Here are The Game Day’s Celtics vs Wizards prediction and bets for the 2021 NBA Playoffs, including our Boston-Washington Play-In Game preview.
Check out our 2021 NBA Championship Winner Odds & Bet Picks.
Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards Prediction: 2021 NBA Play-In Game Bet Tips & Pick
Boston Celtics 2020-2021 Recap
It has been a tough season for Celtics fans. Under the coaching of Brad Stevens, Boston has been a disciplined, consistent team. This season, all of that went out the window. The lineup has been a carousel due to both injuries and COVID-19 protocols. They have battled to tread water, hanging around .500 all season long.
A strong April stretch, where they won eight of nine games, helped vault them to a 31-26 record. However, losing six of their last seven games has brought them right back down to .500. They remain a talented team, but putting all of the talent on the floor together has been a nearly impossible task for Boston.
Washington Wizards 2020-2021 Recap
Washington’s season has gone very differently to Boston’s. They started the year out as cold as anyone, sitting with just two wins in their first 10 games. Things did not improve after a stretch of postponed games, as they dropped further, sitting at 3-12. Most fans and analysts gave the Wizards zero chance at the postseason since they held a 17-32 record in April. However, they finally caught their stride. Russell Westbrook improved his aggressiveness and was playing back-to-backs, while Bradley Beal played like one of the best scorers in the league. Washington then won 11 of their next 12 games, followed up by a decent May. Now, they have a chance at the playoffs, which is all they really can ask for.
Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards Matchup
The Celtics and Wizards have met three times this season, with the home team winning every matchup. This means Boston won the regular-season series, 2-1. They host again for this matchup, but it certainly feels different.
Boston has lost five of their last six games, though they continued to rest players. While basically the entire roster is questionable at the time of writing, they should play. Jaylen Brown, however, has been shut down for the rest of the season. Luckily for the Celtics, they traded for Evan Fournier at the deadline, and he can fill in pretty easily.
The last time these teams met, the Celtics came away with a one-point victory. Beal carried much of the weight for Washington, scoring 46 points. The issue for Boston is that Westbrook has been playing much better. While it’s impossible to silence the Wizards backcourt, limiting them somewhat is how to beat them, with very few other players posing much of a threat.
Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards Prediction
- Boston Celtics 118, Washington Wizards 115
The Celtics have more overall talent, and they are clearly the better-coached team. We have seen Washington get killed in the post all season long, and both Robert Williams and Jayson Tatum will prove to be too much for Washington to overcome.
Boston Celtics vs Washington Wizards Bet Pick
Celtics To Win 2021 NBA Play-In Game (-140)
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On paper, the way to beat Washington is very easy. On the court, slowing down Westbrook and Beal is a tough task. However, they aren’t the most efficient players, and the Celtics will be capable of slowing the game down and winning in the paint on both ends of the floor.
