NBA Playoff Betting Preview: Thursday Games

Down 0-2 in their second-round series versus the Boston Celtics, the Washington Wizards will be desperate for a win Thursday night when they head home for Game 3.

Boston took a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday night with a 129-119 win in overtime as a 5-point favorite. Isaiah Thomas willed the Celtics to the victory with a game-high 53 points, while Al Horford chipped in with 15 points and 12 rebounds. John Wall had a strong game for Washington in the loss, with 40 points and 13 assists.

With the Game 2 win Boston has won their last three games against Washington both straight up and against the spread. In their last 10 versus the Wizards, the Celtics sport an 8-2 record SU and a healthy 7-2-1 mark ATS.

The win was also Boston’s sixth in a row SU and ATS. Heading on the road for Game 3 shouldn’t bother the Celtics much, as they have won their last four road games both SU and ATS.

The Wizards have a been a money-loser for bettors so far in the playoffs with a 1-5 ATS mark in their last six games. However, don’t discount them at home. Washington has won three straight at home, at 2-1 ATS, and they’re 7-1 SU and 4-4 ATS in their last eight home games. The Wizards are 5-point favorites for Thursday night at the Bovada Sportsbook.

Also on tap Thursday night is Game 2 between the Utah Jazz and Golden State Warriors, with the Warriors the 12.5-point favorites at the Bovada Sportsbook.

The Warriors rolled to a 106-94 win in Game 1, but failed to cover the 13-point spread. Stephen Curry led Golden State with 22 points and Kevin Durant and Draymond Green each added 17 points. Rudy Gobert was a surprising leading scorer for Utah with only 13 points.

Golden State has won six straight at 4-2 ATS and they’re a near-perfect 20-1 SU and 14-5-2 ATS in their last 21 games. At home the Warriors have won their last four and 13 of their last 14 while posting a 7-5-2 record ATS.

Utah has been a solid pick for bettors on the road lately, having won six straight ATS. Utah is also 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 overall and when listed as the underdog they’re 6-1 ATS in their last seven.

For totals bettors the trends are pointing toward the UNDER in Game 2. The last five matchups between the Warriors and Jazz have all gone UNDER, and the UNDER is 6-0-1 in the last seven.