No. 2 seeded Boston Celtics look to continue their dominance over the No. 7 Atlanta Hawks when the teams meet for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series at TD Garden on April 18. The Celtics took Game 1 112-99 on Saturday night.

Boston looked like a well-oiled offensive machine in the first half of Saturday’s contest. The Celtics seized control late in the first quarter and then pulled away in the second quarter.

The C’s led by 30 at halftime as they shot 60% from the field and 56.6% (9-16) from beyond the arc. However, the Celtics struggled offensively in the second half, but they earned the victory due to a solid defensive effort overall.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum recorded double-doubles to lead the way for Boston, while Derrick White added 24 points. Dejounte Murray had a strong overall game, topping the Hawks with 24 points, although Trae Young was limited to 16 points on 5 of 18 shooting.

We will now preview the game plus our betting prediction for this Eastern Conference basketball contest. Keep reading for NBA betting lines, analysis, and a free pick for Celtics vs. Hawks.

No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Atlanta Hawks 2023 Eastern Conference Playoffs Round I Game 2

Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics Game Info

When: Tuesday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: NBA TV
Odds: Boston Celtics -10.0; Over/ Under 229

Why Bet on the Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are an experienced playoff club as they are making their third straight postseason appearance, reaching the Eastern Conference finals two seasons ago. So, the Hawks know what it takes to bounce back from a blowout loss.

Atlanta outplayed Boston in the second half. The Hawks turned up the defensive pressure in the last 24 minutes, outscoring the Celtics in the last two quarters.

The Hawks won the rebounding battle in the last half, forced 16 turnovers, and dominated the Celtics in fastbreak points. If the Hawks can win the rebounding and turnovers battle, they can take Game 2.

Bet Hawks to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why Bet on the Boston Celtics

The Celtics looked like world-beaters on both ends of the court in the opening half of Game 1. The Celts did come down to earth in the second half, but they were still pretty good on the defensive end. The C’s own the league’s second-best defense.

Boston has been one of the best teams in the Association all season long. The Celtics ended the regular season strong and are 13-4 in their last 17 games, the league’s best record during this stretch.

They are also outstanding when playing at TD Garden, winning 33 of their 42 home games with an average margin of victory over 10 points.

More importantly, the Celtics have Tatum and Brown, and the Hawks don’t have an answer defensively for either. In the past seven games against the Hawks, Tatum has produced three double-doubles and scored at least 19 points.

Meanwhile, Brown has hit the 20-point plateau in three straight contests versus Atlanta.

Bet Celtics to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Expert Picks and Final Score Prediction

Boston is one of the best teams at home and has dominated Atlanta recently. The Celtics have won the last six matchups against the Hawks and nine of the previous ten contests at TD Garden.

Don’t expect those trends to change, as the Hawks haven’t been able to slow down Tatum and Brown or the other Celts’ guards this year. However, the game should be tighter than Game 1, with Young performing better.

Boston Celtics 113, Atlantic Hawks 106.

Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum & Derrick White Combine For 78 PTS In Celtics Game 1 W!

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NBA Playoffs Odds, Picks and Prediction for Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks: Round 1, Game 2

No. 2 Celtics vs. No. 7 Atlanta Hawks 2023 Eastern Conference Playoffs Round I Game 2