The Brooklyn Nets (24-13) host the Boston Celtics (19-17) Thursday at Barclays Center for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off. Below, we analyze the Celtics-Nets odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
The Celtics started to trend up before the All-Star break, sweeping a 4-game homestand following a 3-game losing skid on the road (2-5 ATS). Injury issues with its backcourt and All-Star wing Jayson Tatum missing time with COVID-19 were the major factors to Boston’s disappointing first half.
Brooklyn has won 10 of its previous 11 games (10-1 ATS), which included an impressive 5-game win streak on a West Coast road trip against the class of the Western Conference. What’s even more impressive is PF Kevin Durant missed 10 of those 11 games.
The Nets beat the brakes off of the Celtics 123-95 on Christmas, outscoring Boston 72-41 in the second half thanks to Durant and SG Kyrie Irving combining for 40 points on 15-for-21 shooting after halftime.
Celtics at Nets: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:12 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Celtics +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Nets -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Celtics +3.5 (-115) | Nets -3.5 (-105)
- Over/Under: 233.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Celtics at Nets: Key injuries
Celtics
- None
Nets
- SF Kevin Durant (hamstring) out
- PF Jeff Green (shoulder) questionable
- PF Blake Griffin (knee) out
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Celtics at Nets: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Celtics 124, Nets 116
Money line (ML)
Slight lean on the CELTICS (+125) for a half-unit because the return of SG Marcus Smart is huge for Boston.
Also, I don’t see Brooklyn making up for KD’s absence against a Celtics team that seemed to be turning a corner before the All-Star break.
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Against the spread (ATS)
BET CELTICS +3.5 (-115) for 1 unit since the return of Smart is exactly what Boston needs in hopes of minimizing the damage Brooklyn’s backcourt does in this game.
Smart has played good defense against Nets PG James Harden in their head-to-head history: Harden has averaged 30.4 points on 37.3% shooting (34.8% from 3) and 5.7 turnovers per game in his 12 career games vs. Smart.
Obviously, Smart doesn’t exactly “shut Harden down,” but his presence gives Boston hope it can make stops at the end of quarters and restores the depth of the Celtics’ roster.
Over/Under (O/U)
Granted, Smart’s defensive intensity changes things a little for Boston, but both offenses should have success in this spot.
No one stops the Nets from scoring. The Celtics attempt the 7th-highest rate of mid-range shots, according to CleaningTheGlass.com, and Brooklyn has the 4th-worst defensive mid-range shooting percentage.
Also, there are several Over-friendly trends such as Boston’s 7-2 O/U record as a road dog, Brooklyn’s 19-6 O/U record as a favorite and a combined 19-9 O/U record vs. winning teams.
The OVER 233.5 (-110) is my favorite play in Celtics-Nets.
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Also see:
- Report: Boston interested in Kings’ Barnes (Celtics Wire)
- Griffin doesn’t shut down idea of catching lobs in Brooklyn (Nets Wire)
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