half to take a double-digit lead into intermission and never let the Wizards threaten the rest of the way. Avery Bradley had 29 points on 12-of-19 from the field to lead the Celtics, while Al Horford added 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Boston had trouble the last two games without Isaiah Thomas going off, but he was mostly contained by the Wizards in this one and yet the Celtics still rolled. That balance is imperative moving forward.
Boston shot 52.9 percent from the field and a blistering 48.5 percent from three-point range. If they do that again in Game 6, the Wizards will be in trouble. Washington was led by John Wall’s 21 points, but no one on the team really shined.
Key Stat
5. That’s the number of wins, against zero defeats, the Wizards have tallied at home in the playoffs. They knocked off the Hawks in three home games in the first round before notching the pair of wins earlier in this series against Boston.
It’s been a much different story on the road, as the Wizards are just 1-5 in hostile arenas. Washington is going to need to win in Boston to claim this series, but the more immediate worry is again playing well at home.
While the Celtics are the No. 1 seed, the Wizards have looked really good in D.C. against them and will certainly be favored once again in this one. The Celtics played well in Chicago in the first round and one more good performance would net them a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Free NBA ATS Pick
The trend will continue. These teams are close in talent level and the location of the game is key. We will finally get a game that is within single digits with its outcome, but again the home team will emerge victorious with the Wizards forcing a Game 7.
NBA Odds: Wizards 109, Celtics 104
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