After a blowout win in Game 1, the Boston Celtics will continue in pursuit of a sweep on Tuesday. They scored a massive 13-point victory in Game 1 that was never as close as the final score suggests. If you’re hunting for a Hawks-Celtics bet, look no further: Caesars and DraftKings have left too much value on the Bogdan Bogdanovic and Trae Young player prop markets for Game 2. Check out OddsShopper’s tools for other sharp plays, including our Parlay Builder!
Hawks-Celtics Game 2 NBA Player Prop | Bogdan Bogdanovic
Bogdan Bogdanovic O/U 11.5 Points
The Atlanta Hawks have two solid point guards in Dejounte Murray and Trae Young. They also have a very respectable center in Clint Capela, and his backup, Onyeka Okongwu, looks like he’ll develop into a serviceable five himself. However, the Hawks have struggled at wing. De’Andre Hunter just isn’t cutting it, and he finished with 11 points, three rebounds and four fouls in just 30 minutes of action in Game 1.
I don’t know how long it’ll take head coach Quin Snyder to realize he is better off with Bogdan Bogdanovic in the game, but he may have started to connect the dots in Game 1. Bogdanovic played 28 minutes off the bench, right around what he averaged in the regular season, and led the team in box plus-minus despite shooting only 30% from the floor. He finished with nine points, four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.
Bogdanovic’s stats all point to the over as a sharp play for Game 2. He averaged 14 points per game in the regular season and 13.1 after the All-Star Break. He missed both of Atlanta’s games against the Celtics following his return from injury, but he is averaging 20.5 points per game against Boston for Atlanta in regular-season meetings since 2021. He beat this number each time.
Bogdanovic played the most minutes of Atlanta’s wings in the second half with 19. While some of that may have to do with the team’s massive deficit and Hunter’s fouls, it’s a positive sign nonetheless. Let’s play Bogdanovic to beat this number at -109 on Caesars Sportsbook. Readers yet to register at Caesars can get their first bet on the house for up to $1,250!
Best Hawks-Celtics Player Prop: Bogdan Bogdanovic Over 11.5 Points -109 for 0.75 Unit
Hawks-Celtics Game 2 NBA Player Prop | Trae Young
Trae Young O/U 3.5 Rebounds
The Boston Celtics didn’t do much poorly on Saturday. They held the lead from start to finish, shot more effectively and won the rebounding battle. However, head coach Joe Mazzulla flagged turnovers and defensive rebounding as spots where the Celtics could improve. Despite losing the overall rebounding battle, Atlanta attempted 10 more field goals after turning the ball over five fewer times and securing 14 offensive boards.
Expect Mazzulla to emphasize consistent play on the glass leading up to Game 2. That should hurt Trae Young, an undersized one, more than most other players on Atlanta’s roster. Young totaled just five rebound chances on Sunday, two of which came on the offensive glass, on his way to a three-rebound showing. Young averaged only three rebounds per game in the regular season this year but four per game against the Celtics.
If Young couldn’t beat this number in Game 1, he shouldn’t come close to beating it in Game 2. The Hawks shot a dismal 38.8% from the field and missed a total of 60 shots. The Celtics missed 46 shots of their own. Atlanta forced Boston into playing a bit faster than usual as these teams totaled 207 possessions, far more than what they averaged in the regular season (200.6). Game 2 should be a bit slower, the Hawks should shoot more efficiently, and the Celtics should rebound more effectively, all of which will limit Young’s rebounding chances.
Young recorded four or more rebounds in only 23 of his 73 regular-season appearances this year (31.5%). With the under set to -150 (60%) at DraftKings Sportsbook, we’re getting plenty of edge relative to his raw hit rate. We’re also getting some edge relative to where Pinnacle, a sharp book, has priced the over: -169 (62.8%). Let’s wager enough to profit a half-unit on this play.
Best Warriors-Kings Player Prop: Trae Young Under 3.5 Rebounds -150 for 0.75 Unit at DraftKings
