After a surprising Game 1 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, the Boston Celtics responded with a resounding Game 2 victory Wednesday night, strengthening their Celtics championship odds while doing so.
Jaylen Brown scored a game-high 25 points to lead five players in double figures in a 121-87 home rout to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1. In doing so, the Celtics handed the Sixers their worst playoff loss in franchise history.
The already-volatile series has sportsbook in Massachusetts trying to figure out where to land.
The series shifts to Philadelphia tonight for Game 3 at the Wells Fargo Center (ESPN, 7:30).
This morning’s line has Boston as 2.5-point favorites (-110) and around -140 moneyline road favorite tonight, with the line shifting a point toward the Celtics. The Sixers are 2.5-point (-110) and +115 moneyline underdog. The total for the game is set at 214.5.
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In Game 2, Malcolm Brogdon added 23 points, Marcus Smart and Derrick White had 15 points apiece and Grant Williams contributed 12 in the win. Star forward Jayson Tatum, who recorded a double-double with 39 points and 11 rebounds in Game 1, was in foul trouble early and only had seven points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes.
On the other side of the ball, newly crowned league MVP Joel Embiid made his return to the court with 15 points, five blocks and three rebounds in 27 minutes of action for the Sixers. Embiid has been dealing with a sprained lateral collateral ligament (LCL) that forced him to sit out in Game 1.
After scoring an astonishing 45 points on Monday, James Harden came crashing back to earth with just 12 points in Wednesday's loss.
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Futures Odds
Boston is now looking to regain homecourt advantage with a win tonight or in Sunday’s Game 4 (ESPN, 3:30). The BetMGM future odds for Boston:
To win the Eastern Conference: -150 (Sixers are at +300).
To win the NBA title: Boston is currently the favorite at +175, with the Denver Nuggets (+375) and the Golden State Warriors (+550) rounding out the top three. Philadelphia (+700) is fifth of the remaining eight teams.
Stay tuned for a very interesting weekend and be sure to stay close to BetMassachusetts.com, your source for Massachusetts sportsbook promos.
