Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (-4, 173.5)
THE STORY: The Boston Celtics escaped in the opener and are looking to take a 2-0 lead when they host the Philadelphia 76ers in Monday’s Eastern Conference second-round series. Boston trailed most of Game 1 and had to overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to record a 92-91 victory. The 76ers would like to tie the series before it shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 after winning both home games against Boston in the regular season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE 76ERS: Philadelphia led most of Game 1 before being outplayed over the last 11 minutes. The fourth quarter meltdown included costly turnovers and poor shot selection and the outcome qualifies as a major missed opportunity for the underdog 76ers. Coach Doug Collins promised there won’t be a carryover effect. “If you’ve watched us all season, we’re not going to drop our heads,” Collins said. “We live to come back and fight just as hard in Game 2, at least as long as I’m the coach.” Andre Iguodala had a team-best 19 points but stellar Sixth Man Lou Williams struggled with just nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: Forward Kevin Garnett had 29 points and 11 rebounds in Game 1 to follow up a superb effort (28 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots) in the decisive contest in the Atlanta series. Garnett twice scored 20 points in three regular-season matchups against Philadelphia. Forward Paul Pierce struggled with just 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting as he continues to battle through a knee injury. “It really doesn’t bother me when I walk around or I jump straight up,” Pierce said. “It’s more if I turn the knee in a certain position – it sort of re-aggravates it.”
TRENDS:
- 76ers are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
- Celtics are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in 76ers' last five overall.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo notched his eighth career triple-double in the opener with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists.
2. Philadelphia center Spencer Hawes is averaging 15.4 points and 9.8 rebounds over the last five postseason games.
3. Boston made just two of 18 3-point shots in the opener with guard Ray Allen (2 of 7) the only player to connect from behind the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-7.5, 191.5)
SERIES ODDS: Lakers +379, Thunder -442
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder have already engaged in off-court drama as they prepare for the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series Monday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The teams took vastly different paths to reach the second round, with the Lakers outlasting the plucky Denver Nuggets in seven games and the Thunder enjoying plenty of rest after ousting the defending-champion Dallas Mavericks in four straight.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Leave it to the guy named World Peace to lob the first grenade in what should be a tension-filled series. Metta World Peace says he doesn't plan to shake hands with Thunder guard James Harden, who was felled by a vicious World Peace elbow in their previous regular-season encounter. The incident led to a lengthy suspension for World Peace, who was only eligible to return for Game 7 against the Nuggets. "I don't shake substitutes' hands," he said following the Lakers' series-clinching victory, while also suggesting that Harden may have embellished the contact.
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City may have been young and wide-eyed in last year's postseason, but the team looks to be all business this time around. Led by three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and sensational point guard Russell Westbrook, the Thunder rolled past the Mavericks in a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals. It was the first series sweep for the franchise since 1996, when the Seattle Supersonics easily handled the defending-champion Houston Rockets. Monday's opener will mark eight days since Oklahoma City last took the court.
TRENDS:
- Lakers are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings in Oklahoma City.
- The over is 5-0 in Thunder last five games as a favorite.
- The Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last five playoff games as a favorite.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Thunder C Kendrick Perkins (hip) participated in a pre-practice shooting session Saturday but remains a game-time decision for the opener.
2. Oklahoma City won two of three regular-season meetings. The Lakers won their most recent encounter, escaping with a 114-106 overtime win April 22.
3. Durant averages 25.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 17 career games against the Lakers.
THE STORY: The Boston Celtics escaped in the opener and are looking to take a 2-0 lead when they host the Philadelphia 76ers in Monday’s Eastern Conference second-round series. Boston trailed most of Game 1 and had to overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to record a 92-91 victory. The 76ers would like to tie the series before it shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 after winning both home games against Boston in the regular season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE 76ERS: Philadelphia led most of Game 1 before being outplayed over the last 11 minutes. The fourth quarter meltdown included costly turnovers and poor shot selection and the outcome qualifies as a major missed opportunity for the underdog 76ers. Coach Doug Collins promised there won’t be a carryover effect. “If you’ve watched us all season, we’re not going to drop our heads,” Collins said. “We live to come back and fight just as hard in Game 2, at least as long as I’m the coach.” Andre Iguodala had a team-best 19 points but stellar Sixth Man Lou Williams struggled with just nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: Forward Kevin Garnett had 29 points and 11 rebounds in Game 1 to follow up a superb effort (28 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots) in the decisive contest in the Atlanta series. Garnett twice scored 20 points in three regular-season matchups against Philadelphia. Forward Paul Pierce struggled with just 14 points on 3-of-11 shooting as he continues to battle through a knee injury. “It really doesn’t bother me when I walk around or I jump straight up,” Pierce said. “It’s more if I turn the knee in a certain position – it sort of re-aggravates it.”
TRENDS:
- 76ers are 6-2 ATS in the last eight meetings.
- Celtics are 11-5-1 ATS in their last 17 home games.
- Under is 4-1 in 76ers' last five overall.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo notched his eighth career triple-double in the opener with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 17 assists.
2. Philadelphia center Spencer Hawes is averaging 15.4 points and 9.8 rebounds over the last five postseason games.
3. Boston made just two of 18 3-point shots in the opener with guard Ray Allen (2 of 7) the only player to connect from behind the arc.
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-7.5, 191.5)
SERIES ODDS: Lakers +379, Thunder -442
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder have already engaged in off-court drama as they prepare for the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series Monday night at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The teams took vastly different paths to reach the second round, with the Lakers outlasting the plucky Denver Nuggets in seven games and the Thunder enjoying plenty of rest after ousting the defending-champion Dallas Mavericks in four straight.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Leave it to the guy named World Peace to lob the first grenade in what should be a tension-filled series. Metta World Peace says he doesn't plan to shake hands with Thunder guard James Harden, who was felled by a vicious World Peace elbow in their previous regular-season encounter. The incident led to a lengthy suspension for World Peace, who was only eligible to return for Game 7 against the Nuggets. "I don't shake substitutes' hands," he said following the Lakers' series-clinching victory, while also suggesting that Harden may have embellished the contact.
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Oklahoma City may have been young and wide-eyed in last year's postseason, but the team looks to be all business this time around. Led by three-time NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and sensational point guard Russell Westbrook, the Thunder rolled past the Mavericks in a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals. It was the first series sweep for the franchise since 1996, when the Seattle Supersonics easily handled the defending-champion Houston Rockets. Monday's opener will mark eight days since Oklahoma City last took the court.
TRENDS:
- Lakers are 2-5 ATS in the last seven meetings in Oklahoma City.
- The over is 5-0 in Thunder last five games as a favorite.
- The Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last five playoff games as a favorite.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Thunder C Kendrick Perkins (hip) participated in a pre-practice shooting session Saturday but remains a game-time decision for the opener.
2. Oklahoma City won two of three regular-season meetings. The Lakers won their most recent encounter, escaping with a 114-106 overtime win April 22.
3. Durant averages 25.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 17 career games against the Lakers.
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