Las Vegas Play of the Day: Wizards vs. Celtics

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Friday, May 12, 2017 | 11:54 a.m.

We’ve entered the third season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won the 2015-2016 season, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015. Bern stepped away in the middle of the 2016-2017 season with a 16-12 record and $13,317 bankroll, with Mike Grimala taking his place.

Washington Wizards minus-5 vs. Boston Celtics: $440 to win $400

The Wizards and Celtics developed a low-simmering rivalry throughout the course of this season, and this evenly-contested playoff series has only elevated the hatred. If Boston wants to get the last laugh and end the Wizards' season tonight, they'll have to do it by beating Washington on its own home court in Game 6, something that has proved impossible so far this year.

In four games at Washington (including playoffs), the Celtics are 0-4, losing by an average of 21.5 points. The closest defeat was a 15-point blowout in January. It's a familiar pattern in the NBA, as hot crowds, home-cooking referees and empowered role players can all conspire to sway games in favor of the hosts.

That's what I think will happen tonight. The Celtics know they have Game 7 in Boston in their back pocket, so their intensity may wane when the Wiz get things rolling early. John Wall will make a couple amazing plays, bench fodder like Kelly Oubre will make a couple 3's, and the Celtics will fold up shop and start focusing on Game 7.

Current Standings: Grimala (9-12, $9,193), Granger (15-19-1, $8,667), Brewer (31-30-1, $8,025), Keefer (43-39-3, $7,180)