Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (-5.5, 174)
THE STORY: The series is now a best-of-3 as the Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in Monday’s Game 5. Philadelphia evened the series at 2-2 by rallying from 18 points down in the third quarter to win Friday’s Game 4 and reignite talk of notching a second-round upset. The 76ers have recovered from double-digit deficits to win three times this postseason. Boston’s aging group has been up-and-down in the postseason with multiple key players battling injuries.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE 76ERS: Reserve guard Lou Williams showed some life by averaging 14 points in the two games in Philadelphia, but he didn’t fare well in the earlier two games in Boston. Williams averaged 8.5 points and shot 29.2 percent in Boston. Veteran Andre Iguodala had 16 points in Game 4 and hit the go-ahead basket with 1:22 remaining in the 92-83 victory. Iguodala is averaging 14.5 points in the series. Post players Spencer Hawes (4.7 scoring average over the past three games) and Elton Brand (4.3 in the series) have been major disappointments as rookie Lavoy Allen (8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) has been Philadelphia’s most reliable inside player.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: Forward Paul Pierce has put together back-to-back 24-point outings while playing on an injured left knee. Things aren’t going as well for injured guards Ray Allen (knee) and Avery Bradley (shoulder). Allen has just eight total points over the last two games after averaging 14.5 over the first two games. Bradley had his injured left shoulder pop out during Game 4 for the second time during the series and could require surgery after the playoffs ends. He is averaging just six points in the series. “Listen,” coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s a tough thing that he’s going through. A lot of players would not be playing.”
TRENDS:
- 76ers are 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
- Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games.
- 76ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Boston forward Kevin Garnett finally had a poor offensive game in Game 4, tallying just nine points on 3-for-12 shooting. Garnett was averaging 24.8 points in his previous four games.
2. Philadelphia’s bench outscored Boston 44-12 in Game 4.
3. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has reached double digits in assists in all four games and is averaging 14.8
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-8, 192)
THE STORY: There was plenty of blame to go around in Los Angeles after the Lakers blew a fourth-quarter lead to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of their Western Conference second-round series. Kobe Bryant lashed out at his teammates for not being aggressive enough, pointing an accusatory finger at Spanish teammate Pau Gasol. The Thunder are on a high following their stunning comeback and are a win away from returning to the Western Conference finals.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Bryant scored 38 points in the Game 4 defeat at the Staples Center but shot just 2 for 10 in the final quarter - a development he based on having to take tougher shots with his teammates unwilling to help out. "They were tough looks," Bryant said. "So either we have to free myself up to get better looks in the fourth quarter or other guys have to be aggressive, one or the other." Gasol said he did pass up an open look late - on a play where he threw a pass to Thunder superstar Kevin Durant for the go-ahead 3-pointer - but that he didn't have any other clean shot the rest of the quarter.
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Durant received plenty of attention for knocking down the winning shot over an outstretched Metta World Peace with 13.7 seconds remaining, but head coach Scott Brooks was more impressed with Durant's defense down the stretch. Backup point guard Derek Fisher, a longtime Laker, marveled at the two-way player Durant has become this postseason. "That's who Kevin is," Fisher said. "He's one of those special players that we get the privilege of seeing come through our league." Durant finished with 31 points while teammate Russell Westbrook added 37.
TRENDS:
- Favorite is 9-4-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
- Over is 13-6 in the Lakers' last 19 road games.
- Lakers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Gasol finished without a point or a rebound in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
2. The Lakers finally showed some life on the fast break, finishing with 15 points in Game 4 after registering just 12 in the first three games of the series.
3. Los Angeles hauled in 18 offensive rebounds in Game 4, led by Andrew Bynum with five.
THE STORY: The series is now a best-of-3 as the Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in Monday’s Game 5. Philadelphia evened the series at 2-2 by rallying from 18 points down in the third quarter to win Friday’s Game 4 and reignite talk of notching a second-round upset. The 76ers have recovered from double-digit deficits to win three times this postseason. Boston’s aging group has been up-and-down in the postseason with multiple key players battling injuries.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE 76ERS: Reserve guard Lou Williams showed some life by averaging 14 points in the two games in Philadelphia, but he didn’t fare well in the earlier two games in Boston. Williams averaged 8.5 points and shot 29.2 percent in Boston. Veteran Andre Iguodala had 16 points in Game 4 and hit the go-ahead basket with 1:22 remaining in the 92-83 victory. Iguodala is averaging 14.5 points in the series. Post players Spencer Hawes (4.7 scoring average over the past three games) and Elton Brand (4.3 in the series) have been major disappointments as rookie Lavoy Allen (8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) has been Philadelphia’s most reliable inside player.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: Forward Paul Pierce has put together back-to-back 24-point outings while playing on an injured left knee. Things aren’t going as well for injured guards Ray Allen (knee) and Avery Bradley (shoulder). Allen has just eight total points over the last two games after averaging 14.5 over the first two games. Bradley had his injured left shoulder pop out during Game 4 for the second time during the series and could require surgery after the playoffs ends. He is averaging just six points in the series. “Listen,” coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s a tough thing that he’s going through. A lot of players would not be playing.”
TRENDS:
- 76ers are 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings.
- Celtics are 1-4 ATS in their last five home games.
- 76ers are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Boston forward Kevin Garnett finally had a poor offensive game in Game 4, tallying just nine points on 3-for-12 shooting. Garnett was averaging 24.8 points in his previous four games.
2. Philadelphia’s bench outscored Boston 44-12 in Game 4.
3. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has reached double digits in assists in all four games and is averaging 14.8
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder (-8, 192)
THE STORY: There was plenty of blame to go around in Los Angeles after the Lakers blew a fourth-quarter lead to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of their Western Conference second-round series. Kobe Bryant lashed out at his teammates for not being aggressive enough, pointing an accusatory finger at Spanish teammate Pau Gasol. The Thunder are on a high following their stunning comeback and are a win away from returning to the Western Conference finals.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE LAKERS: Bryant scored 38 points in the Game 4 defeat at the Staples Center but shot just 2 for 10 in the final quarter - a development he based on having to take tougher shots with his teammates unwilling to help out. "They were tough looks," Bryant said. "So either we have to free myself up to get better looks in the fourth quarter or other guys have to be aggressive, one or the other." Gasol said he did pass up an open look late - on a play where he threw a pass to Thunder superstar Kevin Durant for the go-ahead 3-pointer - but that he didn't have any other clean shot the rest of the quarter.
ABOUT THE THUNDER: Durant received plenty of attention for knocking down the winning shot over an outstretched Metta World Peace with 13.7 seconds remaining, but head coach Scott Brooks was more impressed with Durant's defense down the stretch. Backup point guard Derek Fisher, a longtime Laker, marveled at the two-way player Durant has become this postseason. "That's who Kevin is," Fisher said. "He's one of those special players that we get the privilege of seeing come through our league." Durant finished with 31 points while teammate Russell Westbrook added 37.
TRENDS:
- Favorite is 9-4-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
- Over is 13-6 in the Lakers' last 19 road games.
- Lakers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games as an underdog.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Gasol finished without a point or a rebound in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
2. The Lakers finally showed some life on the fast break, finishing with 15 points in Game 4 after registering just 12 in the first three games of the series.
3. Los Angeles hauled in 18 offensive rebounds in Game 4, led by Andrew Bynum with five.
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