Celtics vs. Nets Game 2 Prediction
The Celtics and Nets continue their playoffs series on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET, with Brooklyn laying 9.5 points as a home favorite and the total sitting at 227 points. Will Game 2 turn into a defensive struggle?
Game Snapshot
531 Boston Celtics (+9.5) at 532 Brooklyn Nets (-9.5); o/u 227
7:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn NY
TV: TNT
Boston Celtics DFS Notes
Jayson Tatum shot 6-of-20 from the field and 9-of-11 from the foul line in Saturday’s loss to the Nets, finishing with 22 points, three rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block and one 3-pointer in 41 minutes. Boston is fighting an uphill battle in this series, as they’re taking on Brooklyn’s “big three” without the injured Jaylen Brown. That means even more is asked of Tatum offensively, and he’s going to get more attention from the Nets as well. Tatum made just one shot outside of the paint in Game 1, and he went 0-of-2 from the field in the fourth quarter as Brooklyn pulled away. While Tatum didn’t have his best night, he wasn’t the only starter to struggle in Game 1. Kemba Walker (15/1/2 with three 3-pointers) shot 5-of-16 from the field, while Marcus Smart (17/3/5 with three 3-pointers) was 6-of-13 and Evan Fournier (10/6/2/2 with two 3-pointers) 3-of-10. Boston will need more from all four if they’re to have a shot in Tuesday’s Game 2.
Brooklyn Nets DFS Notes
Kevin Durant played 39 minutes in Saturday’s Game 1 win over the Celtics, compiling a stat line of 32 points (10-of-25 FGs, 11-of-12 FTs), 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and one 3-pointer. Durant is certainly capable of shooting the ball better than he did in his first playoff game as a Net, as he was also just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. And that has to concern the Celtics, who went cold in the second half and ultimately lost by 11 points. Brooklyn’s “big three” combined to score 82 of the team’s 104 points, with Kyrie Irving (29/6/1/0/1 with two 3-pointers) and James Harden (21/9/8/4/1 with two 3-pointers) also surpassing the 20-point mark. And Durant, Irving and Harden combined to shoot 5-of-24 from three. They aren’t going to do that on a consistent basis. And if Boston can’t find a way to keep that trio under wraps, this is going to be a short series.
Celtics vs. Nets Playoffs Prediction
The under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings between these two teams in Brooklyn and is 4-0 in the last four meetings overall. The under is also 4-0 in the Celtics’ last four games overall, is 4-0 in their last four games as an underdog and is 5-0 in their last five road games. On the other side, the under is 7-3 in the Nets’ last 10 games overall, is 5-2 in their last seven conference quarterfinals games and is 4-0 in their last four games versus an opponent with a losing record.
NBA PLAYOFFS GAME 2 PREDICTION: CELTICS/NETS UNDER 227