Smart Money: Celtics Try Not To Cover, Still Do

The Highlights

• The Sixers closed at +1.5 in Game 5 against the Celtics.
• The cover came down to one Marcus Smart free throw with 2.4 seconds left.
• Expect the unexpected for how this one played out.

After opening as a slight favorite ahead of their Game 5 contest in Boston, the Sixers actually closed at +1.5. If you managed to snag the latter — your wager came down to one free throw.

After a 30-foot jumper from J.J. Reddick cut the Celtics' lead to 113-112, Sixers +1.5 ticket holders were resuscitated. Marcus Smart then headed to the charity stripe with 2.4 seconds left. Those who bet +1.5 started to hope and pray for two misses to essentially lock up the cover. Smart certainly made things interesting, as he bricked the front end to extend the lives of Sixers +1.5 bettors.

I'm not sure anyone anticipated what would happen next. Smart threw what looked like a soccer pass — seemingly as hard as he could — directly at the square on the backboard behind the rim. That led to a series of caroms off the rim, before, ultimately — and tragically for some — the ball dropped in the net.

The free throw that unintentionally cashed Celtics -1.5 tickets …pic.twitter.com/Rr1NhrOCs1

— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) May 10, 2018

Yes, yes, that ultimately decided the cover for a lot of bettors — a dagger that Smart tried to miss.

Out of timeouts, the Sixers tried to throw it the length of the court, but Smart — who else? — stole the ball to clinch the 114-112 victory.

Photo via Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports